Springfield Extreme Duty (XD) Pistol:

SA/DA Discussion and Pistol Review

The purpose of this article is to explain why we should not be fixated that the Springfield XD is classified as a single action by the ATF. Instead, I want folks to consider the worth of the XD based on its excellent safeties, its excellent safe handling characteristics, its excellent DA-like trigger system, and its excellent price performance ratio. Therefore, if you are not interested in this justification, there is no need to read any farther.

Part One: SA/DA Trigger Discussion

I need to spend some time on the DA/SA subject, since a lot of really smart people have conflicting views. An excellent reference to this subject is the American Handgunner, Nov/Dec 2002, “Can Semantics Get you Killed?”, by Massad Ayoob. I would like to thank Ayoob for coming out with this timely article. Do yourself a favor and read it.

The main problem is that some folks and organizations are still clinging to archaic mechanical definitions of trigger types without taking into consideration biotechnology advancements and unique striker fired mechanisms in the firearms industry. In other words, you cannot just look at the internal striker mechanism and ignore the rest of the pistol any more. For example, several of the newer striker fired pistols have blurred the lines and have a similar external trigger feel and strong safety features that are comparable or even better than traditional DA pistols as far as any real defensive/recreational use goes from the end-user/administrator point of view. 

Basic Trigger Definitions (focusing on auto pistols)

1.     Single Action (SA): Racking the slide cocks the mechanism from a relatively dead rest. A short-stroke single action trigger (the finest in the industry) releases the mechanism. The classic 1911 pistol epitomizes this style. This system requires a manual safety. 

2.     Double Action/Single Action (DA/SA): This kind of DA pistol has a dual personality. The first shot is a true long DA action as in definition 3. All the follow-up shots (and the first shot if the hammer is cocked) are short-stroke single action trigger pulls similar to definition 1. The excellent SIG P Series is a good example in this category. This system requires a decocker and/or manual safety so the pistol can be carried safely.

3.     Double Action (DA) or Double Action Only (DAO): As the trigger is pulled, a relatively long pull, it performs two actions. The first part of the trigger pull cocks the mechanism from a relatively dead rest. The second part of the trigger pull releases the mechanism to fire the pistol. Note: This is the classic definition of DA, before any interpretations are applied. A good example of this trigger type is the excellent sigpro SP2340 using the DAO SIG trigger kit. This system does NOT require a manual safety or decocker.

4.     Safe Action (SA-Glock): This is a Glock trigger system, which does not fit into the above categories cleanly, even though the ATF ruled it a DA pistol approximately twenty years ago. Internally, the firing pin mechanism is half cocked when the slide is racked. Quoting directly from the Glock Owner’s Manual:  “Cock pistol by pulling slide back to its rearmost position and let it run forward. The pistol is now half-cocked” – end of quote. Therefore, the Glock is actually a HYBRID 1/2 SA & 1/2 DA trigger system. Is the glass half full, half empty, or both? Do we round up from 1/2 SA/DA to full DA? Yet externally, the Glock has the look and feel of an excellent, “safe double action trigger system with appropriate built in safeties” for the end user. This trigger system does NOT require a manual safety or decocker.

5.     Ultra Safety Assurance (USA-XD): This is a Springfield XD trigger system, which does not fit into the above categories cleanly. Internally, it is classified as a single action. Yet externally, the XD operates very differently than typical pistols in the Single Action category that use short-stroke single action triggers and require a manual safety of some kind (see definition 1). That’s because the XD, just like the Glock, has the look and feel of an excellent, “safe double action trigger system with appropriate built in safeties” for the end user. This system does NOT require a manual safety or decocker.

