4" XD .45

[The Annoyed Man]

I came this close to buying an XD .45 with a 4" barrel at the TSRA gun show today. What I liked about it besides the shape of the grip and the empty weight of the gun was that it did not seem much bigger than my USP Compact .40 and that it had ambidextrous safety and mag release controls.

If I get one, I'll sell off my USPc (along with a bunch of ammo, holsters, and a 3rd 12 round mag). I'm trying to simplify my caliber picture. Right now, I stock pistol ammo for .22LR, .380, .38 Special, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and .44 magnum. If I could feed my polymer framed pistol the same stuff my 1911s digest, it would make life a bit simpler for me.

I met XDgal at the show, and she said she really likes hers, but I wanted to know who else out there has an XD .45, more specifically the 4" model, what your nits and picks are, and what you really like about the gun. So far, my XD experience is limited to shooting one magazine through a friend's XD 9mm, and it seemed like a nice enough gun, but I'd really like opinions on the .45.

Thanks.

[McKnife]

XD-45 is one of the best handguns ever made, no doubt. Very accurate, it'll shoot anything and goes bang everytime.

I purchased it as my carry gun because it holds 14 rounds of .45 ACP and has the grip safety. Glock 21 was too thick and no safety.

One issue with this pistol is that it's grip is long. Very long. I'm a big fella, so the only way I can conceal this in my supertuck is with a buttondown shirt untucked, or else you see an obvious protrusion in my shirt. When first carrying, I did small of back, which had no issues with the grip, but my current strongside carry is tough until I either lose 50 lbs or different shirt. So, during work days, I wear my Glock 19.

My only other problem with the XD was that I had to train myself to keep my shooting-hand thumb down or in the groove on the frame. I took a handgun combat course with the XD and on the third of 5 days, my hands were sore, so I got lazy. My thumb would move up during recoil and hit the slide release during cycle, which would lock the slide back on a live round. I just released the slide with the same thumb and kept shooting while reminding myself to stay focused on my grip.

other than that, I've had the best time with this piece of equipment. It's thousands of rounds old and has many thousands more to go. I've put every type of round through it and it begs for more. I even shot some 1930's russian 45 acp with corroded aluminum or steel shells which felt like sandpaper... I could only load like 3-4 in the mags due to the ammo condition but it fired and cycled all of 'em.

Get an XD. It's one of the best and you'll be glad you have it.

Ps... forgive any typos... this was typed tediously on my phone... ;)

[CLTX11]

My 4" XD .45 has not let me down yet. I have fed it all kinds of ammo and it shoots straight and has yet to have a problem.

If you want to use it as a carry gun that will do well, I am a small frame guy and conceal the XD great in the right holster.

Just for kicks and grins you can take a look at this.


http://springfield-armory.primediaoutdo ... tory11.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[The Annoyed Man]

...it holds 14 rounds of .45 ACP and has the grip safety

HmmmMMMMMmmm......

The model checked out must come in as a compact. It was roughly the same size as my USP Compact .40, and it holds 12+1 rounds of .45. It also had an ambidextrous slide mounted thumb safety — although I noted that not all the models on display had that last feature.

[bigolbigun]

I have carried my XD .45 4" compact everyday for the last two years. It is very easy to carry. Depending on my wardrobe I may change out the 13 rd. mag in favor of the 10 rd. one for concealment reasons. The one you looked at was empty, and I must tell you when it's loaded with 13+1 it is does add some weight, but not enough to deter me from carrying it everyday. I can still carry it wearing mesh gym shorts in a cheap Uncle Mikes IWB # 15 holster around the yard if I want to with no problems.

It is a great shooting gun. I am by no means a marksman, but this thing shoots great. I have several buddies that have shot it, and all of them have ended up buying one of their own. I really don't have any negative thoughts or input about this gun. I had a XDSC .9mm before this one and it was great to. Good luck and I know you will enjoy it if you decide to get it.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

...it holds 14 rounds of .45 ACP and has the grip safety

HmmmMMMMMmmm......

