004 Springfield XD-M, John Farnam

[Mark Vanderberg]

I listened to the latest episode today at work and I thought it was excellent. The only problem is that is was too short for me. After it was done I was looking for more. That's a good sign of a good podcast.  

[Gail]

Thanks Mark,

     I really struggled with that episode, in fact I cut out about 16 minutes of good stuff about accuracy vs reliability because I thought it was too long. Good to know that it left you wanting more because more is what I have. I already have enough material for a weekly podcast but putting the episodes together takes up so much time. So we are sticking to the bi-weekly format. So many guns...so little time.

Gail

[Kenn Blanchard]

I really liked episode #4 now that I got the hang of it.  Gail, your show is like a Master Shooters Tech Show for the regular person.  The combined knowledge on your panel is “scary”.  I like the crickets chirping in the background too.  I don’t hear those in the city too often.  Keep the shows coming.

Kenn

[Doc Wesson]

Yes.. awesome!
Love it!!
I might as well hang it up!!!!!

[Gail]

You guys are too nice!!!
Thanks, for all the kind words.
Let me tell you, trying to rein in that group is what is "scary"

thanks,
Gail

[Doc Wesson]

Yes.. you are like the baby sitter!!!!
LOL!!!

Hey I want autographed pictures from all your team please..
It will look great in my office at work!!!!!!!!!!

[Gail]

I'll have to find or take one with all of us in it.
I think I might have one at home but I won't be home for another week.

Gail

[melensdad]

Great episode.  Not all of us play with tactical Tupperware type guns and it is nice to hear an informed panel discuss them from time to time.  It was also great to know the differences between the XD and the XD/m models. 

One thing that I have found with many gun reviews is that everyone seems to like everything and I don't see your panel really doing that, they seem to indicate their preferences, they talk about things like trigger reset lengths, etc.  All very good information.  This was my first exposure to your podcast, I found it only because of these forums and was very impressed with the depth of the knowledge of the folks sitting around the microphone. 

Now do me a favor and do some reviews of the brand new Detonics company that is being reborn again, this time in Illinios.  Those of us who are 1911 fans have a deep affection for the original Combat Masters from Seattle and have some high hopes that the new iteration of the guns will live up to the Seattle standards.  My main carry gun is a customized Combat Master and I'm itching to get my hands on a new production model.  I'd also love to hear about some of the little pocket guns like the Rorhbaugh R9 and the new Ruger LCP.  While my state has had carry laws for something like 70+ years, it seems like the trend in the gun industry is to cater to the new folks who are getting carry laws passed in their states and when you look at the production backlogs at Seecamp, Rorhbaugh and the fact that Ruger has something like 450,000 orders for their LCP it is hard to deny these little guns are making a big impact.

Here's my favorite carry gun, a despite the compact size, its a 2# gun and I'm hoping Detonics (Illinois) comes out with an alloy frame version soon.

[Gail]

     Well, what a coincidence, we already recorded a podcast about the Ruger LCP and I visited the Ruger factory in NH and recorded an interview there, although the LCP is made in AZ. I also happen to have one in my pocket right now and like it a lot.

     I, myself, love the tactical tupperware Glocks, X-D's M&Ps, dishwasher safe and all. Others on our panel are known gun sluts. Next episode is on the SIG P250 the ultimate tupperware/transformer gun.

     None of us have had experience with the current incarnation of Detonics but I will propose it to the group. Stay tuned for more info.


Gail

[melensdad]

     Well, what a coincidence, we already recorded a podcast about the Ruger LCP and I visited the Ruger factory in NH and recorded an interview there, although the LCP is made in AZ. I also happen to have one in my pocket right now and like it a lot.

     I, myself, love the tactical tupperware Glocks, X-D's M&Ps, dishwasher safe and all. Others on our panel are known gun sluts. Next episode is on the SIG P250 the ultimate tupperware/transformer gun.

     None of us have had experience with the current incarnation of Detonics but I will propose it to the group. Stay tuned for more info.