6.     DA-Like (DAL), or Bio-Mechanical DA (BMDA): This new definition is required in order to honestly appraise some of the newer pistols that cannot cleanly fit into the classic SA, DA/DAO, DA/SA trigger system definitions. Note: Nothing is sacred about these three classic standard trigger systems (definitions 1, 2, & 3). As pistols evolved, these pistol trigger definitions were simply created as needed in order to accurately describe the overall pistol functionality. But some of the newer style pistols operate ergonomically (biotechnology) as Double Action pistols, although internally they do not fit the classic DAO definition 3. Ayoob calls this new trigger category a bio-mechanical DA trigger since the trigger feels like a regular DAO Trigger system to the end user. I prefer the shorter definition of simply “DA-like” or “Striker Fired Action” if appropriate. Some pistols that fit into this category: Glock, Walther, Springfield XD, and the Steyr M series pistols, to name a few.

A pistol classification of DA or SA should be no big deal, right? Unfortunately, it matters a great deal because of sport/competition categories and because some Law Enforcement Agencies automatically assume SA is anathema for their departments in general. In other words, there is a lot of munching of words and politics involved, especially when you are looking at newer trigger designs that do not cleanly fit into the older, classic trigger system definitions.

Sadly, a Law Enforcement Agency might buy a "less safe" pistol simply because the ATF ruled it DA, and mistakenly ignore a modern SA striker fired safety design that may be "safer" to carry and "safer" to field strip than the ATF rated DA pistol!

An interesting suggestion if "old" definitions are causing problems for officers and gamers, is to just use the "new" NIJ term of Striker Fired Action (SFA) and lump all those together so the Glock, XD, Walther, Steyr, etc can play, protect, and serve together.

Quoting from Springfield’s Tioga Engineering Report, “From a safety standpoint, there is no basis upon which to choose between the trigger mechanisms of the Springfield Armory XD and the Glock 17 if the force required to pull their respective triggers is similar”. This DA-like trigger system does NOT require a manual safety or decocker.

Basic Trigger Definitions Summary

The real problem may not be so much the definitions, as much as what we are doing with those definitions today. Agencies and citizens have been buying DA/DAO pistols because these pistols have been perceived as being safer with longer/heavier trigger pulls and so on. Newer designs, such as the XD, makes such thinking a moot point because the XD is a single action internally, yet externally it feels similar to a DAO pistol, and it is just as safe or safer than the classic DA, DA/SA pistols, especially the Glock (see Part Two below). Sports organizations have the same definition issues. There has been an evolution of pistol attributes and new safety implementations that has blurred the lines. To insist that you can only classify a pistol by looking at the internal striker mechanism (SA, DA/SA, or DAO) and ignore the entire rest of the pistol is truly the same as purposely blinding yourself to all of the important facts.

Yes, we have to go with ATF's SA, DA/SA, DAO World as defined today, obviously. But I really believe that they can evolve their definitions a tiny bit to keep up with the new Century and possibly even help de-confuse folks, especially concerning modern striker fired mechanisms employed by the Glock, Steyr, Walther, XD, etc, if they don't mind me suggesting such a thing (gulp)?

USPSA/IPSC

Folks are shooting the XD in the Production Class in USPSA competitions along with other double action DA and DA-like pistols such as the very popular Glock models. USPSA and IPSC apparently understand that the XD emulates a fairly long, smooth double action trigger (similar to a Glock) for the end user, and they realize that the intent of the XD is as a production type gun. See the official IPSC list: http://www.ipsc.org/proddiv.htm. As an aside, USPSA also allows the longslide Glocks 34/35 in the production class even though their barrels are over 5” because they still fit in the box for U.S. competitions.

