Why the hype about the XDs?

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TarDevil

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So, after a few years of gaining experience and technique, I'm thinking I'm ready to "lighten up" my carry piece. I'm leaning heavily toward a single stack .45 acp, specifically the Kahr CW45.

My question is, why was the XDs so hyped when it came out in 2012 (Finally, what the shooting world has been clamoring for, etc)? The Kahr seems to fill the same niche, pretty much same size, and preceded the XDs by several years (at least the P series... the CW came out in, what, 2008?)

Am I missing something? Is there something extraordinarily different about the Springfield that garnered it such enthusiasm?
 
Not really, the XD was considered an improvement over the ergonomics, or lack thereof of the Glock. The XD is a good, solidly well made service pistol, and is a fine choice for concealed carry, IDPA etc. , but if you like the Kahr better, then go for it, nothing wrong with that either. There are so many really good pistols to choose from these days it seems you have to go out of your way to make a bad choice, I'm a luddite, and still think 1911's rule....
 
Not really, the XD was considered an improvement over the ergonomics, or lack thereof of the Glock.

I knew it was merely a matter of time before Glocks entered the picture! :D

What you say is true, but same can be said of the Kahrs. Hence my question about the "groundbreaking" introduction of the XDs.
 
My question is, why was the XDs so hyped when it came out in 2012 (Finally, what the shooting world has been clamoring for, etc)? The Kahr seems to fill the same niche, pretty much same size, and preceded the XDs by several years (at least the P series... the CW came out in, what, 2008?)[/QUOTE

The XD-s is the latest version of the gun recently introduced. It is a single stack 9mm which comes on the heels of the 45acp version. There is a demand for single stack poly guns.

In January 2012, Springfield announced a new variant, to be marketed as the XD-S. While it shares many features with the original XD and XDM, its specifications differ in several important ways. The XD-S has a new Pre-Set trigger and a disassembly fail-safe, neither of which are currently incorporated into the XD or XD-M models. The Fail-Safe Disassembly prevents the disassembly lever from being manipulated when there is a magazine in the pistol. Conversely, when the disassembly lever is up, a magazine cannot be inserted into the pistol. This model, at only 1 in (25 mm) wide and initially available only in .45 ACP, is specifically designed for concealed carry.[10] The XD-S .45 ACP has a single stack magazine with a 5 + 1 capacity (with an optional 7 + 1 magazine available) and a 3.3 in (84 mm) barrel.

In January 2013, Springfield unveiled the XD-S in 9mm. It is identical to the .45 ACP model in size and features. The only differences being that XD-S 9mm has a single stack magazine with a 7 + 1 capacity (with an optional 9 + 1 magazine available) and the 9mm is marginally heavier due to a smaller (9mm) hole in the barrel (more metal is left behind).

So pretty much it is another entry into the single stack polymer framed guns pile. Which has some good features in it's own right. There has been a demand for single stack poly guns for CCW over the last few years. Kahr has it's versions.

tipoc
 
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I think the main reason for the hype was the XDs and the Shield were single stack guns with the same triggers as their larger brethren, whereas while the Kahr are smaller, lighter, and had been on the market a good while longer; they have a trigger more akin to a double action revolver than a striker fired autoloader.
 
Having owned both a kahr and an xds...and still owning an XDs, the Kahr isn't something that I'd compare to a kahr.

The trigger is a huge difference. The kahr feels and behaves like a DAO revolver. Light but long with no shortened reset. You need to let the trigger all the way back out after each shot. The XDs trigger feels similar to a glock, m&p or xd. It is short with a crisp, short reset.

Basically, if you like DAO revolvers, the kahr will be awesome for you.
If you shoot plastic fantastic wonder 9's, the xds will appeal to you.

Honestly though, I'd rather have an officer's 1911. :)
 
The XDs is a top heavy unbalanced gun just like my old Sig 239....
I'd go Kahr any day, over an XDs!
 
I've never shot a Kahr so I can't really comment or compare the two. But for me, the XDs is the only compact or semi compact gun I've ever held that filled all of the following criteria.

Is thin and easily carried
Is chambered for a powerful cartridge
Most importantly, it fits the hand of a larger person quite well.

There are lots of little semis out there that would be easy to carry and shoot, but the XDs just suited me.

I've handled the CW45, and the trigger reach just wasn't quite right for me. The XDs is controlable. I was pleased to find out that the XDs is a pleasure to shoot as well. I'm not saying the CW45 isn't. The XDs is also a hair smaller than the CW.

