Carry a Springfield XD cocked or uncocked?

[WestonSmith]

Hi, I have a question for any of you who are knowledgeable about Springfield XDs. As far as using them for concealed carry, are they designed/meant to be carried cocked with a round in the chamber or uncocked without a round in the chamber?

 

[legion3]

Yes ... cocked with a round in the chamber ... ready to go bang with little or no fuss ... no modern defensive/police handgun is designed to be carried any other way....

 

[GVMan]

Am I missing something?

I don't have an XD but after reading about them I am confused about the safety features. I do not understand the point of the XD's "striker status" safety feature. If I have a round in the chamber, the loaded chamber indicator will indicate so. Because there is no way to de-cock the XD after chambering a round, how could the striker ever be uncocked? Aren't these two safety features really telling me the same thing?

 

[possum]

WestonSmith,
i am the proud owner of 2 xd's and i carry them locked cocked and ready to rock at all times. no matter what type of holster they are in, or if they are pulling home defense duty on the nightstand.

Yes ... cocked with a round in the chamber ... ready to go bang with little or no fuss ... no modern defensive/police handgun is designed to be carried any other way....

+1

 

[waynedm]

I don't have an XD but after reading about them I am confused about the safety features. I do not understand the point of the XD's "striker status" safety feature. If I have a round in the chamber, the loaded chamber indicator will indicate so. Because there is no way to de-cock the XD after chambering a round, how could the striker ever be uncocked? Aren't these two safety features really telling me the same thing?

Exactly. This is one of the many reasons those guns are

People seem to fall for these silly things these days.

Loaded chamber indicators: we're relying on this now instead of basic firearms safety and because the Democrats want it?

Cocked indicators on SA-only guns like XDs: How can you get a round chambered without it being cocked?

Backstrap Safety: How is it going to go off if your hand isn't on the thing and disabling it anyway? Extra to Springfield for making it so you can't rack the slide on the XD without the backstrap being depressed.

We need to get back to the basics and away from all this tacticool nonsense that advertising has us chasing. It's always loaded. Keep the booger hook off the bang switch unless target is acquired and you intend to fire. Keep the muzzle pointed away from anything you don't intend to kill.

Come on, people.

 

[kludge]

The XD can be cocked without a round in the chamber, so... not really. But I see what you're getting at.

 

[Coyote3855]

Murphy's Law...

GVMan:

I've been considering an XD based on excellent reports from owners and in the gun rags. I've not even handled an XD. I am familiar with the features you question only through what I've read.

As I understand how the two indicators work, they are telling you different things. Given Murphy's Law, the loaded chamber indicator tells you there is something in the chamber, not necessarily a loaded round. I'm guessing an unextracted empty would trigger the loaded chamber indicator? The little pin on the back of the slide says the striker is pre-loaded or "cocked."

Short of a parts failure, I think you're correct. If there's a round in the pipe, the striker should be cocked. But if there is a major malflunction, I can envision a situation where the chamber flag would be up, but the striker wouldn't be cocked. Imagine a 1911 with a hammer that follows the slide. Similar malfunction. I don't know if it's possible with an XD. Some of the hype is that you can check the condition of the pistol in the dark by touching the striker pin and the chamber indicator.

FWIW.

Coyote

 

[waynedm]

Some of the hype is that you can check the condition of the pistol in the dark by touching the striker pin and the chamber indicator.

IE tacticool. It's all just Mall Ninja stuff.

 

[TX1911fan]

Waynedm, I can appreciate your personal preferences, but I assure you that a grip safety is not "tacticool, mall ninja stuff." I believe we have had grip safeties for almost 100 years. Pretty proven track record, given that they are on the most popular handguns of the twentieth century (and given the number of companies making and selling 1911s, and the number of 1911s being purchased, one of the most popular handguns on the 21st century as well). You can give an opinion wihtout being nasty. Your way just makes me think you have some sort of personal prejudice, so I ignore what you have to say.

Back on topic. The XD is a fantastic pistol. I like the fact that there is an additional safety in the grip given that there is no way to decock this gun (other than unlaoding and dry firing). I have wondered why there is a cocking indicator and a loaded chamber indicator, but the explanations above make sense.

Also, Springfield does not intend any of the indicators to take the place of basic safety. However, having a loaded chamber indicator would come in particulalry handy for certain people. I would imagine a police officer or soldier who would like to know if his sidearm is loaded, but would prefer not to make any noise, or is in the dark and cannot see, would like to be able to just run his finger over the top of his weapon and have it confirmed.

