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Not really a "review" so much as just my preliminary personal observations and opinions on the new .45 ACP Springfield Armory XD Mod 2 Sub-compact that I just purchased. Just posted here in the hope that it might be interesting to anyone else who may be considering buying this model. But keep in mind, these are my personal opinions. Obviously, yours may be different.

And, I say this is preliminary, because I just bought the gun yesterday!

Plus, keep in mind if you're thinking about any new Springfield Armory pistol, they have a promotion going now until June 30 where they will send you four magazines, a holster, and a dual mag belt pouch. Check their website for that info.

Anyway, no technical or spec info listed here, since that is readily available on the 'net. Other than to say this one is the sub-compact model with the 3.3 inch barrel in .45 cal. (The 9 mm and .40 SW have 3.0 inch barrel per the SA website).

When I bought this, I was actually looking for a full size XD to use as a night stand gun. I typically carry a compact/officer's 1911, but have been wanting something with more capacity for use strictly as a night stand pistol. The full size XD holds 13+1 in .45. I couldn't find one locally, so I was about to order one off the 'net. But I happened to be at Academy, and they made me a deal that I could not pass up on this compact. Plus, with the extended magazine, it also holds 13+1, like the full size. And since my EDC 1911 has a 3.3 inch barrel, I wasn't concerned about this XD having a 3.3 inch barrel (as opposed to the 4 inch on the full size).

So, in the nice little plastic foam lined box was the pistol, a 9 round magazine, an extended 13 round magazine, a bore brush and the typical cable lock. (And I've already ordered the extra stuff from the SA promo going right now.)

Some random thoughts and observations:

• Very square/block looking, but looks good (to me)
• I like the red fiber optic front sight. Very bright in bright light (don't know about low light yet).
• I do wish the notch in the rear sight was a little wider, in order to be able to tell better when the front blade was centered (but then again, if you're accustomed to fiber optic sights, you'll probably like this one as-is)
• Manually operating the slide seemed easy enough. Probably not quite as stiff as on my compact 1911
• It does have the little "tilting lever" on top of the slide for a chamber loaded indicator, and it has a little pin/button that sticks out the rear of the slide when the striker is cocked. I personally like both those features because you can see (or feel, in the dark) to confirm you are ready to go without having to do a press check
• Speaking of, there are no serrations on the front of the slide for the guys who like to do press checks
• I really like the serrations on the rear of the slide. They are just the right angle, and just the right width and depth for me. Plus, overall they are slightly recessed, so at the back end of the serration area, the slide is raised ever so slightly, giving you an even better grip
• The mag release button was pretty firm - you're certainly not going to accidentally release the mag - but that will probably get a little easier with use
• There is a mag release button on both sides (ambidextrous). That felt a little weird to me because when I press the button with my left thumb, I can feel it pressing out against my finger on the other side. That might be a problem if your finger and thumb were both putting pressure on the mag release button on both sides of the gun at the same time
• The mag release is fairly tall and has serrations on the surface so your thumb (or finger) doesn't slide off
• The mag release button actually rotates slightly as you press in on it. It does make it a little easier to press the button if you actually rotate your thumb as you press the button. Doesn't require a lot of rotation, but it does make it easier
• This being a double-stack .45, it does have a pretty fat grip. I'm accustomed to my single stack 1911, so this one is noticeably fatter, but is not objectionable. Length from the grip to the trigger was good for my hand - good fit. Actually the fat grip worked well and felt very comfortable to me, except for...
• If I take a standard two-hand grip, since my little finger can't wrap all the way around the grip, the nail on my little finger tends to press into the palm of my off hand. Wasn't bad (for me), it just sort of felt out of place
• Also, being a double-stack 45, there's no way my thumb will reach the mag release button without either rotating my grip, or using my off hand to press the button
• If you look at some of the SA literature, they seem to make a big deal of the texturing on their grip for some reason. Not sure what the big deal was, but it was good for me. Not overly aggressive such that it would rip up your hand in a full day of shooting, but enough texture to get a good grip (but admittedly, my hands weren't covered in sweat or blood!)
• I normally do not like finger grooves in a grip (like on a Glock). This one does have very slight grooves with the "bumps" on the front of the grip, but they were very slight and not objectionable at all. If you like the typical Glock grip, this one might be enough for you, but if you don't like that, it probably won't be objectionable to you
• With it being a sub-compact, in addition to the grip being fat, it's also pretty short. With the "flush" mount 9 round magazine, my pinky finger juuuuust catches the bottom edge of the magazine base plate, and the base of the palm of my hand hangs off the bottom. With the extended 13 round mag, you do get a good, full grip.
• But, one problem with that (for me) was that for the extended mag, I had to modify my grip a lot in order to allow the magazine to drop free. I had to pretty much lift the entire palm of my hand off the grip in order to be off the grip portion of the extended mag. An alternate method is to actually reach up with your off hand and pull the mag out, but I would prefer not to have to do that if possible. That's one thing that I'll have to work on
• I discovered that the grip portion on the extended mag is just a slip on sleeve that goes over the mag and is just held on by friction. I completely removed that spacer/grip sleeve and I then didn't have to modify my grip in order for the mag to drop free. I'm going to reinstall that extended mag grip sleeve, but look at modifying it so that my palm doesn't hit it so much so it will drop free without me having to drastically reposition my hand or use my off hand to pull the mag out
• The springs in both mags were very stiff. I used an upLuLa to load the mags. There's no way I could have loaded them to full capacity without that. The springs may limber up a little with usage. But whether they do or don't, not a big deal for me either way
• The trigger. Well, it ain't no 1911 trigger (which I knew it wouldn't be), but it's probably not bad. I don't have a scale, but it didn't feel like a whole lot more pull weight than my 1911
• The trigger weight wasn't bad, but it was definitely a long pull. But again, probably typical for this type. I got used to it pretty quick. Now I'll have to be careful that I don't hurt myself when I first go back to my short 1911 trigger!
• When pulled slowly, the trigger has four definite stages, or zones, I'll call them. First zone is taking up the slack in the internal trigger safety - the blade in the middle of the trigger. That's obviously pretty short and quick. Next zone is a considerably longer, but still easy pull of the trigger plus the trigger blade safety. Then it comes to a noticeably harder pull (I assume as the striker is being cocked back?), then finally a hard but crisp break when everything releases. I haven't shot a lot of striker guns, but this trigger is the best of those that I have shot. And of course, this is not a target pistol. When you pull the trigger as you normally would, it feels smooth and consistent (to me)
• Shooting it was pretty much a non-event (although I didn't have a chance to shoot it a lot yet). I ran 100 rounds of typical 230 grain ball ammo (Blazer Brass) without any issues at all. The spent brass was coming out in a consistent direction (not flying all over the place like I've seen on some guns!)
• Muzzle flip due to the short barrel wasn't bad to me - no different than on my short little 1911. But keep in mind, that's what I normally shoot, so I'm used to it. Some other folks might find the amount of muzzle flip more objectionable than I did.
• A fully loaded mag had to be slapped in pretty good to get it to lock in place with the slide forward. It inserted very easily with the slide back. That was obviously due to the mag spring being very stiff, making it difficult to compress the spring a little bit more when the bullet stack is compressed due to hitting the bottom of the slide. Again, it may get better as the mag spring relaxes over time. Not an issue to me, just be aware. I did find it interesting that the manual says insert the mag with the slide back. It says you can also do it with the slide forward, but calls that an "alternate method"
• For accuracy, the gun shoots just as good as I do! From seven yards, standing two-handed shooting, shooting fairly slow and carefully, I was making groups generally about the size of my hand. I figure that's pretty good for me! Shooting was to point of aim. Front and rear sights are dovetailed in. Windage adjustable, no elevation adjustment
• Field stripping was easy, and no tools required. Lock the slide back, flip the take down lever, ease the slide forward, pull the trigger, and slide, barrel, and recoil spring assy come out together. Reassembly is just put the assembled slide back on the frame, slide it back and lock it back, flip the take down lever back down, and that's it. No problems there.

