Comments on: Gun Review: Springfield XD-9

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:43:47 +0000

Totally agree, the XD just feels better in the hand compared to a Glock for me. I made the XD-9 my first handgun. The only thing I don’t like is there’s no .22 conversion kit for it.

By: Gun Smoke

Gun Smoke — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:32:40 +0000

Hummm….I must have shot a lemon then? I checked out the full-size at the local range. My daily carry is a Ruger p95DC and I’m very proficient with that pistol…and am more accurate with a G19. Thought I would try the XD9 to see what all they hype was about. It’s very heavy…actually felt heavier than my 1911 model…ok. Blocky and very wide (with a flat top, you would think it would be fast reset on target after you fire the thing…my Ruger was easier on the sight picture). I fired 50 rounds through it without a single hiccup. It works-out to 7yards, great. After 7yards, the grouping goes all to heck with the same Sellier & Bellot that I normally qualify with (and Navy SEALS love). I would wager that it would be most impossible to keep on the paper at 25yards. You “really” had to concentrate fully to make it hit where it should. Top heavy as well. My Ruger was much more accurate. It is reliable, good price, but I’m very glad that I test fired one before I bought the gun. I don’t want a firearm that’s incapable of 2-3″ groups at 25yrds. The more accurate it is, the better chance I have of surviving. I can actually shoot my 1911 better than the XD9 without the rear sights (took them off because they kept snagging when carrying concealed)…using just the front. Now, this is not to say that the other models of the XD are not more accurate though as I have seen compact guns out-shoot some full-size models before…just my experience. I really inspected the gun as well, thinking as a range gun, it might be shot-out….but the thing looked almost brand new, virtually zero wear, springs very tight (it was little harder to rack the slide as previous reviewer said) all sights seemed tight/new with no wear or movement. Guess it’s just not for me, but if you can shoot the thing, go for it! From all reports that I’m hearing, the Ruger SR9 or SR9C is the gun to get for overall reliability, accuracy and great trigger, not to mention price.

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:32:42 +0000

I own a Glock and the XD-9. This gun made me change my “Give Me Glock Or Give Me Death” mentality. For me, I can adjust my grip with either gun after a few rounds. Both are dangerously accurate, and I would proudly and confidently carry either on my hip if my life was on the line. Springfield knocked one out of the park with this one.

By: HSR47

HSR47 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:20:58 +0000

“What is with all the “my first gun” comments?”

They’re from people who are only just getting into gun ownership. As was I when I purchased my first pistol in the summer of 2010; it was an XD 9 in V10 configuration (factory ported). Thus far, I am fairly satisfied with it; It seems to be a bit temperamental with some ammo (extraction issues), and the slide is not exactly rust-proof, but other than that it has been extremely reliable.

Between it, and the three other XD-9 pistols I have shot, I’ve seen a handful of stoppages in what probably amounts to over 5,000 rounds downrange; Probably 10-15 FTE from one of mine (never had the problem with any of the others, but they’re newer and much less used), probably about the same number of stovepiped cases (it has happened with all of the 4 9mm pistols), and one FTF with the subcompact.

Honestly though, the gun that doesn’t fail from time to time at the range is the gun that, when it fails in the field may cost you your life. All guns will have stoppages from time to time, and if you never train to deal with them, they will cost more time when the SHTF, and may get you killed.

By: HSR47

HSR47 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:07:53 +0000

There are a number of XD variants:

Tactical denotes a 5-inch barrel, Service a 4-inch barrel, and subcompact a 3-inch barrel.

Further, XD pistols are available in two widths: the .45 variant is wider than the others, which all use the same frame/slide width.

The .45 XD pistols are avaliable with 4 and 5 inch barrels, and with both service and compact grips — thus, four permutations.

The 9mm/.40/.357 variants are available in full-size service, full-size tactical, and subcompact.

The ONLY XD variants that have a compact grip are the 9/.40/.357 Sig subcompacts, and the .45 pistols. Thus, there is no such pistol as the “XD-9 compact,” or at least, none from the factory.

By: Jason Canfield

Jason Canfield — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:36:46 +0000

What is with all the “my first gun” comments?! This is easily somewhere past my 20th Handgun (variying from glock to Kel-tec to Taurus, ect, ect.) I chose this gun because of it’s design. It beats Glock (which I love) in my opinion, and I trust my life on it. Glock being the other… Change is good (If done for the better…) They took a good idea and made it better, who could dis that?! Mine has NEVER had any type of malfunction. I have NO idea how many rounds I’ve put through it. What’s the problem? …Nothing! If you like Glock, get yourself 1 of these. See what you think. Dur?! As they cost about the same and are built equally well. Trust someone who’s owned both and is non-biased. …Like me. They both (Glock, XD) rock!

By: Squeezethetrigger

Squeezethetrigger — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:55:12 +0000

The compact will tend to be a little bit more accurate at further distances. The difference between the Tactical and Service is barrel length 5″-4″, the difference between Service and Compact is simply the grip length ( obviously this also causes a round reduction, but only on your initial one thanks to the grip extensions), and finally the Sub-Compact which gives you a 3″ barrel. Essentially what it comes down to is the shorter the sight radius ( the difference from the rear sight to the front) the less accurate, or more you need to compensate for, at further distances. With all of that being said, if your buying a Sub-Compact, it’s probably because you carry concealed, and would not likely be firing beyond the 15 – 20 yrd. line, if even that far out, and would not see a difference.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:21:37 +0000

Bought my first gun, an XD9 on Saturday… I’m in California, so I gotta wait 10 days to pick it up. I’m very excited!! This review helped me make my decision. Thanks !!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:12:47 +0000

This has pretty much been my experience. Fearsome accuracy, grip safety, extremely reliable. I’d love to get another one…

By: PCollen

PCollen — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:27:21 +0000

Is there any reason, aside from size, to favor the XD-9 compact over the sub-c0mpact, or v.v.?