“The .380 was a cute fad,” Springfield Armory’s print ads proclaim. “Now, let’s get back to business.” Back to business indeed. Forty-five caliber single-stack striker fired pistols aren’t exactly a new thing. Kahr and Glock have been making them since the naughties. Truth be told neither model has been flying off the shelves. But no one has made a pocket .45 this small. Our small-handed man Dan got to grips with the XD-S at this year’s SHOT Show and loved it. But is the new XD-S really all that and a pocketful of protection . . .
Our sleek-looking dual-tone test XD-S arrived in the XDm-standard heavy duty briefcase. The diminutive XD-S looks mighty lonely in there. Speaking of optic distortions, the XD-S’ cavernous muzzle looks like a small snake about to eat a large rodent. The XD-S post-apocaltypic presence is an obvious mutation from what’s considered “normal” by today’s polite shooting society. For owners who believe that discretion is the better part of valor, an all-black XD-S could well be the better choice.
Like its fatter, taller big brothers the XD-S comes with two backstrap options; shooters can tailor the grip to gain comfortable access to the go-pedal. While the XD-S’ grip is skinnier than Gina Athans the XD-S fit my hands better than most pocket nines or .380s I’ve sampled.
That said, the XD-S sacrifices grip length in order to make good on its “noticeably unnoticeable” tag line. Anyone with mitts in the medium to freakishly huge range will find their pinky hanging off the end of the grip. Of a .45.
With the extended mag—yes, there is an extended mag—I could get my whole hand on the grip. Concealment? Not so much. With a replacement base plate pinky extension for the flush mags, the XD-S would be the king of the skinny minis. As it stands it’s a pretender to the throne.
When it comes to the trigger, the XD-S is so unlike its predecessors (e.g., the Xdm 5.25) you’d swear it was made by Gaston’s mob. Springfield Armory calls it a short reset trigger. It’s firm with minimal take up, but not particularly heavy. The break is crisp. Reset takes minor forward travel. The sear re-engages with a commanding audible click and considerable tactical feedback. Like I said, Glock. Complete with Ultra Safety Assurance (USA) Action Trigger System.
Yes Virginia, the XD-S is a highly concealable pistol. With its flat profile, the gun disappear in a pocket holster or an inside-the-waistband rig. Nestled in an outside-the-waistband holster under a T-shirt, the XD-S printed less than my fire department-issued pager. Low-profile three dot sights with a fiber optic front keep the XD-S from snagging when you pull it from your pocket or IWB holster.
On paper and in-hand the XD-S is everything it claims to be: eergonomic and concealable with a trigger that eliminates the “Glock guys’ short-stroke” problem.” I took the XD-S .45 to the range during one of my class, along with 100 rounds of Federal 230 gr FMJ, 40 rounds of Hornady 185 gr Critical Defense and 20 rounds of Hornady 230 gr +P TAP. I shot the XD-S from five yards on a typically windy southwestern Montana day.
Drawing and presenting, the XD-S pointed quite naturally. The .45′s fiber optic front sight is easily acquired. My first two slow-fire mags indicated that gun size isn’t everything. The excellent trigger and enhanced ergonomics makes the XD-S accuracy at “gun-fighting” distances well within the “minute of bad guy” standard.
As you’d expect, rapid fire at a man-sized target at the same distance opened up the groups. With the FMJ and Critical Defense loads, you could easily reproduce groups like the one in the head of the target below. However, blazing away with six rounds of +P produced less tightly gathered target perforation, as seen in the center of mass hits in the same target.
Also unsurprising: XD-S’ extended magazine made for a more comfortable grip— with no appreciable effect on [my] accuracy. Did I mention recoil? Yeah, there’s a lot of it. You have to make sacrifices in order to have a .45 this small. You feel each and every shot in much more detail than you would with a full-sized carry piece. To steal a line from a guy on Reddit, it’s like high-fiving a hammer, albeit a small one.
In the video below, you can see that the XD-S is a jumpy little thing, a fact exacerbated by the use of +P ammo, which I’d definitely recommend in a pistol this small.
I had two of my colleagues run the XD-S to make sure I wasn’t being a pansy. They agreed with my assessment. After a few mags, you’ll feel a soreness creeping through your hands that’s typically reserved for those who like to punish themselves by regularly shooting .357 J frames. More recoil sensitive shooters should to wait for the smaller-chambered XD-S offerings so they’ll take the time to practice with this gun. My choice.
The XD-S delivers on Springfield Armory’s promises. It’s small, lightweight and easy to conceal. It has great ergos, an excellent trigger and shoots a cartridge that puts the .380 to shame. With six in the gun (seven with the extended mag) you have more than enough firepower to extricate yourself from a bad situation.
Uh-oh. Caliber wars! While you’re free to engage in that debate below, a topic RF is set to address shortly, the XD-S is off to TTAG’s Ralph to see how it stacks up against Glock’s skinny .45, the G36. Even if it loses that comparo, the Springfield XD-S is an excellent choice for concealed carriers willing to sacrifice capacity and [potential] muzzle jump issues for additional [potential] lethality.
Specifications
Caliber .45 ACP
Capacity 5 + 1 RDS
Weight 21.5 oz. unloaded
Sights Steel dovetail rear, fiber optic front
Slide Stainless steel
Frame Black polymer
Overall Height 4.4″
Overall Length 6.3″
Overall Width 1″
MSRP$669
Style * * * * *
The XDs takes its styling cues from the Xdm line; it’s one good looking handgun that will look even better in basic black.
Ergonomics * * * *
Comfortable in the hands and points nice and naturally. Needs a pinky rest on the magazines to step it up a notch.
