Springfield Owners - XD Mod 2 versus XDM 3.8 compact 45 ACP ?

B

bedbugbilly

New member
My question is for Springfield lovers who can possibly answer a question for me.

I am getting ready to change my CCW - I've always carried a Smith Mod. 36 5 shot 38 spell. J frame or a 9mm Shield. Both good guns but for personal reasons, I want to move up to the 45 ACP in a small size semi-auto with more capacity. I am looking at a minimum capacity of 9 or 10 so I am not really interested in the single stacks. So I don't want this to turn in to a debate over guns and calibers please.

I have narrowed my search down to three that are very similar in size - two of the Springfields and a Glock. My question is in reference to the two different Springfields I am looking at. In looking at the specs. on the websites, these are the comparisons of the three - I've included the Glock just as a comparison to the springfield models. All have excellent reviews and seem to be very reliable as reported by those that have them.

Here are the three:

Springfield XD Mod 2 - 45 ACP
Springfield XDM 3.8 Compact - 45 ACP
Glock 30 S - 45 ACP (short frame with streamlined slide)

Overall Length:

XD - 6.5"
XDM - 6.9"
Glock 30 S - 6.96"

Overall Height:

XD - 4.75" (with 9 + 1 magazine)
XDM - 4.75" (with 9 + 1 magazine)
Glock 30 S - 4.9" (10 round magazine)

Width:

XD - 1.20" (grip width)
XDM - 1.26" (grip width)
Glock 30 S - 1.27" (grip width)

Barrel Length:

XD - 3.3"
XDM - 3.8"
Glock 30 S - ?

Weight:

XD - 26.2 oz (with short flush magazine)
XDM - 27 oz (with short flush magazine)
Glock 30 S - 22.95 oz. (with unloaded 10 rd. magazine)

Capacity: (with what is termed flush mag or standard mag for the Glock)

XD - 9 + 1
XDM - 9 + 1
Glock 30 S - 10 round magazine

As can be seen between the two Springfields, the XDM has a barrel .50 longer than the XD. The site says the XDM has a "match barrel". The basic frames are both polymer - the XD has their new "Grip Zone" grip and the XDM the traditional "XD grip" (for want of a better description). i.e.. the more aggressive texture on the front and back. Both come with interchangeable back pieces for the grip - both can use the X-tended magazine if desired. I would be carrying with the short 9 + 1 Magazine in the pistol and a spare or two - if only 1, then the X-tended for the spare.

So . . . my question. Is there really any difference between the XD and the XDM (other than mentioned) that would make you choose one over the other? Is there really any difference in the barrels from the XD and the XDM as far as accuracy?

I am primarily concerned with function and reliability. I can usually adapt to any grip texture. Pistol will primarily be used for carry and of course practice at the range.

I carry OWB and will be using a Fobus OWB paddle holster. I will also add that I cast and reload so pistol that i choose will get both factory FMJ as well as cast. I'm not concerned with that as far as the Glock goes if I decide on it as I know plenty who shoot cast out of their octagon rifled 45 ACP barrels with no problems but I would also have the option of getting a aftermarket barrel with standard rifling for the Glock to drop in for cast. Price wise . . . the difference in the above is not a major issue as much as ending up with a good 45 ACP smaller size pistol for carry that is dependable and as far as that goes, all of the above seem to fit the bill for that.

I am keeping a very open mind to all three and weighing the + and = of each as i think I would be happy with any of the three?

So . . I'd appreciate any input on the two different Springfields as far as if there is any reason to choose one over the other.

Many thanks!
 
I've never owned the mod2, but I've owned several XDs, XDMs, and XD-s in various calibers and sizes. I still own the XDM45 compact. it is one of the most accurate handguns I've ever owned, the plain jane XD45(pre mod2) I owned was noticeably less accurate. to my knowledge the XD mod 2 does not have replaceable backstraps though, I think that is still an XDM and XD-s only feature. the trigger is noticeably better on the XDM than the XD. the XD mod 2 does have the nicer fiber optic front sight. the differences between the XD and XDM are most apparent when comparing the 9mm and 40 models because of the higher capacities in the XDM models, but in the 45 offerings they use the same mags so the benefits are somewhat lessened. I am still a die hard XDM fan and would recommend it over just about any other handgun for the money, but if you're really on the fence, it's hard to go wrong with the mod 2.
 
