XD .45 for beginner?

[Judas530]

I have been shooting a Ruger Mark II now for a while and do alright with it. I keep all shots in the bull and black at 15 yards and all shots on the target at 25 yards, with most in the black.

I am now ready for my second pistol and am about to purchase a xd .45 service. I am in CA so with a 10 shot max mag capacity, I cant see getting a 9mm over a .45 for a HD/range gun since I can't capitalize on HI CAP Mags. At the price I am getting the gun for I can easily get my money back if I decide the 9mm is more controllable for me. And I do know that I will be eating alot more in ammo costs, but this is a price I am willing to pay, plus Ill be taking up reloading at the end of the year, so this wont be as big of a problem.

Does anyone see a problem with me going directly up to a .45 instead of working up? I shot a Ruger P-345 right before I started practicing heavily, and at first had a hard time hitting things, but started to do alot better as I got towards the end of the box of ammo. I have shot .357 and .44 mags, so I know that I can handle recoil. It will just take some getting used to to switch to a heavier recoiling auto. I will be practicing between 1-2 times a week so it won't be a shoot twice a year gun. Does my thinking look sound here, or should I reconsider and work up?

[aplinker]

There's no issue with recoil. That's all in your head - just takes practice.

I still think the XD 9mm would be a better choice since ammo is cheaper. If the price is at all an issue, it means you can shoot 50% more each session. The marginal difference in effectiveness will be infinitely overcome if you can train more.

Is there a reason you chose the XD over, say, an M&P, Steyr, Glock, Sig, P2000, etc. etc.? Be sure to try them all.

[Army GI]

Well, if you got in enough practice with the Ruger .22, then I see no problem going up to 45. You got the accuracy part down, not all you need to do is apply those while getting acclimated to the recoil of the 45ACP which is pretty substantial.

I made the mistake of going straight to 1911 45 so I developed a flinch which was tough to get rid of and I probably ended up wasting hundreds of rounds ($$$) learning to shoot it straight.

[caldude]

I've got an XD 45 Tactical and I really like it. I started with .22 pistols, but got my 9mm (CZ 75) and .45 at about the same time. I don't find much of a recoil difference between the two.

I'm assuming you've shot .45s before so you know what they feel like. If the recoil doesn't bother you, I'd say go for it.

[ZombieKiller]

I still think the XD 9mm would be a better choice since ammo is cheaper.

Roger that.....get the 9mm for now and save for a 1911.....

[elsolo]

Get the 9mm.
Ammo (or reloading cmponents) cost double for .45 compared to 9mm.
If you decide to try and shoot some local matches for fun, the 9mm is a great gun for USPSA/IPSC production division. Matches where there is no power factor, such as most steel plate matches, the 9mm will be an advantage once again over .45ACP.
If you really want to get "a .45" then get the one you really want. I had to buy a singlestack 1911 just to get rid of the absurd ideas there were polluting my brain and making me think about buying other.45ACP pistols.

[heycorey]

Judas, your thinking is sound and it doesn't sound like you're a beginner to me. Get a .45 ... they make bigger holes.

:-D

[neomentat]

forget the XD and get the M&P. hold them and do a comparison side by side and I think you will come to the right conclusion. ($50 rebate & 2 free factory mags coupon on M&P from S&W's website, ends April 30th)

[tziggs]

forget the XD and get the M&P. hold them and do a comparison side by side and I think you will come to the right conclusion. ($50 rebate & 2 free factory mags coupon on M&P from S&W's website, ends April 30th)

+1. Love my M&P45.

[Rob454]

Question really is can you afford to shoot the .45? My buddy bought one and he doesnt shoot it cause he cant afford the ammo for it. (overall its more expensive than 9mm) I told him to get a 9 mm cause if he plans on shooting a lot its cheaper to buy 9mm than 45. if you can afford the ammo then go for the 45. I have both a 9mm and a 45. the 9 is way cheaper to shoot but I like th 45. the recoil isnt bad on the 45. I rarely shoot my 44 mag due to the high cost of the rounds that and I dont reload
Rob

[Exposed]

forget the XD and get the M&P. hold them and do a comparison side by side and I think you will come to the right conclusion. ($50 rebate & 2 free factory mags coupon on M&P from S&W's website, ends April 30th)

Or....he can have both, Like me