XD TORTURE TEST

Trial by fire: 20,000 rounds are put through Springfield Armory's XD.

By Chaim Stein

"A wannabe Glock."

That was my first thought after laying eyes on Springfield Armory's XD9 pistol. Closer inspection of the slide revealed the words "Made in Croatia." Those are words that, when stamped on the slide of a handgun, aren't known to inspire the consumer's confidence.

I did not want to like this gun. I've always been a strong Glock fan, and it annoyed me that yet another company wanted to jump on the polymer bandwagon with a rehash of old concepts and designs. Despite that, one has to take notice when that company is Springfield Armory. Known for quality products, lifetime guarantees and fine customer service, Springfield Armory's name stamped on the other side of the slide does inspire confidence.

The more I looked at this gun, the more I found myself comparing it to a Glock. The trigger safeties are very similar, but the XD's trigger is made of metal. Its sights are metal, too. The XD also has a superior trigger pull. The grip angle is improved, which enables more intuitive target acquisition for most shooters.

The XD throws some new features into the mix, too: a 1911-style grip safety, a loaded-chamber indicator atop the slide and a cocked indicator protruding from the rear of the slide. Notwithstanding the XD's new features, there are obvious similarities to a Glock, both cosmetically and mechanically. It's these similarities that lead to the inevitable question: Is the XD as good as a Glock?

I was fortunate enough to be able to answer this question (at least partially) by arranging a 20,000-round "torture test" of an XD9. To keep this test honest, Springfield Armory encouraged me to use a randomly selected XD for evaluation. That would ensure that Springfield didn't hand-pick an "extra special" model for evaluation.

So instead of having a pistol shipped directly from Springfield, I purchased a random specimen from my local firearms dealer. The street price at the time of this writing was about $70 to $100 below an equivalent Glock. The ammo we used for the test was all 115 grain, half from PMC and half from Federal's American Eagle.

Because of a familiarity with huge numbers, maybe 20,000 rounds of ammunition doesn't seem like much. So let's put it in perspective. If you were to pull the trigger on your handgun once every minute--that's 24 hours a day, seven days a week--it would take you more than 333 hours, or about 14 days, until you reached 20,000. In their boxes, 20,000 cartridges weigh about 600 pounds. Just the projectiles (each at 115 grains, or just over a quarter-ounce) weigh a combined total of 329 pounds. If you were to fire 20,000 rounds at a rate of one box of 50 cartridges per week, every week, it would take you almost eight years.

I think we can all agree that 20,000 rounds is a whole lot of ammo, far more than the average handgun owner is likely to put through any single handgun in a lifetime of shooting. We did it in less than seven months.

Popping 20,000 rounds through a handgun is a decent test of longevity, but it does not really tell us about durability and reliability under adverse conditions. So to learn more about what this gun is capable of, we replicated the Glock USA 1,000-round torture test. But instead of performing it with a new gun, we began the tests only after we'd put 17,500 rounds through the gun.

Shots Fired
When the XD's first range day finally arrived, it conveniently coincided with an incredibly fun local match called Steel Madness, where all competitors shoot only at reactive steel targets throughout the match. To break in the new XD, I simply removed the almost un-lubed pistol from its box and shot all five stages of the match.

During that first shooting session, it quickly became apparent that it is especially easy to shoot with the XD. In fact, toward the end of the match, one of my friends put away his Glock and used my XD. Despite owning a Glock for 10 years and having no prior familiarity with the XD, his shooting immediately improved. This same experience was repeated with many shooters throughout the test.

After about 250 rounds in the dusty, windy conditions at Raahauge's range in Southern California, the gun had acquired a fair amount of sand and grit in its action. Despite this, the excellent trigger became noticeably smoother after the first 150 rounds. Despite the rather serious handicap of accumulated grit without the benefit of lubrication, the XD functioned flawlessly.

The trigger seemed to lighten up again at around 2,400 rounds and became even smoother. The trigger doesn't have to cock and release the striker as does a Glock's trigger. On the XD, the trigger simply releases the striker, making for a much crisper, lighter pull. There is a long first stage, but once the slack is taken up, the trigger breaks very cleanly. Almost everyone involved in the testing felt that the trigger pull, coupled with the metal trigger, is an improvement over other polymer pistols.