Reliability
I’m withholding stars from this category as lack of funds kept me from putting as much ammo through it as I’d have liked. It had no problems with any of the ammo I fed it, though. [ED: this rating will be updated later.]
Customize This * *
The XD-S has a single-position Picantinny rail for lights and lasers and the inevitable K-BAR bayonet, but aftermarket accessories aren’t yet available. Given the penchant for people tinkering with their XD(m)s, it should only be a matter of time.
Overall Rating * * * 3/4
Heavy duty recoil and current lack of aftermarket parts knock this pistol down a few pegs, but if I needed a .45 for backup or pocket carry, the XD-S would be my first choice.
I’ve looked at the Kahr CW45, and it also shares the biggest shortcoming of small .45s, IMHO. That is the very limited ammo capacity. .45 is a good round, but I think I’d rather have 6 rounds of 125 grain .357 than 6 rounds of .45. Most gunfights aren’t going to involve more rounds than that, and carrying a speedloader or a speedstrip is just as easy as carrying a spare mag—and I’d wager most CCW holders don’t carry spare ammo as a matter of course.
A Glock 26 is small, but it holds 10+1 of 9mm. Is it thicker than the small .45s? Yes, but not appreciably so.
The CW45 is 6+1, perhaps you are thinking of the smaller PM45 which is 5+1.
FWIW, I have a Glock 27, an XD-S, and a CW45; the Glock is appreciably wider through the grip than either of the 45s.
It would be worth reviewing the Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro in this small .45 acp category.
Or the PT745 for a single stack.
I have this particular Taurus, and I must say it has been uber reliable on the range. Has less recoil than my compact 1911, and is a double stack.
I sold my PT145 to my brother a while back. The PT had to be sent back to Tarus for a bad case of pin creep. The pin just forward of the trigger kept working it’s way out to about 1/4″ every 100 rds or so. After it was returned, it performed well. I replaced it with a Bersa Mini Thunder .45. I have to say, the Bersa is the best handling sub-compact pistol I have ever shot. The grip is a little wider than I would like, but otherwise it is flawless. The first trip to the range, I missed a golfball sized target on the 100yd berm by 6″ on shot #200. The selling point for me was the DA/SA option. DAO weapons aren’t very comfortable to me, but then again, I learned to shoot with a Springfield 1911 GI .45 Hi cap (14+1).
I had an XDS for a month, and I just traded it for a Springfield 1911 Micro Compact Lightweight. The recoil didn’t bother me that much, but the ergos on it just didn’t work for me. If the grip length would have been half an inch longer, I could have gotten a much better purchase on the grip, as it was, my pinky finger had to stretch to tuck under the magazine.
Also I had a issue with slide bite. When my grip was such that I had best control, and was most comfortable, I kept getting slide bite. It’s a nice gun, but it wasn’t for me.
As far as the recoil, what you’re describing is a problem lots of .40 PPS owners (myself included) have. I’m gonna tell you now, drop $10 on a Limbsaver large subcompact grip sleeve. I don’t know if it’ll kill the recoil problem outright (it does for us), but it will go a long way towards reducing it.
Of course, you’ll probably have to do some aftermarket cutting on it to make sure it doesn’t keep the grip safety down by default.
Did you put 3/4s of a star just to piss off Leghorn and his new system? :p
Haha, I actually outlined this and started writing it before the new “guidelines” came out. If I really wanted to piss Nick off, I’d say something disparaging about Mosin-Nagants
If I really wanted to piss Nick off, I’d say something disparaging about Mosin-Nagants
That would piss me off, too.
As a person that used to pack a heavily modified Star PD 45 as his Sunday, go to church, piece I am happy to see this trend in 45s. The ergonomics and weight reduction afforded by the use of modern polymers is a real game changer in the 45 CC world as milled/cast receivers never fit my hand properly and reduced control during recoil. As to felt recoil the shooter always has the choice of reducing bullet weight and powder charge for training purposes.
This seems like an impressive handgun, but the idea that it’ll take the place of a pocket 380 is silly- it’s nearly twice as heavy as an LCP/P380/etc. From the listed specs it doesn’t sound any smaller than the Kahr PM/CM45. I’d be curious to see a side-to-side comparison of those two.
a pager. i thought i was a dinosaur. but to the topic at hand. a 45 this small would cut down on my practice because of the arthritis. i would like to see this in 9mm. i can only comfortably fire 70 to 100 rounds through my j frame at any given time. a small 9 would probably be less wearing.
I agree, I think the xds must certainly fill a different role than a true pocket pistol. I do think it’s a better choice for personal protection though
The Kahr is almost identical in dimensions and 3oz lighter. Same 5+1 or 6+1 mags and suprisingly accurate. The Kahr’s excellent trigger is a big help. You know it is a .45 and not a .380 when shooting a box or two at the range, but to me the Kahr “fits” better and feels solid in my hand. It will be interesting to see some head to head comparisons.
The Kahr trigger is only ‘excellent’ if you looove revolvers. If you’d rather have a crisp break, the Kahr trigger sucks.
-Ex-Kahr owner.
The Kahr Trigger is very good and I do not love revolvers.
Kahr/Glock/Sig/Kimber/HK owner
My glock 29 is not significantly bigger, .25″ wider, slightly longer and taller. Yet it holds 10+1 rounds of a vastly more powerful caliber. I’m still looking at Kahr’s tiny .45 but I see no advantage to the XD-S. I do love my XD45 though.
