Springfield XD

[Bill Stryker]

James,

I have an XD45 4" and I love it.

I like the way it fits my hand. I like the .45 ACP accuracy and punch. I like the grip safety, I like the large capacity magazines. I like the sights. I like the holster and magazine holder that comes with the gun.

I don't like that it won't shoot SWC reloads at all. And the manual says that the reloads will void the warranty. I really do not like that I cannot use reloads for practice. If you don't reload this is not an issue. But it is a big issue for me. I have asked the pro shop at one of my clubs to order round nose lead bullets for me to reload and try. If I cannot reload my enjoyment of the pistol is limited. I have no problems with my SWC reloads in a Gold Cup or a Sig P220R so I see no reason that the XD shouldn't take some kind of reloads so that I can shoot it more often.

I think it is a great gun and I use it for league alternating with a SIG.

[joemerchant24]

Bill;

These days, ALL gunmakers put some kind of no reloads thing in the manual.

All that means is, if you blow it up with a reload (squib or double-charge) you are on your own. If you blow 'er up with a factory load, you can likely get the ammo maker to replace it. In fact, if you blow it up with a reload, you have to get the ammo maker (you) to replace the gun, too.

The XD has conventional rifling (not polygonal) so lead reloads (SWC) are OK. GLOCK-type rifling (actually, HK-type) is too shallow to fire much lead without pressure worries.

The maker puts that warning in there because there's some level of quality control with factory ammo. Gunmakers have no recourse over our loads.

I've run a few thousand plated slugs through my XD45. No worries.

[wheels]

I carry the xd 9mm. This is the most perfect gun made. It's better than the glock. It's better than a glock because:

* it has a mettle button on the back to show you if the gun is cocked or not.
* it has a loaded chamber indicator that you can feel on the top of the gun to tell you if there is a round in the chamber.
* it has a drop safety that the glock has.
* it has a trigger safety
* it has a grip safety.
* The angle of the grip is a perfect fit for a natural aim.

But that is my humble opinion. Glock nuts think the glock is the best thing on the planet. Perhaps if your a police officer or if your in the army. But I am a home owner. I have kids around my guns. I shoot my gun maybe 2 -5 times a month and I have trained my family how to be careful around the gun.

I love the XD because you can see the status of the gun on visual inspection. You don't have to pick it up to find out if its loaded. Yes you should always assume a gun is loaded. I just feel it's a bit safer to be able to tell, without having to touch the gun.

[Bill Stryker]

Joe,
Thanks for the information on reloads. I feel better about blasting them through.
SWC still won't work in my XD45. They get stuck down in the magazine and won't feed. These are the same reloads that work well in 2 1911s and a P220R.
What plated slugs are you using? are they SWC?
Thanks, Bill