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MoJo wrote:The XD in 40 or 357 SIG can be fitted with aftermarket 9MM barrels. You would then have the option of 3 calibers. The Springfield 9MM barrel won't work in the 40/357 slide.

kw5kw wrote:to question #2: If you buy the .40 you can swap out with a .357 or a 9mm barrel, but that's the only one that will allow the swap. You can go down, but you can't go up. The .45 only looks the same, the entire platform is different than the smaller calibers. So you can't do any barrel swaps if you purchase the .45.

Yeah, I would expect that because the case head of the 40 is bigger than the nine...I guess to be more specific, is the lower half (the frame assembly) the same for each of the smaller calibers? Could you put an entire upper (slide, barrel, recoil spring) from a 40 or 357 SIG on a nine frame and/or vice versa? Or, can you just have a barrel fitted as described above?

Now I like nothing better than blued steel and walnut, but lately I've been drawn to polymer, especially the Springfield XD. I never cared for the Glocks...I couldn't get past the funky grip angle, but when I first picked up the XD it just felt "right". I also like the idea of the grip safety on the XD. Although I've held an XD and dry fired it, I've never fired or carried one, so naturally I have questions for you XD guys.

1. I know the XD started under another name in Croatia. Does Springfield make the new ones or are they still made in Croatia? The reason I ask is I found a used one in a shop marked "Springfield" and "made in Croatia"...just trying to figure out the age of the pistol.

2. Is the XD a platform type pistol? In other words, can caliber changes be accomplished by changing barrels, slides, and magazines?

3. The XD seems a little "chunky" for carry. What are the pros and cons from you guys that actually carry one?

4. What are used 9mm XD's, 4" full size grip, black on black going for in your neck of the woods? The one I looked at in a pawn shop looked to have probably 200 rounds through it judging by the breechface. I forgot to ask if they had the case or extra magazines or other accessories.