I too have an XD 45 compact. It has a 4.4″ barrel. Quite surprising it is about the same size overall as my .380 Beretta 84 Cheetah. I find, though not a completely original design, the features of the piece are very good. I agree the barrel length should match the caliber. I would have gotten the full package 5″ version but it’s a carry gun. I carry a spare 13 round magazine but keep a 10 rounder in the gun while holstered. The only complaint I have is the M. Mouse holster and auto loader. I would have preferred an extra 13 round mag instead. I went to .45 because I have a jewelry store and a .380 isn’t going to stop some of these big boys in leather coats come winter time. BTW I LOVE .45 acp.but the rounds are just soooooo heavy a round.
…by the use of +P ammo, which I’d definitely recommend in a pistol this small.
I’m not sure I understand. Why do you recommend +P? To make up for the lack of bullet capacity? Or was that maybe a typo?
That’s a pretty gun. I want one. Or the .40 version. I don’t know. But I want one.
Not because of capacity, but because a shorter barrel tends to lead to a lower muzzle velocity. http://Www.ballisticsbytheinch.com shows that in their testing they were getting 787 fps with a 230 gr JHP and 999 fps with a 185 +p JHP from a 3″ barrel.
Re: barrel length vs velocity
Yeah, I guess I knew that, I just forgot for a minute. I guess I just always looked at it as a difference to be aware of, but not necessarily one to compensate for.
short barrel loses velocity +P makes up some of that
The 45 ACP round was designed to be fired from a full sized gun not a pocket pistol. Too much recoil and not enough velocity. The reason that many people think that the 45 ACP is overrated is because they are shooting light weight bullets like the 185 grain Hornady from a short barrel. You don’t have enough velocity to to use a full sized 230 grain JHP so If you are going to downsize the roung you might as well use 40 cal. A 4″ barrel is the minimum length barrel to take full advantage of the round.
The XDs is an impressive self defense gun but I would wait until it comes out in a smaller caliber before I would consider buying it.
Wrong. Look up testing of various rounds through the XDs on YouTube and online. Modern JHPs can expand at slower velocities.
“But no one has made a pocket .45 this small.”
Except for the AMT Backup in .45 ACP.
If/when it comes out in 9mm will be the day for me
It will be when, not if. The holster that came with it has stamped on the back “XD-S .45/.40/9mm”
Heheh, nice little marketing/PR slip there. Nothing major, but still makes me chuckle.
I get it 45 acp rocks I agree. Thats why I ran out and pickup a XDS. Its been my EDC for about a month and as of now not sure if its any better than my Kahr PM40. For me 5’6″ 150 carrying aiwb at 1:00 the shorter kahr just seem to work better. All this from a glock fan. I have the G27 and forgetabout that thing is way fat to carry aiwb.
For those who think that the .45 kicks a bit much for a gun this size, I sent an email to Springfield Armory maybe a month or so before they released the XDs and the person talking to me said that by the end of the year, they will release a 9mm and .40 caliber version. Don’t know how accurate the release date is, but I might get it in .40.
I am surprised no one has mentioned that the XDs has been plagued with light strikes , failures to return to battery, firing pin safety and firing pin damage experienced by a substantial number of owners. I myself purchased an XDs but after hearing about the initial problems I refused delivery and received a refund. Springfield Armory is aware and many are sending their guns in for service. Check out the XDTalk forum/XD-S discussion room for more light on the subject.
GOOFA: First I’ve heard of those problems. I’ll check that forum later, thanks.
My local range allows rental of guns to “try it before buying”. At my last outing I put 150 rounds through the loaner XD-s, and had at least 15 DNFs. All had chambered, just not fired. Most cases were fixed by “nudging” the slide forward and then firing. When discussed with the range officer, he suggested my “wrong grip” was the cause, although “correcting” to his suggested grip did not solve the problem. Either I have a serious grip problem, the “loaner” gun was not cleaned well (mine are meticulously cleaned), or Springfield has some issues. Anyone else have any such issues?
TPort, I just bought a new XDS .45 yesterday and took it to the range today. I had exactly the same problems (which is why I found your comment in an internet search). I put 100 rounds of Federal 230 gr FMJ, 25 rounds of Remington 230 gr Golden Sabre, and 25 rounds of Atlanta Arms 230 gr FMJ through it (all three brands were standard pressure). With all three brands, I experienced numerous failures to fire, mostly due to failure to return to battery. In each of these cases, the slide would feed the follow-up round, but then stop about a millimeter or two short of battery. A forward nudge of the slide would allow another shot (if I saw the problem before squeezing the trigger, which I became good at). Sadly, sometimes I had to manually send it to battery 4 times on a single magazine (and remember, it’s only a 5 round magazine). Rapid fire would be impossible if it won’t return to battery without a manual assist after each shot. After the first 50 rounds, we did field strip and oil the usual lubrication areas around the barrel and slide grooves. That made no difference for me.
As in the previous comment, the range owner also suggested alternative grips. I tried several different holds (high grip, low grip, very firm, medium-relaxed), but none worked for me. I do believe it’s a grip issue though, as he shot 3 or 4 full magazines of the same ammo with no issues, while I watched. So although I loved the pistol’s size and accuracy (it is, indeed, very accurate for me), this pistol doesn’t seem to love me (or my grip).
I did try a Glock 36 and found zero issues, in a back-to-back comparison with the same ammo selections. It shot great for me, with zero malfunctions. That didn’t surprise me though, as I’ve owned and shot the larger Glock models for 20 years. I just really wanted the XDS .45 to work well for me, but I can’t trust it if it’s so finicky about some subtle aspect of my grip technique. By contrast, the slim Glock didn’t give me any trouble. Now I’ve gotta sell a used-once XDS .45 (at a loss, of course) and go buy a Glock 36. Very disappointing.
