My new(ish) XD-45 - what a deal

[BryanP]

Well, now I can finally say I picked up an incredible deal in a gunshop.

I stopped by the local gunshop yesterday afternoon, planning to window browse before coming home to finish pulling down wallpaper in the kitchen. A guy comes in with a Springfield XD-45 he wanted to sell. He had bought it at the same store recently, but found out he couldn't take it with him where he was moving. He's flying out Monday, and nobody in the gun store had the authority to buy it. Out of curiosity (no plans to buy) I ask him how much he wants for it.

$300 cash.

For a gun for which he paid $600 out the door (I have his original receipt.)

The guy behind the counter just said "Do me a favor and do this outside."

A quick trip to the ATM and now I have an XD-45. Didn't have time to take it to the range yesterday, but I'm definitely going to make time today.

The gunshop did make a little money off the deal. The same customs people who told him he couldn't take the XD with him apparently absconded with one of the magazines and the manual (?). So I bought a replacement mag before I left.

Range report to follow.

 

[Ala Dan]

Congratulations~! You will find the Springer XD-45 ACP is everything that
its hyped up too be~!

 

[BryanP]

Based on everything I've heard I doubt I'll be disappointed. I guess I'm a bit of a heretic now. I have two full-sized .45ACP handguns and neither is a 1911. The other is a SIG P220A which I really like.

 

[Browns Fan]

I just bought a slightly used XD45, too! Mines a tactical that came with a third mag. My XD9 now has a big brother to keep him company in the safe!

 

[leadcounsel]

A word of caution about buying a handgun under those circumstances (eg. a guy buys a new gun for $600, keeps it a short time, wants to get rid of it immediately, is leaving the state, and will sell it to you for 1/2 price when the market value of the gun is probably $500 at least).

If it were ME, I would be at least somewhat suspicious. I would pay for an FFL transfer to me OR at least get a handwritten bill of sale from the seller which includes his name, DL number, and the date and signature.

Otherwise, congrats on a great buy. I love my XDs.

 

[nitesite]

Isn't it great when such a deal falls in your lap?

My 4" XD-45 need some more rounds thru it. Mine was new but I certainly wouldn't have minded getting a slightly used one.

One terrific firearm, in my opinion.

Congratulations!

 

[BryanP]

I just got back from an outing to my local range.

Wow.

Just ... wow.

I only put 200 rounds of WWB through her, but she is a sweet shooter. I'm at least as accurate, if not more so, with her than I am with my P220. Nice tight groups. Well, for me at least.

I'm not sure how they did it, but it weighs less than my P220 and the recoil is slightly more manageable. Weird.

She's a keeper.

 

[Ala Dan]

I hate too admit this but a customer recently tradeed in a LNIB two-tone
SIG-SAUER .45 caliber P220A with three magazines, box and doc's for a
NIB Springfield service model XD-.45 ACP. Seems as though his buddys
XD-.45ACP shot tighter groups than that particular P220A.? Maybe I
should have taken the P220 for a "test drive"~!

 

[BryanP]

A word of caution about buying a handgun under those circumstances (eg. a guy buys a new gun for $600, keeps it a short time, wants to get rid of it immediately, is leaving the state, and will sell it to you for 1/2 price when the market value of the gun is probably $500 at least).

If it were ME, I would be at least somewhat suspicious. I would pay for an FFL transfer to me OR at least get a handwritten bill of sale from the seller which includes his name, DL number, and the date and signature.

I still have his original purchase receipt, which he left in the box. Also, he's well known to the people who work at that shop. He's a professional photographer who spends most of his time in Jamaica. Based on conversations with him at the time I get the impression that $600 is play money for him. A $300 loss is an "Oh well" thing.

 

[BryanP]

Ala Dan,

Again, under the 'I hate to admit it' heading, yeah - I hate to admit it but my beloved P220 may languish here at home with the XD going to the range with me more often.

I did find it amusing that the takedown for the XD is almost identical to the SIG except that the lever goes the other way.

 

[Browns Fan]

Quote:
"A word of caution about buying a handgun under those circumstances (eg. a guy buys a new gun for $600, keeps it a short time, wants to get rid of it immediately, is leaving the state, and will sell it to you for 1/2 price when the market value of the gun is probably $500 at least).

If it were ME, I would be at least somewhat suspicious. I would pay for an FFL transfer to me OR at least get a handwritten bill of sale from the seller which includes his name, DL number, and the date and signature. "

Good advice. I made sure I got a signed receipt for the gun that said paid in full. I also trust this guy, but, ya gotta take measures to protect yourself.

 

[yhtomit]

private sales OK where you live?

Not that I find these rules sensible or righteous, but in most states I've lived, private sales (indiv. to indiv.) are allowed only with a transfer handled by either an FFL holder or the police in some form.

At the risk of veering offtopic, are there states where such transfers can be legally carried out? This purchase (esp. considering the whole context as laid out by the poster, and assuming that he's not a *secret agent* photographer who's actually an undercover assassin, etc.) sounds like a fantastic deal -- but would be less so if it took $100 worth of forms and nonsense to legally complete. Then it would be merely a great deal

Enjoy the XD-45; yesterday, I visited a range for the 2nd time with mine, and had a great time. This gun is the first one I've personally disassembled (have relied too much on gunshops in the past, partly leery of doing something wrong and causing danger), and it's insanely easy to break down into the "normal person cleaning" components. Someone braver with his fingers than me could probably do it in less than 5 seconds; I go slowly, and 15 seconds is plenty, 30 if you do it in slow-mo

Cheers,

timothy

 

[TeachMe]

The following is my understanding of NC State law and I make no claim to the legality of my understanding:

Here in NC, the buyer must have a pistol purchase permit or a concealed carry permit. Both of these involve a background check, so individual-to-individual transfers are no problem. If however, the buyer wants to purchase without the purchase permit or CHL, I would be suspicious.

 

[Browns Fan]

TeachMe, you are correct, sir. I provided him a note with my CCW license number and the serial number of the gun for his records.