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SpringerFan wrote:P.S. - Rumor has it that the XDM45 will be released in the next couple months.

Yeppers! No longer a rumor. It isn't on Springer's Website yet, but they've begun advertising it...at least the 4.5" variant.

Bill wrote:

Skiprr wrote: I'm an old throwback who's been trained to always verify the condition of any firearm I pick up, and rely not at all on any mechanical indicators. The loaded chamber indicator on the XD is something that could vanish magically tomorrow, and I'd never know the difference. I press-check everything that has not been under my immediate control...meaning already been checked, and placed in a holster on my body.

but, not on grip safety

I don't understand...

Dad24GreatKids wrote:Speepdaedeesi, first thanks for your service. You honor yourself and our country by serving. Regarding Glock v. XD-m, I do own both. I have a Glock 23C, Glock 27 and a XD-m 9mm. I prefer the Glocks because I'm more accurate with them. I also think that they are more concealable. I bought the XD-m because I had a chance to fire one owned by a co-worker. I shot it incredibly well. I'd been looking for something to use for IDPA and it seemed to fit the bill. Unfortunately I haven't been able to replicate that initial accuracy with my own XD-m. I'm consistently a bit low and to the left with the XD-m. With the G23C I can consistently shoot in the center ring. The Glock also feels better in my hand. I can't explain why, it just does. I've tried all of the XD-m backstraps and none feel like the Glock.

Dad24GreatKids, thanks for reminding us: those who serve our country deserve our recognition at every opportunity we have.

Your comment about the Glock feeling better in your hand is pretty much what I meant, on the opposite side, that the XD was a more instinctual pointer for me than the Glock. A single-stack 1911 even more so. I think that's partly anatomy, but mostly experience. What you're most used to becomes the most instinctive shooter for you.

Have you bench-rested that XDm? Since you've tried all three backstraps and the results are consistent, it may actually need some sight adjustment.

Did you ever find anything to shoot in IDPA? Since you shoot the G23C well, I'd recommend either the G35 or G34. I have a G35 that has served me flawlessly (though its rear sight was mounted poorly, and to get it zeroed required every bit of horizontal adjustment that was available: proof that manufacturers don't always mount sights perfectly). I chose the G35 because I already had a G23 and G27, and a marvelous feature of the Glocks is that within the same model set they can use magazines interchangeably...discounting short mags in long frames, of course.

But if it were to be primarily an IDPA gun, I'd opt for the G34. Not only is 9mm cheaper to shoot, but the lower recoil is an advantage in IDPA.

Since the XD can't be shot in SSP and has to move up to ESP, a few years ago, before the XDm came out, I bought a competition-tuned XD9 Tactical from Canyon Creek. New barrel, new trigger, BoMar adjustable rear sight and Dawson fiber front, that sort of stuff. I'm as accurate with that pistol as any I own.

A G27 is my "hidden" car gun, but otherwise I don't regularly carry a Glock. For primaries, I have two: a 1911 or my XDm .40. The 1911 does get most of the holster time, so maybe I should bow out of this topic.

Bottom line for the OP, though, is that I believe both XDs and Glocks each have their merits. If an XDm is of interest, go for it when you can. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

austinrealtor wrote:Good info, skiprr. But I consider the Glock striker system a plus because seeing that trigger set back to the rear is a visual AND tactile indication that the weapon is not in effect "cocked and loaded". Not than anyone should ever rely 100% on any safety, loaded chamber indicator, or anything else other than visual and tactile confirmation from looking into and touching the inside of an empty chamber - but a Glock trigger in full setback position is a good indicator that there is not a round in the chamber. I tend to leave my guns that are not currently "in use" (holstered and on my person) in my safe with a full mag but an empty chamber. With a Glock, I can know very quickly if I left the gun this way or not by looking at the trigger position. If the trigger is forward, the chamber may or may not be empty. I always visually check the chamber on all of my guns anyway under normal conditions. But if I had to pull a Glock out of the safe in a self-defense situation, I would know instantly "trigger is setback, must rack slide".

I'm an old throwback who's been trained to always verify the condition of any firearm I pick up, and rely not at all on any mechanical indicators. The loaded chamber indicator on the XD is something that could vanish magically tomorrow, and I'd never know the difference. I press-check everything that has not been under my immediate control...meaning already been checked, and placed in a holster on my body.

I'd think if you routinely store your pistols with a charged mag inserted but chamber empty, that if you needed to retrieve a gun in an emergency you wouldn't stop to check the position of the trigger: you'd just rack the darned thing.

Another minor point we haven't mentioned, and may not be a factor for the OP, is that the difference between the XD and Glock in handling of the striker separates the two otherwise similar pistols into different divisions for IDPA competition. The Glock is considered a double-action and can be run in the Stock Service Pistol division. The XD is considered a single-action, and has to be shot in the Enhanced Service Pistol or Custom Defensive Pistol divisions. Just another FWIW.

Like others, I own both, like both, and trust both. But I shoot the XD just a bit better--let me rephrase that: it aims more instinctively for me--than the Glock. I owned 1911s long before I bought my first Glock. I don't really have any problem shifting from one platform to the other, but if I were to close my eyes and have you hand me each in turn, I could keep my eyes closed and point the XD with reasonable accuracy.

And comparing my XDm (.40) to my G22 and G27, the trigger is definitely better on the XDm: much crisper; not as mushy. The stock XD also has a decent trigger, but it has an awfully long, though positive, reset. My unmodified G35 has a trigger action that's somewhere between the G22 and the XDm. I have an XD9 tactical that was worked over by Canyon Creek Custom, and can confirm that the trigger break and reset length can still be improved upon on the stock XDm. (Canyon Creek also sells aftermarket spring sets and such for the XD.)

One tiny thing that I never see mentioned is that the two, slightly different striker activating mechanisms make a difference in dry-fire practice. With the Glock, once you release the striker, you essentially have a depressed trigger with no movement until you cock the striker again. With the XD, the spring returns the trigger to its original position. The result is that you can do a level of dry-fire practice with the XD without having to cock the striker. Admittedly, the pull-weight isn't the same, and you get no tactile feedback of when the shot would break, but you do get to move you index finger against spring tension throughout the range of motion.

To me, that's a big plus for the XD. One of the downsides of dry-fire is that you can't practice more than one shot at a time with many pistols. To practice realistically, you need to be able to draw, move, and shoot mutliple times, and the XD allows you to simulate that without having to actuate the striker. (And I agree with Gabe Suarez that that majority of practice should be done without live fire.)

As cajunautoxer mentioned, with so many Glocks in the world for so long, the parts aftermarket is huge. You can easily find anything. But XD parts are available; certainly all the basic parts you'd need for maintenance. Brownells' carries trigger kits, spring sets, guide rods, strikers, and what not. And other places like PistolGear.com sells both replacement and aftermarket "improvement" parts. So not nearly as plentiful as Glock parts, but they're out there.

Some experienced gunmen I know have shied away from the XD because they were familiar with its Croatian predecessor. Since the XD has been on the market now for several years, my suspicion is that the quality control and manufacturing consistency that Springfield brought to the table has started to allay some of those concerns.

The new Gen2 XDm-3.8 looks interesting, but I don't mind the 4.5" barrel . But I'll tell ya what I keep watching for: an XDm in .45 ACP. I might even part with my XD .45 Service if an "m" version comes out...