I’ve seen a lot of vids and reviews about this and almost all of them are due to the shooter, usually with larger hands, griping the bottom of the magazine with the pinky finger forcing it up in the frame which puts pressure on the slide which is keeping it from fully returning to battery. This could be the issue you guys are having as well. Just something to try and see.
Scott M., thanks for your reply to my post about my XDS failing to return to battery.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I agree that 99% of these problems are linked to grip technique. So I took the pistol out to my range again today in an attempt to decide this pistol’s fate. Would the issues disappear after a break-in, or am I selling this pistol and moving on? So I put another 150 rounds through the XDS .45 today (total round count is now 300).
First, let me say that I strongly believe that a carry pistol should be as reliable as it is accurate. If it’s finicky, it’s gonna let you down when you need it most. Murphy’s Law. I believe a carry pistol should be able to do rapid-fire mag dumps left handed, right handed, two-handed… hell, even upside down (or, of course, sideways if you’re a rap star.
But I knew from my last trip to the range that this pistol apparently likes to be held in a certain way, or it seems to jam a LOT (failure to return to battery, mostly).
Some folks speak of ‘limp wristing’ as a common cause of jams in autoloaders. I’ve never seen such an issue with any of my other automatics (S&W, Sig and Glocks). But I figured I’d try to find exactly what technique actually works for this XDS. So I switched to my non-dominant hand for some one-handed test fires. To my surprise, none of the shots had a failure to cycle! A couple of magazines later, I switched back to my strong hand, and the out-of-battery problems immediately returned. Went two-handed, and the out-of-battery problems remained. Went back to weak-hand only, and the pistol started working correctly. So I started watching it closely and realized that when firing weak-hand only, the pistol recoils up and slightly to the right (not straight up). So I started trying to emulate that with my strong hand. Sure enough, if I bend my wrist (instead of extending straight out), the damn pistol stops jamming 99% of the time. And if I fire two-handed with both wrists bent (opposing V’s), the pistol continues to cycle. But if I resume firing with my dominant hand’s trigger finger about straight in line with my forearm, the pistol malfunctions frequently. It seems that my XDS likes a snappy recoil that’s only possible for me to produce if I fire with a bent wrist on my strong side.
It did better today, once I figured out how it likes to be held (it’s goofy, but manageable). But I’m still strongly considering dumping this one and getting a Glock 36 as my newest CCW gun. Over the last 25 years, I never had any of these finicky issues with any of my autoloaders until I bought this XDS 45. I absolutely love its concealable size in .45 caliber, and its accuracy; but I don’t think this model is ready for prime-time, yet. Springfield needs to work on these reliability issues (I’ve been reading too many similar posts on xdtalk). These pistols appear to work for some shooters, but I still think its tuning is marginal. I fear it’s going to fail some people when they start firing under high-stress, adverse conditions.
Thanks for the added info. Sounds like you are too strong for your own good, lol. I actually had a chance to shoot a full sized XD last night in .40 and the grip was shorter then I would have imagined on it. I actually had a few times where my grip was on the mag a little bit and actually caused it to hang open like I was out of ammo. Wierd problem in my opinion. Im no pistol expert or good pistol shooter by any means but I grew up shooting a 1911a1 that had no probs back then other then stovepiping due to the sharp angled ejection port which was easily fixed. That being said I agree with you that a carry pistol should be able to fire with no issues in any and every situation and weather condition. I really wish I could get my hands on an XDs to shoot and see how it is for me peronally but sadly thats not an option. Thanks again for all that feedback. Hunting for my first pistol ever which will double as my EDC is hard without being able to shoot these weapons and get a feel for things first hand.
Meh, another bubba gun from Springfield.
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but please tell me wtf that means. I don’t know what a “bubba gun” is.
Unlike many pieces, this is indeed a pocket pistol, and in .45 and at bad breath distances, I don’t see any particular need for +p ammo. I would think this gun would easily handle 185s, and if you are all into speed, you could get some of those Wilson all copper 165 grain hps. I don’t think any of it will make much difference in the typical DGU, where display of the weapon, especially one with a giant gaping hole, is more than sufficient. The word is “intimidating.”
For pocket carry, the critical factor is overall height, and it is this factor that eliminates many guns. For example, the PT 145/745 is a pretty solid little gun, but it is 5.2 inches tall and thus will not fit in a pocket.
I would like to acquire one of these, but as is true with so many desireable firearms, California will not let me. Since only the XD is sold here, but not the XDm, I do not anticipate that this will be seen except “for LEO only.”
A total capacity of only six rounds? That’s it? What if you get attacked by a six gang-bangers each armed with semis that have 32 round magazines? Doing the math; 6 x 32 = 192 rounds(!) they can fire before re-loading. Need more gun. Lots more gun.
Nah. You’ll be dead before you clear leather. Kind of like that guy at the end of “Hero.”
Do you mean Jet Li who took all those arrows?
yup
How long until somebody says that it’s in poor taste to review a firearm of a brand that was recently used in a mass shooting?
You just did.
We don’t play that game here.
+1
+1
Thanks for warning us about the “Glock-like” trigger. The normal XD trigger is much better than the heavy, gritty Glock trigger.
I for one am definitely interested in getting one, once it gets added to the MD roster. One of the big selling points for me, especially over the Glock and other similar pistols is the grip safety. In my opinion it adds one more layer of safety, making a in the holster, etc. ND less likely.
