I need a little advice: XD .45 4in. or 5in.

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titandogg

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I am new to shooting sports and have a question. I have heard all of the great reviews of the new Springfield XD .45, and after talking to the guys at the local gun shop I have decided to buy one. My question is: what is the difference between the 4 in and 5 in tactical model. Does the extra inch make that gun more accurate, or does it just add more weight so there is less recoil. Also because I am new am I going to notice the difference.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
I think either one is going to be more accurate than you are. The longer barrel will help a little bit with felt recoil, but not substantially. Handle them both - buy the one that simply feels better. 1" difference in length on a 45 auto is pretty difficult to contrast.
 
I've been carrying a 4" Kimber CDP for 3 years now and the inch that's not there does not make the gun less accurate - it sure outshoots some of the 5" ones I have. When I shoot a 5" and then a 4" I do notice the recoil difference but it's not that much.

I bought a XD .45 today and got the 4" - they didn't have any 5" ones and I would've liked to compare them but I think I'll be real happy with the 4".
 
The Tactical will theoretically be more mechanically accurate than the Service model, and will produce a little more velocity. It also offers a little more sight radius and muzzle weight. However...most of this will be lost on the average shooter, IMO. I prefer the Service model because of balance and handling characteristics.
 
titandogg, First things first. How much experience do you have firing or using a gun. It is not hard but there are some important factors that need to be discussed and points of interest / precepts that need to be covered. You are jumping into the deep end of the pool with apparently little instruction or knowledge of how to swim. I would suggest that you seek out some training or help from a friend that already shoots. Try out different guns, different calibres and such. Now with that said; you ask an opinion about a 4" and 5" Springfield XD45. I have a son that has a 4" or the Service model. I have not had the opportunity to fire it yet, but it is to me, a very natural pointing handgun but so is my Glock model 21. I have great confidence in my Glock and from what I can tell about handling and reading of the XD, it too, I'm sure is a fine weapon. Let me say here that I carry my Glock so I'm quite familar with it. The 5" model XD woujld offer some advantages over the 4" but again, if you're not an experienced shooter, I doubt that you will know any difference at least for a while. The additional front end weight will indeed soften the recoil some, the extra inch will give perhaps in the neighborhood of 50fps increase in muzzle velocity; most of all the increase in the distance between the front and rear sight, the sight radius, could improve the percieved accruacy. That is the result of the longer distance between the two points making precise allignment on the target a bit tighter or easier. Back to trhe subject of recoil. I can tell you that the recoil of my Glock is, to me, mild with more of a stout push compared to say a snub nose .357 which can be a fire breathing dragon. Are you going to conceal carry your gun? If so definitly get some training, GET THAT PERMIT AND DO NOT CARRY THAT GUN UNTIL YOU DO! Also you may find, that for you, neither one of the pieces conceal very well. There is a lot to consider here. Do not let a gun store clerk tell you that this is the puppy for you. He can not possibly make that call. He can make suggestions but the decission is for you to carefully make. I trust I have not scared you away but give you some things to think about. OH, if I were going out tomorrow to purchase an XD, I would want to handle the 5" and it pointed like my sons 4" and I believe that it would. I would buy the 5".
Regards Pistol Toter
 
Thanks for the input Pistol Toter. As far as my experience goes, I have been to the range once with a state police officer to give me the basics of stance and the proper way to hold the gun. One other time with a trainer, who trains the local police, and then 5 or 6 times with friends to actually shoot. So I don't have a lot of range time but I have shot several types of guns: .45's 9mm, .454 that was a lot of gun, .38's...etc...

I don't have a lot of knowledge yet about proper terminology and what does what, but I am eager to learn and have been reading alot. I do have my CCW permit but don't have plans to carry the .45 XD. I want it more for recreational shooting. I do own a Taurus millenium pro 9mm, however, I don't carry that either. I know I need to wait unitl I feel very comfortable with it and spend a lot more time at the range.
 
If you don't have plans on carrying it, and it's going to be a range gun, then go with the 5". Yes, the recoil is a little lighter, yes it's a little more accurate, and yes, like everyone said, it's probably lost on the shooter.

But on the other hand, I'd rather have a gun more accurate than me, than me more accurate than the gun...

I prefer the 5" simply because it's a little heavier. I seem to shoot better with a heavier pistol. The lower recoil is much easier on my carpal tunnel. But that's me. You'll love either one, that's for sure.
 
I picked the 4" model over the 5" model because of the balance. It feels better in my hand, so that is what I went with. I suggest you do the same.

