Holy Cow!!! New Springfield XD40 Subcompact

A couple of weeks ago I bought a SA XD40 Service and while I like the gun and found it to be reliable in my first two range trips, I just wasn't all that impressed with it. It is a nice gun and all but something about it just wasn't quite right. To be honest I rushed into the purchase, which is a mistake that I rarely make and this time I got bitten by it. My main problem with the gun is it's size. I really think that it is too big to use as a CCW gun and in my 20+ years as a CCW holder, I guess I have just come to believe that every handgun that I own should be easy to just shove under a T-shirt and go! lol

Though I really did not want to make another gun purchase this quick, yesterday found me standing at the counter of my favorite gunshop where I asked to see an XD40 Subcompact. The one that the owner brought out of the case was blued and fitted with Trijicon night sights and she had me right there.... love at first sight.

I brought it home and today I took it to the range for the first time and quickly found out that the Subcompact is a MUCH better match for me than the Service. It feels better in my hand, balances better, points better and man does it shoot better!

It was a little wild for the first couple of magazines as I re-aquainted myself to shooting a subcompact .40. (I haven't shot one since I sold my Glock 27 about 5 years ago) The recoil of this little gun is quite stout, but that old feeling soon came back and I was soon drawing from the holster and shooting controlled pairs into an 8" circle at 7 yards.

But the best part was blowing out the bullseye shooting timed shots at 1 second intervals unsupported, also at 7 yards. It has been a long tome since I shot a pistol that was as easy for me to shoot accurately as this one is. There is simply no comparison, the XD40 Subcompact is the XD for me. See for yourselves! These targets were shot from the same distance using the same ammo, WWB 180GR FMJ It looks like I will be selling the Service to a friend that wants it, but I am pleased to have found a great replacement.

Target from today's range trip with the XD40SC


Target from my second range trip with the XD40 Service

I have a G17 and 2 G19's that I like a lot. I recently had an opportunity to shoot a G26, and like you w/ your XD's, I was amazed at how well the smaller variants can shoot.

How is the recoil w/ the .40 in that pistol?

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It's pretty stout. It took a couple of magazines to really get the "feel" of it. Like you I have owned and shot Glocks for quite awhile. I bought a G27 right after they came out and carried it for 10 years. I switched to a G26 about 5 years ago so it has been quite awhile since I have shot a subcompact sized .40.

At first it seemed to have alot of flip, but once I figured out how to hold it and adjusted to the trigger I found the gun very controlable. The sights are quick to realign from shot to shot and the gun points very well, but it does have alot more snap than either my Glock 26 or my Glock 19.

You had said in the other thread that the full size target was rapid fire at 7yrds. That's the difference.

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No not entirely. I did do some slower fire shooting with the full size and actually the results weren't that much better than the results rapid fire. That's the main reason why I didn't take a pic of those targets. I'm not trying to down the gun, but I think that the reason why I didn't do better is that to me the Service model has kind of a top heavy feel and the longer grip doesn't allow me to anchor my hold as well. Again it's not a bad shooting gun but after a couple of trips to the range with the full size, I felt like I could do better with something else.

When I shot the Subcompact I was amazed at the difference in my accuracy and I think that the pictures do speak for themselves. The full size model is a good gun. It is accurate and definately built solid but for me the Sub just has that special little bit of magic that makes it all come together!

FWIW I also don't shoot the full sized Glocks as well as I do their compact and subcompact cousins. I owned a Glock 22 years ago and I always did better with my G19, G27 and G26 than I did with it.

After thinking about it more I decided to give the XD40 Service another go. I still find the XD40SC easier to shoot accurately, but on my last trip to the range I was able to do this with the Service! BIG improvement

Although it is still big for a CCW pistol, I am going to be keeping the Service also. Looks like I have a XD Duo now!