SPRINGFIELD New SUBCOMPACTS AND TACTICAL MOD.2S – On the Range This Week! – SHOT SHOW 2016

in David Higginbotham, SHOT Show 2016, Uncategorized

Updated: January 30, 2016 BY Dave Higginbotham

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I’m spot-on with the Service model. That’s 16 rounds in a 2″ group from 15 yards.

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Buy an XD at GunsAmerica: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=xd

Read more about the XD line at Springfield Armory: https://www.springfield-armory.com/xd-series/

I’ve made no bones about my love of the XD. The first Springfield Armory gun I ever shot was an XD-S. The compact single stack in .45 ACP was a tack driver. I had no issues with the little gun, except for the capacity–but the XD-S achieved its narrow width by limiting capacity. The concealability of the XD-S is its big selling point. That it is also fully functional and incredibly accurate is a big bonus.

The XD line is not quite as thin as the single stacks on the market, but it has a lot of other features that make it even easier to control. And there are now even more models to choose from.

The extended mag on the new XD Sub Compact highlights just how short the barrel is.

The XD 3″ Sub Compact

The XD 3″ Sub Compact Takes the fully functional 3.3″ model down a notch. I’ll tell anybody that listens that the 3.3″ is my go-to choice for concealed carry. There’s something about the aggressive texture of the Mod.2’s Grip Zone that makes manipulation reliably easy. The double-stack mag flares the grip out just enough to fill my hand. The guns are small enough to conceal, yet large enough to control, and they have superb capacity.

The 3″ model has just a touch more muzzle flip. At .3″ shorter, it is also .3″ easier to conceal (at least in terms of length). While that may not seem like much, it is shorter. And that counts for more than you’d think in this industry. I ran the Sub Compact along side a 3.3″ .45 ACP Mod.2, and the 9mm felt snappier, but only marginally so. When you move up to the 4″ version, the difference between the 3″ and 4″ 9mm is more pronounced (with the 4″ having less muzzle rise).

Capacity (9mm) one 13+1, one 16+1, (.40 S&W) one 9+1, one 12+1. Guns are available in black, bi-tone, and FDE.

The 4″ Service Model is a great mid-sized option for fans of the platform.

The XD 4″ Service Model

The XD 4″ Service Model runs great. As Springfield is actively searching for ways to increase their presence in the LE market, the Mod.2 needs cross platform options that fit the needs of cops. The Service Model is a great compact option. With the Sub Compact below it, and the Tactical stretching capabilities in the full-sized model, there are now more compelling reasons for departments to consider the line.

As far as speed and balance go, the Service Model rocks. It draws easily, and there’s just enough mass to the slide to hold it down during all-out rapid fire. This is an excellent size for winter concealed carry, when you can still wear an IWB holster on your strong side, or for close-contact OWB carry in places where open carry isn’t anathema. This is truly the best of both worlds for those looking for a one-gun solution.

Capacity (9mm) two 16+1 magazines. Guns are available in black and bi-tone.

The longer 5″ barreled XD is fast.

The XD 5″ Tactical

The XD 5″ Tactical takes the already aggressive XD to a new level. The longer barrel and slide increase sight radius. The extra barrel increases the effectiveness of the 9mm round by allowing more room for the powder to burn. And there is now even more real estate on the slide for off-hand manipulation.

The increase in sight radius rewards those who like to slow down between shots. If I were looking for a gun to shoot at any distance, especially from 25 yards or more, this would be the XD for the job. I ran it on a 8″ steel plate from 25 yards, and could hit it consistently. That’s only an achievement in the sense that the XD is a gun I associate with rapid defensive shooting drills. I’ve never spent much time with an XD at the 25 yard line, like I have with 1911s. But I’m finding it equally rewarding.

The grip size is the same as the 4″, which is enough for the full hand to connect with the entire grip. The wide open mouth of the mag well is easy to feed, and the mags are stainless steel–and almost a mirror polish–which makes them slide in and out with no friction at all.

Capacity (9mm) two 16+1 magazines.

As much as I’m waxing poetic about the nuances of the new models, I’d like to clarify one point where these guns were exactly the same. These XD pistols, during all of our testing, behaved admirably. We didn’t dunk them in muddy creeks, or freeze them solid in blocks of ice, but we did put them through the paces on some freezing wet days. We didn’t baby them. We ran them through a battery of tests we use for all of our polymer handguns, and we couldn’t find any bones to pick. We had no failures.

And accuracy was respectable across the platform. We chose 9mm versions of each, and used the same ammo. I shot almost as well with the 3″ and the 5″ as I did with the 4″ (which was the gun that liked me best). As I moved more quickly, my groups opened up. I was surprised that I didn’t shoot the 5″ as well as I’d shot the 4″, but I think it has more to do with my familiarity with the compact Mod.2’s balance and handling, and nothing to do with the gun. The same thing happens when I pick up a Commander, or a 6″ 1911. I just need time to retrain the brain.

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The Sub Compact is not bad, either.

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The long 5″.

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In the end, I’m really pleased with the way the XD line is growing. Springfield Armory provides options. For those who want the potential of a full-sized pistol, the Tactical is now an option. And you can train with one platform, all year long, and meet all of your potential needs.

What’s next for the line? You don’t need a crystal ball to guess there will be caliber upgrades. There will likely be even more color options. And I’d really like to see a 5.5″ with a threaded barrel, similar to the XD(M). Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine.

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