OK - I'm ready to buy....XD Service or XD Tactical - help me decide!

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

I'm ready to buy.

It's gonna be an XD45.

But I dunno if it should be a 4" XD Service or 5" XD Tactical!!!

I DO want the full size grip. Weights are just 2oz apart.


I open carry OWB strongside.


Which would you choose and why? What are the advantages one over the other?

I'm leaning towards the 5" Tactical - but I also value your input.


-

[markheck1]

Glock....No external safety







whatever feels better to you, man......you're the one who will be carrying it every day

ETA I HAD to vote against it, but i was just kidding

[JoeWilliams]

My wife has the Tactical, and I'm thinking hard about getting one.

The extra inch makes it a little harder to conceal, but not much. Since you open carry anyway, doesn't matter much. I think the 5" barrel points better, and I like the balance better. After 500 rounds or so, the trigger smoothed up beautifully, the gun is a total pussy cat to shoot even with +P+ rounds, and it just feels right to me. I've read that the 5" recovers on target slightly faster than the 4", but I wouldn't know about that. Both have the same grip.

When I get one, it'll be the tactical, just because I like the way it feels in my hand, and the way it shoots.

After roughly 700 rounds, including 115 JHPs, 135 gr +P JHPs, 124 gr JHPs and 124 gr +P JHPs, and 147 gr lead round nose flat points, we've had two malfunctions. One when my son first shot the gun, and the 2nd on Cathy's first try at firing one handed weak-hand. Both were REALLY limp wristed.

[stang1911]

Did you consider the .45 compact? I have the service model and the compact but i love them both : )

Believe it or not, the service model is actually more accurate than the 5inch. I use the compact when CC and throw the 13rnd mag in it when OC. The service model is being set up as my IDPA pistol.

[Tomcat088]

I own a tactical and my best friend owns the service. I think unloaded the service feels like it balances a little better. When I slap a magazine in both, I think that my tactical feels a little better balanced. The 5" was just slightly more accurate, but I think it is due to the longer sight radius and shooter, not nessarily because one is more accurate than the other. I have only been into pistol shooting for about 2 years, so I still consider myself new and not as proficient with a pistol as I would like to be. Either way, they were both VERY capable to hit center mass without any problem. I personally feel that my 5" recovers on target just a bit better, and doesn't quite have the muzzle rise that the 4" did. Neither pistol really raises much and with the proper grip neither has much muzzle jump. I think that if you plan on concealing, even at some time, you might like the 4" better. Although the grip is the hardest part to conceal, the barrel isn't quite as hard. If you are going to open carry, I say go with the 5", the longer sight radius is nice. I personally also like the free guide rod/recoil spring, as opposed to the service model's captive recoil spring. I'd say feel one out, if you can rent them go for it so you can actually feel what they shoot like and the muzzle rise.

[Agent Smith]

I have the Service model, so I suggest going with that. The Tactical model to me just seems too big. I bought it with the intention to carry it with an IWB holster, and I don't think the Tactical would make a very good IWB handgun.

You should definitely handle both, and if you get a chance, definitely shoot them, but go with whatever feels better to you. Either way, you're getting one hell of a pistol.

[Mr_Anderson]

I have the XD 9 stainless and love it but i am sure you will be happy with ether.

[Zef_66]

I have an XD40 Service. For my .40, I love it. If I were going to buy a .45, I would buy a tactical. Like Tomcat said, it is about the weight balance. You really need to shoot both to feel the difference. For me, the XD45 tactical feels better than the service. And the XD40 service feels better than the tactical.

But its all a matter of opinion.

[Emptymag]

How could you not get the "tactical"?

Is there a more bad-ass word for describing a firearm than "tactical"?



Just imagine the envy at the range...

Guy A: "Hey, whatcha' shootin?"

Guy B: "It's an XD, I like it..."

Guy C: "I have an XD TACTICAL."

Guy B: "...I've never had a probl..."

Guy A: "Holy SHIT!!! A TACTICAL??? Are you on a SWAT team?!!!"

Guy C: "No, I get that all the time... it IS cool, isn't it?"

Guy A: "Dude, that's the baddest, tacticalist gun I ever seen!"

Guy C: "Yeah, it IS, isn't it? Did I mention it's a TACTICAL?"

Guy B: (mumbling to himself) "I shoulda' got a tactical, dammit!"





All I can tell you is that I shot one once, and I liked it a lot, I'd just never be able to comfortably carry it.

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

<grin!>

Smith & Wesson has done similar with their competing product

"I just bought the .45 Military & Police!"