That's about it for now. Overall, I'm happy with it so far. Next step will be to make sure a few different brands of hollow points will run problem free, then try my little mod to see if I can work around my palm pressing on the extended mag to be able to get it to drop free without having to pull it out with my off hand. Once I've done that, then run another few hundred rounds through it without issue, then I'll be ready to put it to work - sitting on my night stand!

Thank for the write up.. the XD Mod 2 Compact .45 is my next purchase..so your timing is perfect.

http://shop.powderriverprecision.net/pr ... egoryId=27
Check that out for your trigger pull concerns

I have 4 XD's 1 XDM all have PRP triggers.. Like them so much.... If I was going to buy a XD Mod 2 this weekend, Id order the PRP trigger for it today, knowing Id want it, having never touched the new gun yet.

Thanks for the report, I stopped yesterday at a local pawn shop where they have a fairly large selection of guns, in fact they are a certified Kimber dealer. They had just gotten in that exact model XD and I got to hold it and manipulate the slide, and dry fire it. I did notice the issue you mentioned with the mag release, as well as with the extended mag, my little finger naturally grips it, while depressing the mag release, making dropping the mag smoothly something I would have to get used to, maybe hold my pinky up like a tea sipper? It did have a good balance and feel to it, and the sights look great. Although I haven't owned a 45 in quite a while, I am definitely tempted.

Jusme wrote:Thanks for the report, I stopped yesterday at a local pawn shop where they have a fairly large selection of guns, in fact they are a certified Kimber dealer. They had just gotten in that exact model XD and I got to hold it and manipulate the slide, and dry fire it. I did notice the issue you mentioned with the mag release, as well as with the extended mag, my little finger naturally grips it, while depressing the mag release, making dropping the mag smoothly something I would have to get used to, maybe hold my pinky up like a tea sipper? It did have a good balance and feel to it, and the sights look great. Although I haven't owned a 45 in quite a while, I am definitely tempted.