IDPA

On the other hand, IDPA has classified the XD as a single action pistol without taking into consideration that the XD is engineered to emulate an ergonomic (biotechnology) double action pistol to the end user. It’s like saying that we will look only at the older, classic, trigger system definitions that only partly apply, and totally ignore the new, engineered ergonomic (biotechnology) characteristics of a DA-like pistol developed specifically for the end user! The Glock should NOT be classified as a DA pistol because it does not conform to the classic DA-only category (definition 3), regardless of what the ATF ruled almost 20 years ago. Yet the Glock has an excellent, safe DA-like trigger system.  The XD basically has the look and feel of a Glock even though the inner mechanics of the trigger and the excellent safeties are different. If the XD cannot shoot in the Stock Service Pistol Division, the Glock should not be allowed to either, because the Glock is a hybrid “1/2 SA & 1/2 DA trigger system” if you really look at the classic, trigger system definitions. Let’s be reasonable folks and quit munching words.

Quoting from the Official IDPA Rulebook, “Stock Service Pistol Division is intended to offer a place in competition for shooters using popular ‘stock’ Double Action/Safe Action factory service pistols…” IDPA has seen fit to recognize the uniqueness of Glocks enough to specifically allow “Safe Action” pistols along with DA pistols on their officially approved list! IDPA has apparently recognized that Glocks are not true to the letter DA pistols. IDPA has made an exception to allow “Safe Action” DA-like Glock pistols to join the Stock Service Pistol Division along with other DA pistols. Therefore, the hybrid “1/2 SA & 1/2 DA trigger action” Glock is ergonomically DA-like enough to be allowed in this division, and that’s great. Well, you know what’s coming next, right? If the excellent DA-like Glock is allowed, then the excellent DA-like XD should be allowed too.

If "old" definitions are causing problems for competition shooting, then use the "new" NIJ term of Striker Fired Action (SFA) and lump all those together so the Glock, XD, Walther, etc can compete together.

In the end, we must abide by what IDPA states in their rule book. And I certainly respect IDPA enough to do exactly that, if I should choose to compete in their tournaments. USPSA, here I come (just kidding IDPA). ;)

To be fair to IDPA, when the 1^st early versions of the XD/HS-2000 came out, it was indeed marketed as a single action trigger system since the distributor did not know how to classify the newer, bio-technological innovations of the XD. There is a petition to ask IDPA to allow the XD to participate in the Stock Service Pistol Class along with Glocks and other DA pistols.

Law Enforcement Agencies

To Law Enforcement Agencies, I would say please DO NOT make pistol purchase decisions based “ONLY” on older, classic trigger system categories (definitions 1, 2, & 3). Nothing is wrong with looking at the classic trigger system definitions for pistols that fit into those categories cleanly. BUT, for new types of pistol trigger systems such as the DA-like/Bio-Mechanical DA and/or strider fired actions, it’s critical for you to look at the whole ergonomic (biotechnology) package so you can make an informed decision. It does not make sense to try and force a Minivan into the same “vehicle description category” as a Honda Civic simply because they share one or more things in common with each other; obviously, there are some major differences. The Glock and XD are both excellent DA-like pistols that happen to NOT fit cleanly into the older, classic, trigger system categories. This is not a problem whatsoever for those that take the time to understand the whole ergonomic DA-like pistol design. If you then decide not to take advantage of a new trigger system design, that’s fine. But, it’s wrong to arbitrarily state up front that a classic DAO pistol (definition 3) is somehow better for law enforcement officers than a DA-like pistol, without looking at the complete, bio-technology/ergonomic pistol package.

As mentioned above, a Law Enforcement Agency could actually purchase a "less safe" pistol simply because the ATF ruled it DA, and mistakenly ignore a modern SA striker fired action design that is actually "safer" to carry and "safer" to field strip than the ATF rated DA pistol! If "old" definitions are causing problems for officers, then use the "new" NIJ term of Striker Fired Action (SFA) and lump all those together so the Glock, XD, Walther, Steyr, etc can protect, and serve together.

