XDs .45 reliability?

[Okiegunner]

Looking for a new, small, trim .45 for CCW. Does anyone have any personal experience with the reliability of these pistols? (XDs .45)

I am going to the range this weekend and will rent one to shoot. I wish the "shield" were made in .45 caliber. I have nothing against a 9mm, quite like it actually. Just looking for something slim and small in a .45 for the knockdown factor. I'm a big guy, so recoil really does not bother me much (don't get me wrong, it needs to be manageable).

I currently CCW a 1911 Commander. Looking for something a littler smaller and less weight.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Just looking for something slim and small in a .45 for the knockdown factor.

Do you expect it to knock you down too?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I've been carrying one since 2012 and have over 1000 rounds through mine. It has been utterly reliable and is very controllable given it's size. No malfunctions to date. It is a little jumpy, but you'll get used to it fast. It is also surprisingly accurate and easy to hit with for a gun with a relatively short site radius.

The two biggest draws for me were
1. I like the 45 acp cartridge and shoot it well.
2. The trigger reach is long enough for a large handed guy to have decent trigger control, which has always been my problem with small autos.

 

[98Redline]

I went the same way as you (1911 commander to XDs 45).
My XDs has been boringly reliable.
I have fed it everything from SWC cast loads, cheap steel cased Wolf, premium SD ammo...everything, and it has yet to even hiccup.

It is energetic with the flush fit mag and full boogie SD loads, but not uncontrollable and quite accurate for a gun that small.

 

[nugun55]

My XDS45 has been completely reliable. Probably only have 2-3 hundred rounds through it, but it's never balked. I shoot it as well as I do my 1911's @ 15 yds. Great carry weapon.

 

[TomJ]

I've had mine for over a year and love it. I has not, however, been without it's problems. I've had feeding issues which apparently are not uncommon. It always fed fine when shooting or loading a new magazine using the slide release. It would not feed reliably when hand racking it. I understand that you need to rack it hard, and I did so, but it was still not reliable. SA's instructions tell you to use the slide release, but I stumbled onto this problem at the range when the slide did not lock upon the last round in the magazine being fired, and I then hand racked it. I believe it's been corrected, but if you buy one, and I'd recommend doing so, confirm that it feeds when hand racking it. You never know what situation you'll wind up in, and finding out it won't feed when hand racked while you're under stress is not the time to discover this issue. I have a number of other SA's, Glocks and Sigs, and the XDS is the only one I had this issue with, so I did confirm it was the gun, not me.

 

[RainDodger]

Mine has been 100%. It has never failed to function.

Initially I felt the trigger could be improved upon, so I installed a Powder River Spring Kit, which significantly improved the feel. Reliability remained at 100%. I do think it is paramount that you follow the recommendations in the manual to keep the firing pin channel dry - do not lube it.

After shooting roughly 500 rounds of hand loaded FMJ RNs through it, I verified functionality with 100 hand loaded Gold Dot bullets (the ones optimized for short barrels), loaded fairly hot. That is what I carry in it.

Realize - it's not a range gun for everyday shooting. It has a purpose, which it handles quite well in my opinion. I don't find it comfortable to shoot more than 20 rounds or so on a given range day. It does handle well though, and it's easy to keep shots in center mass at reasonable distances.

Edit: TomJ is correct.. the first round out of the magazine is going to require a good, hard hand-racking of the slide. When shooting the gun, I've never had a feeding problem though. I rack that first round in solidly, then drop the mag and replace the round. That gives me 5 in the mag and one in the chamber for carry.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

TomJ is correct.. the first round out of the magazine is going to require a good, hard hand-racking of the slide. When shooting the gun, I've never had a feeding problem though. I rack that first round in solidly, then drop the mag and replace the round. That gives me 5 in the mag and one in the chamber for carry.

Yep. When you manipulate the slide, make sure to do it like you mean it, and the gun works as it should. Unloading it is a bummer though. I can never get the round to pop free on the first try no matter how hard I wrack it.

I regularly put 100-150 rounds through mine when I take it out to practice. I have meaty palms though, that soak up recoil. Boney fingers though........

