XD-9 Tactical range report...

[2bigfeet]

Went to the gun store day before yesterday with the intentions of not leaving without a purchase. I've had a bug up my butt for a polymer for a while. At the store I had a Ruger P95 polymer, Smith M&P, and the XD 5" all laid out in front of me. In this price range money didn't factor in. I wanted a 9mm that felt good in my large hands.

I really wanted to like the Ruger, as I like all the safety's and decocker. I have big hands and the fullness felt good. What bumped it out of the running was the loooong trigger pull. I had keep adjusting my hand back out of the grip and double up my trigger finger to get it to break. The Ruger was out.

I absolutely loved the feel of the M&P. And of all three had the best trigger IMO. However, I liked the idea of the 5" barrel on the XD as this was primarily to be used as a range gun and double as a home gun. I wasn't really thinking CCW on this purchase though the M&P would be better.

I hemmed and hawed and seemed to be at an impass between the M&P and the XD. For a while I thought crap, I'm going to leave with nothing (I tend to get analysis paralysis and do nothing at all). I really liked the M&P but wished it had an additional safety on it. Liked the 5" barrel and the grip safety of the XD but the green kind of turned me off. You see my how my head swims?

The kid behind the counter was very good, very patient and... knew how to close me. He showed me how they both broke down. Seemed to me the XD was one step less. It wasn't much, but it was all it took to tip the scales. I think I like green.

Anyhoo...

I grabbed a box of Winchester white box 115GR FMJ Target/Range (value pack) and headed to the range yesterday for a quickie. The first few clips were just getting settled in and a feel for the gun and trigger break point. The left target (25 feet) were the first few. The target on the right was after warm up. The flyer's are just trying to print somewhere else other than the big hole in the middle.

The supplied magazine loader worked great I thought... first time I ever used one. Things get really tough after about ten rounds are loaded into the clip. All fed and fired 100%. Did I mention I LOVE this gun!

I still really like the M&P. I saw pictures of the new 45 M&P with a thumb safety. If the safety finds it way to the 9mm M&P I will buy one for CCW. However at this time I'm extreemly happy with my purchase of the XD. I just picked up a box of 124gr & 147gr ammo to try tomorrow.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Thanks for a nice write up!

BTW, it's called a magazine, not a clip. Most serious shooters kinda have a bug up their butt about that one. Connotations of watching too many movies and not really knowing what you're talking about and all

 

[2bigfeet]

BTW, it's called a magazine, not a clip. Most serious shooters kinda have a bug up their butt about that one. Connotations of watching too many movies and not really knowing what you're talking about and all

Dictionary:

clip 1 |klip| noun
a device, typically flexible or worked by a spring, for holding an object or objects together or in place.
• a device such as this used to hold paper currency.
• a piece of jewelry fastened by a clip.
• a metal holder containing cartridges for an automatic firearm.

What's that last one ^ say...?

se•man•tics |se'mantiks|
plural noun [usu. treated as sing. ]
the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning. There are a number of branches and subbranches of semantics, including formal semantics, which studies the logical aspects of meaning, such as sense, reference, implication, and logical form, lexical semantics, which studies word meanings and word relations, and conceptual semantics, which studies the cognitive structure of meaning.
• the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text : such quibbling over semantics may seem petty stuff.

 

[shaggycat]

Firstly, since when are dictionaries considered the final say on firearm terminology? There is more knowledge of guns on this board than exist among dictionary producers, without question.

Secondly, both a clip and a magazine hold rounds. They are both generally metal. The guy was politely educating you.

A picture of a clip is shown midway down the following page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-06_Springfield

See the difference between that and what you put in your XD?

Back on topic, thanks for the review! Glad you love your gun! I really wish I had the money for an XD. When I get my CCW, I would like to pick up the compact.

By the way, I really like the OD Green finish.

 

[Maxinquaye]

Unless you're shooting a Garand or some other (mostly milsurp) bolt actions which are fed from stripper clips, you're gonna look like a dumbass when you say that around shooters. But hey man, I guess you'll figure that out in time. Just trying to save you some funny looks from more experienced people at the range.

 

[2bigfeet]

Guys, I take the good natured corrections in stride and in the spirit they were meant. It is however, a semantics thing. Technically... I know the difference. Lots of us do and still call them clips... or magazines depending on what brain signals come to the mouth first. Its also regional and age related too. At fifty years old I don't worry anymore if somebody thinks I'm a dumbass because I occasionally call a magazine a clip. It really doesn't bother me. We're all dumbasses on one level or another aren't we?

Yes, the green is kind of growing on me. Heading back to the local indoor tomorrow to try out the other loads. I also have to pick up a third magazine to shoot in the local IDPA style match.

 

[zachsm]

nless you're shooting a Garand or some other (mostly milsurp) bolt actions which are fed from stripper clips, you're gonna look like a dumbass when you say that around shooters. But hey man, I guess you'll figure that out in time. Just trying to save you some funny looks from more experienced people at the range.

If you know etymology and the history of the English language, any common usage of a word for any specific cause (sometimes they can be coinages) is "accepted" into the vocabulary. If people call something that holds ammunition a clip, then it is a clip. Whether or not mechanically they are the same thing. I mean you probably could think of a thousand different examples ranging from electronics to automobile parts.

Do you call the television the "tube"? Unless you have a really old T.V., it shouldn't even have a vacuum tube in it. But those fools at at Websters, they put it in the dictionary.

im not sure why this is debated anymore. seriously.

Ive never met someone who didn't understand that, until i got on THR


nice XD, I myself really like the green frame

 

[skipjack]

Nice pistol,and good shooting. I shot a 9mm 4" xd this evening and was impressed. I also shot a customer's 45 xd tactical, and liked it, as well.
I want to give a try on a 3" in 9mm, it may well be my next purchase.

 

[BobTheTomato]

If I can ask without being rude, how much did it set you back?

 

[2bigfeet]

If I can ask without being rude, how much did it set you back?

Being a newbie and all I'm not sure what the forum rules are for posting prices. Feel free to PM me.

 

[browningguy]

On pricing, I picked up an XD9 Tactical at the gun show in Houston the last weekend of 2006, they were $446 at Schramms, others had them up to $519.

 

[2bigfeet]

I guess its okay. I paid $499.99

 

[TX_Shooter]

BTW, it's called a magazine, not a clip. Most serious shooters kinda have a bug up their butt about that one. Connotations of watching too many movies and not really knowing what you're talking about and all

** I think the best way to describe it as Marlin says it is, it's called "clip magazine"

See here under "capacity" Linky: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/SelfLoading/795.aspx



No hard feelings, just love.

 

[Juna]

I rented that exact model (5" OD green XD 9mm), and I loved it. I was accurate as heck with it, I liked the trigger, and I liked the ergonomics (though not as much as my CZ with the rubber grips). But all in all, it's a great pistol. It's tied for my favorite polymer pistol with the H&K P2000 & USP, but it wins out on price.

Great choice, and congrats on your new purchase!

 

[possum]

congrats on the new gun, and great report, i am happy to see another happy member of the xd family, btw good shooting too!

 

[xd9fan]

love that OD!!