Pingback: A Look at The XD-S .45 ACP | Gunmart Blog
Nicely done review, Mr. Finn.
Sweet! I’m already an XD/XDm fan, and with the improved trigger it sounds like they’ve made a good thing even better.
But no .45 for me, thanks. I’m waiting for a 9mm version. More bullets in the magazine, less recoil, a LOT less expensive to practice with, and still enough punch to get the job done if you need it to save your life. The only problem then would be getting the wife to let go of it long enough for me to shoot it….
While it is a very nice micro .45, in my opinion a PRACTICAL pocket pistol it most certainly IS NOT. The main reason is WEIGHT and CAPACITY. The XD-S weighs in at 26.2 ounces loaded, that is WAY too heavy to carry around in a pocket without noticeable “droop” which is a dead giveaway that you are packing. Plus, at that weight, this thing will swing like a brick with your body movements in anything but a tight pocket. How do I know? I tried it this past weekend, as a good friend of mine just plunked down over $610 for one.
I agree with the other posters, while offering this pistol in .45ACP is going to make the .45 purists happy, it will be a MUCH more practical option for pocket carry once Springfield makes it available in .40SW and especially 9mm. I will be waiting to see the capacity with the flush magazine, as well as the loaded weight.
Until then, like it or not, IMO it is still going to be very hard to beat the Kahr CM9 and PM9 are the ones to beat in my opinion for those of us that are looking for the best combination of size, weight, capacity, reliability and quality. Especially the CM9, as those can be purchased for under $400. Don’t believe me? Consider this: for the 26 ounce weight of the XD-S with only six rounds, you could carry the 7 round Kahr CM9 PLUS an eight round magazine for a total of 15 124gr 9mm +P Gold Dots. I dunno about you, but in a gun fight against human targets I will take 15 rounds of 9mm over six rounds of anything else. THAT IS A HUGE CAPACITY DIFFERENCE for lugging around the same amount of weight.
Think about it…….
You people are missing something here: Carry a double-action pistol without a holster is no problem as the heavy pull prevents accidental discharge. On “safe-action” triggers like this (actually a single action more than double)
it takes only a light pull to set a cartridge off, so it HAS TO be carried in a holster to be safe, grip safety or not. Nothing wrong with this for you holster freaks, but for those who carry bare in a pocket or purse, this pistol has little utility.
Good day!
I purchased the xds 2 weeks ago. In straight to the point expression “its great”.
I have a sig1911 hk40 and this by far is the best conceal carry. I have baseball mit hands and yes my pinky finger falls off. But with that said I over came that and its great. The recoil I would call more of a snap then a push back like my 1911. The only thing I would ask for is a mag with a pinky rest not so much an extra round or two because lets face it! Its a 45 with a 3.3 inch barrel the bang and flash are just as much a part of the shot as the lead!
Shooting these short barreled .45 acp in my opinion is like puling the trigger on a 12″ 12 gauge, not much fun! I have a Taurus pt 745 ( single stack, 6 shot .45). I will take my Glock 21 SF (.45acp) any day for accuracy, capacity; getting back on target quicker. The Taurus pt 111 in 9mm is a good gun & accurate. The pt111 is the same size as the pt745.
I wish there was a 9mm revolver available for concealed carry that i could trust as much as I do my Glocks.
I own one. Love it. Can’t make it malfunction. Holding up as it should after a scooch over 400 rounds. I can pocket carry it just fine, not everyone can I bet, but I think many will be able to just fine. My first Springfield and impressed.
I bought the XDs in mid August and I like it very much but there are a few things that I don’t like. Yes, the 5 round magazine leaves your pinky hanging but the extended magazine should make up for that. I won’t call it slide bite but my hands are a little bigger and it did leave a mark on my thumb from the top of the grip near the slide. Not really a big deal, it is a .45 and does have a bit of recoil. This is not a pistol that you’re going to take with you every weekend and shoot and if you do, it’s still not going to kill everyones hands.
What I do like is the accuracy and the ability to conceal. I have an XDM in .40 and it’s one of my favorite weapons to shoot. With the 5 round magazine, the XDs is hardly noticable. I do carry my XDM in the Winter with the paddle holster but I usually have a hoodie on and it conceals it very nicely.
Now comes the part where I say I love it. Sorry, I don’t. I also own a S&W Shield 9mm and that’s the gun I carry most of the time. Fits my hand natural, accurate and highly concealable also. I know, I know, “it’s only a 9mm and the XDs is a .45!” Both are lethal and me personally if I was a criminal, I wouldn’t want to be shot with either. The S&W is just my personal preference. I own a Kimber Ultra Carry(.45), XDM(.40), Ruger LC9(9mm), S&W Shield(9mm), S&W M&P 40C(.40) and the XDs(.45) and each gets shot and has a purpose. None of my weapons listed have malfunctioned and only the Kimber has a downside on the field stripping. No FTE’s, no FTF’s on any of them including the XDs. Why did I buy the XDs? Because I like Springfields and I still do. I won’t be selling my XDs and it will see time in my holster, just not as much time as my Shield.
HI there,
I have been researching alot and am locked between the XDS and the S & W M&P 40C. Small-handed girl here…lol. I am more looking at it for home protection, as a 380 is easier for me to conceal. But you mentioned you had both of the above. What would be your choice and the main reason why? Thank you so much for your time!
