XDm vs. XD mod.2

J

Jacket67

New member
Hey TFL,

So I have been at this a while, but I have FINALLY narrowed-down the choice for my first handgun to a Springfield XD variant. I actually shot it much better than the Sig p229 I referenced in previous posts, and my girlfriend did as well. I love the grip safety feature, constant trigger pull, and fiber optic front sight. Anyway, I'm choosing between two specific models: the XDm 3.8" compact 9mm, and the XD mod.2 4" 9mm. The barrel difference is pretty much negligible, but the biggest difference is the grip length. The XDm compact has the very short, flush-fitting 13 round magazine, and comes with a 19 round standard size magazine and grip extension. The mod.2 has a service-length grip that holds 16+1. The XDm with the compact magazine has a height of 4.75", and the mod.2 has a height of 5.5".

I held the mod.2 and thought the grip felt much better simply due to ergonomics. Thad being said, the XDm grip feels just fine. I like the idea of having 2 grip sizes with the XDm, but the slightly longer barrel and more ergonomic grip does draw me in a bit. It also has a thinner profile which may be better for carry.

Anyway, my purpose for the gun will be primarily HD, but I do plan to carry the gun when possible. How do these two guns compare? Can the mod.2 be carried just as well as the XDm compact?


Note: I do not want to go any smaller than the 3.8" compact XDm, so the more compact mod.2 options are out of question. They are just too small for what I am looking for. Also, I know SA has some controversy stirring around the whole Illinois incident, but I believe SA got screwed as much as anyone and is doing everything they can to combat the problem. So please don't mention this as a deterrent from buying their products.

Thanks in advance!


EDIT: The above post is very wordy so let me focus it here: Can the 4 inch service mod.2 be concealed well enough that it would he the better option over the xdm? It felt great and has a slightly longer barrel, but my primary concern is the grip length. But it's roughly the same size as a g19.
 
Last edited:
The mod 2 is great but wider than my xds. It offers an option if I'm wanting to carry numerous rounds. BTW the xds is .45 while the mod 2 is 9mm.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
 
I actually shot an XDs 9mm and did not like it. I am also only looking for double-stack handguns. I guess I should have mentioned that. Thanks for the reply though!
 
I have a 3.8 XDm that I have shot a ton and am very happy with. That being said I have lately been around Mod 2s and that is what I would buy if I needed or wanted that size gun again. The feel is good in the hand,and the fiber front sight to my eye is sooo much better than the three dot system. Both guns are excellent shooters. Whichever you get do not fail to put a Powder River trigger kit in and you will be set. Enjoy
 
I've owned both. I liked the XDm well enough but a buddy of mine wanted it more than I did so it's his now. I actually took the proceeds from the sale of the XDm and purchased a Mod 2. It's a fine gun in its own right....Not quite as refined (if polymer pistols can be refined) but it shoots very well and eats anything I feed it.
 
Jacket...they are great pistols IMO. I have an Xdm 3.8 Compact and an XD9 Service full size.

I rotate CC between Makarovs, The Xdm 3.8 with 13 round mag and 1911s (when heavier clothes are in order)

I got into the striker game late being an SA/DA pistol shooter. I shot a MOD2 Service 9, 4 inch, almost 400 rounds and decided that there was little discernible difference in feel between it and the standard XD9 Service. But this is just me and others will surely disagree.

Also, I hated the "GRIP ZONE" logo on the Mod2 and can't understand why they would do that. It just bothered me but again this is highly subjective.

But you can't go wrong with any XD you choose.. I think the XD platform is very under rated. I have not had a malfunction with either of my two XDs and I shoot them often.
 
I think the xdm is the better option in this case. because there is even the slightest chance that you will carry it, the more compact, and easier to conceal the better, and since the hardest part to conceal is the grip, that's where the XDM is the better option. for home defense and practice, the extra ammo capacity of the xdm is better suited to the situation. the XDM comes with 3 different sized backstraps, not 2, so that adds even more versatility. the XDMs have better triggers than the XDs, even the mod 2s. the only thing that the mod 2 has over the XDM is better sights. I think the added price for the XDM is well worth it over the XD.
 
I hate to be "that guy" and I don't actually intend to put down anyone's choice of firearm or anything, so I'll just preface this by saying that my further comments are only from my lens and things I've seen and people I've talked to. There are plenty of people out there who will disagree with me on this and there's nothing wrong with differing opinions and experiences.

Personally, I have seen a concerning number of stoppages on the range from XD pistols for my tastes. I don't hit the range as often as I should but almost as many XDs as I've seen on the range is the number I've seen have stoppages. Usually minor ones that will clear with a simple tap/rack, but still. This once prompted me to ask the rental guys at my local shop if they see more stoppages with XD pistols than other guns like Glocks, M&Ps, etc. The guys behind the counter, understandably, were reluctant to answer me but one of them quietly confirmed that he wouldn't buy one after having worked at the range.

I really hope that I am not disparaging anyone's choice of firearm here as that is not my intent and I'm happy for anyone that has a good, reliable example. I just want to bring this up because I saw that the gun is being purchased for home defense and carry and it wouldn't hurt to look at other options like M&Ps, PPQs, P320s, VP9s, or any of the other well known strikers on the market.

Again, take this with a grain of salt. Just my experience. Just roll around all options well before dropping your money on something to trust your life with.
 
I can only speak from my own experience. But real experience, non the less.

As I said in an earlier post

I shot an XD mod 2 Service... I kept count but since I traded the pistol I discarded the count which I remember as close to 400 rounds of assorted JHP and FMJ-no malfunctions of any kind.

I now have an XDM 3.8 compact and XD9 Service...322 rounds of assorted ammo through the Compact which I traded for so it was a used pistol but like new-No malfunctions of any kind.

