Showdown: Springfield XD45 vs Springfield 1911.

Chesten_Hesten · 07-11-2009, 05:49 PM

For 19 years I've owned a single handgun; This one:

It started life a a $299.00 Gov't Model by Springfiled Armory. Back then they had just came out with Forged recievers and slides, and a lot of the competitive pistol shooters were buying them up to customize.

Suffice to say, $1100.00 after the initial investment, this is what I ended up with. The Hard Chrome finish, and the comp have greatly helped the thing stay together all these years and all 34000+ rounds, (all of which were 200grns, and most of which were 1000fps loads)

Being a rifle competitor, I spend just enough time working with handguns to keep from looking embarrased when I'm around the real pistol goons, like this fellow:

For all his loose teephus, he's a serious competitor to anyone competiting at the State Level in Texas, and runs this place:
The Impactzone

Recently, while spending time hanging around me getting more aquantied with CMP Service Rifle Competitions, he started telling me about his latest newest handgun for IDPA. He said it only cost $499.00, held 13rnds of 45 auto, had a better feel, and better trigger than a glock, and didn't have that, wide ass looking down an aircraft carrier to see the sights view, so indicative of glocks. He also claimed it was more accurate at 100 yards and beyond, than any glock he had shot at that distance. (who exactly needs this range accuracy with a duty pistol is unclear, but if its capable, all the better I suppose.)

Deciding it was high time a second handgun was in order I followed the recommendation and bought myself an XD, this one:

Two-tone, black and baby-shit brown, with the word "TACTICAL" Obligatorally emblazened on the slide to drive all the gear queerz:

to masturbation while contemplating the sheer magnitude of the word, it wasn't the mere all black duty pistol I had hoped for, but what the hell, at $499.00 at the local Academy it seemed a good deal.

Chesten_Hesten · 07-11-2009, 05:53 PM

I shot the XD a few times by itself, with some basic type drills, some singles at 25 yards, doubles at 7, 10, & 15 yards, some 2 yard snap drills, doubles/triples. The thing points well. Trigger is squashy compared to my 1911. Spring on the slide is way stronger than my comp gun. Three dot sights are half-ass, but ok. 13rnds are nice.

In short order I actually started to prefer the XD, and figured on consigning my 1911 to the back drawer. Yesterday, though I spent 20 minutes doing a side by side comparison of the two, consisting of:

1. Relevant accuracy at 25 yards.
2. Relative recoil, and cyclic rate comparison.
3. 10 yard double taps from a weaver ready position.
4. Characteristics comparison.

25 YARD ACCURACY:

I only shoot reloads:

I don't particularly go to great pains with them either. I only use 200grn hardcast, with whatever powder is cheapest at the time. the lot used for the comparison, was a mix of stuff I loaded 5 years ago, (Win-731, I think with winchexter primers,) and some stuff from a few months ago with CCI primers and Accurate #2. The old stuff was a lot stronger load. I'm still using the same brass from 1991, I only throw it away when its cracked all the way down the case. Half cracked is ok by me. With either gun I could get 10 shots inside 3 to 5 inches at 25 yards, but oddly the XD seemed to shoot closer to aim, than my 1911 plus it put more shots together in a wad. I suspect this is due to the load mix, because each time I touched off with a hot one in the 1911 it shot more to point of aim. The XD didn't seem to care, but surprisingly I got 3 stoppages with these reloads in the XD during the day. At this distance though, the XD felt the same accuracywise if not a little better.

Back in the day when the 1911 was new I could only get 200 rounds of shooting before I had to clean it or else face all sorts of stoppages due to the tight match chamber, and fit of the parts n pieces, but for the past 10 years the only stoppage I've had with it was when I shot a round with no powder and only a primer. It lodged the bullet in the barrel and I had to disassemble and punch it through.

