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I have been trying to get my wife comfortable with shooting so I can talk her into a having a weapon at home while I'm away. After a day at the local indoor range on Ladies night she fired about 8 different handguns. She finally picked up a Springfield XDM 5.25 and fell in love with it. She did her best shooting of the day with that one and even asked for another box of ammo (yeah). Go figure, i would have never guessed she would like a full size gun over the compacts due to her size and grip issue with a bad left hand. Anyway, my question is would it be a good defensive weapon for home. I believe it if is one that she feels good handling and is comfortable shooting than this is the one. I have people telling me it is made for competition only and not a good choice. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

If it works reliably, and she shoots it well it is absolutely the best choice for her!

Make sure you use a good quality hollow point, and if you have kids invest in a little bedside safe.

Don't let other people tell your wife she's using the "wrong gun"

If it works and she likes it, its the right one (especially since this one is in a standard defense caliber, not something like a .22..that might have changed my advice a bit)!

74 is absolutely right. If it fits her hand, she likes it, hits what she shoots at it is good for her.
Striker fire handguns are, in my oppinion, the very best platform for new shooters. XDs are my choice in brand only because they were out before the M & the standard XD grip fits my hand.

Good shooting.

yogihat wrote: I have people telling me it is made for competition only and not a good choice.

Those kind of people are NOT the kind of people to listen to.

"Competition only"

You ran the corect course in determining the proper fit and feel for a shooter.
If she's happy with it and can keep rounds on target with it, I see no reason to question the choice.

Think of it this way, anything is better than nothing, if she likes it that is all that matters. Just be happy that she wants one. Everybody has an opinion, take them with a grain of salt and do what is right for your situation..... My wife has a Sig 2022 in 9mm, people also say thats too big, I certainly don't want to be on the receiving end of it.....

OldCannon wrote:

yogihat wrote: I have people telling me it is made for competition only and not a good choice.

Those kind of people are NOT the kind of people to listen to.

"Competition only"

Tell em that's what she's going to use it for. The competition between her and the bad guy!

9mm is a perfectly adequate defense round, the xd is a fine gun, and she asked for another box of ammo. I'd say that's 3 Thumbs up factors.

yogihat wrote:I have people telling me it is made for competition only and not a good choice. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

Suggestion: Don't listen.

In my opinion, a full-sized pistol is better than a compact at everything other than concealment. For a house gun, a 5.25 XD sounds like a nice choice to me. 9mm is an adequate caliber for defense and it is important that every shooter use the biggest caliber that they can properly manage for defense (within reason of course). For some of us that may be .45 or .44, but for many shooters that is 9mm. Most important consideration of all, happy wife equals happy home, so get her what she wants.

Very similar to the Glock 34 I use. The only downside, if you want to call it one, is a lighter than normal trigger pull. Don't know about the Springer, but glock recommends against their "match" trigger for duty/defense.

For me, the fact that I shoot it best and it's 100% reliable trumps any concern about the trigger being a pound or so lighter. If I was concerned, I could put the standard trigger (or one of the NY triggers in).

Put one under the Christmas Tree for her along with several boxes of ammo and a selection of SD ammo. The only gun/caliber that's not appropriate is the one she wouldn't use.

yogihat wrote: I have people telling me it is made for competition only and not a good choice.

Competition = putting bullets onto a specific point on a target for best score

Home/self defense = putting bullets onto a specific area on a target for best results

Sounds like the equation is balanced to me.

I think that gun is a great choice for a nightstand. Sure beats NO gun in the nightstand!

longtooth wrote:74 is absolutely right. If it fits her hand, she likes it, hits what she shoots at it is good for her.
Striker fire handguns are, in my oppinion, the very best platform for new shooters. XDs are my choice in brand only because they were out before the M & the standard XD grip fits my hand.

Good shooting.

I'm going to agree with both of these guys. If she likes it, it's a great gun for the nightstand.

My wife is finally going to be getting her CHL, so I convinced her to go to the range and try out several guns, with the goal in mind to get something that she can shoot easily and is appropriate for shooting her qualification (instead of a pocket .380). She landed on the XD 5" Tactical as her favorite. We both shot well with it, so that's what I ended up purchasing. It will make a good new shooter range gun, and it will get her to the range more often. We're taking it out for its inaugural run this weekend.