Springfield XDM9 - Underrated gem

[basicblur]

I have to disagree on the loader, I find it is quicker than not using one.

Well that's faint praise indeed!
No doubt it's better than not using one, but it's not nearly as nice/EZ as the UpLULA, 'specially when you get down to that last hard to load round.
As a bonus, the UpLULA fits a wide range of magazines.

They shoulda done as S&W M&P and tossed in an UpLULA, but that might have costs 'em a few cents/dollars more, and no doubt the bean counters made this decision.

 

[Whiskey11]

I guess I haven't had any issues with mine on my XD45. Works great and no issues even for the last round.

Different strokes I guess.

 

[rich642z]

Are these xdms hard to conceal depends on caliber???

 

[KAS1981]

They are not a small gun by any means.

 

[MJ_ATL]

Impressed by XDM

Shot an XDM in 9mm today at the range on a curious whim after the guy behind the counter showed me one the other day. First, I'm a die hard Sig guy and second I generally hate plastic guns but... I really enjoyed shooting the XDM9 and after the first couple of rounds which were off target the other 13 rounds in the first magazine were all in a nice tight group. I've always just avoided it since I thought it would feel like a Glock to me. I was wrong. I may have to trade my P239 for one of these since I don't carry it anymore.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I can't see how a S.A. XDm could be considered underrated...I wish to have one in the next future.

 

[lucky-gunner]

I would argee that the XDM isn't underrated. SA has a great marketing team taht makes sure you know that the XDM is a good pistol . Saying that I have a full size 9mm and 40 S&W XDM and a pre melonite xd9sc. I definitely think they are worth the price. For me they are the best fitting polymer handgun.

 

[rellascout]

No its the same Croatian pistol it has always been. These days its just more extreme!!!!!

 

[basicblur]

I can't see how a S.A. XDm could be considered underrated

I think the XD line was formerly underrated-maybe not so much today-it just took a while for folks that didn't do their homework (and lovers of another certain brand) to catch up or admit it appears to be quality hardware?

Actually (flame suit on), I kinda think the M line is overrated.
While there are a few features some may need (interchangeable backstraps?) and looks are a subjective 'thang, I prefer the regular XD line.

 

[snooperman]

This is a great review, since I am considering buying one. Now..

How easy is it to rack the slide in the 3.8" barrel compact model ? Also I have seen some compacts with a shorter grip, but also some with longer grips. Are there two grip frames for the compact ?

 

[basicblur]

Are there two grip frames for the compact?

I'm assuming what you've seen are the short mag/long mag that come with the gun. 'Course, this was the case with my sub-compacts-you'll have to do your homework on what comes in the box of the particular model you're interested in.

I carry mine with the short mag, but added a Pearce Grip Extender (I really hate a danglin' pinky).
I carry one or two of the long mags as spares-I figure if I ever need to change mags (malfunction aside), I've wandered into sumpin' really deep and would probably want all the ammo I can get!

 

[Ala Dan]

Springfield XD's and XDm's

Greetings All-

From my experience, I have found that both the Springfield Armory XD's
and XDm's are well suited, quality polymer framed sidearms. I have an
original XD 4" service length in .45 ACP; and just love it. Some say, the
SA guns have too high a bore axis; but being a .45 caliber SIG-SAUER
shooter for all the past years, only helps me shoot the XD well. Matter
of fact, I shoot the XD better than I ever did any of my previously owned
Glocks (17, 23, or 27). Sorry, but I'm on a different computer system,
and have not learned how too post pics~!

 

[Japle]

Posted by Rich:
Are these xdms hard to conceal depends on caliber???

My XDm 3.8 9mm with the full-size grip is about the same size as a Glock 17.

It's not small, but I don't see that as a problem and I only weigh 142 lbs.

 

[harmon rabb]

I can't see how a S.A. XDm could be considered underrated...I wish to have one in the next future.

I actually think the M's are overrated. I don't see the price difference over the regular XD's to be worth it, especially in 45acp where there is no gain in mag capacity.

 

[Whiskey11]

Harmon there is one very good reason to buy an XDm in .45 over a standard XD and that is the ability to safely and reoiably feed SWC bullets. The match grade barrel and the backstraps are also a bonus if the standard does not fit as well or shoot as well as you would like. The XDm looks leave a little to be desired but that is a very very minor point.

 

[Big_John1961]

The count, congrats on the new piece. Do you XD owners have any gripes about the grip safeties, or is it a non-issue?

 

[harmon rabb]

The grip safety is nice for reholstering, and you do not notice it when holding or shooting the gun. It's extremely nonintrusive.