Part Two: XD Pistol Review

The October 2002 “Gun Tests Magazine” (http://www.gun-tests.com/ ) has a comparison between the SA XD, Glock 23, & HK USP LEM Compact. They rated the XD as a Best Buy. The XD had the best over all accuracy and it comes with a lifetime warranty and the lowest price (retail prices: HK USP: $821; Glock 23: $641; XD40: $489). For more information, you can also visit http://springfieldarmory.com & http://www.hs2000talk.com

Over All Design

The XD design is a blend of a 1911, a SIG, and a Glock. It has a grip angle and grip safety of a 1911. It uses a proprietary polymer frame, striker fired ignition, and trigger safety like a Glock. It has a barrel lockup and takedown system like a SIG.

Springfield’s Proprietary Bruniral Finish

Springfield applies a bruniral finish to all steel parts of the gun. I could not find any specifics on this proprietary metal finish. At this point I’d have to assume that bruniral is somewhat similar to the finish on USP’s, possibly somewhat similar to Parkerizing, and is most likely more durable than ordinary blueing. Keeping your pistol lightly oiled should generally keep the pistol healthy. I have had no problems with my XD. If your pistol requires more protection, you can always have it refinished with Robar NP3 or whatever. Just do your homework so the pistol stays within factory specs.  If anyone has more information on the bruniral finish, let me know about it. The XD finish is definitely not as durable as the Glock tennifer finish.

XD Grip

The XD grip angle is not as extreme as the Glock grip, and it’s fairly narrow and squared so any size hand can grasp the grip firmly.

Trigger Safety and Grip Safety Comparison

The Glock trigger is called a Safe Action (S.A.) trigger system. The XD trigger is called an Ultra Safety Assurance (U.S.A.) action trigger system. When the Glock slide is racked, the pistol is half cocked to a 1/2 SA action state. While the XD is essentially fully cocked (SA action state) during the slide rack, it also incorporates two user activated critical safeties automatically (twice as many as a Glock). The XD requires a good, solid firing grip that works in conjunction with each of these two user activated safeties (trigger safety and grip safety), otherwise the XD cannot fire and the slide cannot be racked. On the other hand, the Glock only has one user activated critical safety, (the trigger safety).

Ayoob has carried an XD all day tucked inside his pants WITHOUT a holster, yet he felt safe doing so because of the mechanical design of the XD. Most Glock fans, me included, would NEVER carry a loaded Glock without a holster. The grip safety is an excellent feature.

The grip safety also makes an XD a little safer than a Glock in situations where people use poor judgment by fumbling around trying to catch a falling pistol, or haphazardly picking a pistol up, or even not paying enough attention while handling a pistol and holstering it.  Two user activated safeties are better than one.

Trigger Pull and Reset Comparison

There is a lot of similarity between the Glock and XD triggers. They even look similar. The XD trigger has a very clean, crisp trigger system, but it does have a longer trigger reset than a Glock. The XD may actually be easier to learn for beginners since you basically have to let the trigger out pretty much all the way to reset. This might at first seem slower, but the trigger system is so smooth and crisp, that it’s easy to master. You can think of the trigger as a two step pull. As you pull the trigger, there is slack all the way until you reach a tension point (aprox. half way through the trigger pull); from there, it’s a short, crisp trigger squeeze. I still favor the shorter reset trigger action on the Glocks.

Trigger Safety

The purpose of the trigger safety of a Glock and XD is to stop the pistol from firing if the trigger is inadvertently bumped from odd angles. You must pull the trigger and press in the trigger safety in unison to fire the pistol, which is a perfectly natural movement if you are holding the pistol correctly and squeezing the trigger.

Glock and XD Field Stripping/Take-Down Comparison

With a Glock, you first pull the trigger to prepare for taking the slide off. This technique works great unless you forget to first check the chamber and remove the magazine before pulling the trigger. With the XD, you first lock the slide back (almost forcing you to do a safety check), flip up the take down lever (similar to a classic SIG) and then ease the slide forward as far as it will go and then pull the trigger. Even then, the XD slide will not come off unless you have removed the magazine (forcing you to remember to remove the magazine first so the take-down process works as designed). 