 

[Exmasonite]

Hi, I have a question for any of you who are knowledgeable about Springfield XDs. As far as using them for concealed carry, are they designed/meant to be carried cocked with a round in the chamber or uncocked without a round in the chamber?

Absolutely carried with round in the chamber and ready to fire when carrying. No way you want to deal with having to rack the slide in the heat of the moment. That's the potential 1/2 second you don't have to spare.

Forget about the loaded chamber and cocking indicators. If the gun is on your hip for personal protection, you'd better be damn sure as to its status without having to rely on these features.

Between the trigger and grip safeties, the gun won't go off on its own unless you are holding it and pull the trigger.

Around the house/nightstand, it may be appropriate to keep the gun unchambered but out in the real world, i can't see any reason to not have a round in the chamber.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Exactly. This is one of the many reasons those guns are

People seem to fall for these silly things these days.

Loaded chamber indicators: we're relying on this now instead of basic firearms safety and because the Democrats want it?

Cocked indicators on SA-only guns like XDs: How can you get a round chambered without it being cocked?

Backstrap Safety: How is it going to go off if your hand isn't on the thing and disabling it anyway? Extra to Springfield for making it so you can't rack the slide on the XD without the backstrap being depressed.

We need to get back to the basics and away from all this tacticool nonsense that advertising has us chasing. It's always loaded. Keep the booger hook off the bang switch unless target is acquired and you intend to fire. Keep the muzzle pointed away from anything you don't intend to kill.

Come on, people.

Oh lord. How can you blame the Democrats for the XD? It was designed in Croatia with all of its current features.

 

[waynedm]

I can blame the loaded chamber indicators on the Democrats because it's one of the 'safety' features they want, SEE: PRK.

Backstrap safeties are fine on the 1911, it doesn't inhibit the use of the slide like on the XD.

 

[GhostRider66]

Oh lord. How can you blame the Democrats for the XD? It was designed in Croatia with all of its current features.

You do know that those Croat Democrats are as bad as Illinois Nazis right?

 

[bruss01]

An XD can be in a "not cocked" position with a live round in the chamber if for some reason the round did not go off on the first strike. Admittedly, this would be a rare condition (I have not experienced this in my XD) but it is possible since I have had several guns where a round failed to ignite after the trigger was pulled. Sometimes it is not even a "dud" round because it will go off on the second try with my da/sa guns. Sometimes you just get a hard primer. The XD will also show loaded chamber and not cocked if the case fails to eject. Again, not something common but you'd definitely want to know that before trying to use the gun. When the two indicators aren't in agreement, something is wrong and bears checking out.

I don't think the cocked indicator is there for this reason, though. I think it's just so the XD will be allowed in geographic regions where a cocked indicator is a mandatory safety feature.

I like that the slide cannot be pushed out of battery unless firmly held by the grip. A gun is not going to be out of battery or have the slide cycle without you really meaning to do that. Guns have been made for decades that work without this feature... so what? Well you can say that about any other kind of innovation, we got along without it all right before... I would like the XD just fine with or without this feature. I notice that it does make people who aren't all that familiar with guns smile when you explain it to them, and that can't be a bad thing.

 

[Outlaw Man]

I like that the slide cannot be pushed out of battery unless firmly held by the grip. A gun is not going to be out of battery or have the slide cycle without you really meaning to do that. Guns have been made for decades that work without this feature... so what? Well you can say that about any other kind of innovation, we got along without it all right before... I would like the XD just fine with or without this feature. I notice that it does make people who aren't all that familiar with guns smile when you explain it to them, and that can't be a bad thing.

I attempted to reholster my Pro-9 once when I finished at a place where I couldn't carry. I had, without thinking, re-tightened my belt and thus tightened the IWB holster. I racked the slide back about halfway before I realized what was going on. I don't believe I had enough of a grip against the backstrap that I'd have disengaged the safety if it were an XD.

Its a rare occurance, but in retrospect that would have saved me from a panicked suffle to get the gun back in order.

 

[walking arsenal]

Exactly. This is one of the many reasons those guns are

People seem to fall for these silly things these days.

Loaded chamber indicators: we're relying on this now instead of basic firearms safety and because the Democrats want it?

Cocked indicators on SA-only guns like XDs: How can you get a round chambered without it being cocked?

Backstrap Safety: How is it going to go off if your hand isn't on the thing and disabling it anyway? Extra to Springfield for making it so you can't rack the slide on the XD without the backstrap being depressed.