Pingback: Forty-Five Face-off: Springfield Armory XD-S vs. Glock 36 | The Truth About Guns
I have the Taurus PT140, 40S&W, and it has been absolutely flawless, over 1500 rounds through it, no FTF, no FTE, comparatively accurate to a number of other considerably more expensive brands. I read an inordinate amount of criticism for Taurus products in the forums, and I have always been doubtful due to my own experience. In my experience, I simply can not justify the criticisms when considering the Millennium, even though I have looked very serious at the PT140 with an overly critical eye, looking for problems due to the inordinate number of criticisms in the forums…they just never happen to me, period. I have heard considerably good things about the Taurus 24/7G2, sort of the next generation to the Millennium Pro line, but I like the ergonomics of the PT140 so much, with a predesigned finger extension in the mags, and the 24/7 doesn’t have the finger extension available, to my knowledge. PLUS, if we are comparing .45ACP, and magazine capacity, I will take the 40S&W Millennium Pro with a full (10) rounds of firepower, even though I am actually a little more accurate with the Glock G26 at the range, but only (6) rounds there.
So the moral of the story is… Dont listen to what others say on forums and boards and just make up your own mind? Just wondering as you mention your Taurus and this story is about the Springfield Armory XDs.
Captain1201… you either meant to say the G36 or 10 rounds of 9mm with the G26.
Read a bunch or reviews and was really kind of liking this gun but in the back of my mind there was/is – its a new gun…. wait a few yrs. Sure enough reading more reviews like this I start to find people having issues. See ya in a few yrs Springfield Armory XD-S when you get the bugs worked out. Love the way this gun looks and hope they do get the issues ironed out. I’ll be watching and waiting. Just bought a pf-9 hoping after it has been out this long it will work well. Have not shot it yet so we will see.
Agreed to wait abit to work out bugs. Really waiting for the .40SW.
Hear that Springfield may have the 9mm & .40SW come out before years end, but nothing official. Also would be great if they have the special mag giveaway in the fall. Maybe wishful thinking?
Bought my XDs in June. I’ve fired well over 700 rounds thru it. I have experienced no problems with it while firing 230g FMJ. It’s when I tried to run the lighter 185g cartridges that I experienced FTF issues right away. Change back to the heavy load and its on! As far as capacity goes, I carry this for personal protection. If I’m in a situation that is going to require more that 6 rounds of .45acp then I’m in big trouble long before I clear leather.
I got one! What trash! Don’t waste yout money the XDS is total failure. What the
F$)& Springfeild you have designed and produced a gun that’s trash. The service
Center says to lube it?… I have a 25.00 RG that’s more reliable then this.
Tell us how you really feel
“After a few mags, you’ll feel a soreness creeping through your hands that’s typically reserved for those who like to punish themselves by regularly shooting .357 J frames.” Really? What a bunch of PUSSIES! I shot 100 Blazer 230gr FMJ, 20 Critical Defense 185gr, 20 Gold Dot 200gr+P, 20 Gold Dot 230gr, and 20 Black Hills 185gr TAC-XP +P through mine in one sitting. Did my hand have an imprint after? Yeah, it did. Did it hurt? No, not too bad.
So, with a 3.3 inch barrel, whether you shoot regular pressure or +P rounds, there is a lot of unburned powder still burning as it exits the muzzle and illuminates the night sky with the XDS. Follow up shots at night might be challenging.
Most ammunition manufacturers test their .45 ACP ammo with 5 inch barrels when giving performance specifications. Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel uses a 4 inch test barrel. You can see the performance of ammunition through shorter barrels on the “Ballistics By The Inch” Web site:
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/45auto.html
The Beretta 8045 has a 3.675 inch barrel. The Para LDA PDA has a 3 inch barrel. You can extrapolate the data and guesstimate that the XDS will perform somewhere between the Beretta and the Para. Perhaps Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo or a comparable round with fast burning powders may work better than a +P load in the XDS. As more pocket .45 ACP pistols with less than 4 inch barrels come to market, it may be worthwhile for ammunition manufacturers to introduce new products.
I sold my XDS last weekend. Like I said, I didn’t love it and it wasn’t going to get used much. I liked its accuracy but I am now going for more of a full size .45. There was a comparison on here between the Glock 36 and the XDS. I had both and now I have neither. To each their own and if one of those works for you, so be it.
Thankfully, I traded my XDS this last weekend, too.. I posted above (a while back) that I was having a lot of strange failures with the XDS not returning to battery. After 600 rounds of wasting my time with it, and a trip back to Springfield, I gave up and decided to get rid of it! So last week I shot various generations of all three of the Glock .45 ACP models and decided to trade that XDS for a Glock 30.
I put 150 rounds through the new Glock during the weekend and another 200 through it tonight (150 Federal 230gr FMJ, 100 Ranger-Ts, 100 Ranger-T +P). For a CCW, the Glock 30 is unfortunately a bit fatter than that XDS. But in all other aspects, it’s just a much better pistol. I should have bought the Glock to begin with. I’m officially done with Springfield XD-anything, for life — crap experience! Cannot recommend. Glock 21 is going to be my next full sizer, soon. After twenty years, I’ve honestly never shot any Glock I didn’t like.
Impressive, a guy who went to a girls school shooting a 45 ACP! Even went +P with it
Glad I read the review and comments before succumbing to the new gun fever. I’ll just go high 5 my framing hammer instead.
Pingback: What is a good alternative to the Shield?
Just got my XDs yesterday, been waiting a long time to get the all black model. I had read the reports of shortcomings and I can say after my range time my XDs performed flawlessly, even using the aluminum Blazer 230g FMJ. I also had 230 grain Remington HP +P. I believe in the 45 especially if I only have 5-6 rds. The snub revolvers I carry and probably still will because I was raised on revolvers, have only 5 and I fill them with the best 357 125 g HP’s. I have seen the results of both rounds used and I like knowing the 45 needs no special bullet or velocity at close range to be effective. It just works without excessive velocity and penetration. And that’s what I bought the XDs for,however when the other calibers come out I will probably get one. I have never been sold on the high capacity as my hand rarely fits those grips, they’re heavy when fully loaded, and difficult to conceal.
