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[FROM GUNS & AMMO]
The XD Goes ACPSpringfield covers all bigbore bets with a beefed-up, "full-size" .45 version of its signature polymer pistol.by Garry James
 Controllability and reliability are hallmarks
of Springfield Armory's new .45 ACP XDs.
Now, don't get me wrong. I do like the 9mm Parabellum round and probably own more autos in that caliber than any other. Likewise, I'm also getting to appreciate the .45 GAP and can deal with the .40 S&W and .357 SIG when the occasion arises. But when I heard that Springfield was going to bring out its spiffy XD polymer-frame auto in .45 ACP, something inside me got all warm and tingly. I've been an ACP man pretty much from the time I graduated from .22 rimfire to the centerfire stuff. My house gun has always been a .45 auto of some sort or another (except for a brief time when I kept a vintage 1917 S&W sixgun, also in .45 ACP), so this new introduction appeared to hold a lot of promise. I've shot the XD (in both 9mm and .45 GAP) and have been extremely pleased with the gun's performance. It's well built (in Croatia, no less), ergonomic and reliable enough to be considered for use by some police forces. Before getting into the latest incarnation, let's take a look at the basic platform.
The XD, as noted earlier, has a polymer frame mated to a steel slide, and mostly steel innards and other components. The manual safety system is twofold: a sheet-steel trigger safety imbedded in the center of the trigger that must be depressed to allow the trigger to be pulled and a small grip safety mounted on the upper portion of the backstrap--ˆ la the 1911 Government Model. Both are positive and easy to use. The former is activated by squeezing the trigger and the latter by merely gripping the gun. An internal striker-block safety prevents the gun from being fired until the grip and trigger safeties are disengaged. Other safety features include a loaded-chamber indicator that pops up on the top of the slide at the rear of the ejection port (again like an old classic, the Luger) and a cocking indicator that projects from the rear of the slide when the gun is ready to fire. Controls are pretty simple. There's a left-sideÐmounted takedown latch and slide stop, and the ambidextrous magazine-release button is located on the frame at the rear portion of the trigger guard. The steel slide is rounded but still pretty much square in cross section and features thick serrations fore and aft to assist in manually racking the slide. Sights are your basic dovetail three-dot steel square notch and blade.
The polymer frame, which contains much of the firing mechanism, is well formed and definitely user-friendly. Grip configuration is good, with a reasonable palm swell and heavy checkering on the front and rear, abetted by sand-blastÐstyle panels on either side, to give the shooter a good, solid purchase on the piece. It also has the now-almost-obligatory light/accessory rail at the front and grooved, squared-off trigger guard to help with a two-handed hold if you like to wrap a finger or two around things. The gun fieldstrips in a trice by first removing the magazine and ensuring it's unloaded. Then all one has to do is pull the slide to the rear and lock it in position using the slide stop, rotate the takedown lever to its vertical position and then, pulling the slide back slightly, pull the trigger and allow the slide to move forward off the frame. The recoil spring and guide and barrel can then be taken out of the slide. A large-capacity stainless steel magazine has an easily removable polymer floorplate and cartridge viewing ports. It locks and releases very positively, allowing for a rapid dump and recharge. While a separate cartridge-loading tool is available (and comes standard with the new .45 ACP, as does a polymer holster and double mag pouch), I've found that it's really not that much of a chore to manually fill the magazine to its utmost capacity.
The XD has always been a modest-size gun--one appropriate to the rounds (9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .45 GAP) that it accommodates. This allows it not only to be manufactured in service and tactical sizes but also in a three-inch subcompact version. As the .45 ACP cartridge is dimensionally a bit more substantial than the 9mm, etc., it might be expected that the new XD will be somewhat larger, and that it is--but not as big as you might expect. The earlier XDs (in four-inch) measure seven inches overall and weigh 25 to 27 ounces, with grip diameters of 59Ú16 inches. The .45 ACP incarnation is only a quarter inch longer and three to five ounces heavier. The grip girth runs 521Ú32--only 3/32 inch more than its progenitor--and really is just a bit beefier than that of the old 1911A1. Frankly, to my thinking, that's not really enough to make much of a difference tactically, functionally, ergonomically or appearance-wise. At this writing, the .45 XD will come in three durable Melanite finishes: basic black, bi-tone (black frame, bright slide) and OD green/black. They all look quite nice, but the old Army guy in me really has a partiality to the OD--it complements my 1943 GPW perfectly and just looks cool.
(Left) The Springfield XD sports a trigger
safety (above) and a grip safety (center).(Right) Like all Springfield XDs, the
.45 ACP has a loaded-chamber indicator.
For our evaluation, Springfield supplied us with a black five-inch Tactical Model and a four-inch, two-tone Service Model. Both guns are ringers for the company's other XDs. The magazine holds 13 rounds and is easily stoked using the loader or thumb. Overall feel of the guns was quite good. I've always been impressed with the XD's ergonomics and natural pointing ability, and the triggers (which both measured around six pounds) had a snappy let-off after a bit of travel--pretty normal for this type of mechanism. My buddy G&A executive editor Payton Miller and I took both guns to the Angeles Range in San Fernando, California, for a wringing out. Chosen ammo on that session included Hornady 200-grain JHP XTP+P, Winchester 230-grain SXT, Winchester 230-grain BEB and Black Hills 200-grain SWC.
First breaking-in offhand shots at a 100-yard gong with the Hornady ammo produced satisfying tintinnabulations, with both guns hitting pretty much to point of aim. Settling down, we rested the autos for some 25-yard strings, with best groups being produced by the Service Model with the Black Hills load, coming in at 31Ú4 inches--though it did just about as well with the Hornady rounds. We tried some 10-shot rapid-fire groups at seven yards with the four-inch Service Model and managed to stay within the confines of a medium-size orange right at point of aim. Perceived recoil was very light and manageability top-notch, due, no doubt, to the excellent grip configuration and perhaps to a slight amount of flex in the frame itself. A few days later, Payton took the five-inch Tactical Model back to Angeles Range for more testing (and for an excuse to put more rounds downrange with the gun). Results are shown in the accompanying table for the ammo listed. The best group was a nifty 1.96-incher turned in by Magtech's 230-grain FMJ SWC.
The four-inch Service XD produced good
five-shot 25-yard groups from a rest and excellent 10-shot rapid-fire groups at
21 feet, shown here.
Both of us were impressed with the handling characteristics of the autos, and as we're .45 ACP guys, we were more than gratified to see that this nice pistol is now available in that caliber. First batches of the XD .45 ACP will be Service Models, with the Tacticals to follow soon thereafter. While the earlier XDs are really nice guns, I predict the .45 ACP is going to be the really hot caliber in this model. Whatever you choose, though, I think you'll be well served by this fine line of polymers. Give 'em a look-see. |
Springfield Armory Links
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