Why XD?

[briang2ad]

Why

because people hold Glocks, then XD, and find the grip more comfortable. Some like the grip safety also - while I don't think it is necessary, it IS easier to activate, then the 1911. It also has a FPB, for 'more safety'. It is mostly because of the grip - it was for me. The XD45C is amazingly slim for a 10 round compact 45. Also, the 'modular' design of a pistol which comes with interchangeable longer mags on the subcompact and compact models, which perfectly match to the frame is very nice. The Glock grip CAN be fine, but takes a little getting used to and does feel more blocky.

On the 'metal guns'. The XD is still a little lighter than some allow models, and can give yo more flexibility. Compare a P220 vice the XD45C.

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

The XD's grip wasn't engineered to be more like a 1911. The only reason the grip is at a different angle than the Glock's is because the XD was designed as an AWB alternative to the Glock. The XD's magazines are "modified" Beretta 92 mags. Beretta mags were easier to obtain during the AWB. The grip angle on the XD had little to do with comfort and more to do with accommodating a Beretta mag (with a mag catch hole in a different place).

You're basically buying a Glock that takes Beretta mags and has a grip safety. They feel pretty great in the hand. They are literally a Glock alternative.

Reference for this information please.

I find this truly hard to believe because the XD was the HS2000 originally, and was manufactured in Croatia to begin with. It was not vastly imported before Springfield bought the import rights and renamed it the XD. So how was the XD designed as a AWB alternative to the Glock??????


Also, my XD is one of my favorite pistols. Shoots and points well and is utterly reliable.

 

[TG13]

You're basically buying a Glock that takes Beretta mags and has a grip safety. They feel pretty great in the hand. They are literally a Glock alternative.

The Croatian Service Pistols

the XD is a combination of design elements from Browning, SIG, Beretta and Glock..

to call the XD something as simple as a Glock that takes Beretta mags is myopic and incorrect..

The XD has a grip safety which also locks the slide when not depressed. I see this as an issue if one is trying to clear a malfunction or reload the pistol when only one hand is available, or if both hands are available but are both injured and partially incapacitated. Think of FBI Supervisory Special Agent McNeill, during the shootout with Platt and Mattix. He had two injured hands, and tried in vain to reload his sixgun. As he tried to get to his shotgun, he was shot again.

The XD may be a great toy or competition gun, but it is no fighting pistol. I don't really care for the grip safety on the 1911, either, but at least it does not lock the slide.

i guess having a "sixgun" is as bad as having an XD by your reasoning..

if you have one hand, you use the rear sight to cycle the slide..

if both of you hands are damaged to the point that you cannot cycle the slide with the grip safety depressed, how will you grip it to fire the pistol??

i appreciate your stated dislike for grip safeties, some people don't like them.. fine.. don't buy, or use a pistol that has one..

makes you wonder why Gaston Glock even put a trigger safety on his pistol.. it just gets in the way when a finger goes in the guard.. and well, if one's fingertip is wounded, one might not be able to depress it to get the trigger to function..

what if all of one's fingertips are wounded??

wow.. what a quandary one would be in that situation...

 

[XDShooter07]

1911's never seem to get flamed on for grip safeties so I never understood why XD's do. But anyways; weight wasn't ever a consideration when I bought mine. I was in the market for a polymer framed pistol because they typically have higher capacity than metal framed pistols (not always the case). The XD's fit my hands better than glocks. The grip safety was actually a deciding factor for me as I feel more comfortable carrying a gun with a light trigger pull on my hip with it there; just personal preference. If I was going to buy another polymer pistol I'd look at the SR9 as it has even a thinner grip that fits my hands a little better than the XD.

 

[skinewmexico]

I love my XD. I try not to have my judgement clouded by pre-conceived notions of alloy versus plastic. Who cares.

 

[red headed stranger]

So if the XD had an aluminum frame and weighed 3 ounces more, would you be as willing, less willing, or more willing, to purchase one?

I might consider it if it meant I could get a slightly thinner grip profile.

 

[red headed stranger]

I see this as an issue if one is trying to clear a malfunction or reload the pistol when only one hand is available, or if both hands are available but are both injured and partially incapacitated.

In this situation you still go to the same one-handed drill you practice with any other semi auto that has malfunctioned. You can catch the rear sight on your belt buckle, belt, bottom of your you shoe, or the corner of a curb if you are near one. If you can hold the gun in one hand, you can rack the slide in this situation.

I like the locking feature personally. It makes sure the gun stays in battery when reholstering.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Reference for this information please.

During the AWB, Springfield Armory sold modified Beretta 92 mags with new base plates for use in the XDs. The only difference is the position of the mag-catch. No, the internals are not the same as the Glock, but the basic premise of operation is.

to call the XD something as simple as a Glock that takes Beretta mags is myopic and incorrect..

I called it a Glock with a grip safety that takes Beretta mags. That's the basic phenotype of the gun. Let's play "Marketing a pistol in 2001". It's 2001, I want a "hi-cap" striker fired pistol. I don't want to pay $80/mag for "pre-ban" Glock mags. What do I do? Oh right, there's ONE alternative... the HS2000/XD.

 

[bigmike45]

1. Accurate
2. Functionally perfect
3. Grip angle and feel are super
4. Out of the box trigger is great, and can be made much better
5. Mag capacity is more than sufficient
6. Asthetically appealing
7. Weight is not bad for all that lead in the mag
8. 4" Service Model balances perfectly in the hand

In my opinion, one really great gun.

 

[ar10]

1. Accurate
2. Functionally perfect
3. Grip angle and feel are super
4. Out of the box trigger is great, and can be made much better
5. Mag capacity is more than sufficient
6. Asthetically appealing
7. Weight is not bad for all that lead in the mag
8. 4" Service Model balances perfectly in the hand

You forgot a couple of things.
9. If you own more than 1 xd a bunch of parts are interchangeable.
10. 1 holster works for all except the .45

 

[1911Gunslinger]

Don't worry about having a cool or faddish handgun if you are looking for something that you may have to depend on to save your hide. The following are what you should consider for a defensive handgun.
1- Reliability, should be utterly reliable, preferably with multiple types(HP,SP,FMJ) as well as different brands.
2-Pointability & Fit, does it feel good in your hands? Does it balance well for you?
3-Accuracy, does it have the amount of accuracy needed for the purpose that you intend to use it for?
No one gun fits everyone's hands, frame size or needs. Don't buy something because Mr. Dipstick says it's the cat's meow. Do your research, shoot as many as possible of the ones that you like. Nickel plating, nite sights, pearl grips, gold inlay and all sorts of other pimped out crap don't make it shoot any better, in fact most make for a poor defensive handgun.

 

[kitsapcharly]

My XD-45c is really ugly. That said it seems totally reliable with FMJ 230 grains, points as naturally as if it grew on the end of my arm and lets me shoot more accurately than I ever have with any other gun I've ever tried.
Comes with a 10-shot mag for concealed carry and longer 13-shot for a spare. Trigger on mine was nice...sights are good too but I might get those big dot types sometime as my eyes are aging.
Weight is no issue at all to carry. Just makes it steader to aim and faster to get back on target. Quite a switch for someone used to a little Kel-Tec 380 which tries to do a somersault when fired.
Can't imagine a better gun if the good stuff hits the fan. If possible you should rent one at a range to try. If not, then at least try to handle one at a dealer and see if it doesn't seem to point naturally for you. If you have bigger hands than most you might want to add an extension hook to the mag but very few need this.