Xds too tight

[sumpak]

Is it normal for a new polymer gun to be tight as ****

When I got my 1911, I don't remember it's even this tight. I mean you really have to put an effort to rack the slide or even release the mag.

My wife, who can operate the 1911 normally, is putting a lot of muscle to operate this mini.

[01010110]

Subcompacts use a stiffer recoil spring to compensate for their shorten/lighten slide and barrels. Lock the slide back while in storage the first few days, lube it according to your manual, and shoot it often. The stiffness will go away with use.

[shakyshoot]

Might try racking the slide manually 50 times a day for 4 or 5 days too. That's about all it takes to start noticing a difference. If nothing else you'll build up your hand strength.

[Glock19_PL]

Yes, mine XDS was fairly stiff out of the box. It will loosen up after you put few hundred rounds through it.

Congrats on the new XDS!

[sumpak]

Well this is a gift to my wife and it's her first handgun and she was disappointed. I was disappointed too as i so her having a hard time which is not good if to be used for self defense.

Let me try all suggestions above and hopefully it will loosen up.

[ez2b]

That's exactly how I end up with extra guns for me I buy them for her they don't fit her hand she can rack the slide I buy her another one lol. It's a win-win
Ok but I did find her a lc9 s which she loves and can rack herself got to find another way to buy me more guns

[sumpak]

well, I take it back. not disappointed anymore after getting this (see attached pic) the next day I brought home the xds. sweet little package.

[SoberClurichaun]

Don't have experience with the XDS but my shield was pretty stiff.

[FresnoRob]

well, I take it back. not disappointed anymore after getting this (see attached pic) the next day I brought home the xds. sweet little package.

Nice, I should get mine tomorrow by tracking. I didn't expect it would be in a case.

[tal3nt]

Although women are typically attracted towards the smaller single stack handguns, it's usually not the best choice for them. Still, if she continues to practice with it she will no doubt eventually be able to easily manipulate the firearm. The slide stop is very small, and the recoil spring is stiff, so it takes getting used to. The XDS is an excellent pistol with awesome accuracy & reliability.

[CK_32]

I experienced the same thing with my shield.

My girlfriend said she felt like the shield was easier to rack back than my Glocks. But me and my cousin both disagreed and were in agreeing that the Glocks were less stuff because we both could slam it maxed out to the rear where the shield we could not.


Take it to the range. I heard these guns (shield/XD) really get better after a couple boxes of ammo. 500ish seems to be the magic number.

I also lock all my slides back on new guns. Allows the springs to set into their natural spring position. Usually cuts back on initial gun issues as well. My 930 wouldn't spit out the last round when I installed my wolf power spring. Then they recommended I "say the spring" leaving it loaded for a day or 2. Wala fixed. Since then I do it with all my guns and notice a lot of the "out of the box" problems are gone.

[Visto]

Every small pistol I have shot including the xds has a stiff recoil spring. If she practices with it every few days for a couple minutes she should have no problem manipulating the slide. The only small gun I've used that is effortless to manipulate is the sig p238.

[sablue7]

With mine, not only is it too tight, the slide sometimes does not go all the way back. When the slide then moves forward, it cannot make contact with the back of the round, so there is a failure to feed. I wonder if a stiff magazine spring could contribute as well. There seems to be no issue of pulling it back far enough without the magazine in it. When a magazine it in it, it becomes very difficult to pull back.

[yotdr]

There are numerous videos on techniques for racking a stiff slide on youtube. I have 2 XDs's (9 and 45) that I bought as slim carry pistols. While they are great carry guns, the trigger and (especially) the mag release are terrible, IMHO). On the .45, I recently installed a spring/sear kit, as well as an extended mag release from Powder River Precision. A significant improvement in both functions. The only bummer is that I can't do the same on the 9mm, as it's one of the guns on my CCW permit (OCSD specifically does not allow trigger mods).

http://shop.powderriverprecision.net/category.sc?categoryId=17

[Bakerloo]

I bought one of those grip strengthener coiled spring things at Big 5. I honestly think it has helped as far as ease of racking the slide on my XDs 45. I keep it in my truck and squeeze 20X then change hands.