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I teach CCW classes for Stanislaus and Merced as well as other pistol classes. I use an XD Service for these classes. Its the same gun that I use for the classes that I take as well. And it's the main gun that I practice with at the range. I'd estimate that I've put just shy of 10k rounds through it. I've shot indoors, outdoors, sun and rain.
The worst failures I've had were some FTF's. Came down to one crummy mag that I tossed. Other then that it has been rock solid.
One issue that I did run into recently was the grip safety. I started shooting pistols with the 1911 so a grip safety is nothing new to me. But this past January I was running a class, it was raining and then the wind picked up and it turned from just being wet to bitterly cold and wet. So I did something I almost never do. I broke out my shooting gloves. These are basic mechanics style gloves and I usually only use them when shooting rifles like an AK. Well, I had the gloves on and went to take the shot... Nothing. Ran through my usual drill (TRS) and still nothing. Ripped out the mag, rack rack rack, new mag and nothing. WTF, did I forget to change the batteries? Nope, it was the gloves. The webbing between the thumb and forefinger was soft enough to allow me to grip the gun tightly but not fully depress the grip safety. I was stunned. I've never had an issue with a grip safety before. When I got home I tried the gloves with my 1911 and same issue. I have pretty big hands and can never find gloves that fit just right. I guess I'm so used to having gloves that are just a touch too small for me that I didn't even think about it being an issue.
I had considered pinning the safety like some people have done on 1911's and I think that I might actually do that. If anyone else is considering that just be aware that some counties do not allow you to mod your carry guns. Stanislaus, where I have my CCW, is one such county. However I don't have any of my XD's on my permit. My normal carry guns are Kahrs but I do most of my training with XD's and I keep an XD 45 as my bedside gun.
I own 4 XD's now. 3" 9mm, two 4" 9mm and one 5" 45acp and I'm looking to buy more. I find them comparable to all other "service style" poly pistols but I chose XD for the following reason.
Glock: Grip angle doesn't work for me and is off from most other guns. Finger groves do not fit my hands. Gaston Glock is a royal @$$. ($80 more)
M&P: Hard to find in stock (consistently), ($80 more)
SD9VE: Only one size, trigger is horrible but it is $20 less then the XD.
Beretta Storm: Slide mounted safety and *hammer fired. ($100 more)
Sig SP2022: Slide release behind decocker (opposite almost all other firearms). Hammer fired. ($60 more and 1 mag less)
HK VP9: Big, Fat, and way over priced just like everything HK. ($200 more)
* The External Hammer issue. I'm a big proponent of standardization on a Manual of Arms, in other words, how a gun works. I prefer external hammer DASA style guns but not for concealed carry. As such I switched from my beloved FNP 9mm to the XD in order to more closely match up with the Kahr's which are my daily carry guns.
The worst failures I've had were some FTF's. Came down to one crummy mag that I tossed. Other then that it has been rock solid.
One issue that I did run into recently was the grip safety. I started shooting pistols with the 1911 so a grip safety is nothing new to me. But this past January I was running a class, it was raining and then the wind picked up and it turned from just being wet to bitterly cold and wet. So I did something I almost never do. I broke out my shooting gloves. These are basic mechanics style gloves and I usually only use them when shooting rifles like an AK. Well, I had the gloves on and went to take the shot... Nothing. Ran through my usual drill (TRS) and still nothing. Ripped out the mag, rack rack rack, new mag and nothing. WTF, did I forget to change the batteries? Nope, it was the gloves. The webbing between the thumb and forefinger was soft enough to allow me to grip the gun tightly but not fully depress the grip safety. I was stunned. I've never had an issue with a grip safety before. When I got home I tried the gloves with my 1911 and same issue. I have pretty big hands and can never find gloves that fit just right. I guess I'm so used to having gloves that are just a touch too small for me that I didn't even think about it being an issue.
I had considered pinning the safety like some people have done on 1911's and I think that I might actually do that. If anyone else is considering that just be aware that some counties do not allow you to mod your carry guns. Stanislaus, where I have my CCW, is one such county. However I don't have any of my XD's on my permit. My normal carry guns are Kahrs but I do most of my training with XD's and I keep an XD 45 as my bedside gun.
I own 4 XD's now. 3" 9mm, two 4" 9mm and one 5" 45acp and I'm looking to buy more. I find them comparable to all other "service style" poly pistols but I chose XD for the following reason.
Glock: Grip angle doesn't work for me and is off from most other guns. Finger groves do not fit my hands. Gaston Glock is a royal @$$. ($80 more)
M&P: Hard to find in stock (consistently), ($80 more)
SD9VE: Only one size, trigger is horrible but it is $20 less then the XD.
Beretta Storm: Slide mounted safety and *hammer fired. ($100 more)
Sig SP2022: Slide release behind decocker (opposite almost all other firearms). Hammer fired. ($60 more and 1 mag less)
HK VP9: Big, Fat, and way over priced just like everything HK. ($200 more)
* The External Hammer issue. I'm a big proponent of standardization on a Manual of Arms, in other words, how a gun works. I prefer external hammer DASA style guns but not for concealed carry. As such I switched from my beloved FNP 9mm to the XD in order to more closely match up with the Kahr's which are my daily carry guns.
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