Very discouraged with subcompact autos...

[JDR]

...Frustrated, I went back to carrying the trusty 642 that never fails me.

So now, after carrying the 642 for almost another year, I got the 9mm for a carry gun bug again, and really liked the XDS. So I unwisely sold the 642 and got the XDS....

As a matter of principle, I would not give up on something "...that never fails me"!

 

[bannockburn]

I would send it back to Springfield just to see what they can do with it.

I would also get another Model 642 to replace the one you sold.

 

[drband]

I have limited experience with the xds9, more with the xds45. I think it's a great handgun but you are right to question yours 'til Springfield makes it right. They will. Send it back.

 

[Hammer059]

Thanks for the input thus far everyone, I do appreciate it.

You guys are right about several things:

1) I should never have sold the 642. I regret this. I WILL get another one.

2) I do like the XDS, except obviously for this little nuisance I've had with it. I think it's worth sending back to Springfield and giving it another chance.

Hopefully, if everything works out the way I want, I will end up with a new 642 that works flawlessly as my old one did, and ideally I'll have a fully functional, light primer-strike-free XDS.

Cross your fingers for me. Maybe my luck will change.

 

[Tirod]

Ammo that is flawless in a 5" barrel may not function reliably in a gun with 3 1/2". Just because it works in a full sized duty gun doesn't mean it will in a subcompact.

Off center primer strikes hint the gun isn't fully forward in battery, which suggest the slide isn't returning with enough energy to get the rounds chambered. It's a matter of recoil energy based on the power of the load. The point of breaking in a carry gun 500 round is to test it's reliability as a combination. Don't assume it's all about the gun. It's not. It's about discovering whether the ammo is reliable in that firearm, too, and there is no guarantee that what works in the larger gun works in the subcompact.

Change up to a hotter load and shoot that. If you still get off center light strikes then look to why the slide's not fully returning. Some pistol makers deliberately keep the recoil spring tension on the low side to aid in racking the gun, which to me is a poor tradeoff when it can affect chambering with some kinds of ammunition.

 

[Hammer059]

I get what you're saying, Tirod.

I've had the light strikes on 4 different kinds of ammo. Federal white box, Winchester NATO, American Eagle 147gr, and Federal HST. Those were all the brands of ammo I shot through it, and it happened with all of them.

I've tried two hotter loads, and it didn't work. Regardless, if I have to shoot a certain type of ammo for a gun to function, that's not a gun I want to carry anyway.

You're right that it's not always about the gun. But this isn't my first time to the rodeo. In this case, it IS all about the gun having problems. Not the ammo, not the magazines, not user error…. it's the gun.

 

[yar]

I myself carry the G26 as a primary and the Diamondback DB9 for a Bug. I really like the DB9 for left front pocket carry and keep the G26 IWB 3:00 o'clock. Combo works for me for right hand left hand one is none and two is one. I like being able to have left hand on the gun in the pocket and being ready if I'm worried about a threat.

The Glock 26 always works because it's a glock. The DB9 I love and it's the gun the G43 should of been. It has a better trigger, is smaller, and is $100 less. I make good hits with the thing.

 

[unclenunzie]

Springfield gave me good service when I sent my 1911 loaded model back for a feeding issue and general safety inspection. They made it feed hollow points like a champ - no issues in too many round to count. I would send the XDS back for repair, I had a good experience with them and have not read of bad experiences from others.

 

[cougar1717]

Small sample size, I know, but I have two friends who have owned XDS's and both had some sort of problem/tinkering to get it to run right. One just had too much oil in it, which was causing FTF/FTE. The other had the light primer strike issue. Multiple times back to Springfield, but they did end up sending a new gun.

 

[yar]

Not naming names but while working a booth at a major trade show for my previous company a rep from Springfield commented that his XDS was a piece of junk and he was happy to get rid of it. I found this to be very interesting as the XDS was a design that I actually liked as a Glock guy strictly from a ergonomic perspective. His comment further solidified my choices in carry pistols.

 

[Hammer059]

Cougar1717, that's what I'm afraid of. There are SOOOO many people saying that they've had similar problems. And everyone tells them "Oh, you're just one of many" or "Springfield will make it right".

And it seems like a disturbingly high amount of the time, they get the gun back and it isn't fixed.

I really don't know if I want a gun that is this prone to issues. If it's as common of an issue as it apparently is, you'd think Springfield would save themselves some time and money and do something to address the issue so that people wouldn't have light primer strikes right out of the box.

I really, really want to like this gun. Everything about it is great, except that it doesn't work 100% of the time, and that's kinda the most important factor.

I spoke with Springfield on the phone earlier. By the way, the lady I spoke with said that I don't need to send any "clips" back with the gun. I cringed, but held my tounge. ANYWAY, she admitted that this is somewhat of a common problem. She didn't say exactly what they could do to fix it, other than test fire the snot out of it and try and replicate the issue. And truthfully, based on dozens of stories I've read online and heard in person, I have my doubts about whether they will make it right. Yeah yeah, I know the customer service is friendly and fast, but if they can't fix their guns it doesn't matter.

