Springfield Armory Xd Mod 2 Sub Compact 45 Review
While single-stack 9mm pistols seem to be all the rage in modern concealed carry, subcompact pistols that hold a bit more ammunition shouldn't exist dismissed by anyone interested in personal protection.
In this Springfield Armory XD Subcompact pistol review, I take a look at the smallest gun in the company'south Defend Your Legacy Series of handguns. While thicker than the XD-Due south Modernistic.2 pistol, it is still small enough for most people to easily muffle but offers significantly more than armament.
- Overview of the XD Subcompact
- Defend Your Legacy Series
- Specifications
- On the Range
- Armament Operation
- Concluding Thoughts
- Disclosure
Let'southward non waste a agglomeration of time and leap correct into my XD Subcompact review.
Overview of the XD Subcompact
The 9mm XD Subcompact is a small striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame and forged steel slide. Part of the Defend Your Legacy Serial (gyre downwards for more on this,) the pistol pairs nicely with the company'due south XD Service Model with the same wait, experience and part.
Like many polymer-framed pistols, the gun is relatively light for what it is. At 23 ounces with an empty mag, the gun offers considerable firepower in a package that should be easy for virtually folks to conceal.
It is small-scale – only half dozen.25″ in overall length and with a grip that is one.2″ broad. The real key dimension for me is the grip length which is just barely long plenty I tin get my whole paw on it. It is slightly longer than the subcompact Glock pistols that e'er leave my pinky hanging. In my opinion, the boosted length is not whatever harder to conceal in a quality holster. (Read my Springfield Armory XD Subcompact holsters guide if you lot are looking for a carry rig.)
Something that sets the XD apart from most other striker-fired pistols is the grip safety. This is similar to the grip safety institute on other guns like the 1911. When yous grip the gun, the safety disconnects and allows you to pull the trigger. Without the grip prophylactic depressed, you cannot pull the trigger.
The gun is not new. It'south been out for nearly 2 decades at the time of this writing, and a lot of people accept already reviewed the pistol.
I felt a new XD Subcompact review was worthwhile for a few reasons. Beginning, there are a lot of new shooters that are coming into the gun world, and they've probably non read some of the quondam, cached reviews from years by.
Secondly, Springfield Armory made subtle changes to the XD line over the years. For instance, the current XD Subcompact is now part of the company'southward Legacy Series of pistols. They are functionally the same as the originals, but there accept been some changes you might want to know nearly.
Defend Your Legacy Serial
What is the Defend Your Legacy Serial of Springfield Armory XD pistols?
The modern Springfield Arsenal pistols derive from the Croatian HS2000 pistol adult by the visitor HS Produkt (formerly known equally IM Metal.) In 2002, Springfield Arsenal began working with HS Produkt to begin selling a rebranded course of the gun in the US. The pistol became the original Springfield Armory XD.
In the years that followed, Springfield Armory introduced new pistols based on the success of the original XD. New handguns included the XD-S Mod.2 and the XD-G lines. While the newer guns offered additional features and updated styling, the original XD line of pistols nonetheless held a dedicated fan base.
Currently, the XD-One thousand Aristocracy is the visitor'due south premier duty pistol. While the XD-M line is remarkably affordable, the visitor decided to streamline the original XD line and offer it every bit a budget-friendly choice for personal defense. To exercise this, Springfield Armory express factory options and rebranded the line equally the Defend Your Legacy Series.
The Defend Your Legacy Series of XD pistols is limited to only two models: the 3″ Subcompact and the iv″ Service Model. Both guns are bachelor in only 9mm with total capacity. Restricted chapters (10 round) models of the .40 S&W and .45 ACP are still bachelor for residents living in less-free areas of the U.Due south.
By streamlining the production process, the company is able to offer these guns at rock bottom pricing. For a brand new, factory production XD Subcompact pistol the suggested retail price is only $399. Compared to the alternatives on the market, that is an exceptionally attractive toll when you consider it comes with a total warranty and ample aftermarket support for things similar holsters and sights.
You may likewise see the Defend Your Legacy Series pistols labeled as Defenders Series handguns. The name Defenders Series is old branding that is no longer used.
Specifications
Here are the specifications on the Legacy Series Springfield XD Subcompact pistol. As I mentioned to a higher place, the company only offers this gun for the 9mm cartridge in standard capacity models.
| Caliber | 9mm |
| Standard Magazine Capacity | 13 |
| Barrel Length | 3″ |
| Overall Length | 6.25″ |
| Meridian | iv.75″ |
| Weight | 26.0 oz |
| Frame | polymer |
| End | matte black |
| MSRP | $399 |
As I referenced earlier, the pistol is affordable with a suggested retail cost of $399. Actual prices could be even lower at your dealer.
On the Range
I've spent a lot of time shooting subcompact pistols including this gun's primary rival: the Glock 26. Until recently, I've had relatively limited experience with the XD line and very footling range time with the Subcompact XD specifically.
I previously reviewed the Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 and wrote a Springfield Arsenal XD Service Model review. Notwithstanding, this is my beginning fourth dimension with the double-stack subcompact pistol.
I wound upwardly taking this gun to the range on 3 different occasions. Each time, I fired almost 400 rounds through the pistol with a variety of different mill ammunition. The gun seemed to exist accurate – all of the shots landed where I aimed them, both expert and bad.
While I appreciate the fiber optic front sight found on other XD pistols, the elementary 3-dot sights on the Legacy Series guns are completely functional. I was able to observe and align them swiftly.
