| Springfield Armory XD 40 S&W pistol - $449.00 |
I purchased the Springfield Armory XD 40 pistol in March of 2009 for
recreational shooting, and self defense. The only other pistol that I have owned
was a 9mm Ruger, so there were some changes that took a little getting used to.
The Springfield Armory XD 40 is a nice looking gun and compares well to H&K or
Glock although it is much easier on the wallet. I was pleased with the fact that
it came with 2 magazines, a magazine pouch, holster, cleaning rod, loader, and
gun lock all bundled up in a hard plastic case. Smiling like a kid in a candy
store, I took my new gun to the range.he range.
As someone used to the recoil from a 9mm, the kick of the 40S&W was a surprise.
The recoil of the XD is comparable to the other 40 calibers that I have since
shot. I think the extra stopping power of the larger round is well worth the
extra you will spend on ammunition. I shot a tight pattern at 10 yards, and a
surprisingly respectable pattern at 20 yards. I am not a competitive shooter, so
it felt great to put every round thru the 8 ring or better at that distance. The
sites are bright and easy to use and it was obviously pretty accurate.
Surprisingly, the biggest adjustment for me was doing without a de-cocking
feature that I became used to with the Ruger. I felt more comfortable with a
round in the chamber if the hammer wasn’t cocked, regardless of the safety. I
believe that the H&K and Glock operate in the same manner, so this is really
just a training and preference issue. Now that I am used to it, it isn’t an
issue.
The XD has dual safeties, one on the grip, and one on the trigger. When gripped
securely with your hand on the trigger, the safeties are disengaged and you are
ready to fire. This is great in a survival situation, but I would have preferred
a traditional safety in addition, or in place of this dual safety system. Again,
all of my expectations are based on past experiences with an older Ruger pistol.
Since I keep bringing up the Ruger, Here are a few features that the old pistol
didn't offer. The Springfield XD has a chambered round indicator that lets you
tell by sight or touch if there is a round in the chamber. The XD also boasts an
accessory rail so that you can mount many tactical lights or laser sights.
If I had to do it over again, I think I would make the same choice and stick
with the XD from Springfield. There were no compelling reasons to spend more for
a different brand, and I don’t think I would have been pleased with the quality
if I tried to spend less.
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