If this is your first pistol, I suggest going to a shop that rents pistols and trying many out. I know at my local range, that if I plan on buying a certain pistol, they'll let me shoot the range gun first. Just explain to them what you want to do and what your intentions are (of buying a handgun). Also, consider ammunition costs, if that matters to you. 9mm will be substantially cheaper than .45 I personally love the .45 and that is what I choose to shoot, but reloading helps out on the cost of ammo. Good luck with your purchase:)
 
.45 ACP has substantially more recoil than, say, 9mm P. The experts posting above relate a lot of experience and it may not feel like much to them, but it will kick you into bad habits you might never get rid of.
.45 ACP ammunition costs substantially more than, say, 9mm P. Which reduces the amount of training, practice, and fun per dollar.

Unless you have a large budget for ammunition and professional training, you would be a lot better off with the same make pistol in 9mm.

I would get the 5 inch for the longer sight radius and because it uses a standard recoil spring instead of the complicated Seecamp telescoping dual spring setup.
 
I have the .45GAP. But yes, the .45 is much more recoil than the 9mm. But, to me, it's such a slow rolling recoil that it is very tolerable. If anything it's helped out a few bad habits of mine.

If mine was strictly a range gun, I'd have went for 9mm simply because of ammo cost and recoil. But I also carry mine in the vehicle everywhere I go, so that is why I went with the .45GAP (.45ACP wasn't made yet) over the 9mm and I can't stand the sharp snappy recoil of the .40. My hands go numb on the first magazine because of my carpal tunnel.
 
I have one of the first .45 ACP XD's too land in Old Dixie, and its the 4"
or service model. Its true, I've been shooting this caliber for many
year's; but this is my very first polymer pistol chambered for the .45
ACP cartridge. Using factory, Rem-UMC 230 grain ball ammo I find this
gun is just as accurate as most box stock 1911's. Recoil and muzzle
blast isn't nearly as bad as the same gun chambered for the .40S&W.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. Since I will also keep this gun by my bedside for home defense I am going with the .45 ACP.

FYI...I sent an email to Springfield to find the release date for the bi-tone and they said they are looking at an August release date.
 
Get the 5". .45acp is at its "correct" ballistics at 5" of pipe. 4" is a short barrel for .45acp.

The 5" will have better sight radius too, which aids in accuracy.
 
Can't help you....

To the oreiginal poster.......I'm not sure I can help with WHICH XD45 to get, as I just have experience with the 5"XD45. But I can tell you this.......I recently got a 5"XD45 and I'm VERY impressed. I'm a die hard 1911 fan, and none of the newer, plastic framed guns have impressed me over time, but this XD shoots VERY well, is soft recoiling, accurate, has a good trigger, and with 450 rounds through it so far, has been 100% reliable. It even functioned with CCI shootshells yesterday:eek:

I'll probally pick up a 4" model later....but the 5" is going to make a great "truck/farm/traveling bedside gun" for me.
 
Get the Tactical and then go and find an IPSC/USPSA club to shoot in production class. There is nothing more fun, nothing better to teach SAFE gun handling, and nothing better to develop your shooting skills than shooting with a uspsa club. The Tactical would do real well in Production class. In addition, you will develop a lot of friends who know a lot about firearms and shooting. Getting my son and I involved in uspsa is one the best choices that I have ever made. Man, its fun. In fact, its the most fun you can have with a firearm.
 
relatively new shooter, bedside/range gun, doesn't mention concealed carry?

5", no question - heavier where it matters most, and a longer sight picture.

that said: my further advice is to get a 22, asap.
 
I'd recommend the 5". As a new shooter you may not notice the difference up front but you may appreciate the differences as you develop your shooting skills
 
The Tactical will theoretically be more mechanically accurate than the Service model, and will produce a little more velocity. It also offers a little more sight radius and muzzle weight. However...most of this will be lost on the average shooter,
Click to expand...

True if you are young, but if you are old and have presbyoptia (need reading glasses or "cheaters" to read) That extra inch of sight radius makes a disporportionally large difference!

--wally.
 
True if you are young, but if you are old and have presbyoptia (need reading glasses or "cheaters" to read) That extra inch of sight radius makes a disporportionally large difference!
Click to expand...

I won't argue that wally...I'm in the same boat...:p
 
Yeah Frenchy & Wally, I'll be 53 in 26 days and I've been using trifocals for several years. Getting old stinks! :banghead:
 
I know now that the 4" is plenty accurate - I went and put about 200 rounds through it yesterday. :) I started off with a few mags at 10 yards and was amazed that I shot it just like it was a 1911, so I moved the target to 20 yards and fired 13 rounds. This was a target with internal organs outlined :eek: , and I had 8 heart shots, 3 lung, 1 rib cage and a flyer in the elbow. :p

I used to shoot Bullseye trying to put everything in a quarter size group at 25 yards. Now the only accuracy I care about is combat accuracy, and at 20 yards that was plenty good enough. I got an employee of the range to go ahead and qualify me with the XD for my CCW which took about 2 minutes and now have to go down and add it on. It is sweet.
 
Thanks for all of the advice guys. I went ahead and bought the XD in the .45. I will let you know how it goes.
 
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