Personally, I'yard not a fan of traditional iii-dot sights. I prefer a large, bright front end sight in a color that contrasts with the natural colors of the globe. I cover this and more in my article The Best Combat Handgun Sights if you accept any interest in reading more.
If you are not enamored with the SA XD SC sights, no worries. The sights are dovetailed, significant you can supplant them if you lot like. Check out my article called The Complete Springfield Armory XD Night Sights Guide if you are interested in swapping out to something different.
I've heard a lot of people complain virtually the triggers on other companies' striker-fired pistols. If you are function of that group, you might like the XD trigger. I find the trigger face isn't every bit wide equally those found on some other guns. Additionally, the pivot safety in the trigger seemed more rounded and less likely to pinch. While I've never had a problem with a Glock or Smith & Wesson trigger, I all the same capeesh the smooth characteristics of the XD trigger.
A few more things stood out to me: reliability, recoil and reloads.
Reliability
As with most modern striker-fired pistols, I had high expectations for the reliability of this pistol. I've tested a lot of pistols over the years and nigh brands of modern handguns tend to run correctly right out of the box. While there are exceptions (see my Taurus Spectrum review for i example,) the modern pistols merely seem to work.
Such was the case with the Legacy Series XD Subcompact. It ran with nary a hitch.
In the chart below, you lot can see the dissimilar loads I tried in this pistol. You'll note that some of the loads are hollow points and some are +P pressure loads. Everything fed, shot and ejected unremarkably.
Recoil
Equally yous might wait, recoil in a subcompact pistol is greater than that from a full-size gun of the aforementioned caliber. Physics suggests that if all other things are equal, the gun with the larger mass volition absorb more of the felt recoil.
Fifty-fifty so, recoil in this gun is very manageable. My friends know I enjoy shooting revolvers, and I'1000 1 of those sick individuals who volition shoot .357 Magnum loads in a Scandium-framed snubby. So, I know what harsh feels like. The recoil from the XD SC is not harsh.
If you are a new shooter, I always recommend starting out on a larger gun until yous proceeds enough feel and skill to handle the increased recoil of a smaller gun. Withal, the recoil is unlikely to scare you lot off.
Reloads
I carried a Glock 26 for years as 1 of my backup guns when I was withal a cop. In improver to regular training, I also qualified with it up to iv times each year. So, information technology was ingrained in me that I had 10+1 rounds to resolve an event before the slide would lock back.
The XD Subcompact does a fleck improve than that with 13+i rounds earlier needing a reload. 3 actress rounds is a wealth of options should you e'er be forced to use your gun. While I was lucky enough to avoid needing my G26 when I was a cop, I know others who would have appreciated the additional ammo.
Allow'southward face it: no one ever complained about having besides much ammo in a defensive shooting.
Yes, the full-size magazine from the XD Service Model does fit and run in the Subcompact Model. For police and security officers carrying the Service Model, you lot accept complete magazine capacity with the SC should y'all deport it every bit a fill-in. For the armed citizen, you tin carry the larger xvi-round magazine equally a spare when going out.
Another affair I similar most reloading the XD Subcompact is the metal mag trunk confronting the slick polymer mag well. Empty mags drop like greased lightning from the gun and new mags snap in quickly.
Ammunition Functioning
The following table shows the loads I ran in the pistol forth with their measured performance.
| Velocity | Energy | |
| Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ | 1,051 fps | 282 ft-lbs |
| Federal HST 124 gr JHP +P | ane,107 fps | 337 ft-lbs |
| Federal PBLE 115 gr JHP +P+ | 1,194 fps | 364 ft-lbs |
| Liberty Ammunition Civil Defence 50 gr JHP +P | i,915 fps | 407 ft-lbs |
| Remington UMC 115 gr JHP | 1,061 fps | 287 ft-lbs |
| SIG SAUER Elite V-Crown 124 gr JHP | 1,148 fps | 363 ft-lbs |
| SIG SAUER Elite 5-Crown 147 gr JHP | 983 fps | 315 ft-lbs |
| Speer Gold Dot 124 gr JHP | 1,043 fps | 299 ft-lbs |
Final Thoughts
I similar the XD Subcompact pistol. My evaluation gun now has more than 1,000 rounds through it, and I've had no problems. The trigger is calorie-free and feels good for a striker-fired pistol. As I mentioned above, I recollect the trigger will be appreciated by many people who dislike the offerings on other striker-fired pistols.
I know there are some people who don't like the grip condom. That's an issue you won't exist able to avoid with most of the XD series (read my Springfield Armory XD-East review for the exception,) and then if you are one of those people, a Glock 26 might be a meliorate option for y'all. If you don't mind the grip safety, this gun definitely is worth considering.
At a suggested retail price of simply $399, The Springfield Armory XD Subcompact will fit most budgets.
Disclosure
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GunsHolstersAndGear.com is a family-owned business. I started it and I run it – for amend or worse. Similar any other business, it is a for-profit venture. However, I disembalm potential influences as I am doing here.
The gun used in this review is a T&Eastward, or test & evaluation, loaner pistol from Springfield Armory. The visitor did not pay for or "sponsor" this review. They did not enquire for a positive review of the pistol, nor did I offer one.
You, the reader, are my primary business concern. I believe that if I serve you the best I can my business will thrive long-term. So, you go my honest opinions.
Springfield Armory is not an advertiser. In fact, at the time of this writing, I don't accept any advertising on the site.
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Last update: August 29, 2021
Source: https://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2020/07/06/springfield-armory-xd-subcompact-pistol-review/
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