At roughly 7,000 rounds, I dropped the XD hard, onto cement, from a height of about 3 1/2 feet, right onto its cocking indicator. I then dropped it several more times, loaded, while standing behind cover in a completely safe environment. And I even threw it off the side of a mountain, sending it bouncing and hurtling down the steep slope about 100 feet.

At about 10,000 rounds, I noticed that the cocking indicator had broken off. While the breakage was disappointing, this piece (or lack thereof) in no way interferes with the functioning of the gun; its absence was hardly noticed.

Since we had 25 magazines, we could fire up to 250 rounds in rapid succession, magazine after magazine. And so we did, on a number of occasions. The barrel and slide, and even the trigger, would get painfully hot to the touch, and water would literally boil and evaporate off the slide on contact. I did this several times before--and once after--the torture tests. Still, the XD kept on running.

The XD's three-dot sights were replaced with an early working prototype of the SureSight, a fast-acquisition handgun sight I developed. This was the only modification made to the firearm throughout the entire test. And yes, it did help to increase shooting speed.

Torture Tests Begin
At 17,500 rounds, after giving the XD only the bare minimum in terms of maintenance, I decided to start the torture tests. Until this point, maintenance consisted of short, one- to three-minute cleaning sessions, wiping the XD's feed ramp, brushing its extractor and running a bore snake through the barrel. This was performed approximately every 750 to 1,500 rounds.

It became obvious early on that the XD's design makes maintaining this pistol remarkably quick and easy. Only twice did the gun get what I consider a serious cleaning--once at 10,000 rounds and again at 17,500, before the torture test began. In all that time the gun didn't malfunction once.

Glock's 1,000-round torture test consists of six different trials, listed below. We did not follow the specific details precisely, but we approximated them very closely. We actually fired a bit more--about 1,100 rounds--in our torture test.

The Ice Test. We filled a tub with water, dropped in the XD with a magazine and put it in the freezer for a week. Breaking it free by dropping the "gunsicle" onto concrete, we let it thaw out on the way to the Oak Tree Gun Club, our favorite outdoor handgun range. Upon arrival, we inserted a fresh magazine into the XD and fired. We fired about 150 rounds before wiping it down and lubricating it. Result: zero malfunctions.

The Dirt Test. Following the lead of the Glock tests, the XD was "caked, covered and buried alive in soils of varying consistencies." We used everything from dust and ash to moist dirt and sand. We fired 100 rounds after subjecting the XD to each of the five kinds of dirt, for a total of 500 rounds. Predictably, sand proved the most challenging to its mechanism. After burying the gun in sand, then stepping on it to grind it in, we took it out to shoot. The slide cycled noticeably slower, but the gun never jammed. Result: zero malfunctions.

The Mud Test. The XD was covered with thick, gritty mud. After a quick shaking off, it was fired 100 times. Mud went everywhere from the recoil, mostly on the shooters, some on bystanders--it was amazing how much sprayed off the gun. Still, the gun kept working. Result: zero malfunctions.

The Water Test. Fully loaded, the XD was left completely submerged, removed from the water and fired. This was repeated 10 times, firing 10 rounds each for a total of 100 rounds. Result: zero malfunctions.

The Chemical Degreaser Test. Using GunScrubber, all lubricant was removed from the firearm. After making sure there wasn't any lubricant remaining on the firearm, the gun was fired. Glock's test fired 100 rounds. We fired 150. Result: zero malfunctions.

The Tire Test. We placed the XD on a gravel surface, then had shooting champion Mike Dalton drive his Toyota Tundra repeatedly over it, then park on the weapon. We then retrieved and fired it 100 times. Result: zero malfunctions.

With the torture tests behind us, I fired the remaining 1,400 rounds with no failures of any kind.

Conclusion
Damned impressive. Of course the Glock (and other guns, as well) should be able to handle this kind of abuse. The point of this test wasn't to diminish any existing brand but to get a picture of the capabilities of the XD, which is a relatively new product. I completed this test with a great deal of admiration for this handgun. So much so, in fact, that it is now my nightstand gun. More than 20,000 rounds later, with no failures to feed or fire and hardly any wear to the gun's finish, I have no trouble whatsoever betting my safety on its performance.