Gail

Well I am really hoping to hear how the LCP compares to other pocket guns, so hopefully that will be included in the review.  After all there are plenty of pocket pistols out there in the market, some are probably much higher in quality, some are probably over prices, and some a probably junk, there are probably a bunch of good values mixed in there too.  What I want to know are which ones have the best ergonomics, which are easy to clean and strip, etc.

As for the Detonics pistols I suggested it for 3 reasons.  #1 is that I like and collect them, so that is my personal bias.  #2 is that there seems to be an upswing in 1911 popularity.  But the real reason is that there has been a huge upswing in personal carry weapons and most people who carry are carrying concealed.  The original Detonics Combat Master was the first production compact 1911 pistol and was designed for concealed carry.  It is known for being a 100% reliable gun and given that compact 1911s often have a reputation for being a bit finicky it would seem that Detonics hit upon the correct size, balance and technology.  Of the dozen or so original Detonics pistols I have, I've only had 1 failure to feed with 1 of my guns and that was using 200gr Semi Wad Cutter lead reloads.  The Detonics booth at the NRA show seemed to have a nice steady crowd and lots of interest in their guns.  So since there is an upswing in 1911 popularity, and since the Combat Master is really the first of the real big bore concealment guns, and since I asked so nice  it seems logical that you'd want to take a look at the new Combat Master.

[Gail]

We did the LCP review as a stand alone review if the gun, did not compare it to other pocket guns other than mention how similar it is to the Keltec. That is a great idea for a future show we are still feeling our way and love getting this type of feedback.

thanks,
Gail

[melensdad]

We did the LCP review as a stand alone review if the gun, did not compare it to other pocket guns other than mention how similar it is to the Keltec. That is a great idea for a future show we are still feeling our way and love getting this type of feedback.

thanks,
Gail

Gail, from my perspective, if you review a 1911 pistols, of which there are probably something like a GAZILLION (that is a technical accounting term meaning more than I can count  ) then I want to know how that guns is made, I want the fit and finish and options, but I also want to know why I should buy THAT brand over some other brand, or if THAT gun is not as good as some other brand in terms of value, ergonomics, etc.  I realize ALL of it is OPINION.  I am also not asking you to trash talk brands.  But there can be, I believe there should be, OBJECTIVE comparisons.  Will a basic GI Rock River Arms compare to a Safari Arms/Schnutzen Gun Works Cohort in terms of fit and finish?  No.  But on the other hand it will be roughly 1/3 the price.  So objectively it the two disparate guns can be compared, and one is obviously going to be a bit rougher around the edges, the other perhaps more suited for punching paper accurately, they can still be compared to each other and to all other 1911 pistols in the market.

With the Tupperware pistols there are things like hand fit, smoothness of action, etc that can be compared.  I've never found a plastic gun with a good trigger (at least compared to a 1911) but that doesn't mean that some are not better than others. 

With pocket guns I'd bet several are better than my little AMT DAO Back-Up, if for no other reason than the trigger pull on my gun is so long and so heavy that I believe in several anti-gun states the trigger may qualify as a child safety lock   

It was nice that you guys did some comparing of the XD to the XD/m but for those of us who have not shot an XD then we may not be able to appreciate the comparison.  How does the trigger compare to a Glock or a H&K or a . . .

Seems to me there should be some baseline comparison models that are pretty popular, perhaps, again without trash talking any brand, a simple comparison to other brands can be made?  JMO

[Gail]

I am forwarding you feedback to the group, all good thing for us to consider. I have been on the road for a month now but will probably get the group together by next weekend for some future episode planning. Before I left we recorded 3 shows, the last of the three I will post this Sunday so you suggestions may take a little while to show up.

Gail

[Kenn Blanchard]

I want one too!

[Gail]

An update from my friend John Farnam on the Springfield XD/M pistol that we talked about in episode 004. This is posted with his permissino from his DTI quips, which can be accessed at http://www.defense-training.com/.