RELATIVE RECOIL & CYCLIC RATE:

If you've never shot a compted 1911, I'll let you in on something. They're quite quick:
(Damn Camera, had to use delay feature as no one, and by no one I mean the wife, wanted to stand out in the 102 degree weather to take pictures while I shot, and so it's blury!)

Like having great speakers in a stereo that's all you listen to though, after a while you can't really tell, but side by side with the XD and I suddenly found a whole new appreciation for what comps are good for. Fuck-Sake, its noticible! Grip is crucial to followup shots, but the less recoil and muzzle whip the easier it is to follow up. With the plastic frame the XD soaks up recoil pretty good, just not as good as a real comp.

What is Bam..Bam with the XD is BamBam with the Comp-gun. Plus the cyclic rate of the 1911 is faster and the short stroke trigger makes shooting, TapTap on the trigger, as opposed to Tap, Tap with the long take up and reset of the XD.

10 YARD DOUBLE TAPS

Here's the 1911:

And here's the XD:

In honesty I have to say I believe the XD is capable of the same as the 1911, but I have to add, that its been about 4 years since I did any work with my pistol skills, and compared to Riflery that skill deteriorates much quicker. The trigger on the 1911 is more conducive to drilling multiple shots, and the comp helps tremendously as does the fact that the front sight always stays put on the comp:

Chesten_Hesten · 07-11-2009, 05:57 PM

As opposed to dancing around on the slide like most pistols:

CHARACTERISTICS:

The respective business ends of the two:

XD:

1911:

Magwell on the XD:
Like married life, just stick it in the general direction and it falls into place.

Magwell on the 1911:
Like nailing a supermodel, (or so I'm told) Takes more skillz to hit it!

The XD comes with two loaded round indicators, the exctractor sticks up allowing you to feel it in the dark, and the firing pin protrudes out the back when cocked.

One thing that's a bit odd coming from a 1911 backround is that when you draw the XD, that's about all you do, you either pull the trigger or not, with the 1911, you go safety off finger on trigger squeeze, bang.

In summary,

This is a rambling review.

Pistols take practice to be proficient. With practice you can be a menace even with a piece of shit. Neither of these are throw-downs.

With work you could do as well, as fast with either. The Comp gun is noticibly easier to shoot quickly with accuracy. But at a price. The XD is way cheaper, than a custom gun, and with the larger handle I find it easier to grasp without getting pinched and annoyed by my wedding band. You don't have to reload quite as much. Wife is nagging so I'll add to as I remember and can.

Chesten_Hesten · 07-13-2009, 05:43 PM

I prefer the slide release on the 1911 over the press metal version on the XD and other such handguns these days. it just manipulates smoother, quicker and easier.

With the 1911, technique-wise, (to me) it seems better to use the support hand's thumb to drop the slide. Not so much so with the XD, where the strong hand feels in an overall better position.

Being a much cheaper handgun for its basic performance is a plus for the XD I would say, because I'm feel more apt to practice with it as a tool, rather than worrying about it as a delicate instrument.

Old Cat · 07-13-2009, 09:56 PM

Very thorough brother-- 34,000+ rounds lol -- reloading a cracked case WOW ---

My first auto loader (other than a 22) was an enhanced series 80 Colt 1911. The 1911 has and always will my favorite but that does not mean i can not look at a new toy.

Thanks again for the effort

ljcsov · 07-17-2009, 11:22 AM

Where can you get a 1911 for that cheap now? Can you still get deals like that?

Chesten_Hesten · 07-17-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Where can you get a 1911 for that cheap now? Can you still get deals like that?

A buddy of mine bought a Rock Island Armory, (made in the Philipines)

I think it had a forged slide and frame, and it was cheap. But rough as a cobb so its probably like a starting point pistol for a custom gun. Here's an article about it:

Rock Island Armory M1911A1

The XD really is pretty good I must say, and for the money. I reckon I'll start doing some drills with it, to bring my performance with it up to snuff, (hell my performance in general)...