OK-FINALLY got to take the Springfield out to the range. I'd had a jam-with-chambered-live-round, which I fixed with the help of a local smith then off to SA. It was a two week turnaround from shipping day to delivery day- not too bad. As I said the gun had come back dirty, which it seems isn't out of the ordinary from some other transactions I'd done with other manufacturers, and they said they had test fired it "extensively". I wiped it down and oiled it again. After this range trip it's obvious it needs to be sloppy while breaking in. OK so the big test is firing...

 

I took a friend with me who is ex-LEO and SWAT, been to Blackwater, blah, blah, blah. Being one of the few people in NJ who can carry, his carry piece is a G30, so he's a .45 enthusiast, and has handled a lot of weapons.

 

We set up to shoot at 10 yards. The 5 round magazines that come with the XDS are stiff- as is the gun, and it has a pretty tight area to move those big fat cartridges around in. Pretty amazing really.

 

So after about 10 rounds I figured it out, and we both fired the thing. My friend was amazed at how I was able to shoot the gun almost right away- shoot it WELL. The bright red fiber optic sight on the front is really easy to see and get back on target. I was firing pretty rapidly and was able to get right back on target. The trigger reset is like a Glock- 3/8 to 1/2 " from full back position gets you another round on the way. Not a bad trigger. If you can maintain good grip control through a magazine you can place a nice tight group. And I'm an absolutely LOUSY shot!

 

My friend said it was a great shooting gun, and reminded him of his G26, but with LESS RECOIL!. We fired a combination of misc. ball ammo and I ran some of my home-made plated ball through it- not one hiccup.

 

So all in all we fired about 175 rounds with not one failure of any kind. The gun got hot and dirty and spewed stuff all over- it's a tiny little thing. I think it's going to get smoother with a few hundred more rounds through it.

Here's a target, 10 rounds at 10 yards with a 3.3 inch barrel. For me this is magical shooting because I suck.

 

 

As you can see, it'll get the job done.

 

All in all I'm impressed and really jazzed about it- I want to get out there and throw another few hundred rounds downrange to loosen this thing up. it's not EASY to shoot- it's a tiny 45. But it's well designed to handle and disperse the recoil and muzzle flip, and it's a damn nice shooting gun. I'd like to have a few more rounds standard (5 round mag) but it's 5 rounds of 45, and hopefully I can do what I need to do with that.

 

Two thumbs up and a finger snap for the Springfield Armory XDS.

 

In a subsequent trip my wife fired a few magazines- a serious revolver girl who doesn't shoot semi's well, and she had much less trouble than with my 1911- and actually less trouble than with my service-sized 9mm. This thing really handles recoil well.

Yeah - any little "BUG" gun with such a short barrel will spew unburnt powder. My Nano definitely does.

Did you try shooting with the extended mag? Oh very nice gun, does it feel any heavier loaded being 45?

What were you initial problems with the XDs?

Handled one today and wow it is definitely the most comfortable compact gun i have ever held.. i need this gun. wish they made a 9mm of it as well.

Did you try shooting with the extended mag? Oh very nice gun, does it feel any heavier loaded being 45?

No. This trip was with my pinkie dangling off in space. At $40 a pop I'm not sure I need a 7 round mag, but It seems adequate. You can get ON TARGET with a 5 round mag.

 

What were you initial problems with the XDs?

AS stated... after 60 rounds, a jam with round stuck in chamber... cost me a little to get that straight, AND time to the shipping hub.

BUT It absoulutely RAWKS now.

 

 

Handled one today and wow it is definitely the most comfortable compact gun i have ever held.. i need this gun. wish they made a 9mm of it as well.

You don't want 9mm.... this feels like a 9mm! but it's a 45! Easy - going Can of A**whooop!!

I thought this was a very intriguing gun ever since I first heard about it.

 

At SD ranges, I don't think .45 ACP is going to do anything more than 9mm, but the platform certainly seems to make sense for people who prefer the .45 ACP cartridge. Although yes, bigger bullets do make bigger holes.

 

I would personally rather have more ammunition than larger cartridges, but that's why they make different guns. Nothing has yet parted me from my PF9 for carry.

 

And BTW, if that picture was taken at 10 yards, that's some good shooting out of a 3 inch barrel. Congratulations on the new purchase.

I would love to try one out. Heard a ton of good things about it.

Anyone wants to try I'm willing to let you...I'm just down at the very bottom ... the "receptacle tip" of NJ.

Me wants one!!!!!!