Barrel Chamber

The Glock is infamous for having an unsupported chamber which causes a lot more stress on the brass. The XD chamber is essentially fully supported all the way around the chamber opening. And the chamber itself is fairly tight. My XD expanded the .40 brass to only .426, while my Glock expanded the brass up to .432 – huge difference.  However, I should add that the Glock 9mm and 357 SIG barrel chambers have fairly good chamber support.

Slide Rails

The XD has huge slide rails compared to the petite ones in a Glock. The XD rails are pinned and can be replaced. With a Glock, you would have to replace the entire frame.

Integrated Accessory Rail

Yes, the XD employs a tactical light rail. Uniquely, the new XD subcompact 9mm pistol even has an accessory rail for a mini light attachment that has already been built.

Recoil Springs

The XD Tactical uses the exact same recoil springs as a 1911. The compact XD uses a dual recoil spring. From what I can tell, the XD40 and XD Tactical both appear to use a 19 lb spring that seems to handle light, medium, and heavy loads well.

Sights Comparison

The standard Glock sights are not quite as tough since they are plastic, although Glock does provide all steel options. The XD uses front and rear steel dovetail sights. SIG sights are compatible with the XD, although some companies are starting to produce XD specific sights because of minor differences between brands.

Muzzle Flip versus Low Center of Gravity

As far as I can tell from shooting on the range, the lower center of gravity of my Glock has no major advantage over my XD.

Magazines

Hard chromed XD magazines are a pleasure to work with. New magazines are easier to load than new Glock magazines. Glock magazines have to be broken in by keeping the magazines fully loaded for a couple weeks or more. The .40 and 357sig mags are perfectly compatible with each other. I bought several mags at $23 each, which included the shipping cost, and I’ve seen them advertised for as much as $28 each. S&W, Beretta, SIG, and CZ mags can be modified to work in an XD, and still be usable in the original pistols (note: see www.hs2000talk.com for more details). So, those interested in hi-caps might like this flexibility.

The XD magazines drop free quickly and smoothly when the magazine release is pushed.

Magazine Release

The Glock uses a standard left side magazine release. The XD uses an ambidextrous magazine release.

Pistol Dimensions

The Tactical XD with a 5” barrel is roughly the same size as a 1911. The XD 357 is roughly the same size as many other current compacts. Visit www.springfield-armory.com for more details.

Pistol Weight

The XD is slightly heavier than a Glock. But for compact and full size pistols, I like that. It helps tame the recoil and is more pleasant to shoot. XD9: 25 ounces; XD40: 27 ounces; XD Tactical: 31 ounces.

Durability

The XD has been out long enough to have been thoroughly tested with hundreds of thousands of rounds from customers and even at XD Challenge matches. For all practical purposes, the XD is holding up excellently. Still, Glock has a much longer track record.

Testing an XD

I tested an XD 357 (4” barrel) and a Tactical XD .40 (5” barrel).

On the first day, I shot 100 rounds of PMC (165 grain mellow loads) with the XD Tactical (5” barrel). I then shot another 100 rounds of reloads, which were used to create the following chart. The Tactical worked flawlessly. See results at http://www.HandGunInfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/rel.40.Power.Pistol.htm 

The XD 357 (4” barrel) worked flawlessly as well. Please visit the following pointer for 357 Sig chart results. I performed both a velocity test and a bullet setback test:

http://www.HandGunInfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/rel.357.no9.147.htm

Any Issues with the XD 357 or .40 Tactical

The new beefed up extractor that came with the XD works superbly. Earlier pistols apparently had some failure to feed (ftf) issues.

I did have one issue with the .40 Tactical. It was chewing up the front part of the guide rod. I contacted Springfield Armory. They said this problem is the result of a small burr in the front part of the slide that contains the guide rod. This is not a big issue and is easy to fix.

I had an issue with the white front sight dot falling out of both of the XD’s. I hope Springfield gets a handle on this because it is annoying. I simply filled the hole with the help of a toothpick and a drop of white sight paint.