 

[Valkman]

Mine is great, goes bang every time. I installed the PRP spring kit and also put Pearce extentions on the 5 rd mags. Couldn't stand my pinkie hanging off while shooting!

 

[98Redline]

The issue with the slide racking is more on how people rack it than an issue with the racking itself. When you slingshot it, if you follow the slide forward even a little bit, the bullet can hang on the fairly sharp feed angle of the ramp and not feed properly. If properly slingshotted the gun will feed just as it does when the slide release is operated.

Practice and it will become 2nd nature.

 

[critter]

Mine is 100% reliable through several hundred rounds of various kinds. I'm sold.

 

[mnhntr]

My wife went to the XDS 45 and between the 2 of us have put 500+ rds through it without any failure with the pistol just some reload issues.

 

[maxxhavoc]

My XDs has been flawless too, except initial problems on the first round. I had the same issue, and I figured out what I was doing wrong.

The magazine spring is rather aggressive, and pushes the round upwards with authority. I am used to pulling back the slide, hearing and feeling the "click" as the round feeds upwards and letting go of the slide.

Well, the XDs will "click" on the extractor groove, and it sounds and feels like you can let go. If you do, the round just nosedives into the magazine. I just had to get it into my head that the slide had to go all the way back, not just when the slide "clicked" on the rim. Once I figured that out, it hasn't been an issue.

 

[Assault]

Mine has been 100%. It has never failed to function.



Initially I felt the trigger could be improved upon, so I installed a Powder River Spring Kit, which significantly improved the feel. Reliability remained at 100%. I do think it is paramount that you follow the recommendations in the manual to keep the firing pin channel dry - do not lube it.



After shooting roughly 500 rounds of hand loaded FMJ RNs through it, I verified functionality with 100 hand loaded Gold Dot bullets (the ones optimized for short barrels), loaded fairly hot. That is what I carry in it.



Realize - it's not a range gun for everyday shooting. It has a purpose, which it handles quite well in my opinion. I don't find it comfortable to shoot more than 20 rounds or so on a given range day. It does handle well though, and it's easy to keep shots in center mass at reasonable distances.



Edit: TomJ is correct.. the first round out of the magazine is going to require a good, hard hand-racking of the slide. When shooting the gun, I've never had a feeding problem though. I rack that first round in solidly, then drop the mag and replace the round. That gives me 5 in the mag and one in the chamber for carry.

Agree, I own 2 XDs 9mm. Neighbor has a .45. U can't easy the slide back forward slowly. Jams every time. Gotta let the slide slam forward on first round. Mag is packed tight, strong spring.

 

[TomJ]

The issue with the slide racking is more on how people rack it than an issue with the racking itself. When you slingshot it, if you follow the slide forward even a little bit, the bullet can hang on the fairly sharp feed angle of the ramp and not feed properly. If properly slingshotted the gun will feed just as it does when the slide release is operated.

Practice and it will become 2nd nature.

This is exactly right. The concern I had with mine was how unforgiving mine was. By way of example, there were times at the range where my hand slipped slightly while I was racking it, but I did pull the slide all the way back, and it jammed solely because I did not slam it forward, but released it instead. Keeping in mind that this is a CC piece, it made me uncomfortable as in the event that I had to use it, I had to be perfect while racking it, which may not be possible in a SD situation. I experimented with other semi's I own, going as far as riding the slide to try to make them not feed, and could not recreate the issue with other guns. As I mentioned before, it seems to have been corrected. My experiences with Springfield's customer service have been great, and I'm confident that they'll correct this issue if you're experiencing it.

 

[armedwalleye]

In my experience, the XDs likes it rough. My LGS gun guy told me "shoot it like it owes you money". Slingshort the slide, don't limpwrist at all, and run it hard and the gun will respond in spades.
Make no mistake, with the rough grip it's not going to be, nor is meant to be, a 250 round at a time range gun unless you swing a hammer for a living. It's rough on the hands. But it is my daily carry gun, and will eat anything I feed it when run hard.

 

[chuckpro]

Mine has been 100 percent reliable with all kinds of ammo. Like all of my subcompact pistols the slide has to be properly racked and mags firmly inserted. I have never had to slam it forward, just pull it to the back aggressively ( the slide will stop and your hand should keep going until you loose grip and the slide will go home with a round in the chamber).

