XD .40 Tactical 5" Magazine problem.

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J

Just One Shot

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I finally got to the range last night to fire my new XD for the first time. I noticed immediatly that loading the mag was extremly tough.

My XD .40 is supposed to hold 13 rds. (12+1) As I got to rd # 7 it became almost impossible to do by hand. I had to break out the mag loader to get enough force to get the last few rounds in.

The mag would not readily accept the 12th round and after I finally got it in then the mag would not seat properly in the gun. Only after removing the last round was I able to get the mag to seat without forcing it in.

I'm wondering if this is normal for this pistol? If not then I suspect that the factory has installed the wrong spring in both the mags I recieved. I find this highly unlikley but I'm at a loss for other ideas.

I can easily load all my other semi autos by hand without using the mag loader and I find it strange that this pistol is so hard. Other than that it is extremly accurate and I only had one fail to feed which I find ok on a brand new gun, especially since I was using the Cheap Fiocchi brand of ammo.

Any Ideas?
:confused:
 
IF this is the FIRST time you have loaded this magazine it will be hard to get it fully loaded. Try shooting it a few rounds short for a while or load it as full as you can get it and let it set for a day or two. Sometimes the springs need to take a set and they will be easier to load.
Good luck
 
I found my new XD mag was pretty stiff at first but I always use the mag loader. After a few hundred loads is got easy. I can load all the way now with out the mag loader if I want.
 
I understand that new springs will be stiff. As I posted, I have several semi-autos but this seems excessive to me.

I have the mags loaded now and sitting to try to loosen up some of the tension plus I will be firing this (hopefully) on a regular basis.

What has me confused is not being able to fully seat the mag in the mag well when I was able to get 12 rds. in the mag.
 
Everyone's right, they are stiff. It get easier over time though but I don't know if the user getting used to it or spring getting easier. IMO I want a stiff spring. That way I know the bullet will always chamber. :)
 
yeah they are tough, not only in new mags, but once you replace the springs in teh mags as well, i use th uplulla mag loader and it dosen't even phase me how hard it is now, as the loader does all the work.
 
They are tough in the M&P .45 ACP 8 rounds mag as well. I expect the job to get easier once the spring sets over time.
 
Ok, maybe I didn't give enough detail. I'm 5'11" 239 and with the mag loader I have to use both hands to get rds. 10 thru 12 into the mag. The mags are drilled and marked for 12 rds.

Even if the springs are stiff shouldn't I be able to insert it into the mag well and have it seat without excessive force? The one time I got it to lock into the pistol the end of the mag didn't look as if it was fully seated.

I had to use an extreme amount of force to get the mag release button to work so I could remove the mag. After removing one round the mag went in and clicked without an issue and the mag release worked as it should without alot of force.

It acts just like one of my other pistols did when I lost count and added an extra round to the mag. I'm beginning to wonder if they were assembled using the wrong mag followers. Perhaps ones for limiting mags to ten rounds.
 
Ok, maybe I didn't give enough detail. I'm 5'11" 239 and with the mag loader I have to use both hands to get rds. 10 thru 12 into the mag. The mags are drilled and marked for 12 rds.
Click to expand...

I have 6 xd's, all of them were stiff. Of course I'm only 5'6" and weigh 155, and I used the mag loader that came with the first one I bought. As far as the mag release I shoot a few drops through one of those needle oilers in the buttons on both sides then sit down and work it for about 30min while watching tv. If you're around central OH. send me a pm. If you're close enough we could probably figure out what's wrong.
 
I just got off the phone with a tech at Springfield Armory. We discussed the issue and he informed me that both the 10 rd. and 12 rd. mags are the same. The only difference is the mag follower. The 10 rd. uses a thicker follower than the 12 rd.

He thought it was unlikely that they were mixed up until I described the problem. He has directed me to return both mags for exchange. I'll be sending them in next week for replacement. I'm going to hang on to them till then so I can take the pistol to the range on Monday (I'm taking a 3 day weekend) and shoot it one more time before it sits in the safe collecting dust while I wait.

All in all he was very polite and showed a genuine concern for my problem. It's this kind of good service that speaks well of a company. I would not hesitate to recommend their products to anyone.
 
For this gun, you need a mag loader....
Click to expand...

He has one, a pretty good one, that works just as well as the ones you buy separately.
Just One Shot
If your the the Cen Ohio area I've got 5 40SW xd mags that you could try out/borrow until you get yours replaced. They're in all stages of being used.
 
If my mags were stiff when I first got them, I don't remember. And I never used the mag loader.

It sounds like too much force is required to load those last two rounds.

Does the second magazine do the same?

Disassemble the mags, compare the springs, followers, etc, check and clean the mag tube, etc.

Reassemble and try again.

.
 
I went ahead and got one of those Lulas for my weapon.

I thought I was the only bone-head (Blazing saddles style) idiot hurting with the last two or three bullets.

I'll let you know how those lulas work when they arrive.
 
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