My S&W 940 9MM REVOLVER with full moon clips and Crimsom Trace laser grip never jams, is manageable with recoil, and I guarantee the hammer will never catch on your clothing nor bite your thumb.
Just get a Taurus in either the PT 745 single stack or the PT 145 double stack (10+1). The Taurus is just about identical to the new XD 45. Nothing new. Springfield copied Taurus with their XD with the 5.25″ barrel as well. It’s just a 24/7 OSS. Again nothing new.
Your theory about Springfield copying Taurus on the XD is great, except for the fact that the XD is older than the Taurus guns. The XD has been around since 1999 (it was originally the HS2000 released in Croatia, where it is made in 1999) and Springfield licensed US distribution as the XD series in 2002. The Taurus Millenium series was introduced in 2005.
As someone who had not fired a .45 in over a decade and whose most recent shooting experience was a J frame .38, I found the XDs to be perfect. I had it on the range within 5 minutes of purchase and ran 50 rounds of Winchester white box through it without a single issue.
No fatigue or pain of any kind to speak of. No failures of any kind and it was a very comfortable pistol to hold and fire. Can’t wait to get back to the range and see how I feel after another 100 rounds.
I spent several months window shopping, holding several brands of pistols and this one felt the most natural to hold. With a DeSantis IWB holster, it disappears on my hip, even in warm weather clothing.
Best decision I could have made for a personal defense pistol in a large caliber.
Waste of money! This was my first and last springfield gun! I will never buy another! I have the disadvantage of being left-handed, so truly usable guns are hard to find. Glock Gen4s also leave much to be desired. Nevertheless, I found out that XDS stands for Extremely Disappointing Sidearm. I’ve barely gotten 200 rounds through it because it jams, misfeeds, or fails to reset at least once on every clip! I tried the extended magazine which was actually worse! I thought Taurus was bad but Springfield edged past them. I doubt I’ll give it a second chance but I did contact Springfield customer service. Put your money to good use and buy a S&W M&P45c or any other gun that actually works. Maybe I can use this one for a paperweight.
I’ve recently become interested in getting one of these, despite my dreadful allergy to striker-fired handguns.
This is a LONG time after the review, but can anyone tell me how it performs with 230-grain hollowpoints, which, of course, it will be loaded to the gills with?
Well I posted earlier that I had issues with mine. I finally got an RMA (return merchandise authorization) from Springfield and sent it back. They polished the feed ramp and throat a bit more and sent it back to me verifying functionality. It works fine now with the 5 round magazines but the 7 round magazine still misfeeds about 45% of the time (2 to 3 rounds). I learned earlier on this blog that using 45+p rounds might improve performance. Nevertheless, the 5 round magazines deliver and it groups rather well at 25 yards. I can also hit an iron silhouette at 100 yards with it but not consistently. Since it is for concealed carry and personal defense I may keep it around, but I won’t be buying anymore Springfield Armory anything. My Smith and Wesson purchases have never, ever let me down.
I own one. And I love it. Accuracy is amazing. Only one complaint, the take down lever requires the use of a vice-grip, seriously, that’s not a joke. I own an XD compact that takes down as it should. But Springfield has some work to do to make this one work just as smooth. XDS, does NOT takedown easily. The lever requires the use of something like a pliers or vicegrip, -that’s not a joke. I own one and have to deal with that EVERY time I clean it.
I have been looking at this gun for a while now. I have the full size XD in .45 and absolutely love it, but it is NOT easily concealable – especially in summer. So, to keep things simple, I’m thinking same brand / same caliber. It seems this is a love it or hate it gun with a great experience or an equally awful one. So, I’ll limit my question to those things that both camps can respond to: 1) Is it really that hard to break down for cleaning and maintanence? 2) I know it will kick, but I’ve shot handguns that make you wonder if they are about to leave your hand. My full size XD has never made me think I was loosing control. How does this XDs compare? 3) Is it as concealable as it appears? How about with the exended 7 round mag?
The comments have been insightful. At $549.00 (I can get the all black at that price right now) is it worth it? Thanks to all who choose to reply.
Although I didn’t tear down the one I tested, it doesn’t appear that it tears down any differently than my XD(M) 3.8 in .40 S&W. Lock the slide back, rotate the takedown lever 90 degrees up, drop the slide forward and slide it off the frame.
As far as shootability, after the first couple shots to figure out where the sights were, I had no problem making one ragged hole. The texturing on the frame is super-grippy (much more than your standard XD), and I never had a hint of out of control from it. Even though it’s got a bit of weight to it, it’s still a small gun, and if you shoot a bunch of .45 through it your hand is gonna know it. That said, it’s far from the least comfortable “slimline” gun I’ve shot.
Thanks for your reply. I was in the store today and talked with a Ruger representative. He had nothing bad to say about the gun and, even when asked, wouldn’t suggest any others that, in his opinion, might be as good or better. So, I may post back after I’ve purchased and logged some range time with it.
I strongly discourage you from buying the 7 round magazine. My XDS performed so badly with a 7 round mag (failed to load, failed to return to battery, misfeeds, you name it) that I sent it back to Springfield. Even after they serviced it the 7 round magazine is a guaranteed failure. If you want to trust your safety to this gun (already a questionable decision), definitely avoid the 7 round magazine.
