Springfield Xd9 Subcompact - While single-action 9mm pistols may seem like all the rage in modern concealed carry, semi-compact pistols that hold a little more ammo shouldn't be dismissed by anyone interested in personal protection.
In this Springfield Armory XD Subcompact pistol review, I look at the smallest pistol in the company's Defend Your Legacy Series of pistols. Although thicker than the XD-S Mod.2 pistol, it is small enough for most people to easily conceal, yet offers significantly more ammo.
Springfield Xd9 Subcompact
The Subcompact 9mm XD is a small impact pistol with a polymer frame and forged steel slide. Part of the Protect Your Heritage series (scroll down for more on that), the pistol pairs with the company's XD utility model with the same look, feel and functionality.
Springfield Xd Subcompact 9mm
Like many polymer guns, the gun is relatively light for what it is. At 23 ounces with an empty magazine, the gun offers plenty of firepower in a package that should be easy for most people to maintain.
It's small - only 6.25 inches long overall and 1.2 inches wide with the handle. The key size for me is the length of the grip, which is long enough to hold my entire hand. A little longer than the semi-compact Glock pistols that always leave my pinky hanging out. In my opinion, it is not more difficult to hide the extra length in the case of quality. (If you're looking for a carry case, read my Springfield Armor XD Subcompact holster guide.)
One thing that sets the XD apart from many other bolt-action pistols is its grip safety. This is similar to the dust safety found on other pistols such as the 1911. When you hold the gun, the safety is disengaged, allowing you to pull the trigger. You cannot pull the trigger without depressing the safety clutch.
The gun is not new. At the time of this writing, it has been on the market for nearly two decades and many have already reviewed the gun.
Springfield Armory Xd9, Xd40 Sub Compact 3'' Holsters
I felt that a review of the new XD Subcompact was worthwhile for a number of reasons. First, many new shooters are entering the gun world, and they likely haven't read some of the old, buried reviews from years past.
Second, Springfield Armory has made subtle changes to the XD lineup over the years. For example, the XD Subcompact is now part of the company's Legacy line of pistols. They are functionally identical to the originals, but there have been some changes that you may want to know about.
Springfield Armory's modern pistols are derived from the Croatian HS2000 pistol developed by HS Produkt (formerly IM Metal). The pistol became the original Springfield Armory XD.
In the following years, Springfield Armory introduced new pistols based on the success of the original XD. The new pistols included the XD-S Mod.2 and XD-M series. Although newer guns offer additional features and updated styling, the original XD pistol line still had a dedicated fan base.
Springfield Xd9 9mm Sub Compact Ess Stainless
Currently, the XD-M Elite is the company's flagship pistol. Although the XD-M series is extremely affordable, the company decided to update the original XD series and offer it as a budget-friendly option for personal protection. To do this, Springfield Armory limited its factory options and rebranded the series as its Heritage Defense Series.
Defend Your Legacy Series XD pistols are limited to only two models: the 3" Sub-Compact and the 4" Utility Model. Both guns are only available in 9mm at full capacity. Limited capacity (10 round) .40 S&W and .45 ACP models are still available to residents of less liberal areas of the United States.
By simplifying the manufacturing process, the company can offer these weapons at a very low price. The suggested retail price for the new factory XD Subcompact pistol is just $399. Compared to alternatives on the market, this is an extremely attractive price when you consider that it comes with a full warranty and extensive after-sales support for things like cases and accessories.
You may also see your Legacy Series pistols labeled as Defenders Series pistols. The Defenders Series name is an old brand name that is no longer used.
Springfield Armory Xd 9 Subcompact Pistol, Reverse By Xanionot On Deviantart
Here are the features of the Legacy Series Springfield XD Subcompact Pistol. As I mentioned above, the company only offers this gun for 9mm cartridges in its standard capacity models.
As I mentioned earlier, the gun is available, with a suggested retail price of $399. Actual prices may be even lower at your dealer.
I've spent a lot of time shooting subcompact handguns, including this gun's main competitor, the Glock 26: Until recently, I had relatively limited experience with the XD line and very little time at the range, especially with the Subcompact XD.
I previously reviewed the Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 and wrote a review of the Springfield Armory XD Service Model. However, this is my first time with a subcompact dual pistol.
Identilock For Springfield Armory
I took this gun to the range on three occasions. Each time I fired about 400 rounds from the gun with various factory accessories. The gun seemed accurate - all the shots, good and bad, landed where I aimed them.
While I appreciate the fiber optic front sight on other XD pistols, simple 3-dot sights work perfectly on the Legacy Series pistols. I was able to find and coordinate them quickly.
Personally, I'm not a fan of traditional 3-point sights. I prefer a large bright landscape in a color that contrasts with the natural colors of the earth. If you're interested in reading more, I explain this and more in my Best Combat Gun Badges article.
If you're not a fan of the SA XD SC sights, don't worry. The displays are connected, so you can change them if you want. If you are interested in moving on to something else, check out my article The Complete Springfield Armory XD Night Sights Guide.
Springfield Xd 9mm Subcompact Owb Pancake Style Thumb Break Belt Leath
I've heard a lot of people complain about the triggers of other companies' strike guns. If you are part of this group, you might like the XD trigger. I find that the trigger face is not as wide as it is on some other guns. In addition, the safety of the rotation on the trigger seemed to be more comprehensive, and jamming was less likely. While I've never had a problem with a Glock or Smith & Wesson trigger, I still appreciate the smooth trigger characteristics of the XD.
As with most modern striker-fired pistols, I had high expectations for the reliability of this pistol. I have tried many pistols over the years and most modern pistol brands work out of the box. While there are exceptions (see my Taurus Spectrum review for an example), modern handguns work.
In the table below you can see the different loads I tried on this gun. You can see that some loads are empty points and some are +P pressure. Everything is fed, drawn and ejected normally.
As you can imagine, the recoil in a small pistol is greater than in a full caliber pistol. Physics dictates that all other things being equal, guns with more mass will absorb more felt recoil.
Wts: Two Springfield Xd 9 Subcompacts [se Pa]
However, the recoil on this gun is very manageable. My friends know that I like to shoot and I'm one of those sick people who used to shoot .357 Magnum loads in a Scandium rimmed holster. So I know what it's like to be tough. The return of the XD SC is not tight.
If you are a new shooter, I always recommend starting with a larger gun until you gain enough experience and skill to deal with the increased recoil of a smaller gun. However, the retreat is unlikely to scare you.
I had a Glock 26 for years as one of my backup guns when I was a cop. In addition to regular training, I have qualified up to four times a year. So it was ingrained in me that I had 10+1 rounds to solve the problem before the slide closed again.
The XD Subcompact does a little better than that, with 13+1 rounds before reloading. The extra three rounds give you more options if you use your weapon. While I've been lucky enough not to need my G26 as a cop, I know others who appreciate the extra weapon.
Springfield Xd9 Ess 9mm 3\
Yes, the full size magazine on the XD Service Model fits and works on the subcompact model. For police and security guards who have a Service Model, you have full magazine capacity with the SC if you have it as a backup. For the armed citizen, you can carry a larger 16-round clip as a backup when you're out and about.
Another thing I like about the XD Subcompact reload is the metal magazine housing as opposed to a smooth polymer magazine.
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