What started out as a simple 4-inch-barreled 9mm service pistol has grown rapidly into an entire family of pistols. Springfield now offers more than 18 models, so there is an XD for just about everyone. The pistols can be had in four calibers (9mm, .40 S&W, .357 Sig and .45 GAP), three barrel lengths (the 3-inch Compact, the 4-inch Service and the 5-inch Tactical) and in a choice of black or olive-drab frame with black or stainless slide. Ported barrels are available with some models.

Mark Twain once wrote, "A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes." And so it is with the Springfield XD. Before the XD's arrival, who would have expected that Springfield Armory would import--from Croatia, of all places--a handgun that is now well on its way to establishing its place among the outstanding handguns of modern times?

Chaim Stein is the inventor of the SureSight, which is manufactured and marketed by TRUGLO. He is a firearms instructor and a veteran of an Israeli army combat unit. For more information, contact www.suresight.com

Carry Options for the XD
The XD is a relative newcomer on the handgun scene, yet heavy sales have resulted in a mountainous selection of holsters becoming available very quickly. In preparing this article, I learned several things. First, I learned that virtually every major holster-maker manufactures at least one product for the XD. Whether for concealed carry, competition or duty, right- or left-handed, there is a product available to fit any shooter's needs--and at every price point. The second thing I learned is that there are some very impressive holsters on the market. The past few years have seen some real innovation in the holster business in terms of comfort, concealment and value, particularly in the areas of IWB (Inside the Waistband) and unconventional holsters. The third thing I discovered is that holster-makers, as a group, tend to be an extremely devoted, knowledgeable and friendly bunch. Here we'll look at 17 different holster companies, all of whom manufacture holsters for the XD. While this article is specifically geared toward XD holsters, all of these makers have products to fit almost any commonly found handgun on the market.
Bianchi International
Tested for this article were two nonspecific OWB holsters using Bianchi's proprietary AccuMold technology. More suitable for duty use than civilian carry, they seemed durable and serviceable. The fact that each would accommodate a number of different sidearms adds to their versatility. Bianchi also offers more traditional leather holsters. Not strictly limited to holsters, Bianchi's sister company, Gregory Mountain Products, makes top-flight backpacks.
Blade-Tech
Blade-Tech was among the first manufacturers of Kydex holsters, and the company is still at the top of the heap. We tested a Tactical Thigh Rig and an IWB. Both are fast and secure, and the IWB was well executed and comfortable. The thigh rig was excellent for short-term use, though it proved less suitable for hiking long distances. All in all, this is an excellent company with outstanding products.
Cen-Dex
Cen-Dex is a relative newcomer to the holster industry. It makes top Kydex gear at moderate prices. The company's Frank Spezzano is a pleasure to deal with, and in addition to Kydex, Cen-Dex makes holsters from a clear material called PETG (like Kydex, but clear) and carbon-fiber matrix, which allows for a thinner and more rigid holster than Kydex. Tested were the IWB and the Storm OWB. Both functioned extremely well and were quite comfortable and concealable. Good value for the price.
DeSantis
Gene DeSantis is a great industry innovator. Many people may not be aware of it, but he invented the fanny-pack holster, a design so universally accepted that literally dozens of holster-makers copied his design (most of them under license, since he holds the patent). His leather products are a very good value. We tested an OWB holster that was well made and fast. But in my opinion, DeSantis really shines in its innovative unconventional holsters. Tested were an all-leather, Velcro fanny-pack holster and a ballistic-nylon Dispatch Bag. The Dispatch Bag looks to the world like an ordinary laptop case, constructed of nylon. But concealed within it is an easy-access holster compartment, which can be opened quickly via its Velcro closure. This single accessory has been so useful to me, it is now serving triple duty as a briefcase, laptop case and concealed holster.
FIST
FIST makes quality holsters, with some unusual practices. Its ultra-thin Kydex is just that--Kydex so paper-thin that it is sewn, like a leather holster, instead of using the usual rivets or screws. This wafer-thinness does indeed add to comfort. Tested for this article were a #22 Secret System and an IWB with J-Hook. The #22 is the ultimate in tuckable holsters. It requires that Velcro loops be glued inside the belt. The hooked Velcro is located on tabs on the holster, so when a shirt is tucked under the holster, everything is completely out of sight--there are no telltale loops or hooks to give you away. FIST makes an enormous combination of holsters to fit almost any need.
Fobus