 

[Okiegunner]

I appreciate all the good information.

Has anyone that owns one of these tried the 7 round extended magazines?

 

[BrianC636]

I have an XDs in .45 with both the 5 and 7 round mags. Runs fine with both but I hate shooting it. I'm a skinny dude with small hands so it's a little rough after 50-75 rounds but I've had zero issues with it and carry it everyday.

The trigger sucks IMO and needs a rework to lessen the pull weight but all in all, it's a great firearm. B

 

[Valkman]

I have 2 of the 7 rounders and they work great. When I bought them a lot of guys on the XD fourms were having trouble with them but I think it all got straightened out.

 

[GBExpat]

Except for the ~2 weeks that it was gone for The Fix, I have carried it every day since I acquired it, new, in Summer'13.

When it was returned by SA I did have to install (most of) a PRP Spring Kit and polish the innards because my trigger action had gone from sweet to crap. Now it is better than it was when I first got it.

Everytime I setup in the backyard to test loads thru the Chrony, I fire a few mags and it has always been accurate, dependable and comfortable.

And I was finally able to solve the short grip situation to my satisfaction.

Good


Better


BEST

 

[herkyguy]

Just a quick note, I've put the Pachmyer grip sleeve on both of mine and they make recoil much better. I think they they were $13 a piece.

 

[handloader357]

Ive had 2 of these guns. 1st one was perfect until the recall , 2nd one was total garbage and took alot of work before it ran right. Long story short, they're both gone now.

Here's some food for thought that may influence your decision. The XDs is very light with a short slide so obviously doesn't like being short stroked or held loosely. If you're in an actual SD situation do you want to be thinking about how high or tight your grip is? What if you're injured or shooting weak handed? It's those questions that made me decide to get rid of it. That may not be an issue for some people, but for me it was. The XDs was the only gun I ever owned that I couldn't shoot off handed.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

My 7 round mags work just fine. I was going to get a Pierce extension for my 5 round mags but realized the larger 7 rounders would be more beneficial.

I mostly carry it with the flush mag though and if I want a reload in hand I drop a 7 rounder in my pocket. It makes the XDs suitable to fill several roles.

 

[WYO]

My experience is a composite of what many have said. My XDS .45 has functioned with every type of ammo I have fed it, except for a single failure to eject when I accidentally fired a .40 S&W in it. I have about 1000 rounds through two of them, mostly 230 grain standard velocity Speer Gold Dots, but also including lightly loaded 200 grain lead SWC rounds that choke my Glock 30 and factory 230 grain ball. It is accurate, too, and the post-fix trigger is fine for me. I also don’t carry a gun unless I can limp wrist it with carry ammo using each hand unsupported. If I can grip it enough to depress the grip safety, it has always fired for me.

The gun has to be fed using the slide release or a proper slingshot. (Pull all the way back and let it go. Using the support hand overhand to do that works best for me.) My wife tried to ride the slide forward with her hand one time and got a malfunction. The ramp is steep which can cause some bullet deformation. The ejection port is short which can create an occasional issue when ejecting live rounds. That is a trade off for making the gun so small, and other small guns have the same issue.

I used one wrap of electrical tape around the grip and that worked fine to remove some of the aggressiveness of the texturing. I bought a Pachmayr grip sleeve and threw it away. It can work its way up and pin the grip safety and it can work its way down and jam the mag well when reloading. I had both of those things happen to me.

I carry with the flush 5 round magazine. I carry 2-7 round magazines for reloads with the grip adapters removed. With the adapters removed they look and carry like 1911 magazines, and the 1911 magazine pouches that I have work well with it. I have not had any functioning problems using this setup.

I think it is an awesome little gun with big bore punch. My only disappointment is the lack of aftermarket night sights that truly fit the gun. I bought some True Dots that were advertised as fitting, but they have a slight bit of overhang in the rear with some sharp edges that can scratch up the skin when carrying IWB. Perhaps the marketplace will catch up (or has caught up unbeknownst to me).