Springfield XDS review and range report

[thelemite]

Picked up the new Springfield XDS on Wednesday. It was on my radar for a while, and as it was priced at 519$: it had to come home with me.





Springfield ships the XDs series in a monster plastic suitcase with 2 magazines, a mag holder and a holster. With a gun this small, the case is almost comical.

First impressions

This gun feels great in the hand. I have small hands, so a single stack had an appeal to me. The grip feels smaller to me than the Glock 36, and closer to the Kahr single stacks. The fit and finish are good, and it points well. The gun weighs in at 21.6 ounces with an empty magazine, and fit well in my Dockers pockets.



The sights
The sights are fantastic. Very easy to acquire and fairly low profile. I would love a night site, but this was intended to be a pocket gun for me.



The trigger
The trigger measured at 6 lbs and 14 oz with a little take up. The reset was greatly improved to other XD and XDMs that I have fired. Its is more positive and a reset that compares well to a well known Austrian gun.




Shooting

Pulling the trigger, my first thought was "this might hurt". It didn't. The recoil was very well mitigated, and it felt better to me than the Kahr pm9 or a lightweight J frame with plus p. Follow up was faster than expected, partly due to the good trigger.

I put 100 flawless rounds through it, hitting 1/2 gallon milk bottles at 7 to 20 yards.


It compared well in size to a S&W J frame and a Keltec PF9 in height, width and length.



I have carried the other 2 in pockets, and this gun does it just as well.

[cruzans]

Great report and pics - thanks! Enjoy!

[photoshooter]

Looks very promising. It's on my radar screen as well. You got a very good price from what I've seen so far.

[MMMB]

Thanks for the report. I have an XDm 3.8 in 45, but seeing it side by side next to the PF-9. This one will fit in the pocket...that is key.

[Yellowfin]

That does look good, just need a way to lighten up the trigger pull a bit. Dunno why they put heavy triggers on small guns like that.

[thelemite]

That does look good, just need a way to lighten up the trigger pull a bit. Dunno why they put heavy triggers on small guns like that.

The trigger seems to be smoothing out with use
I will remeasure it after 500 rounds.

[bman1187]

I held one of these at Ace's nice gun but the lack of a night sight bothers me considering to get xd sights changed without someone beating the crap out of them you must send it out.

[sprrdhawk44]

Really good review. Thanks for posting this.

[fat_frog]

Ohhh....I'm jealous. I can't wait for XDs 9mm.....

[cds_arms]

Who had it for $519? They're still heavily allocated at distributors so I can't get one wholesale, but I'd certainly like to get my hands on one.