Fobus holsters are injection-molded thermoplastic, similar to Kydex. In use with the Israeli Defense Force, they have proven to be rugged yet inexpensive. Of particular interest are the company's accessories, such as a universal vehicle/under-counter holster mount and its thigh-holster attachment, which converts a belt or paddle holster into a thigh rig. (There is also a shoulder-holster adapter.) Functional and inexpensive, these are good buys for the price with some clever modular designs.
Front Line
Front Line makes a full line of holsters, but the one that really caught my eye was a Kydex OWB holster with an integral retention device. There is no retention strap, but the pistol must be pushed down in a specific motion in order to free it from the holster. Preliminary testing showed it to be well thought out and highly snatch-resistant. In numerous attempts, no one was able to snatch the handgun from its holster. Another Front Line innovation is a quick-on, quick-off belt loop that allows the wearer to put the holster on nearly as fast as a paddle, but it is as secure as a belt loop. The holster seemed to ride well and was comfortable enough. Front Line holsters are available in the United States only through U.S. Cavalry. The Kydex holster I tried was of acceptable quality, low-priced and had two new, innovative features.
Galco
Galco is a longtime player in the holster business, perhaps best known for its Miami Classic shoulder holster. Tested was a Fletch high-ride belt holster and an instructor's belt. The holster proved fast and comfortable after a significant break-in period. The infinitely adjustable nylon belt is sturdy and has withstood many months of hard use with few signs of wear.
High Noon
High Noon makes quality leather holsters that proved to be very comfortable and serviceable. It also has some of the best names for its holsters. Tested for this article was the Undertaker shoulder holster, Speedy Spanky paddle holster and others, as listed in the accompanying table. Service is extremely friendly, and the company goes out of its way to ensure the customer's satisfaction.
Hogue
The PowerSpeed from Hogue is a universal competition rig. It features an innovative design, allowing it to be adjustable to fit almost any handgun, for either right- or left-handed shooters. The holster also features two levels of retention. The first is a set of powerful magnets that hold the pistol to the holster. The second is a post that enters the triggerguard when a release lever is activated, preventing the gun from escaping. A thumb lever releases this post instantly during the drawing motion.
Ky-Tac
David Elderton of Ky-Tac holsters makes some innovative and fast Kydex holsters. His Bravehart IWB was one of the first Kydex holsters with offset belt loops, making for a thinner, more comfortable carry. It has proven to be fast, comfortable and easy to mount and dismount. His Super Hooper model OWB is blazing fast, yet secure enough for concealed carry. Ky-Tac's very high-quality gear doesn't come cheap, but it works as advertised.
Milt Sparks
Milt Sparks holsters can be considered the Rolls Royce of leather holsters. Reviewed for this article were a double magazine pouch and a VersMax2 holster. Both were not only extremely comfortable, fast and functional, but they were impressive works of art. Customer service is outstanding. The company's Tony Kanaley and his staff are true craftsmen. Milt Sparks gear is expensive--and worth every cent.
Pager Pal
Pager Pal got its start by making an innovative inside-the-waistband holster that actually clips to a real pager or cell phone. While some people laugh at this mode of carry, I have used it on occasion with great success when no other option was as viable. The Pager Pal works well for its intended purpose. Pager Pal also makes an IWB (Pant Pal) and an OWB (Belt Pal) holster from leather. Both of these holsters feature an integral spare-magazine pouch sewn into the holster. Like the original Pager Pal, these holsters are not model-specific and will accommodate most handguns of the size for which the holster is made. These moderately priced leather holsters, particularly the Pager Pal, can fill a specific niche.
Rafter S
For the price, Rafter S makes some of the finest leather gear. Steve & Della Schafer, owners of Rafter S Gun Leather, make high-quality products for reasonable prices. For this test we sampled an IWB, an OWB and a sharkskin belt. All were extremely well made, functional and attractive--exceptional holsters at great prices.
Safariland
Safariland primarily markets police-duty gear. Its products are well thought out and well executed. The 6004 thigh rig was tested. This rig is the industry standard in the tactical community when it comes to thigh holsters. After some T&E, it quickly became apparent why. It appears a bit bulky, but it affords the shooter the most comfort and confidence of any thigh holster we tested. Also tested were the company's belt and paddle holsters. While a bit bulky, quality was evident.
Uncle Mikes
For the budget-conscious consumer, these holsters are durable and will fit a number of like-size handguns. Tested were the Super Belt Slide and Paddle holsters. Constructed in black nylon, these holsters are bulky but sturdy.

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