Wow, this one is right up my alley.

I bought the XDm .45 compact in 2015, and although there were no real problems functionally, I never warmed to it and sold it off last Spring. The grip didn't feel right to me, it always felt fat, and the gun always seemed bulky. The XDm compact in .40 was the one I feel I should have bought. Noticeably trimmer and a better feel.

Still looking for a compact in higher caliber, I actually bought the XD Mod 2 compact in .45 a couple of months ago. It has the advantage of being a couple of hundred bucks cheaper than the XDm compacts. And it also has a trimmer feel in the grip and is noticeably more compact.

The XDm had less felt recoil, but the Mod 2's felt recoil isn't bad. I haven't noticed any real difference in accuracy either, and both are reliable guns, pretty much perfectly so as I recall.

So I have owned both of the guns you are looking at, and still have the XD Mod 2, recently purchased. It is more compact, has a better grip feel, and is @ 200 bucks less, with no real disadvantages that I see. If you are planning on loading it with hot defense ammo, the XDm probably would feel like it recoils less. That's it.
 
Apparently, bedbugbilly researches like I do. :D

I have no experience with any of the named pistols. That's never stopped me from having an opinion, though....

Of the three:
I'd strike the Glock 30S. I don't like magazines that stick out and are supposed to be used as part of the grip. They wiggle. That may seem like an overly picky reason not to buy a particular pistol, but there are just too many other perfectly fine pistols that don't use them to put up with wiggly-jiggly grips.

As for the XDMod2 vs. XD(M) -- Honestly, I've had my eye on the XDM 3.8" compact for a long, long time, and that's the one I'd get. As far as I can tell, the primary advantage will be that extra 0.5" barrel. I don't know how much of an advantage it would be in the event of real necessity, but it should offer some additional velocity and a slightly better sight radius. When it comes to CC & printing, barrel length isn't usually the problem that thickness or grip length is.
 
I had the opportunity to shoot both the M and the mod 2(both in .45), and although I couldn't feel much difference between them, I shot the M compact better and bought it.
 
So . . . my question. Is there really any difference between the XD and the XDM (other than mentioned) that would make you choose one over the other? Is there really any difference in the barrels from the XD and the XDM as far as accuracy?
Click to expand...

Takedown is different. No need to pull the trigger to remove the slide, on the XDM. Arguably safer.
 
I faced a similar choice a while back. I ended up with the XD 45 Compact Service Model.

4" Barrel, 10 round magazines. Around $400

I traded it for a Vaquero 45 Colt a few years later.
 
I have a Glock 30S and a XDS45 ...
I lean toward Glocks ..... But the XDS45 is a great pistol .. Very close to the same size as my Taurus PT709 Slim

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I have the XDm which I carry with the 13 rd mag more often than not. In warm weather I carry owb with a camp shirt untucked. No one has noticed it yet. Great gun to shoot for pleasure.
 
A big "thank you" to you all as your input has been very helpful!

I have a friend who had an XD in 9mm that I shot a few times and it was was a real pleasure to shoot. It's been a few years but I remember that it was like all you had to do was to point it and you were on target. I had a SR9 at the time, which was a good shooter but I preferred his XD to it.

I think any of the two Springfields or the Glock would be good and fit what I am looking for but I am leaning towards the Springfields. My next step will be to try and find either of them in a LGS and see how ethic feel in the hand. When I'm in AZ for the winer, I usually shoot at an indoor range so I am hoping they may have one of each that I could rent and try. Once I decide, when I return to MI for the summer I will be purchasing it and spend some good "quality time" on the farm shooting and practicing with it before I change to making it my EDC.

Again - many thanks and if anyone else wants to chime in, I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts.
 
I have the XD mod2 .45 and the XDm 3.8 but in 9mm. Both are great. I have been pleasantly surprised by the XD mod2. Soft shooter and accurate, comfortable in you hand. If I had to pick one, mod2.
 
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