XDs vs J-Frame question...

[Glockdaddy]

This may be an unusual question, but I am looking for some guidance. I have been carrying a J-Frame 642 Centennnial AirWeight for the past three years. It is a special edition that has the 2 1/8 underlug barrel, like a model 60. With a Crimson Trace grip it is easy to shoot. My problem is I have injured my wrist on my shooting hand....strained tendons, and shooting the J-Frame is not very comfortable, even with mild 38specials. The XDs in 9mm would fit my carry need quite nicely but I am not sure if there will be a significant difference in felt recoil. Any opinions?

BTW, I have had many different small 9mm (Kahr, G26, Beretta Storm) and I remembering them being rather snappy, but they are all long gone and I can't do a comparison. Also, the XDs that I would consider would be the 4" barrel. I prefer the sight picture and it still conceals nicely.

Thanks for any input.

 

[beeb173]

rented an xds 3" the other day. considerably less tingling after shooting than the ruger lcr i'm used to.

 

[SeanSw]

Make sure you can rack the slide on the XDs. It's stiffer than a full size 9mm and the slide has less to hold on to. On the other hand, it shoots more like a full size pistol. It is also one of the heavier single stack sub compact 9mm pistols. Recoil is a painless, follow ups are easy, and it's shaped well for ccw. If you pocket carry you'll probably have to give it up in exchange for a holster.

Shooting standard pressure 158gr .38 specials from the Ruger LCR is an increased step, maybe step and a half, in recoil (to me, this is purely subjective observation) to standard 9mm from the xds. Even shooting my carry load of 124gr +p is a pleasure and could be shot comfortably all day. I can't say the same for the LCR. Both me and my partners hands tingle after a range session with the LCR and it's wearing hogue tamer grips (comfortable but too big imo) to help reduce recoil. The tingling lasted two days for her and she hadn't been into the +p yet either.

 

[Glockdaddy]

Thanks Beeb and Sean

Those are good observations. I can rack the slide with no problem, I just can't take too much pressure if my wrist bends backwards. As for carry, I usually have the J in a Simply Rugged Silver Dollar Pancake holster. In warmer weather it is IWB. The XDs would probably be carried in a similar fashion.

It would be worth while trying to find a local range with that particular gun for rent I guess.....

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I carried a 642 TALO with a 1.87" bbl in my pocket in for two summers. Then in 2012 I tried on an XDs in .45. The gun was slimmer, easier to carry IWB than my Ruger SP101, which was my primary spring, summer, and fall carry gun, and I got 6 shots total of 45 acp as apposed to 3 shots of 357 in the SP, and 5 shots of 38 spl in the 642.

Once I started carrying and shooting the XDs regularly, the Ruger got relegated to open carry trail work, and the 642 was traded away. I haven't regretted it a bit. My XDs has been 100 reliable, is surprisingly easy to shoot and accurate for a 3.3" bbl gun, and the recoil is far less than you'd expect from such a small 45. I keep her loaded with Hornady 230 gr +p ammo, and she hits where I point her, and fast.

So, given your wrist injury, I think an XDs in 9mm is a great trade. You will still get plenty of juice out of a 4" bbl, and the recoil should be less than you have been experiencing with your 642. I find the 45 XDs more pleasant to shoot than my 642 was, probably because the grip fits me better.

As noted above, be sure to play with one first. The recoil spring on the XDs is stiff, and with your wrist issues, it may be hard to wrack. I find the over hand method to be the best way to cycle the slide manually. Also, when unloading the gun, at least the 45 version, you need to very forcefully wrack that slide, or the round will get hung up. For this reason, and to avoid bullet set back, I leave mine loaded and chambered all the time.

I have no kids though, so that may or may not work for you.

As a comparison, my 642 with the boot grip, and normal 1.87" bbl was the same length as the XDs 3.3, but the XDs is narrower. However, the internal hammer on my j frame made the 642 easier to pocket carry. On the XDs, the striker mechanism and housing gives the XDs a big bum on the rear of the slide, as with most other striker fired guns.

The XDs is a pleasure to carry IWB in a hybrid holster, if your pants are bought in the correct size.

 

[oneounceload]

considerably less tingling

That's called nerve damage and when you start to feel that you should stop immediately.

 

[psyopspec]

A Glock 42 may be worth a try; many owners remark about the soft recoil. We all know it's a .380, but if it increases handling and proficiency for some shooters, that might be the right step.

 

[SeanSw]

I have never fired the 4" barrel xds but it's probably more of the same. They appear a little ungainly with the standard magazine in place but there's no denying the benefit of a service length barrel. Even 9mm seems to gain a useful amount of velocity from the extra inch and it allows for even more ammo choices. I enjoy the 9mm and was also surprised at the lack of recoil in the .45 model. If I had tried it first my decision to stick with 9mm wood have been more difficult.

 

[Old Fuff]

Regardless of what direction you go, I suggest that you start practicing with your other hand, and also consider a set of Crimson Trace laser grips.

A different gun may help, but it won't solve your injury issues.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Regardless of what direction you go, I suggest that you start practicing with your other hand, and also consider a set of Crimson Trace laser grips.

A different gun may help, but it won't solve your injury issues.

I agree, time to shoot with your other hand. I always practice with both hands because you never know when you will need that skill.

As for a 9mm, I have never shot a 9mm that didn't produce more recoil than a .38 Special. Most 9mm ammo will generate as much pressure as a .357 Magnum but worse than that, the 9mm has a snap to it which torques your wrist. IMO a 9mm is not the solution to your problem. A heavier J frame might help a lot though. Shooting a 23oz J frame instead of a 15oz J frame will tame the felt recoil...

