XDm (9mm) vs XD9sc

[Teamless]

I have an XD9sc and really enjoy the size when carrying and it feels good to shoot.
My brother-in-law has an XDm 4.5(9mm).

We went to the range today, did a few different scenarios and he was almost always better on the various scenarios than I was.
So I asked to use his XDm and found I was more accurate with it. Yes, the 4.5 has a longer slide, so it should be more accurate.

So my question is, for those of you who carry an XDm (4.5), how easily do you conceal it?
is it worth switching to the XDm, would it be better to stay with the XDsc or is there a Springfield with similar feel to the XD or XDm with a shorter magazine, which is my real only concern on concealment.

Thanks for any and all comments

[Ropin]

I carry a 4.5 XDm in a CBST, and I don't have any problems.

With a good belt and holster, you're good to go on it. I would suggest a holster like the CBST or an M-Tac that allows you to adjust the cant if needed.

[Teamless]

I have a crossbreed belt and my XD9sc Crossbreed holster will hold the XDm, so I am covered there.

[The Annoyed Man]

I believe that most people over-think whether or not a larger pistol is easily concealable. Two of the pistols in my carry rotation are full-sized guns. One is a 5" 1911; the other a full-sized M&P 45. Neither pistol is that hard to conceal.

• The XDsc is 6.25" long, 4.75" tall (5.5" tall with magazine extension), and the width is not published on the website. It weighs 26 oz with the short mag, and 27 oz with the long mag.
• The XD-M in 9mm with 4.5" barrel is 8" long, height and width are not given (why?), and it weighs 31 oz with an empty magazine.

Let's compare that to another brand of double stack polymer framed 9mm's....

• Glock 26 (subcompact): Approx. 6" long, 4.17" tall, 1.18" wide, 26 oz loaded.
• Glock 17: 7.32" long (with a 4.5" barrel), 5.43" tall, 1.18" wide, 32 oz loaded.

Now, let's compare to an alloy framed 3" 1911 and a steel framed 5" 1911...

• Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry II: 6.8" long, 4.75" high, 1.28" wide (including safety lever), 25 oz with an empty magazine.
• Springfield Loaded Parkerized: 8.5" long, 5.5" high, width approximately the same as the 3" Kimber, 40 oz with an empty magazine.

Lots of guys on this forum carry and successfully conceal Glock 17s and 5" steel framed 1911s. You should have no problem concealing a XD-M in 9mm. You may have to make some sartorial adjustments, but they won't be too much different from what you're already wearing, in all likelihood.

[Teamless]

TAM, thanks for your detailed response. As usual, very insightful!

My concern is more in the magazine length, than the barrel length. The barrel length is fine in my Crossbreed.
The XDm, while I havent measured it, when I put it in the Supertuck and conceal it, it seems that the butt of the magazine shows through the cover
So I am trying to see if "i am seeing it" or if it really is an issue.

[SpringerFan]

Supertuck is definately the way to go if you plan on concealing the XDM. Use lots of cant and experiment with location on the waistline. I go at 3:30-4:00. As always, the grip is the hardest part to conceal.

[RECIT]

I know there is an XDm 3.8. I KNOW the barrel is shorter but not sure of the grip. Never mind, I just looked on the Springfield website and they are with a half inch total height of each other. So no benefit to the XDm 3.8 other than barrel length. Capacity and height are nearly identical.

[cajunautoxer]

IMO barrel length really doesn't affect how a firearm can be carried. It's the overall height that can be troublesome. I carry a XDSC and also own a XDM and I don't think I could conceal the M very easily. The grip is so long it would take some work to conceal it. Now I'm not saying it can't be done but not worth the hassel to me.

[Teamless]

Now I'm not saying it can't be done but not worth the hassel to me.

That is mostly my question, to be honest.
I carry the XDsc, and really enjoy it, easy to conceal.
But the XDm length makes it better for precision targeting.

I will have to beg and plead with my B-I-L to see if he will let me carry his XDm, so I can see how I would have to do it, and it if it would be worth it.

[Skiprr]

Over 90% of the time, I use one of two primary carry guns: a Kimber Ultra CDP (basically the same dimensions as TAM noted for his Ultra Carry II), or a full-size XDm .40. I have CompTac Minotaur holsters for each.

As others have mentioned, I think it's cant and belt positioning (have a good belt!) you'll end up playing with to find the "sweet spot" for whatever you carry.

I like 1911s, I'm comfortable with them, and after Kimber's tiny format proved itself to me with a bunch of rounds downrange, what I really like about it is that I carry it comfortably at three o'clock. IMHO, the most efficient draws are accomplished from the appendix-carry position to three o'clock. At four o'clock and farther back ("correct-handers" adjust accordingly to eight o'clock), I think the speed, security, and stability of the draw begin to be compromised. Same for crossdraw; and if you've ever read any of my opinions about small-of-back carry, you know I rate it absolutely last for on-torso carry.

For all the daily stuff I do, the Ultra CDP is comfortable and concealable right at three o'clock. I love full-sized 1911s and have several, but the lil' ones are almost as accurate at practical distances, sacrifice only one round on-board, and are easier to carry and conceal at three o'clock. So I no longer carry a gov'ment size very often.

I have several XDs, too, and they've all run very well. I bought one of the first XDm .40 bi-tones that hit the market, and love it. What it has over the 1911 single-stack is an impressive on-board capacity and a simpler manual-at-arms...but it has the same grip angle as a 1911 and is therefore easy to switch to and from.

I can't comfortably carry the XDm at three o'clock, however. I give it one more notch of forward cant on the Minotaur than I do for the 1911, and move it back to about a four o'clock position. There, the grip flattens out along my lower back and is more concealable and comfortable. But I can't get to it as quickly as I can the 1911, and I have to recognize there's a slight difference in "muscle memory" on the draw.

This a longwinded way of saying that everything is a trade-off. But as long as you're willing to make adjustments and adapt, you can comfortably carry any reasonable pistol. I make that "reasonable" distinction because someone is bound to chime in and mention something like a Kel-Tec PLR-16.