13 Aug 08

Springfield Armory XD/M

I've been carrying and using an SA/XD in 40S&W for a number of months  now, and I have no complaints.  Even with minimal maintenance, I can't get  it not to run, and it effortlessly digests DPX and Gold-Dot, as well as all  varieties of garbage-ammunition I've fed it during Courses.  It is a  thirteen-shooter (twelve, plus one), so with a single spare magazine, I  routinely carry twenty-five rounds.  I now rank it in the same league with  Glock, SIG, Beretta, S&W, and H&K, and I have no compunction about  carrying it for personal protection.

Now, I have a copy of SA's new XD/M!  It is a half-inch longer than my  XD, but all other dimensions are essentially the same.  It is smoother and  less cluttered than the XD, and sharp corners and edges have been essentially eliminated.  The slide is no longer blocky.  It is now nicely  rounded.  The XD/M's slotted rail easily accommodates my Safariland  Rapid-Light and my Surefire Weaponlight.

Other new features include variable grip-geometry.  This feature,  pioneered by S&W with their M&P pistol, is extremely popular with chiefs  of police, as the pistol can be instantly "customized" with regard to  hand-size.  The XD/M comes with three inserts.  I have the smallest of  the three installed on my copy.

Trigger take-up is slightly stiffer than on the XD.  Break is the  same, but the XD/M's link is less deep, allowing for a quicker reset.

The most significant improvement, in my opinion, is capacity.  The  XD/M is no wider than the XD, and the grip is the same length, but the XD/M is a seventeen-shooter (sixteen, plus one)!  With the pistol and one spare  magazine, I'
m now carrying thirty-three rounds of 40S&W/DPX, rather than  twenty-five.
That represents a substantial advance!

The XD/M's magazines are slightly wider than the XD's, and the two,
although they look similar, are not interchangeable.   

The XD/M comes apart the same way.  No dry-fire required.

The XD/M is comfortable, smooth, slick, and high-capacity.  SA  deserves a lot of credit for making all these improvements and introducing this  new pistol.  I'm now comfortably carrying it concealed in a Comp-Tac  Minotaur Holster.
I'll be giving it a thorough workout at a Course in WA  this weekend.  More to follow.

/John

[Big Chris]

Yes.. you are like the baby sitter!!!!
LOL!!!

Hey I want autographed pictures from all your team please..
It will look great in my office at work!!!!!!!!!!

This would be a great site fundraiser.

I'd pay for one.

[Gail]

We're working on it. The problem is getting all of us together at the same time.

Gail

[tom]

Now tha tyou have run through the XD-M and it is out in multi-calibers (and every magazine..good PR), the SIG 250, the S&W M&P and the Glocks, I would love it if you could circle back and really give a comparison.  We don't have an XDM yet at the range but I have run the others and am still deciding between the 4....flirting with the 1911 idea also have run the Kimber pro carry and have plans to run the para LDA.  Anyhow, I would love to see a shoot out between the 4 polymers.

Thanks for the great work you guys do.

tom

[Gail]

[RJB3 USMC]

I just listened to your review, and I wanted to say thank you. I purchased the XDm in 9mm and I love it. It is accurate, and easy to operate. There is only one slight issue that I wanted to check up on.

Has anyone noticed the difficulty of loading a magazine when it is filled to capacity? The spring it tight when filling the mag, but I just attribute that to being new. It is the fact that in order to get the magazine to seat I have to push hard. A regular forceful insertion is not enough. (I do not like to slam the mag home. Insert with force, but not slam.)

The only other issue I have is probably related. The magazine release button is very difficult to push while the magazine is full (not a problem if I run dry). If I push up on the bottom, I can get it to release, but I do not like to have to use both hands.

I call this a slight issue because I can get it to load, and if I am forced to reload after I run dry, the slide is locked to the rear. Then pressing the release is easy, and the magazine clicks right into place. I am going to call Springfield on Monday, but wanted to ask the Pros before I got too far.

Thanks,
Rich