XD9 Service bought NIB, 325 rounds assorted- No malfunctions.

Thats about 1000 rounds of assorted ammo through three different XD pistols with no malfunction of ANY kind.

Admit it is no "torture test" but I shoot other guns not just XDs, and BTW, I am no SA XD "fanboy" So that's been my experience so far.
 
1,000 rounds through 3 pistols definitely isn't that much. I think that running a gun hard is where it's really going to show what it's capable of. Not torture tests, but running it through training classes that have you throwing 1000 rounds down range in a weekend. Most people who buy guns, especially with collections, don't run their guns that hard. They oil them up before going to the range, make sure they are clean, shoot a hundred or so rounds static, and go home and clean the gun again. But I know my carry gun is a little more dry since the last time I oiled it, is getting covered in lint in the holster from IWB carry, and I won't have time to clean and oil it before pulling the trigger if I need to use it defensively.

This is why seeing how rental guns hold up at ranges or shooting schools is valuable. They get poorer treatment that reveals what guns will hold up when pushed harder than others. This makes a difference to me when I go shopping. I am not trying to crap all over the XD series, just advocating for doing as much research as possible before buying a gun that you want to trust your life to.

I like to hang out at my local shop and range and ask the guys there what's holding up. So far they're all loving the M&P 2.0. Worth a look. I'm digging the P320. Plus I haven't heard any complaints about the PPQ, VP9, etc. It just wouldn't hurt for anyone to ask the guys who see the guns run hard and not just seek info online.
 
I know a guy that competes with an xdm. He had ran thousands of rounds through it with no issues. He loves it.

I have owned m&p, xdm, glock, Sig 320, and others but for a carry polymer gun I only use glock and have even sold off both m&p's. I have hopes the 2.0 will work better for me, though.


All platforms have weaknesses but at least with glock a guy can find spare parts.
My wife has the xdm 3.8 and shoots it well but it doesn't conceal well for its size and I loathe having to send my gun to Springfield for an extractor.
 
my experience has been completely opposite of Imightbewrong's. I've seen far more failures from glocks any any other handgun group combined. of course when I bring this up the koolaid crowd attempts to shame me into silence, that is, as has been stated, my experience. I've owned 3 XDMs, an XD, and an XD-S. guns I've shot but not owned include another XD-s. 3 more XDMs, and 3 more XDs, all in varying sized and calibers. I have never had a single failure that was not ammunition related. I think I am only nearing 10,000 rounds even with that wide arrangement of handguns, but I believe that that many rounds and that many models should suggest a decent level of experience with a product line.
 
Tahunua,

I will definitely say that I've seen some Glock problems. In fact, I've owned 2 problem Glocks. There were a couple years of the pistols when the Gen4 was new that had horrible ejection patterns. I had a 17 and a 26 that both had a ton of problems both before and after the new ejector came out. I ended up getting rid of both and not buying any more Glocks for a while. About a year ago I picked up a 17 Gen4 and plugged a couple thousand out of it flawlessly. They seem to have fixed the problems that I had and I don't see as many issues the last few years. But I do agree that Glock has put some problematic guns out in the past, no doubt about that.
 
I have the Mod.2 subcompact and it conceals great! It's only 1/3" wider overall than the 1" single stack guns, but will carry 13 rounds in 9mm.

I've run about 2000 rounds through it in the past year since buying it, and have had exactly zero malfunctions of any kind.

I have shot the XDm (4" and 5.25") numerous times at my range--these are rentals of course--never had a problem either.

I think the XDm is slightly lighter weight than the Mod.2? I'm not certain...felt like it though...

I honestly can't feel any differences in the triggers between the two. I'm on the fence about getting a 5" gun for target shooting and maybe some competition and I'm hard pressed to see why I'd drop nearly $700 or more for the XDm when I can get the Mod.2 "Tactical" for under $500. I could upgrade the trigger and still be under the cost of the XDm.

If carry is your primary concern, though, I would definitely get the subcompact Mod.2. It's very easy to conceal and I'm still quite accurate with it. At self defense distances (and probably instinctive shooting with eyes on target) I can't imagine you'll be any more accurate with a 1" longer barrel. In fact we'd probably all be better off with shotguns :D
 
OP, keep in mind that when it comes to conceal ability the biggest factor is the grip and to a lesser degree the thickness. The length of the barrel GENERALLY doesn't really matter. The barrel of the gun is usually inside your pants running with your body/hip/leg.
 
That's why I'm not sure on the mod.2. I like the 4 inch size but the grip is really long compared to the compacts. But I'm just not sure I want the 3 inch barrel on the compact mod.2. I like that the xdm has the compact grip and a longer barrel. This will be my only handgun for a while so I want something that can fit both HD and ccw roles, with HD being the primary concern. I will say that the mod.2 price is appealing and the grip is very comfortable. I just don't know if the size of the service and compact are right for what I need.
 
So tahunua001, what's your opinion on the xdm 3.8 compact or xd mod.2 4" service model?
Click to expand...
see reply number 7 in this thread, I already weighed in.

I hear you on the 3 inch barrel, the sight radius makes it difficult to line up a good shot, especially under pressure. I normally try and stick with 4 inch barrels and up, not because of the minute increase in velocity or stabilization, but because it's easier to line up the sights and make a good hit. it's hard to conceal a full sized without some thick clothing. on occasion I carry a Canik TP9SF which is roughly the same size as the mod2 service, I can only get away without printing in winter clothing, or with jackets.
 
I have an XDM 3.8, a friend has the XD 4"... we both shoot my XDM better :) It conceals very well and I trust it as my EDC. But either are great options!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top