Since the shipping label won't get here till Wednesday, and I work Thursday to Saturday, I guess I have till Monday to decide if I want to send it back and go without a carry gun, and take the chance that they will fix it; or if I'll just sell it and be done with this nonsense.

 

[tactikel]

In over 6K rounds my XD 45 failed to fire in only two occasions; when I tried 45 semi wadcutters (FTF), and when after 5K rounds of flawless functioning I lubed the slide with a highly touted grease. The gun immediately experienced light strikes, failure to fire. The grease slowed the slide so it never completely locked up tight. A careful cleaning and some RemOil and no problems since.
Is it possible the slide is not coming to battery, possibly by friction or ever limp wristing?

 

[yar]

Another consideration is to switch your ammo if your getting light strikes. For example Federal has the most sensitive primers and if your gun light strikes on a Federal primer then you have very serious concerns. In the competition arena many competitors lighten their trigger pulls to a point it affects primer ignition. It is very common for these competitors in this case to switch over to a Federal primer exclusively. For a carry gun I don't know if I would accept this solution but it maybe worth testing since you already have the gun and may buy you some time as you consider your options.

 

[v35]

... I went back to carrying the trusty 642 that never fails me.

It probably never will either. It's hard to beat for reliability and carry-ability.

FTF? Pull the trigger again. Repeat as necessary.

If five rounds aren't enough... buy another 642! They're inexpensive enough.

 

[bill.l.johnson]

I've had a 642 for many years and carry it sometimes and carry my P238 others. I find it really works for pocket carry and IWB. It has been flawless since new and really easy to practice with since the recoil is insignificant. I can only do about 50 rounds with the 642 for practice before my hand goes numb. The P238 is good for 150 rounds easy and still no discomfort.

 

[Tallball]

642!

 

[justice06rr]

My problem with that is that it seems like many people have problems with them out of the box. I don't want a gun that isn't 100% from the start. It doesn't matter to me how good the warranty is for something like this, having a good warranty won't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside if I'm defending my life with a gun and it malfunctions in the process. I demand that my guns are 100% functional, 100% of the time.

No firearm is perfect, although we want them to be. Expecting 100% functionality out of the box with any weapon is unrealistic, as there are many factors that can cause issues including ammo, mags, the gun and the shooter himself. Its not uncommon to have minor issues out of the box, but if it does happen more than the average, send the gun back for repair. Some may call this a 'break-in' period.

Sorry to hear about your issues. Even Glock's and AK47's can have malfunctions, so be patient and see if you can resolve the problems with your particular gun.

Another thing is that you need to have more than one firearm in cases like this. "Two is one, and one is none," as the saying goes. If you love the 642, then save up to keep that as your main weapon and have a semiauto as your secondary.

 

[SeanSw]

Another vote for letting Springfield check out your xds. Mine has been great and fed everything except steel cased 115gr Wolf which didn't seem to have enough power to cycle the slide. After trying 2 other bogus 9mm sub compacts my xds has been a relief. It's a bit heavy but I cannot deny how well it shoots.

Of course, I also have a snubby for other occasions.

 

[NorthBorder]

Hammer,
You said you LC9S broke twice. What happened with it? I just recently bought one. Haven't shot it alot so I am curious. Thanks

.

 

[Coop45]

Kahr P9....

 

[edmo01]

I'm also a fan of the S&W 642. I actually use to own two, however one of them broke and was replaced by another model under warranty. Good little guns. Dispite their ease of carry, they are hard to shoot accurately, have snappy recoil, and are limited on round count.

If you get rid of your XDS, I suggest the G43. Mine has been flawless...

With the Pearce +1 pinkie rigs on the magazines the gun is now a 7+1 option. I carry AIWB and find it is comfortable.

Edmo

 

[IMTHDUKE]

Can just tell you what my experience has been.....

Sig P938 has been flawless. It's keeper. I had a bad experience with a Kimber Solo. I knew better than to buy a new model gun as it hit the market, but I did. Sent two back to Kimber for replacement and the third I sold before firing.

 

[jad0110]

1) I should never have sold the 642. I regret this. I WILL get another one.

You know, I don't carry my 642 all that often these days. Mainly IWB carry for me, and I find I can carry larger guns IWB with only a small comfort penalty (ie, 3" S&W 686+, 5" 1911, 3" S&W Model 13, etc). But there is just something extremely comforting and special about owning a small gun that you can carry about anyway that just WORKS. And with good technique and some practice, it is capable of stellar accuracy. That's my 642. Not the most fun gun to shoot for extended round counts, but probably one of the most fun for the first 25 rounds or so. Mechanically, the little thing can achieve astonishing accuracy. Learning to harness it is quite enjoyable, but YMMV.

 

[71velle]

The small pistols are great in a lot of ways. The 642 is thick in the cylinder and only holds 5.

But like the old saying goes "5 for sure or 8 maybe"

 

[entropy]

Dump the XDs, buy another 642 (Or other J-Frame of your choice) , and a Glock 19, 26, or 43. Problem solved.