I suspect their marketing paid off as well. Turns out though they are great guns, minus the recal of course.

I'm patiently waiting.......
 
I have no idea, but you can count on this: the online forums are loaded with marketing specialists from the factories and special interest groups. Turned me off that they put "USA" on the slide, which is THEIR acronym for some system, instead of it being built here?

Bought my G36 some years ago, used, with a bunch of extras for $500. Built in Georgia, not sure what the differences are in ergos, but it's my main ccw...
 
It is a nice looking, nice size gun. I looked at one, but the shorter grip is offset by a longer length than my PM45. If I didn't have the PM I would have grabbed the XD. However, like a poster above said, if you don't happen to like the Kahr trigger (I do - very much) then the XDs may be a reason to celebrate.
 
The Kahr trigger is a big selling point for me... smooth, long D/A type, which is what I want in a gun W/O trigger safety.
 
In America (and a lot of other places now....) hype is King. People love to be wowed and believe that there is a "Holy Grail" or a one size fits all so they buy into the hype if done cleverly.

In the case of the XD-S I didn't wanna like them 'cause I just really didn't care for polymer pistols. Then I shot one of my Gun Buddy's XD-S in .45 and despite the fact that it punished my hand seriously I was strangely attracted and hit like a champ with it at 21'. It's concealable, powerful, reliable and the price is right...I was impressed enough to rent an XD-S in 9mm at the range and then started shopping for one.

The recall took the wind out of my sales (no pun intended) and I shot a Glock 26 that a Dude at the range bought to keep the jitters away while his XD-S was being modified in the recall. Unfortunately I like the G26 just as well as the XD-S and maybe a little better due to the increased mag capacity. So, now I'm a G26 fan.

But I wouldn't kick an XD-S in 9mm or .45 out of bed unless it would be for a G26. All different sized people with all kinds of circumstances and all kinds of carry/use options and hand sizes and recoil tolerance and experience and range time/skill level.

The XD-S fits the bill for at least some of them.

VooDoo
 
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Recall aside, the XDs is a good shooting, well-built, single stack 45 that I can conceal OWB under a t-shirt. I never had a problem with mine, except for a few misfires early on. I found that a bit of oil on the slide after cleaning kept it running.

I'll admit that I am a huge fan of the XD grip safety, but that's just me. It's a main reason I picked up an XDs when they first came out.

all that being said, it did, for whatever reason, get a ton of hype that was probably a bit more than it deserved. still, it's a good gun.
 
The XDS 45 is a very accurate small gun. I can easily keep 10 shots within a 4 inch circle at 20 or more yards. The trigger is quite good for a factory gun and it can be made better if you are a bit mechanically inclined.

There is a voluntary recall at this time for potential slam fires when the slide is released. Thousands of rounds through mine did not show this problem and I am waiting for the smoke to clear at Springfield before sending it in.
 
it was kinda glockish in mechanics but kinda kahrish in size. quality control suffered to get the guns to market as weve seen with the 200,000 gun recall because of the trigger "safety"
 
"Just shoot an Xds. They're ergonomic and soft to shoot."

Uh... no, they're not.

Soft to shoot, that is.

I'm not recoil shy or sensitive by any means. But there is simply no getting around the fact that with a warm 230 grain cartridge in the tube, the XDs is much less than pleasant to run a magazine full through.

Nevertheless, the Xds remains my EDC piece.

But it ain't "soft" to shoot by any stretch of the imagination. Unless maybe you're someone along the size of somebody like Brock Lesnar or the like.

My $0.02.
 
Well the reality is Springfield DOES NOT HAVE A FIX for the problems with the XD-S. Here is their update today:

We originally estimated a 30-day turn-around time, but it has unfortunately taken longer to develop and identify an upgrade solution. Please know that we are continuing to test potential upgrade solutions at this time and we have been doing so since we became aware of this issue. This testing is nearing completion and we will post any new updates as soon as we have identified a final upgrade solution. We will post our next update no later than Friday, October 4, and we will communicate immediately if a final solution is identified prior to that date. We wish that we could provide you with a specific return date at this time, but we are unfortunately unable to do so. Upgrades will be completed on a "first come / first served" basis.

www.springfieldrecall.com/Recall FAQ.asp
 
I don't get it either. A plastic gun, not even built in the USA. Oh boy, I gots to have one. :)
 
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