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Took the new XD-45 to the local indoor range to drill some holes in paper and check it out for performance and accuracy. Ammo fired included some MagTech ball practice ammo, Remington Golden Saber JHP, Federal HydraShok and a handful of handloads with 185gr. truncated cone cast lead bullets.

Accuracy: Shooting from a bench position and pistol braced on sandbags, the XD just keeps putting 'em through the same ragged hole at 7 yards. 15 yard groups were 2-3", and it opened up to six-seven inches at 25 yards. This was all with the cheap MagTech ammo.

Changing to a traditional Weaver stance I was still able to stay inside the 8-ring on a silhouette target at all ranges with slow, aimed fire, and I'm no IDPA or IPSC competitor. At seven and fifteen yards double-taps were easy to accomplish, the sights just seem to naturally fall right back on target. Tried a few "Mozambique shuffle" (double-tap center of mass, then one to the head) courses of fire with no flyers.

Recoil is very manageable. My wife, an avid XD-9 shooter, ran a couple of mags through it and stepped back from the line grinning from ear to ear, and respectable target hits.

The gun happily accepted everything I fed it. As a final test, I loaded a magazine with a mix of rounds in no particular order, and fired 14 rounds rapid fire, squeezing each one off as soon as sights came back on target, all the way to slide lock. Not a hitch, not a stumble.

I picked up a Fobus SP-11 paddle holster for it, and it carries nicely, high and tight. No issues concealing it under an unbuttoned, untucked Hawaiian shirt, and very comfortable to wear. I have a Brigade Gunleather M-11 IWB rig on order for the pistol.

If you're looking for a .45ACP outside of the traditional 1911 family, I don't think you could go wrong with the XD!

packina40:

Which XD was it, service or compact?

How did you feel about the trigger, both break and reset?

The reason I ask is I have the compact and I'm thinking about getting a trigger job done. On my particular weapon, the break is not very clean and the reset is extremely long, so I'm curious if it's just mine, or more generic to the XD's.

Thanks for the review! I think there's a few other folks on the site that have XD's so maybe you'll get some other comments.

TX Rancher wrote:packina40:

Which XD was it, service or compact?

How did you feel about the trigger, both break and reset?

The reason I ask is I have the compact and I'm thinking about getting a trigger job done. On my particular weapon, the break is not very clean and the reset is extremely long, so I'm curious if it's just mine, or more generic to the XD's.

Thanks for the review! I think there's a few other folks on the site that have XD's so maybe you'll get some other comments.

My XD45 just gets better the more I shoot it. The trigger used to be pretty rough but after about 1500 rounds, it has gotten pretty darn smooth. My main complaint is the length of the initial take up on the trigger and the length of travel required for reset. Springer Precision has a trigger job that he does for $130 that will lower it to ~4#, and significantly reduce take up, reset and trigger travel. The price for the work is reasonable because it replaces the sear , springs and includes machining in the trigger bar itself. The problem is the shipping. Fed Ex quoted me in the range of $50 each way!.

My dealer offered to ship it for me since he is an FFL it can be shipped USPS and will cut the cost in half for shipping. I'm still entertaining the idea because I have heard nothing but praise for his work.

So, Packina40, thinking of changing your screen name?

Where else can you fire 14 rounds of .45 before you get to slide lock?

An XD-45 with trigger job is on my wish list.

Springer Precision has a trigger job that he does for $130 that will lower it to ~4#, and significantly reduce take up, reset and trigger travel. The price for the work is reasonable because it replaces the sear , springs and includes machining in the trigger bar itself. The problem is the shipping. Fed Ex quoted me in the range of $50 each way!. Skep

There is a DIY trigger kit available right now for the XD's and a custom trigger bar that will be available shortly. See the links below for more info.

http://www.pistolgear.com/proddetail.php?prod=05SSA

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38260

The shipping costs are what have kept me from having a trigger job done on my XD's. Factor in the shipping costs and you are looking at $225.00 -250.00 each. That's 1/2 the price of the gun... $500.00 for two guns!

In my experience, the XD's have a better trigger overall than any out of the box gun that I have tried with the exception of most 1911's. They will only get better with use.

Both of my guns now have several thousand rounds each through them and the trigger pull is much smoother than when new. Reset and over travel becomes less of an issue the more you shoot these guns.

Put some more rounds downrange before you commit to an expensive trigger job. You may find that you don't need it after all.

Thanks for the range report. I love my XD9mm sc. I have been very tempted by the .45.

TX Rancher wrote:packina40:

Which XD was it, service or compact?

How did you feel about the trigger, both break and reset?

The reason I ask is I have the compact and I'm thinking about getting a trigger job done. On my particular weapon, the break is not very clean and the reset is extremely long, so I'm curious if it's just mine, or more generic to the XD's.

Thanks for the review! I think there's a few other folks on the site that have XD's so maybe you'll get some other comments.

It's the service model. The trigger was fine to my viewpoint at least. Nice clean break and an easy-to-feel reset. I hate to try to judge the trigger too much on a brand-new gun, because I know it's going to feel different after several hundred rounds.

GlockenHammer wrote:So, Packina40, thinking of changing your screen name?

Can I? hehehe