The model checked out must come in as a compact. It was roughly the same size as my USP Compact .40, and it holds 12+1 rounds of .45. It also had an ambidextrous slide mounted thumb safety — although I noted that not all the models on display had that last feature.

TAM,
The 4" XD .45 comes in a compact and service model. I have a service model that I will NEVER sell as it is a workhorse and is an absolute joy to shoot. It is very accurate and reliable. With that being said I kinda wish that I had the compact version for versatility. The compact version comes with and regular sized mag with a grip extension on it. This gives you the choice between the compact size or the service size. Either way it is an awesome gun and has not let me down. I love my XD!!!

[The Annoyed Man]

Another of the things I liked about it is that, despite carrying 12+1 rounds of .45 ACP, the grip was very noticeably slimmer than a Glock .45.

I like the Glock in a 9mm, but it's just too big, thick, and clunky in a .45 for my tastes.

[Sidro]

We have two xd-40s, xd-40sc and xd-357sig and really like them(too many 45s already). One thing TAM you may not have noticed but instinctively felt when you handled it is the grip angle is the same as a 1911. After shooting 1911s for years the first xd i picked up felt like an old friend and that sold me.

[PappaGun]

I agree with all the above.

I've had the XD45 Compact for two years and have never had a jam, FTF or any other problem.

And I use alot of cheap ammo for plinking.

For CC I prefer the 10 round mag. because as noted above, it can be pretty heavy with 13.

It's easy to break down and clean too.

Great gun. Get one!

[The Annoyed Man]

One thing TAM you may not have noticed but instinctively felt when you handled it is the grip angle is the same as a 1911. After shooting 1911s for years the first xd i picked up felt like an old friend and that sold me.

That's part of what appealed to me too. I'm essentially a 1911 guy, and the reason I bought my USPc is that it came close to 1911 ergonomics. But it's not as close as the XD. What I found was that the XD was the first duty sized polymer .45 that fit my hands without feeling like a "big" gun.

Ergonomically, I'm sold. But I wanted to find out what everyone else's ownership experience was like before plunking down the ducats — particularly with regard to reliability. It sounds like that's not going to be an issue either. I've already got experience with Springfield's customer service department, which is excellent.

So I guess my next step is to see what I can get for my USP Compact...

[USA1]

I wanted to find out what everyone else's ownership experience was like before plunking down the ducats — particularly with regard to reliability.

Well, mine is the XD40sc, but it has yet to have a hiccup.
Almost all reviews on the XD line are very positive.
I don't think you'll have any regrets if you make the purchase.

[OldSchool]

Another vote for the XC45c (c for "compact"). This was what we chose for my carry piece while we were waiting for DynaBlue's plastic to arrive (yeah, she got the Glock ).

Culpability moment: Carrying only at home, as we have yet to put rounds through it; too much going on to get to the range.

It is very similar to the G36 (realizing that we were never really looking for a Glock or XD). It turns out the best (read: "local, affordable and fully covers the trigger") holster for the XD was the exact same model we're using for the G36, De Santis Tuck This II for 4" 1911-type semis, canted to about 15 degs; i.e., both are the exact same model holster. Carrying with the 10-round mag; I just today moved it to 2:30, and there's not much poking out. Very comfortable; even forgot I had it on one time today!

[pbwalker]

I've got the exact same model (4" XD .45) and love it. Like it's been mentioned, it is a workhorse. It's the sidearm I carry when I am out hunting. I've never had a FT* with the pistol. I will NEVER sell it.

I had my brother in law out at the range with me yesterday and he too fell in love with it.

You can't go wrong with the XD.

[KFP]

I realize how much of a generalization I'm about to make, but I'll go for it.

The out of box reliability of a Glock/XD/Sig/HK can't be beat.

I know a fellow forum member and also a number of LEOs that trust their lives with the same pistol and have had zero issues with any of them.