 

[basicblur]

Do you XD owners have any gripes about the grip safeties, or is it a non-issue?

Not only is it a non-issue, I find it a desirable feature (passive safety).
Despite all the ballyhoo 'bout Safe Action Triggers etc, to me, any time you have a 'safety' on the same part/same location that makes the gun go boom you're asking for trouble (drawstrings, retention straps, errant fingers).
Don't forget ole Plaxico!

We also had a retired PD detective (who was also a PD firearms instructor) that did the same thing in a restaurant. He was Mexican carrying, and when he got up from the table reached down to cinch his pants and... He had been warned by the local gun shop it probably wasn't a wise idea to be carrying that way.
Managed to injure a few patrons at the eatery with shrapnel from the round hitting the floor.

 

[Isaac-1]

I know I am a little late to this conversation, but I just bought my XDM-9 at a gun show on Saturday. Keeping in mind I have only fired a hundred or so rounds through it in one session yesterday, it does seem to be very good gun, my only gripe is I wish the trigger pull was better, I will probably go with an aftermarket upgrade. As to the questions about the gun, the mag loader is not bad, certainly better than loading by hand, like others have said it was probably a bean counter decision, it may be low cost, but is not cheap. It is built out of sturdy plastic, has a spring loaded release button and rail clip (the only moving part)on side to mount as an accessory on the mag holder, not a bad freebee. I would rather they included it than an uplula that many people may already own, as I suspect its production cost is a fraction of the uplula's. On the topic of the grip safety, I don't see what there is to complain about (implementation, not concept) , it is perfectly molded to the frame, light spring tension, you almost don't know it is there, much less obtrusive than on the 1911.

 

[Whiskey11]

I would just like to point out that my new M92A1's "speed loader" is a flimsy piece of TRASH. So much so I made a part to adapt my XD's loader for the 9mm magazines and boy is it much nicer. So I'd say, us XD owners should count our blessings that we got one as nice as it is. I mean it's missing the part that pushes the bullet in from the UpLula loader but it's essentially built the same.

 

[Dnaltrop]

The only reason I don't have one now... The M&P lacked the XD's annoying (to me) Cocking indicator sticking out the back. Utterly subjective. The gun at the store felt good in my hand and pointed well otherwise. The few I've fired at the range when guns are being passed around for "show and tell" have functioned flawlessly.

Extra "stuff" short of additional magazines is NEVER a factor for my purchases, in fact it often detracts from the gun itself for me. (Something for nothing? what is it REALLY costing me ... pardon me, My tinfoil hat appears to need smoothing)

 

[basicblur]

I guess it's a glass half full, glass half empty 'thang?

I would just like to point out that my new M92A1's "speed loader" is a flimsy piece of TRASH. So much so I made a part to adapt my XD's loader for the 9mm magazines and boy is it much nicer.

And if they'd just tossed in an UpLULA, you probably wouldn't have had to modify your XD loader to fit your other magazine.

So I'd say, us XD owners should count our blessings that we got one as nice as it is.

I guess your glass is half full-mine is half empty.
I don't count my blessings for the XD loader (which is buried in my not quite ready for prime time loader box)-I wish they had just tossed in an UpLULA, or lowered the price.

I mean it's missing the part that pushes the bullet in from the UpLula loader but it's essentially built the same.

Well that little part that pushes the bullet is the main feature (along with fitting a wide variety of magazines)!

 

[Whiskey11]

basicbur that is your call, I don't find it inconvenient to push the bullet in by hand as apposed to by using a separate part of the loader. It's nice to have considering I don't have an UpLula to use. Yeah, the universal nature of the UpLula is nice, but the "modification" I had to do was add a spacer to the front and it is completely removable. It is what it is and it came with my gun. If it wasn't there I wouldn't have complained about it, but since it is there and it works consistently and isn't utter trash like my Beretta's is I tend to find it useful.

Here, I'll let you decide: In the realm of "Free" here is two different interpretations of an efficient magazine loader. The XD's is obvious, it's big and bulky, the Beretta loader is thinner but look at the differences:



See the metal part that is shaped like ], it is just a spacer to force the magazine to the back of the loader. This works very well for the M92 magazines and is removable for XD45 mags.



You can see in the above photo how the bar fits in the XD loader.



In this photo you can see how SMALL the Beretta loader's plunger is. Why does it matter? Well, the smaller Beretta plunger allows the round's nose to go skyward and requires you to force the nose of the top round in the magazine down when you load the second one. The "modified" XD loader does not have this issue.