Opinion on Springfield XDm

[tfr270]

Can you expand on that a bit Tom? I do agree to some extent...my handguns around the house are meant to keep the bad guy's head down, or convince him that discretion is the better part, while I get to my 12 guage...but I'm sure if I connect with a .357 mag jhp or two that bad guy may be effectively stopped. I believe your comment is directed to the fact that long gun calibers have more energy downrange than handgun calibers?

I like the XD's. It made my short list for a next pistol, but in .45 acp, not 9mm or .40. I invested some money in range time with all three and for my money I just like the .45 acp over the 9 or .40. Never tried the .357 sig as, in my opinion, I just don't see that caliber on the shelves out here. The XDm has some great features to it.

That said, since I've decided on .45 acp as my pistol caliber, I've decided on a 1911 model over the polymer guns.   

[tombogan03884]

 I'll comment on your post backwards,
First off, when some one say's they got a ".45", there is only ONE gun that comes to mind, and it AIN'T a Glock  
Congratulations on yours, enjoy.
As to the "Stopping power" issue,  despite what Hollyweird shows, no caliber will guarantee knocking down your opponent ( T Rex doesn't count because it knocks you around no matter WHICH end you are on   ) There are cases from Vietnam of VC taking multiple hits from .50 cals and not stopping

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/one-shot-stop-handgun-statistics-and-why-theyre-a-load-of-crap/

There are other references on the net, but I don't feel like searching for them right now, what makes bullets work is blood loss, damaging organs or breaking the support structure.
Obviously if you shoot off a kneecap, or smash the pelvis they will fall down but that (with a reasonable caliber ) is more a function of shot placement.
Personally I do carry a .45, but that is because I wanted a 1911 and there is only one caliber THAT should be in (OK, 38 Super maybe but ammo is harder to find    ) also bigger holes bleed faster and while my .357 HP's might expand perfectly, my .45 will NEVER shrink.
There was a thread, "Tales from the Mortuary" that was posted by a Coroner that went into some detail, I can not find it now though, also Shooting Times has a column by a guy who worked for years as the ballistics guy in the Dallas PD crime lab that dealt with that in a past issue maybe 2 years ago.
Hope that at least helps point you toward some documented research.

[mx451]

Ive only shot a XDm in 9mm.  I thought it was a geat shooting pistol.  It was probably the most accurate out of the box auto that I have ever shot.  The ergos are awesome and the sights are easy to see.  Thumbs up on the XDm.

[fightingquaker13]

Ive only shot a XDm in 9mm.  I thought it was a geat shooting pistol.  It was probably the most accurate out of the box auto that I have ever shot.  The ergos are awesome and the sights are easy to see.  Thumbs up on the XDm.

The thing is, its hard to buy a bad pistol these days if you do your research. Glock, Sig, M@Ps, Rock River, Para, Springfield, some of the Taurus line, etc., name your price and figure out what feels right to your hand and you should be fine with anything from $500-$800 dollars. This is really pretty cheap given that you will be carrying it everyday and trusting your life to it. This is a great time to buy a hand gun.
FQ13