 

[Kleanbore]

My Airweight Centennial will make me need to soak my hand after seventy five rounds at the range. Not so with the XD-S 4.0 9MM.

Shoots better, too, and has more capacity.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My Airweight Centennial will make me need to soak my hand after seventy five rounds at the range. Not so with the XD-S 4.0 9MM.

Shoots better, too, and has more capacity.

Maybe you shoot the semi-auto better but it doesn't shoot better than the revolver.

The OP said he has an injury and IMO the 9mm is worse on the wrist than a .38 Special in a J frame.

 

[btg3]

I've tried 3 different grips on an Airweight. It's like shooting 3 different guns.
Pachmayr was the largest grip, then the OEM, then the smaller CrimsonTrace grip. To me, only the CT grip was uncomfortable.

That said. for pocket carry I've gone to M&P BodyGuard .380ACP (no laser). With a Hogue Handall Jr put on upside down, it is very nice to shoot. Admittedly, I've compromised on ballistic performance, to achieve more carry comfort... and capacity.

 

[btg3]

...IMO the 9mm is worse on the wrist than a .38 Special in a J frame.

One factor is muzzle flip.
For the J-frame, it's important to move your strong hand upward on the grip as high as possible and support with weak hand.
For 9mm autoloaders, bore axis, barrel length, gun weight, etc influence stress on the wrist.
But yes, for 9mm versus .38spl from the same J-frame, the wrist will dislike 9mm.

For comparison of 4 calibers in a 360J, here's a link:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...sults-38spl-9mm-38-super-9x23-winchester.html

 

[Kleanbore]

Maybe you shoot the semi-auto better but it doesn't shoot better than the revolver.

"Better" means the right balance of speed and precision.

Most people I know can shoot a striker fired semi auto with a long enough barrel more quickly with control than a lightweight J-frame with a short barrel.

 

[jad0110]

Depending on the exact nature of the OP's injuries, I can't say for certain that a 9mm auto will be more comfortable to shoot. True, an airweight J Frame .38 with boot grips or slim service stocks definitely smacks the web of your hand more than a typically service size 9, transmitting its force straight back into the wrist. OTH, a semi auto (particularly a polymer frame one) tends to torque your wrist more with slide reciprocation. Best bet is to try a few different options.

Assuming the OP has a good healthy back and no hip problems, an all steel 9mm could be the best all around option. My CZ-75B 9mm has surprisingly little felt recoil. It still flicks the wrist more than say a .38 K Frame, but it is very mild overall. Said K frame with a 3" or 4" barrel may be a possibility as well. Like any steel guns, they requires a good gun belt and a nice holster (just got a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2 for my CZ, very comfortable).

 

[orionengnr]

In general, it is my experience that a semi auto will have a good bit less recoil than a revolver of equivalent power. (YMMV). So I would not be at all surprised that a 9mm XDs would be softer shooting than a .38Spl j-frame.

I would be aghast if any .45 (or anything short of an M-80 going off in your hand) would not be softer-shooting than a .357 J-frame.

Yes, I've had three of the latter, and can't imagine the former being much worse...

I got 6 shots total of 45 acp as apposed (sic) to 3 shots of 357 in the SP, and 5 shots of 38 spl in the 642.

Not sure how you only get 3 shots out of the SP.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Not sure how you only get 3 shots out of the SP.

It's a typo. Obviously I meant 5 shots...............

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I have both a 642 Airweight and an XD40subcompact. The former has been a summer weight CC with an IWB, while the latter is now my preferred carry piece. I find the recoil with the .40 S&W more manageable than the .38 spl from the Airweight and I shoot it more accurately and reload it more quickly. I use Federal HiShok as defense loads for each.

I have not tried the XDs but see no reason to move from a XD sc. If you prefer the 9mm, go with it. I like bullets that have a .4 in the caliber.

Harry

 

[Rule3]

I have both and felt or perceived recoil is less in the XD than a J frame.
I would compare the lightweight J frame to the XDS in 45 acp!

A locked breach semi auto is in my opinion much less recoil than any revolver except of course a small caliber in a big all steel frame.

Much rather shoot a small fram 9mm than a lightweight snubby, plus you get 2 more shots.

Its of course up to you. One mans pain is anothers pleasure or something.

 

[TriTone]

In my experience people experience recoil and snap differently. To a high degree your technique affects this but also your hand shape and size.

Ultimately, the most comfortable gun is one that fits your hand well; palm swell, amount of protrusion and shape of backstrap, flat front of grip or grooves that go between your fingers. Find something that really fits well and ideally a medium rubber grip, maybe even a pistol recoil reducer slip over. Everyone has their different experiences with these products, because everybody's hand is a little different and so is their technique and body's condition.

I guess what I'm saying is see what you can do to customize your current pistol to your needs, keep getting more opinions on here, talk to some good gunsmiths, maybe even try some reduced recoil defensive loads?? You've had and shot your revolver for a while and are familiar with carrying it...I would just consider the advantages to that.

As for the XDS, I love the little thing but it doesn't fit me as well as my XD 4", S&W Shield, S&W K-frame, or a ruger SP101. Jframes have never worked well for me without grip modifications. I would have no worries as the reliability of the XDs, but ultimately advise that for you, hand to gun fit and some customization are probably going to be the factors that will get you where you need to be. Sorry to hear about your wrist

P.S.: Can you get a little snubbie like that 'lightly' ported? Might help if it's safe, haven't seen it done personally.

P.S.2: As other posters have said weight is obviously a factor. Have you seen if a solid steel .357 rated snubbie is too heavy for you to hold? Would certainly reduce felt recoil if only loaded with .38.