Springfield XD problems?

[12ga]

I have had an XD40 for about 12 years. No problems other than problems firing lightweight lead free frangible ammunition, failures to feed, and stovepipes were constant with that garbage.

[Gryff]

Striker retaining pin was the weak point on the earlier models. They would break if dry fired a lot of times. New one are of stronger material now, but I still put this as a maintenance part if it's a HD weapon. Mine is from 2002, not broken, but I do not dry fire with the exception of a take down.

I have to say that I have not seen that problem with any of my three. And I dryfire them. A lot. (I shoot about 6,000-7,000 rounds a year in competition between the three of them, and regularly dry fire practice with them)

I will say that the striker retainer pin will wear and need to be replaced if it starts to work itself out of the top of the slide. But this usually takes thousands of rounds downrange, and the part is dirt cheap to replace.

My only complaints are:

a) the factory trigger. It's very crisp but the reset is looooong if you are used to a competition gun. Aftermarket triggers can turn the gun into an absolute joy if you can't learn to appreciate the factory trigger, though.

b) the sights. Springfield uses some kind of Godzilla-strength pneumatic press and are damn hard to drift adjust yourself (or drive out of the dovetail cut yourself if you are going to replace them).

c) the loaded chamber indicator eventually gums up with powder residue and pretty much stays in the up position full time. Removing it to clean takes a very tiny punch (which I don't have). This is a non-issue for me, since I press check my pistols to confirm loaded/unloaded and never trust an LCI.

Complaints that the gun has a grip safety make me chuckle, though. I'm one of those people who hates 1911s because I cannot consistently de-activate the grip safety, but I have never not had my XD's go bang because of the safety.

All in all, I think the XD family is a superb platform. I have a preference for the 5" Tactical models because I like the added weight at the end of the slide, but the 4" Service models have a nicely centered balance to them.

[Synergy]

b) the sights. Springfield uses some kind of Godzilla-strength pneumatic press and are damn hard to drift adjust yourself (or drive out of the dovetail cut yourself if you are going to replace them).

This really helps! The sights are tight, but can be removed. Installation was easier if you heat the slide and freeze the sights.

[Dinosaur Jr]

This really helps! The sights are tight, but can be removed. Installation was easier if you heat the slide and freeze the sights.

Those sight presses cost more than I paid for my Trijicon sights...that's a lot of scratch for a tool you might use once or twice.

[smittty]

Those sight presses cost more than I paid for my Trijicon sights...that's a lot of scratch for a tool you might use once or twice.

Either pay for the press or pay a gunsmith who owns a dedicated XD sight press, both cost you. You cannot change XD sights at home with a brass punch without buggering something. Those sights are in tight!

[5ZS]

Very fair price for installing XD sights: http://www.shop.xd-hs2000.com/Gunsmithing_c55.htm

[Synergy]

Those sight presses cost more than I paid for my Trijicon sights...that's a lot of scratch for a tool you might use once or twice.

I do Duracoat, so when I paint an XD, Sig, or Glock, I have the tools to remove the sights.

[Old4eyes]

A number of the parts are factory only, meaning that you have to send the gun back to Springfield for repair/replacement. Notably in the XD Service (4 inch barrel which you inquired) would be the recoil spring. It's a captive spring setup and if you wanted to tweak the gun with different spring rates, you are not going to be able to do that. The recoil spring in the Tactical models (5 inch barrel) is not captive and you could swap around with that model only.

The striker retaining pin dry firing situation is easily resolved by using snap caps. I use snap caps on all of my guns for dry firing practice.

The placement of the slide lock can be bothersome. If I shoot an XD after shooting a 1911 I will usually end up inadvertently ride the slide lock preventing the slide from locking back after the last round in the magazine. I ride the thumb safety while shooting a 1911 and that positioning will create the problem I've noted. This is an issue with the entire XD line, not just the Service model.

The nightmare of the sights has already been noted.
You have to pull the trigger on the gun to field strip it. Many people scream of the safety issue because of that. Funny, you don't hear the masses screaming about the Ruger Mark I/II/II which also requires pulling the trigger for takedown.

[desertjosh]

My XD9 Tactical has been flawless throughout thousands of rounds. Ill never sell it.

[dre147]

My XD 4'' has been flawless, very accurate and has a few thousand rounds thru it, great shooter. Stock trigger is not the best but its not that bad either, works just fine for me.

[Dinosaur Jr]

Either pay for the press or pay a gunsmith who owns a dedicated XD sight press, both cost you. You cannot change XD sights at home with a brass punch without buggering something. Those sights are in tight!

Since you have potentially multiple uses due to your Duracoat services, buying the tool makes sense. For Avg Joe pistol owner, not so much.

I wait for Ammo Bros to put them on sale with free installation...or I have no problem paying a gunsmith $25-$50 to professionally do it.
Some things are better left to the pros...everything is a trade-off ~

and BTW, to the OP, I own an XD9 4" and an XD45 5" - never had a problem with either. Dependable, reliable, easy-to-maintain, click/boom pistols.

[357magnum]

I have had my XD9 4" for 13 years now, with thousands of rounds fired and still shoots like the day I got it.

[Virus55]

Next gun will probably be a xd 9 4"

Brother in law has one and my sister has the sub compact 40 version

[Bakerloo]

A number of the parts are factory only, meaning that you have to send the gun back to Springfield for repair/replacement. Notably in the XD Service (4 inch barrel which you inquired) would be the recoil spring. It's a captive spring setup and if you wanted to tweak the gun with different spring rates, you are not going to be able to do that. The recoil spring in the Tactical models (5 inch barrel) is not captive and you could swap around with that model only.

You can get the recoil assy here:

http://www.pistolgear.com/proddetail.php?prod=XD4591

[rugersigkimber]

Today I learned how to open up the striker area...it was gunked up on both my XDm and my XD 40....to the point that neither were shooting.

Took them to the range today, and, "WAALAA"...they both shoot so smoothly now.

I just watched a few YouTube videos and did it.

If you're getting a light strike with no fire, or no fire at all, this may be the problem.