XD Setup for HD

[Joey101]

I own an XD I also use primarily for HD. I keep it locked up in a handgun cabinet right next to my bed. I do not keep my magazines loaded in the gun. In order to load the gun in a Home Invasion type situation I have to ock the slide back and insert the magazine then release the slide. Is it ok to leave the slide locked back?

And how safe would it be for me to keep it loaded and ready to fire? Meaning a round is chambered and all you have to do is pull the trigger.

 

[TarpleyG]

Just keep it loaded. It's not going to "go off" unless you pull the trigger so get that notion out of your head right now. If not loaded, why do you think the slide must be locked back in order to chamber a round? Just insert a mag and rack the slide.

Greg

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Joey,

Why a locked cabinet, too. Kids?

Keep it secure, loaded, near the bed with a high quality light with it. It is not going to do you much good if you are fiddling with the safe or the slide when a BG is already in your bedroom. Also the sound of the slide will give your position away. (there has been a lot of debate if this is good or not, I think not)

You need the light to acquire the target. Don't fire without it. A Surefire or other tactical flashlight will temporarily blind your intruder as well.

 

[Joey101]

If not loaded, why do you think the slide must be locked back in order to chamber a round? Just insert a mag and rack the slide

For some reason every time I have the slide de-cocked I can't insert the mag fully. I can only insert it when the slide is locked back. And then by releasing the slide it chambers a round.

Joey,

Why a locked cabinet, too. kids?

Yes. My wife is scared to death of my gun. I made her shoot it hoping she would overcome her fear of it. But I think it made her condition worse!!

She is used to shooting 9mm's so my .45 was alot more than she's used to.

 

[eagle45]

Joey -

I keep an XD as a bedside gun each night, loaded and ready to go. I keep mine in my Don Hume JIT Slide holster which covers the trigger. This way I can grab it in the middle of the night without worrying about placing my finger inside the trigger guard until I am ready. Once I have a good grip, the holster comes off. I place mine on an old mouse pad on the night stand - the mouse pad protects the wood from scratches. I do keep it in exactly the same place each night, and can find it easily (practice this).

You should be able to seat a fully loaded mag without locking the slide back. Granted, it is harder but a firm tap on the bottom of the mag should be sufficient.

 

[.40-.45]

For some reason every time I have the slide de-cocked I can't insert the mag fully. I can only insert it when the slide is locked back. And then by releasing the slide it chambers a round.

There is no reason that a full mag wont lock in with the slide forward
are the mag springs new and very stiff?

when I first got my XD-40 the mags were so stiff I had a hard time loading more than 8 rounds and a full mag was difficult to lock in

My opinion as many of the springs in a gun should be at rest as possible
I would keep the slide forward and slam those mags home

 

[Joey101]

Yeah your all right. I guess my springs are still pretty tough. I was able to get the full 9 round mag into the gun. Feel funny about having it loaded though. Kinda makes me nervous. I mean it's not fully loaded I would still have to chamber a round but it's as close as it'll get until (god I hope never) I need it.

Have you all ever used those mag loader devices? Speed loaders I guess. I just used a pen to push down the rounds when I get to around the 8th one. Starts getting real tough then.

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Joey,

New mags are always tough. Keep the mags loaded and the springs will loosen up with time (and years later get too loose, and you have to replace them).

My Glock 19 came with a "Glock loader", which I use to load my mags. My fiance thinks its a waste of time and loads by hand. Each to their own. The Glock springs are tough at first.

If you are nervous about having it loaded, I think you probably need more time with your gun. If you are nervous because your wife is nervous I don't have a suggestion.

You purchased the weapon for personal protection, to protect you and your family. You thought it was necessary. Unless I was a victim of sleepwalking (I'm not kidding) I would keep it loaded.

 

[eagle45]

Have you all ever used those mag loader devices? Speed loaders I guess. I just used a pen to push down the rounds when I get to around the 8th one. Starts getting real tough then.

In a word, yes. I always use them. You can pick them up for a couple of bucks at a gun show, or online from a number of places. You'll need one to fit a double stack magazine for your XD. If you have a high cap magazine, the last two or three can be hard to get in. If I have to load by hand I can, but these make an afternoon at the range much more enjoyable.

 

[glocker1911]

Since you already said it is kept in a locked cabinet, there is no reason it shouldn't be loaded, ready to go. In an actual "situation", having probably just woke up, it will be enough to think about to get the cabinet unlocked, without having to worry about your "loading" process. Good luck.

 

[Pietro Beretta]

I got the XML light with my XD40 Sub-Compact, so I dont have to have a mag light in my left hand, and my gun in the right. I load my gun up at night unlocked, with light attached. In the morning I unload it, and put her in the safe.

With my new SA XD40 SC... the magazine springs are very stiff. My thumbs were a bit sore after the 50th round. ( I have 2, 9 round mags, since I live in CA) However the 8th one is pretty hard to get in, and the 9th is Really hard almost feels like your puting in 1 too many.

You do have to push a bit to get the magazine in with the slide back, but this is normal