Springfield XD45 Tactical - HD Night Sights and Flashes

[wyntrout]

Thanks, John. I was trying to figure out where to post my range trip with my newest acquisition today... my new-to-me Springfield XD45 Tactical... like new and faultless... in performance... so far. I WOULD have had to put it in the General Discussion area.

I had been wanting a "battle pistol" with large capacity magazines for the much talked about WTSHTF-type scenario. The XD45 Tactical definitely fits the bill with a 5" barrel and 13-round magazines... easy to load-ones, too. I love my Kahrs, but 5 to 7-round max capacity magazines aren't my idea of a "battle-ready" pistol.

I took it to the range today for the second time... after receiving my four new 13-round magazines from Ivanhoe Warehouse. That's one great outfit. I ordered four mags from them early on the 29th and received them mid-afternoon on the 31st! They charge $5 for shipping and use USPS Priority... fastest delivery yet... four new Springfield mags delivered for under $100.

I used one of those gun-finish touch-up pens to number the magazines.

I have ordered a set of the Trijicon Hard Duty night sights from Optics Planet... free shipping... and will get a local gun-specialty shop to install them and get a trigger job, too. The Yellow-dot front night sight and u-shaped rear sight might help my aging eyes. I will do a post when I get them installed and tested.

I took the XD45 to the range today and fired 100 MFS 230-gr FMJ and 100 Winchester Value pack 230-gr FMJ, followed by 10 Speer 230-gr Gold Dots.

The gun was pretty boring to shoot... controllable recoil... long sight radius with 3-dot sights... no malfunctions in the first 200 rounds. The first round of 10 Gold Dots failed to chamber. I may have forgotten to tap the back of the magazine in my hand. In any case, I pushed the top bullet back enough to drop the magazine, tapped the back of it into my hand, and re-inserted the mag. The top round chambered easily from slide lock and I fired those 10 Gold Dots without a problem.

If I took the time to aim properly and not jerk the trigger, the bullets went where the sights were aimed. It's definitely a keeper and and will suit its intended purpose... which isn't CCW! I wanted a high-capacity .45 with a 5" barrel and this pistol just feels perfect... much better than the Glock 21's I handled, and at just over $500 out the door, was nicely priced.

I got ahead of myself and just started the picture and video download from this range trip, so I'll post some pix shortly after I get them sorted out and some stills from the video.

Wynn

[wyntrout]

First picture is of the first 13-round magazine... no "careful" aiming... 7 yards.

The next is pointing from chest height at 7 yards, rapid fire... pretty much center of mass.

[wyntrout]

I shot kind of rapid fire at 15 yards... eyes not great for that... 22 rounds with 19 on the paper and 3 just off... letter-sized sheet of paper.

I fired 13 rounds rapid fire with 6 in the 8" circle and 4 on the paper... with three off... one right and one left... and one rang the "bell" and made the target jump all over.

[wyntrout]

I slowed down and fired a magazine at 15 yards... 1 second or so per shot, and managed to get all on the paper... not bad for me.

I did a lot of shooting at multiple targets... didn't take pictures of the better ones, unfortunately, but this definitely wasn't my forté... if I have one!

Next some flash stills.

Wynn

[wyntrout]

Some 230-gr MFS FMJ flashes:

[wyntrout]

Some Winchester Value Pack-100 FMJ:

[wyntrout]

And finally, some of the 10 Speer 230-gr Gold Dots I fired last, as well as the target... sort of quick fired at 7 yards:

[CJB]

I keep feeling the same way.... WTSHTF gun... keep thinking FNP-45(usg)... and the KSG shotgun

[wyntrout]

I really looked at the FNP... especially the Tactical model with the threaded barrel and raised night sights... over $1000, though. This XD45 felt better and really has "light" recoil, plus the long sight radius and I think that the HD Trijicon Night Sights may help me shoot better with the "improved" sights:

http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/produc...t1.php?id=HDNS

I should have these in a few days and get them installed locally. I'll certainly test and post my feelings, etc.

Wynn

[KoBear]

i carry this gun for 40 hrs/week.

it has been a great gun without any hiccups. when my dept first got these, we did have an issue with loose front sights, but they took care of it no problem.

[wyntrout]

I really like this gun and can't wait to get the HD Trijicons on it to try. I wanted a wider notch at the rear and a more visible front sight... as the new HD's have.

I don't know how old the gun is, but I couldn't find anything but a tiny bit of wear on the front of the barrel. It does have a US serial number... US614xxx.

I saw one of these at a gun show for $509 new the week end before Christmas. I didn't want to jump on that for sure, but I saw this like-new one at the gun store/range where I shoot just a few days later and decided to buy it... $480 plus tax and the NIC... $518 and some change out the door. The dealer wouldn't come down on the price, but added a couple of months to my range membership. It was a good deal for relations with the store/range, too.

Recoil is really mild and I loosely hold the gun without much rise from recoil. I took videos of my shooting today and was surprised how little muzzle rise there was.

Wynn

[muggsy]

My #1 son is looking to get the XD compact in .40S&W.

[wyntrout]

That's probably what my retired LEO brother had when I shot the .40 S&W for the first time last year. The recoil was no worse than a defensive 9mm +P, which is why I began to consider a gun in that caliber... a new caliber which requires stocking up on MORE AMMO!
It had a smooth trigger and seemed accurate, considering I like to use ALL of the paper on my targets.

Wynn

[Thunder71]

Love my XDM, but it feels so big now lol.

[wyntrout]

The XD is a large gun, but that's what I had in mind for a "battle gun". I don't foresee hiding this one on my person. I have my "cuddly" Kahrs for that. I sure like the 13+1 capacity of the XD45... especially when it's my favorite .45 ammo.

I have some new numbers to consider when I go to the range... six magazines of 13 = 78 rounds ready to go, and if I'm shooting 100 rounds of something, that leaves 22, or 13 + 9 for reloading. I don't always count my shots and sometimes it just shoots and shoots, and.... I really appreciate finding some cheap ammo for this pistol... under $15 a box of 50. I was even considering starting to reload again, but that takes time and a hefty initial investment... again! I had over a box worth of cases in my range bag(box) out of 210 rounds fired. I could have picked up most of the rest in my area.

Wynn