We need to get back to the basics and away from all this tacticool nonsense that advertising has us chasing. It's always loaded. Keep the booger hook off the bang switch unless target is acquired and you intend to fire. Keep the muzzle pointed away from anything you don't intend to kill.

Come on, people.

1. The loaded chamber indicator, in my opinion, is great. It lets me check if my gun is loaded with having to fool around with the slide. In other words it's a safe way to check you gun. I believe this would fall under your "gun safety".

2. The cocking indicator is also a nice feature, again, my opinion. It's not a needed feature, granted, but in tandem with the loaded chamber indicator it works well with letting you know that the gun is loaded.

3. I wouldn't carry an XD if i didn't have the back strap safety. This is why i dont carry a Glock, that and the grip, I hate the grip angle. If i drop my XD (it happens) the saftety both the back and the trigger safety will help ensure that it's less likely to go off.

Combine all that with your last statement about keeping fingers were they belong and you have a very safe firearm.

 

[bb21]

XD

First of all I am a new owner of an XD and I am no way an expert on the gun. I shot my XD45 compact for the 1st time yesterday, I am very pleased with it to say the least.
The features of the XD DO NOT eliminate the need for safety or need for "press" checks. The 5 rules still apply, the XD manual states all this numerous times. They are features, they are liked by some and disliked by others, they do have uses and are helpful to some.
I personally like a loaded chamber indicator and I also like to know I am "cocked. For example my Taurus Mil Pro has a loaded chamber indicator but when in a holster there is no way of telling if it is cocked. The XD is the same, but my thumb will tell me I am cocked when I rub it over the cocking indicator. Does that mean there is a round in the chamber, no but for me it is a good indicator because I never leave my guns cocked with a round in the chamber, unless I am carrying.
It doesn't eliminate the need to open the slide and visually and physically check the chamber for a round either, I do that often.
Glock's have what some may call a cocking indicator, the trigger, it is further back than when it is cocked, same as my Mil Pro. The grip safety in my opinion is an excellent safety, it is in-obtrusive and as stated above, has been proven in the 1911 design. I personally like the fact the slide won't rack without being pressed, just me. I believe most children would have a hard time engaging the grip safety and trigger safety, just my opinion.
My point is to each his own if you don't like the features of the XD don't buy one but it doesn't mean that they are useless or a bad design it is just different.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

I hate illinois nazis.

 

[Steve C]

Most modern striker fired semi auto like the Glocks do not have a cocked position, the firing pin in stead rests in an intermediate position that even if it where to release would not have enough force to fire the pistol. The firing pin is only retracted to, for lack of better words, "full cock" when the trigger is pulled similar to a double action pistol or revolver.

They won't go off if dropped, slammed to the ground, dropped of a 20 story building or from any other impact force.

Pull the trigger with a chambered round and they'll go off, just like a DA revolver. Don't pull the trigger and short of dropping one in a fire, it will not go off.

Think that a grip safety makes you safe? Well that's fine, people think all sorts of things "make them safe" but you would be as well off with a rabbits foot.

 

[RNB65]

As far as using them for concealed carry, are they designed/meant to be carried cocked with a round in the chamber or uncocked without a round in the chamber?

Absolutely. Chamber loaded, ready to fire.

I've fired more rounds from XD's than most other pistols combined and I love everything about them. If something goes bump in the night, I'll roll out of bed with an XD in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Their fixed sights are reasonably accurate for a self-defense weapon and they're totally reliable. You boys can argue features until you turn blue, but, IMHO, SA hit a grand-slam the day they bought the import rights to that gun.

 

[yongxingfreesty]

xDs, one of my first handguns. finish was not very good, i got it rid of it to get a glock. didnt like the way it looked like legos.

 

[XDSC]

I know there are just as many XD haters as there are Glock lovers.
Personally, I can't tell much of a difference between my XD sub and G27 other than the G27 has a wider grip. I can say with 100% confidence, give me an XD over a S&W anyday! Just my .02

 

[zahc]

The cocked indicator comes in handy for dry firing.

 

[stolivar]

bull pucky

On a Glock while holstering you can accidentally get something caught in the trigger housing while holstering. (bang your shot)

While on an XD if this happens you do not get a Bang if you keep your hand off the back strap while holstering.

If you notice no trigger had to be anywhere near the trigger for the Glock to go off....


steve

 

[Coronach]

xDs, one of my first handguns. finish was not very good, i got it rid of it to get a glock. didnt like the way it looked like legos.

...so, let me get this straight. The XD looks more like Legos than a Glock?

Mike