Springfield Armory 4 in Xds 45 Acp Review
"The .380 was a cute fad," Springfield Armory's print ads proclaim. "At present, allow's go back to business." Back to business organisation indeed. Twoscore-five quotient single-stack striker fired pistols aren't exactly a new thing. Kahr and Glock accept been making them since the naughties. Truth be told neither model has been flight off the shelves. But no one has made a pocket .45 this modest. Our minor-handed human being Dan got to grips with the XD-S at the 2012 SHOT Show and loved information technology. But is the new XD-South actually all that and a pocketful of protection . . .
Our sleek-looking dual-tone exam XD-Southward 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-scale serpent about to eat a large rodent. The XD-S post-apocaltypic presence is an obvious mutation from what'south considered "normal" by today's polite shooting society. For owners who believe that discretion is the better part of valor, an all-black XD-Southward could well exist the meliorate selection.
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-Due south' 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 brand practiced on its "noticeably unnoticeable" tag line. Anyone with mitts in the medium to freakishly huge range will notice their pinky hanging off the terminate of the grip. Of a .45.
With the extended mag—yep, in that location is an extended mag—I could get my whole mitt on the grip. Concealment? Not so much. With a replacement base plate pinky extension for the flush mags, the XD-Southward would be the rex of the skinny minis. As information technology stands information technology's a pretender to the throne.
When it comes to the trigger, the XD-South is so unlike its predecessors (e.grand., the Xdm 5.25) you'd swear information technology was made by Gaston's mob. Springfield Armory calls information technology a short reset trigger. Information technology's firm with minimal take upward, just not especially heavy. The break is crisp. Reset takes small forward travel. The sear re-engages with a commanding audible click and considerable tactical feedback. Like I said, Glock. Consummate with Ultra Safety Balls (USA) Activeness Trigger Organization.
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-contour three dot sights with a fiber optic front go along the XD-Due south from snagging when you lot pull it from your pocket or IWB holster.
On paper and in-paw the XD-Due south is everything it claims to exist: eergonomic and concealable with a trigger that eliminates the "Glock guys' short-stroke" problem." I took the XD-S .45 to the range during ane of my course, forth with 100 rounds of Federal 230 gr FMJ, twoscore rounds of Hornady 185 gr Critical Defense force 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-Southward pointed quite naturally. The .45's fiber optic front sight is easily acquired. My first ii dull-fire mags indicated that gun size isn't everything. The fantabulous trigger and enhanced ergonomics makes the XD-South accuracy at "gun-fighting" distances well within the "minute of bad guy" standard.
As you'd expect, rapid fire at a human being-sized target at the same distance opened up the groups. With the FMJ and Critical Defense force loads, you could easily reproduce groups like the one in the caput of the target below. Still, blazing abroad with 6 rounds of +P produced less tightly gathered target perforation, equally seen in the center of mass hits in the same target.
As well unsurprising: XD-S' extended magazine made for a more comfortable grip— with no observable effect on [my] accuracy. Did I mention recoil? Yeah, in that location'southward a lot of it. You lot have to brand sacrifices in order to have a .45 this minor. Yous feel each and every shot in much more item than you would with a full-sized deport piece. To steal a line from a guy on Reddit, it's similar loftier-fiving a hammer, albeit a small-scale 1.
In the video below, yous can encounter that the XD-S is a jumpy little matter, a fact exacerbated by the use of +P ammo, which I'd definitely recommend in a pistol this small.
I had 2 of my colleagues run the XD-S to make certain I wasn't being a pansy. They agreed with my cess. Afterward a few mags, you'll experience 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 await for the smaller-chambered XD-S offerings so they'll take the time to do with this gun. My choice.
The XD-S delivers on Springfield Armory'due south promises. It's small, lightweight and easy to conceal. Information technology has great ergos, an splendid trigger and shoots a cartridge that puts the .380 to shame. With six in the gun (7 with the extended mag) you lot have more than enough firepower to extricate yourself from a bad situation.
Uh-oh. Caliber wars! While you're gratuitous to engage in that debate below, a topic RF is set to accost presently, the XD-S is off to TTAG'due south Ralph to see how it stacks up against Glock's skinny .45, the G36. Even if it loses that comparo, the Springfield XD-Southward is an excellent choice for concealed carriers willing to sacrifice capacity and [potential] muzzle jump problems for additional [potential] lethality.
Specifications
Caliber .45 ACP
Capacity v + 1 RDS
Weight 21.5 oz. unloaded
Sights Steel dovetail rear, fiber optic forepart
Slide Stainless steel
Frame Black polymer
Overall Height 4.iv″
Overall Length 6.iii″
Overall Width one″
MSRP:$669 ($469 via Brownells)
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 dainty and naturally. Needs a pinky residue on the magazines to step it up a notch.
Reliability
I'thou withholding stars from this category as lack of funds kept me from putting equally much ammo through it as I'd have liked. Information technology had no problems with any of the ammo I fed it, though. [ED: this rating will be updated later.]
Customize This * *
The XD-South has a single-position Picantinny rail for lights and lasers and the inevitable K-BAR bayonet, only aftermarket accessories aren't yet bachelor. Given the penchant for people tinkering with their XD(one thousand)s, information technology should only be a thing of time.
Overall Rating * * * iii/4
Heavy duty recoil and current lack of aftermarket parts knock this pistol downwardly a few pegs, but if I needed a .45 for backup or pocket bear, the XD-S would exist my first selection.
Source: https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-springfield-armory-xds-45-acp/