Posted on 04/08/2009 3:01:19 PM PDT by Choose Ye This Day
You’re about to spend 400-600 bucks. Do yourself a favor and go to the closest indoor range. Shoot the 9’s, 10’s, 40’s, and 45’s in Springfield, Glock, Sigssaur.
I did and went for the XD-45. Smoother kick. 13 rounds. Triple safetys. Comes in a sweet package with a lock, 2clips and a belt holster. $500.
Awesome accuracy, lots of features, cocking indicator, loaded chamber indicator, passive firing pin safety, grip safety that blocks the trigger.
Don't have to be a contortionist to take it apart. 19+1 capacity.
I've had Glocks too. Sold every one of them. I'm sold on the XD.
I also prefer not being around people who violate the basic safety rules, or who drink-while-armed, or who keep their safety off. Somewhat more than a preference.
The average garage mechanic, with minimal training, can do virtually all of the possible gunsmithing available to do on a Glock. No, you can’t do grip reductions, but there are only 37 parts, and it’s easy to buy from an amazing array of aftermarket parts (e.g., lone wolf distributors). XD is good, but is nowhere near on aftermarket support. I’ve never messed around on the internals of an XD.
I’ve also had a glock blow up in my hand from an overcharged factory round. No damage to my hand (it stung for 5 minutes, I picked up the pieces and got out my other glock and shot the rest of the stage), and everything vented downward through the magwell like it’s supposed to. All the internal steel parts were screwed, but the frame and slide body were fine. Glock completely repaired the gun for $250, no questions asked. (I used to have a bad practice of dumping all my ammo for a match into a green metal ammo can and throwing away the boxes, so I couldn’t go to the ammo mfg for the charges).
Glocks are accurate enough for any self defense or competition use except bullseye. If you’re doing bullseye, an xd isn’t going to help you.
Another poster mentioned the “trigger safety” — the little piece of plastic that wobbles inside the trigger. It’s not really a safety to protect against AD — if your boogerhook is inside the triggerguard and on the bangswitch, you’ll have an AD. The “trigger safety” prevents the trigger from moving rearward if the gun is dropped or smacked. Since you can adjust a glock trigger with aftermarket parts from about 3lbs all the way up to about 11lbs, a light trigger needs that protection.
I’ve owned all the expensive guns. Sigs are nice, HK’s are extremely nice, Kimbers are just plain awesome, Berrettas rock. You won’t go wrong. The reason I’m with glock is that my personal entropy field screws with any mechanical system. Safeties are missed on the draw or decockers are left in the wrong position. Moving parts break or get sand in them. Glock’s have the virtue of being incredibly reliable — they go bang every time with no extra motions necessary to operate any controls. Your holster is your “safety” (second to your brain being engaged).
Regardless of which one you pick, stick with it. Learn one weapon system really well and get good with that. There is no perfect gun, but Glocks are really good.
when i had to buy, i chose the browning as having a better feel, less recoil, and way more accurate.
Both excellent. Neither is my choice.
I have heard from a reliable source (who bought it for his wife, really expecting to love it) that the XD has function problems regarding dirty magazines. If you’re betting your life on it, test it plenty to verify it works slightly dirty. Try to make it fail.
The best advice is to test them both, and buy the one your heart really wants.
My daily carry is a CZ P01. Absolutely love it. And no it’s not a “target pistol”. It’s a service pistol. They aren’t cheap anymore though. Used to be less expensive than known name brands, but now they pretty much the same price, if not more expensive.
Can probably thank their rifles getting a lot of good feedback from sportsman and target shooters making CZ-USA a name brand that people don’t scoff at.
Outstanding advice. A repeat and a BTT.
But I wonder if Glocks are more durable in the long run...
As a NRA-certified instructor, my advice for any handgun that may ever be used for self-protection is to get a revolver...minimum .38 special. If you’re absolutely sure that it will be used only used for target shooting, then try several models of semi-automatics to see which one feels best to you. I personally don’t like Glocks.
Did you look at an M & P? I have a G-22 and I just bought a XD-9 today. $671.00. Put 50 through it and decided to change to the large back strap. That 3/32 spring steel pin was kind of a pain. Like the XD match grade barrel. I hit vitals every round at 20 yards standing. It has a longer pull than my G-22. Slick to clean. Don’t like the spring. Like the striker status indicator. Like the loaded chamber indicator. Mostly bought it so when the SHTF I have a 9 MM
My buddy at work has the M & P in 9. I’ve fired it and it was solid. He tried to talk me into it instead of the XD to no avail.
Can’t go wrong either way
I carry the Glock on duty
But prefer the grip angle and trigger squeeze on the XD
Figure out which you prefer
Don't overlook CZs
Springfield XD-M. Higher capacity. Better trigger. Match barrel. Grip and manual safety [like a 1911 A1, which I used in the Army].
Check out the certified pre-owned Sigs.
The mostly come from police departments and they have hardly been fired. Sig replaces all necessary parts and you can usually get them for a couple hundred less than a new model would cost.
I know a few people who have bought them and they love them.
http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=55&productid=201
I have an XD-40, went out with some friends who are loaders. We put 500 rounds through it in 3 hours, got it dirtier than all get out, didn’t have a single problem with the function of the weapon.
Very accurate weapon from 10 to 20 yards, but then again me and my friends shoot just about every weekend, so most of what I have shoots pretty accurate..
The other nice thing with the XDs is that cleaning them couldn’t be easier.
That said, first things first-go to a reputable handgun trainer (check out NRA.org for a list of NRA certified instructors in your area) get a basic course in handgun-(from your post that said you shot low/left w/ a glcok-probably more your grip, stance and follow-through than the gun itself)
Next-what is the primary purpose of your choice of handgun? At home self-defense, concealed carry, casual plinking, big game hunting, etc (yes, all are niches that can be and should be filled with a dedicated system geared to that purpose!).
Get the training first, shoot the trainers handguns (usually they have a diverse selection. If you attend a course with a other students-try what they have, shooters are probably the most friendly group you'll spend time with, in my experience!
God Bless
NRA certified rifle and pistol instructor, MO CCW Instr, etc.
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