Springfield XD

The Illinois-based firearm company Springfield Armory, Inc. was initially launched to produce semiautomatic versions of the M14 rifle. The Springfield XD, or Springfield Armory XD, is a semiautomatic pistol and finds its source in the Croatian Army's HS 2000. It incorporates the best features of some of the best handguns on the market - for instance the striker-fire mechanism used in the Glock, the slide and takedown employed in the Sig-Sauer and the grip safety employed in most of the better .45's manufactured in 1911.

It is a polymer-frame weapon that is available in black, OD green and bi-tone finishes. The Springfield XD comes in versions that chamber either standard 9 mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .45 GAP and .45 ACP rounds. Fifteen versions are currently on the market. In the 3' sub-compact group they chamber 9 x 19 mm and .40 S&W ammunition, and in the 4' Service group 9 x 19 mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .45 GAP and .45 ACP rounds are used. The 4' ported model group features handguns chambered for 9 x19 mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG rounds and the 5' tactical models are chambered for 9x19 mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .45 GAP and .45 ACP ammunitions.

The Springfield XD derives the appending letters 'XD' from the words 'extreme duty', and that is precisely what it is meant for. Purists also dismiss it with the unflattering name 'Croat Copy' because of its Croatian heritage, but evidence suggests that the Springfield XD is a lot more than a clone. It is selling extremely well because of its great market reputation and reasonable price. A Springfield XD can be bought for anything between $400 and $500, which makes it a more cost-effective option than most comparable SIGARMS and H&K models. Probably the best testimony to its qualities as an efficient and trustworthy handgun is the fact that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has adopted it as an official part of its service arsenal.

The new Springfield XD .45 ACP is a case in point. It is often referred to as the ultimate police officer's handgun. It features a loaded chamber indicator to announce when a round is in the breech, a striker status indicator to announce that the striker is in cocked, an ultra-safe trigger system to guard against accidental discharge, and a grip safety mechanism that prevents firing until the shooter has a firm grip on the handgun. This handgun, which won the American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award for 'Handgun of the Year' recently, is ergonomically designed and features a 13+1 rounds' magazine.

Nor are the other Springfield XD models lacking in innovative features. The 3' sub-compact model is a preferred weapon for self-defense because of its high portability. It comes in six versions that weigh no more than 20.5 ounces and are merely 6.62 inches in length. They feature magazines with 10+1 rounds capacities and fixed, 3-dot sights. Additionally, it is sold with two magazines that have been specially designed for easy slide-in installment. The 4'Service model comes in eight versions that feature 9+1, 12+1, and 15+1 magazines. All in this line incorporate steel dovetail front and rear sights and a uniform barrel length of 4.05 inches.

There are evidently certain issues about Springfield Armory's lack of after-sales support as far as spare parts is concerned. The problem lies in the fact that only law enforcement personnel can purchase parts for this handgun, while civilians are reduced to sending it back to the company for repairs and parts replacement. Despite its high quality, the Springfield XD often finds itself returned in toto precisely because of this weakness in civilian customer support. Glock aficionados, in particular, are very hostile to the Springfield XD line of handguns, since it is evident that it aims to replace Glock pistols as preferred weapons ion its particular price range.

However, the fact remains that the Springfield XD range is one of the most versatile, durable and user-friendly handguns on the market today. It holds up incredibly well under extreme conditions of weather, range testing and use in competitive shooting, showing no ill effects even after as many as 20,000 rounds have been fired. That is certainly reason enough to give this handgun a second thought.