I love my xds but i have a problem, it doesnt take fmjs very well it wont load one in the chamber if the clip is in”?” any one else having this issue
The Sprimgfield XDS is nothing more than trash. This gun has zero relibility with no trust. Brand new gun falure to fire along with other problems does not give you a comfit level to carry.
Very disenchanted with this turd.
I agree. My XDS is also a big disappointment. The question is what to do with it now. I feel guilty about selling it because the buyer may be fool enough to trust it and pay the price. I thought about using it as a paperweight but some people in the office expressed concern. It’s too small for a boat anchor. Any ideas?
I just started breaking in my XDS and have had no issues with the first 200 rounds. I used S&B 230 gr FMJ’s and Remington Golden Saber 230gr JHP. All fed and performed flawlessly. Recoil is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Bigger 40 S&W’s (XD, M&P) recoil more than the 45 acp XDS. Am able to keep all 5 in 4″ group rapid fire at 7 yds (under 2 secs). The gun does twist some (in my grip with medium hands and onset arthritis) and the last two are usually at 4″ higher than first 3 impacts.
For those having issue with their XDS I’d ask what type of ammo including manufacture are you using (TULA sucks), and might there be any give wrist when firing the little 45 XDS.
Also, Springfield has always been great standing behind it’s products. Contact customer service immediately, and don’t wait!
Bill, I appreciate your input. I did buy the gun and have run 100 rounds through it on two occasions, splitting between the 5 round clips and two 7 round clips. I field stripped and cleaned the pistol before the first outting – I always do. I was using 230 gr. target point sold by the range. To up the ante, I’m left-handed and right-eyed with a resulting tendency to pull to the right. So, I decided to switch to right-handed shooting while breaking in the pistol. The results are: No misfeeds. No malfunctions. Significantly less recoil than I expected. 90% of rounds hitting in the target “kill” zone at 30 ft. (that percentage went up to 98% for the last 50 rounds). All groupings moved back to center line.
I have small to medium hands, but still like the feel of the 7 round clip better. I understand that several people on this post have had a different experience with the XDs, and I understand your disappointment with it. I am obviously having a very positive experience with the particular gun I purchased. The only complaint I have, and it’s minor, is with the difference in the trigger between the XDs and the full size XD. The full size pull is much smoother and more in line with the lighter trigger pulls on my hunting rifles. The XDs has a much heavier pull with an initial looseness that makes the sudden increase in resistance distracting. Obviously, it has not significantly affected accuracy and I expect I’ll quickly adapt to it. At this point, I have no complaints and am very happy with the XDs. Thank everyone who replied to my post.
The Dad: I am considering an XDs myself and glad you’ve had a good experience so far. I’d like to think that problems posted earlier in this blog are related to it being a new gun. Lots of manufacturers have to work the kinks out for several months or longer to get it right. The S&W Shield initially was very rough but after feedback and contInued manufacturing it seems lots of the initial issues were worked out, hopefully it is so with the XDs. On the trigger pull issue, as this is a CCW I wonder if this was intentionally made this way to reduce risk of firing in the pocket. So out of curiosity has this been the same after further use or has the trigger eased up a bit the more rounds you put through it?
I have been considering a XD-S for sometime now after digesting most of what has been written both in magazines (every magazine review I have read has been stellar) and on the internet from present owners. I have surmised that the problems of the gun not returning to battery have mostly been a grip issue with people that have large hands. I have small hands, actually I’d describe them more as short and fat and they seem to work with the XD-S just fine. Folks with large hands tend to push the magazine up with their pinkies which is the reason why it fails to return to battery. I already own a Springfield EMP in .40 S&W which I love. There were problems with that gun with some owners early on too and Springfield went out of their way to take care of those. The only problem I ever had with my EMP was a stovepipe but it was with Hornady Critical Defense ammo which lots of folks have had problems with. I read about a lot of failures to feed with the EMP and stovepipes with HPs but after careful consideration I came to the conclusion that a lot of those problems were caused by limp wristing. It’s easy to do if you’re at the range running 200 + rounds through your pistol. You’re inevitably going to limp wrist a shot or two after so many rounds. So I finally bought one today. $600 for a all black model. I also ordered a couple of 7 round mag extensions from Springfield tonight. I ran 100 rounds of Winchester white box 230g FMJ through my XD-S today right after I purchased it and it gobbled all the ammo up without a hiccup. I was also very pleasantly surprised at the manageability of the recoil on the pistol. Its definitely got a little kick to it but it’s easily manageable and not bad enough to keep you from getting enough practice in. Springfield makes some very nice firearms from the M1A rifles to the Trophy Match 1911s. I understand there are going to be some people that do not like this pistol because it just doesn’t fit them right or it lacks the capacity they want (but I plan to use it as a backup gun so that’s not an issue for me) or they own one and have not had much luck with it digesting ammo without hiccups. (and again I say that seems to be a problem for people with large hands who’s pinkies are jamming the magazine upwards resulting in the pistol failing to completely return to battery) So the gun didn’t workout for you. That is too bad because it is a very nice gun that has carved a nice niche in the market. That said, I think it’s ridiculous that some folks will say they will never buy another Springfield product again assuming that everything they make is garbage. That’s just not true and very disingenuous I think. You’ll swear by Glocks (which I am not a fan of) and dis Springfield very unfairly to them and to yourselves IMO. I own Colts, S&Ws, Springfields, Sigs and Berretas and they all work fine and they all have their place in my arsenal. Try being a little more open minded about it and don’t just reject their whole lineup out of hand because of your bad experience with one firearm.