Some folks have complained that the bruniral metal finish is not that great and rust can occur if you forget to wipe down your pistol. As a result, some have had their pistols refinished by various companies. See www.hs2000talk.com  and do a search for more details. I personally have not had any problems with the bruniral finish. If my gun doesn’t get a little scratched up, it means I’m not shooting it enough.

XD Safety Features Summary

When an XD is cocked by racking the slide, you can see and feel the pin sticking out of the back of the slide, although a cocked pistol does not necessarily mean the pistol is ready to fire, since a round may or may not be in the chamber. When a round is in the chamber, you can see and feel the loaded chamber indicator on top of the XD slide.

1.     Cocked indicator (seen and felt)

2.     Loaded chamber indicator (seen and felt)

3.     Grip safety (cannot rack the slide or fire the pistol without a good grip)

4.     Trigger safety

5.     Firing Pin Block Safety

6.     Out of battery safety

7.     Slide rack safety for pistol maintenance 

8.     Fully supported chamber safety

9.     Extended guide rod safety for contact shots

10. Safe ergonomic DA-like trigger (safe long pull compared to a finely tuned 1911 short-stroke Single Action trigger)

11.  No manual safety or decocker required (The XD contains built in ergonomic safeties)

On the other hand, the Glock is still the simplest pistol made employing the fewest parts, is the easiest pistol to work on, and after market parts are very abundant.

Springfield Armory

Since Springfield has taken over distributing the XD (previously the HS2000), marketing has improved, technical improvements such as the heavier duty extractor have occurred, and new XD models are appearing. XD models include compact 4” barrels and longslide 5” barrels currently.  The new subcompact XD 9mm with its uniquely small accessory rail and mini light attachment has recently been release. Springfield sells the only polymer pistol with a 5” barrel chambered for the 357 SIG caliber.

Conclusion

The new XD pistol (distributed by Springfield Armory with a lifetime warranty) is one of the safest, best all-around modern polymer pistols on the market today that employs a “double-action like” consistent trigger pull, WITHOUT the need for a manual safety or decocker.

Springfield Armory states, “The grip safety requires gripping of the pistol before the trigger mechanism can be activated. The unique design also prevents the forged, fully-machined slide from unlocking until the grip safety is depressed.” The combined grip safety and trigger safety, which MUST work in unison, makes it possible to “safely carry” an XD inside the pants WITHOUT a holster if necessary (although not recommended). The two XD user activated safeties, which must work in unison, help protect people who use poor judgment by fumbling around trying to catch a falling pistol, or who haphazardly pick a pistol up, or who are not consciously paying enough attention while handling a pistol and holstering it.

Even though I’m a Glock fan, I have to admit that the XD has advantages with its grip safety system, its better barrel chamber support, and its safer field stripping procedure compared to the almost twenty year old Glock, and it shocks me to have to say this, since I am still a big Glock fan. On the other hand, will the slightly more complex XD hold up as well as a Glock? Please see my Glock 31 article, http://www.HandGunInfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/glock31.setback.chart.htm 

in praise of the Glock. Even now, I highly recommend the Glock 9’s and 357’s since they both have fairly good chamber support and work very well in the Glock format. I’ll be checking out the new Glock 37 (.45G caliber) in the near future. I certainly do not wish to belittle the Glock at all as much as show off the positive attributes of the new XD design.

When I bought my XD late in 2002, it was also more economical than other duty pistols of equal quality, generally costing $100 less than a Glock or Sigpro, and several hundred dollars less than an HK USP or classic SIG.

I'll end with a quote from Chuck Taylor, taken from his web page:  http://www.chucktaylorasaa.com/SpringfieldXD9.html 

“In short, I think the XD-9 has all the traits necessary to become a legendary pistol and at the very least represents the first quantum leap in handgun technology since the Glock first appeared in the mid-1980s.”