Try using your trigger finger to hit the ambi mag release.

Great review. I've had the same pistol in two tone for about 2 years and love it. I've shot over 1K rounds thru it without any problems. Several friends have shot it and all liked it. I don't carry it much, but it stays in the night stand and rides along in the truck.

Bitter Clinger wrote:

Jusme wrote:Thanks for the report, I stopped yesterday at a local pawn shop where they have a fairly large selection of guns, in fact they are a certified Kimber dealer. They had just gotten in that exact model XD and I got to hold it and manipulate the slide, and dry fire it. I did notice the issue you mentioned with the mag release, as well as with the extended mag, my little finger naturally grips it, while depressing the mag release, making dropping the mag smoothly something I would have to get used to, maybe hold my pinky up like a tea sipper? It did have a good balance and feel to it, and the sights look great. Although I haven't owned a 45 in quite a while, I am definitely tempted.

Try using your trigger finger to hit the ambi mag release.

Yeah...that would require a whole new learning curve.im still getting used to it with my AR. Never had an Ambi mag release on any gun, and at my age I despise having to learn new things.

I tell everyone that my brain is like a computer hard drive that is full. Every time I learn something new, I have to forget something else. Mrs Jusme is on to me though, so I'm at a disadvantage when she reminds me of something I said or did 20 years ago.

MY only issue with the XD line is the trigger. Seems in recent years they have gotten worse, not better. That being said a trigger job from Powder River or Springer Precision can make a world of difference in trigger pull, creep and reset. If I didn't have 4 XD already (3 with round counts well over 25k rounds) I'd have picked this model up when it came out.

I own an XDM45-Compact 3.8" which I've had for several years now, and it shares some things in common with your Mod 2, including the sleeve on the 13-round backup mag (the primary mag is 9+1). Actually, the OEM trigger on the XDM is not bad for a striker-fired gun. It is better than the OEM triggers on all of my Glocks, although like any OEM trigger, it can probably be improved with the addition of one of those replacement units E.Marquez mentioned. And yet, I carry my Glocks instead, because even those triggers just aren't that bad, and I've taken a liking to the platform.

I am curious about the Mod 2. I understand that it is a subcompact. Would you say that it is about the size of a XDS, if the XDS were a double-stack pistol, or is it more like the size of my XDM45-Compact 3.8?

The Annoyed Man wrote: I am curious about the Mod 2. I understand that it is a subcompact. Would you say that it is about the size of a XDS, if the XDS were a double-stack pistol, or is it more like the size of my XDM45-Compact 3.8?

All around physically about the same as XDS.. but wider and heaver.
When I went to go handle the MOD 2 today at my local shop Par guns in Copperas Cove, and found out the owner ran afoul of the law, and the shop has been closed down since Nov.. Had to drive in to Killeen to handle the gun...

I had the same issue with my subcompact XD Mod.2 9mm with the shorter flush mount magazine and my pinky. I can shoot the gun just fine with my pinky getting a touch of the bottom of the grip, but I ended up getting Pierce Grip pinky extensions for the two flush carry mags I'm going to use.

They sell a pinky extension for the XD Mod.2 with the same grip texture/stippling that SA uses on it. I think they are 9 bucks apiece? Well worth it to add a little bit to the end of the gun's grip. Sure, you do sacrifice a little bit in concealability, but if I'm pulling my gun out I want to make sure I get a good grip on it.

I carry the original xd9 subcompact for my night and weekend gun. I ah e large hands and don't have any problems with the short mags. They are the only ones that I use when I'm at the range and got usd to them fairly fast. I also got rid of the grip sleeve because it moved around and pinched me in my mag holster. So that gives me 13+1 and a 16 rnd backup mag. I did the same with my work gum(s&w shield).

MrMcCullster wrote:I had the same issue with my subcompact XD Mod.2 9mm with the shorter flush mount magazine and my pinky. I can shoot the gun just fine with my pinky getting a touch of the bottom of the grip, but I ended up getting Pierce Grip pinky extensions for the two flush carry mags I'm going to use.

They sell a pinky extension for the XD Mod.2 with the same grip texture/stippling that SA uses on it. I think they are 9 bucks apiece? Well worth it to add a little bit to the end of the gun's grip. Sure, you do sacrifice a little bit in concealability, but if I'm pulling my gun out I want to make sure I get a good grip on it.

Thanks for the info, MrMcCullster. Looks like a good solution. I'll have to wait for a few weeks, though. I signed up for the Springfield promotion where they send me four new mags. I'll have to wait until I receive them, because I don't know if they will be 9 round, or 13 round, or a mix of both. Will definitely order some of these grip extensions when the new mags arrive, though.

i have had one just over a year. your write up is about exactly what i find.
I have fat hands and the double stack imo makes a good grip.
the extended magazine is odd feeling, but got used to it fast, but its HEAVY
Springfield did a promotion last year and sent me two sets of magazines and a killer range bag ,

agreed its a short little bugger, completely different feel from the xd 9 4" barrel i also use