New Pistol

[IFF52nd]

I am in the market to purchase a pistol.  Does anyone here own the Springfield Arms XD?  Doing a little research on the web finds that it has been well received and is dependable.  The new XDM is out but I figure I'll find a good deal for the older XD.  I'm not into competition shooting, just buying it for personal protection.

EDIT:  I'm looking for a non-revolver pistol in the 40 cal range.

Thanks.

[AKHog]

just buying it for personal protection.
I'm looking for a non-revolver pistol in the 40 cal range.

This mentality never ceases to amaze me. 

Buy it because it's cool, fun to shoot, makes you feel like a man, whatever reason, but its just idiotic to buy such a weapon for defense.

Get a shotgun for home defense. If you want something you can carry, get a revolver. When you need it, it will always work. Why would you take a chance with your life with something that has a chance of not working? Not to mention something so small and powerful, unless you are practicing with it regularly the chances of you actually hitting something in a panic situation is not good.

Go read some articles about self defense. People who recommend guns like these for defense rarely have real world experience. People with experience recommend shotguns, or revolvers for carrying.

I'm sure there will now be 20 people posting telling me why I'm wrong. I'm not arguing with ya'll this time. Go read what the experts have to say, and think about it all logically. These types of weapons simply should not be the top choice for defense, at least for 99% of us.

[DJ111]

He can buy whatever the hell he wants to buy for whatever reason he wants to use.  It's not easy to carry around a 12 ga shotgun in your jacket when you're out and about and a revolver only gives you 6 rounds.

The new XDM 19+1 9mm is an awsome buy, hell, it holds 20 rounds...

I've fired my friends .40 XD and it feels pretty sweet, kicks like a 9mm.

(I carry and use a Sig P226 9mm, I plan on getting the .40 or the XD(M) in the next year or so)

[Rezdog]

He can buy whatever the hell he wants to buy (for whatever reason he wants to use)

Hmmm.... sounds a little odd put that way, might want to re-think that statement, kinda leads down a few roads of un-lawfull activities.

[Barnes828]

We have a XD 9mm, i dont remember if its the 4 or 5 inch model. Its well balanced, and recoil is minimal. I believe it has a 16 round magazine, but it looks like Springfield has already topped that. overall its a nice weapon, but i still prefer the 1911

[DJ111]

You would have to be a moron to assume that's what I mean.

[Chalenge]

Just make sure you know the laws of your state that you get a license to carry and that if you pull it you use it without delay. Hitting what you shoot at is a big plus but in a lot of cases the noise gets attention just as well. A double action revolver as primary and double action auto for backup is nice also. I cant say revolver versus auto either one is at a disadvantage unless you buy cheap. Of course any primer could be a bad one so keep that in mind.

[DJ111]

Machetes almost never fail...

[Treize69]

As always, I recommend a .45 for personal/home defense, its what I carry. We still use .38 specials at work, and I've fired both the 10mm and the S&W .40 a lot, but I still think the good old .45 ACP is the best you can get. It almost guarantees to knock down or stop with the first round, and its low enough velocity that if you use soft or hollow points theres very little chance of the round passing through and continuing on to hit someone else. Plus that big gaping hole staring at someone has a great intimidation factor that can't be overstated for self defense- people are scared of a .45, much more so than a 9mm.

I carry a Colt MkIV, basically identical to an issue M1911A1, but with better sights. I use Winchester hollow points for carry, but normal FMJs for target shooting.

And whatever calibre you settle on, I'd suggest looking into specialised Home Defense ammo (brandnames are eluding me at the moment), they're designed to break up on entering a person or passing through a wall to minimise the chance of the bullet either missing and hitting someone outside (or in the next room) or passing through the target and hitting someone else.

[AKHog]

I've shot the 9mm, .40 and .45ACP XDs. The 9mm was ok but the bigger ones were hard to handle. The light weight poly frames are great for carrying, but when it comes time to use it they don't handle recoil very well, the barrel rise is hard to control and its difficult to get multiple rounds on target in quick succession.

My buddy bought a XD in .40. He put 500 rounds through it and had 2 jams and one other failure. Thats a .6% chance of a failure each time you pull the trigger. (cheap ammo, I admit, but still...)

I've put 1000+ rounds through my S&W .357 revolver, and never had a single failure.

The choice is clear. When I need to use a weapon to save my or my wife's life, I'm going to pick the one that worked every time. I can't think of many defense situations where you'd need more than 6 rounds, unless you are fending off a horde of zombies. 

[warhed]

The choice is clear. When I need to use a weapon to save my or my wife's life, I'm going to pick the one that worked every time. I can't think of many defense situations where you'd need more than 6 rounds, unless you are fending off a horde of zombies. 

Well then, I guess I won't be seeing you on the other side of the Z Holocaust...

[Angus]

Who do you want to shoot?

[Masherbrum]

For home defense?   .45, .38 +P and .357 should be the only ones looked at.   But, a shotgun is the best home defense firearm.   

[Rich46yo]

I like Springfield products tho I dont have that particular weapon. The 9mm is a fine choice. I'm partial to a .45 but theres nothing wrong with a 9mm and a good 115grn or 124 grn +P or +P+ JHP load. I like 9mms cause the ammo is cheap and you can practice more. The .40 S&W is a fine load as well. I would have no problem going out and buying this pistol. Ive heard much good about it. You cant really judge an auto on failure rates. Instead find a good load the auto likes and stick with that. I have a measly S&W M-3953 I carry OD, and as a 2nd at work, and its never jammed once on any kind of load.

AKHog have you lost your mind anytime lately?

This mentality never ceases to amaze me. 

Buy it because it's cool, fun to shoot, makes you feel like a man, whatever reason, but its just idiotic to buy such a weapon for defense.

Get a shotgun for home defense. If you want something you can carry, get a revolver. When you need it, it will always work. Why would you take a chance with your life with something that has a chance of not working? Not to mention something so small and powerful, unless you are practicing with it regularly the chances of you actually hitting something in a panic situation is not good.

Go read some articles about self defense. People who recommend guns like these for defense rarely have real world experience. People with experience recommend shotguns, or revolvers for carrying.

I'm sure there will now be 20 people posting telling me why I'm wrong. I'm not arguing with ya'll this time. Go read what the experts have to say, and think about it all logically. These types of weapons simply should not be the top choice for defense, at least for 99% of us.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

AKhog it's a cute statement. I made my girls try a revolver 357 and they couldn't hit a thing compared to my 45. The force they have to exercise when pulling the trigger to rotate the barrel make them go off target. I know it's not the first time you bash the semi-autos, you have your preferences and it's cool ... yet don't call the others stupid, because following your fancy would probably get my girls killed. I'll give them an XDM over a 357.