eightmillimeter
04-03-11, 19:55
Templar,
I see the "XDM as a duty weapon" thread was closed. Several people were told to search for XD topics to get their answers. I tried several different search combinations and didn't come up with anything, so I went to the last page in the forum and started looking.
Funny thing though, on the third to last page (221), I find this thread:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=902
You yourself started that thread because you were interested in an XD at the time (they had already been out for several years). At that time nobody had anything bad to say. Our very own Robb J and yourself stated things along the lines of how durable they were or appeared.
Now, several years later, the XD is not highly regarded. This is not a jab post (not a jab), but the opinions of some people have obviously changed in the next few years. Which brings me to the following.
Did the XD start out in its prime and get worse (QC), or had the guns just not been out long enough at that time for people to experience the problems with them? Or, was it just not everything they were expected to be (other than ugly as hell), the ergonomics really are pretty good and the disassembly is almost as good as it gets.
I am not writing this as an XD fanboy or promoter, rather just trying to play devils advocate. The chief complaint about the grip safety and not being able to manipulate the slide one handed, is really a non issue for me (when I do these drills I grip on the grip and use the front sight on my holster or boot heel to rack the slide, so I have no problem manipulating the slide with one hand).
Another complaint about the LCI getting fouled and staying in the loaded position really isn't a big deal either (the M&P LCI really is the way to go(little hole to look in)) and is easily solved by just removing it and a lot of people did that.
As far as breakage issues, I really have no room to talk, I've seen parts failures of all kinds in many handguns including M&P and Glock, they all suffer from them from time to time. I have no experience with HK pistols. That said, I really can't see how the XD would have so many parts failure problems associated with it or necessarily more than any other gun. Glocks honestly probably break more often simply because there are so many more of them in use and they get used a ton.
And like one guy said cost really is an issue, especially these days. Departments that issue guns are usually large departments that have lots of officers. Glock and S&W can out bid anybody, and 10 bucks a gun (even if it was that much) could mean the difference in a department adopting a particular gun. Plus when you count in the reputation those companies had (and the already huge availability of duty gear like holsters, extra mags, pouches, etc) the XD never even had a chance to be issued in large numbers.
Bottom line is if NYPD went out tonight and decided to issue every officer an XDM, people would be singing a different tune, and if there was a real issue, Springfield would be quick to improve to save their reputation.
I see the "XDM as a duty weapon" thread was closed. Several people were told to search for XD topics to get their answers. I tried several different search combinations and didn't come up with anything, so I went to the last page in the forum and started looking.
Funny thing though, on the third to last page (221), I find this thread:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=902
You yourself started that thread because you were interested in an XD at the time (they had already been out for several years). At that time nobody had anything bad to say. Our very own Robb J and yourself stated things along the lines of how durable they were or appeared.
Now, several years later, the XD is not highly regarded. This is not a jab post (not a jab), but the opinions of some people have obviously changed in the next few years. Which brings me to the following.
Did the XD start out in its prime and get worse (QC), or had the guns just not been out long enough at that time for people to experience the problems with them? Or, was it just not everything they were expected to be (other than ugly as hell), the ergonomics really are pretty good and the disassembly is almost as good as it gets.
I am not writing this as an XD fanboy or promoter, rather just trying to play devils advocate. The chief complaint about the grip safety and not being able to manipulate the slide one handed, is really a non issue for me (when I do these drills I grip on the grip and use the front sight on my holster or boot heel to rack the slide, so I have no problem manipulating the slide with one hand).
Another complaint about the LCI getting fouled and staying in the loaded position really isn't a big deal either (the M&P LCI really is the way to go(little hole to look in)) and is easily solved by just removing it and a lot of people did that.
As far as breakage issues, I really have no room to talk, I've seen parts failures of all kinds in many handguns including M&P and Glock, they all suffer from them from time to time. I have no experience with HK pistols. That said, I really can't see how the XD would have so many parts failure problems associated with it or necessarily more than any other gun. Glocks honestly probably break more often simply because there are so many more of them in use and they get used a ton.
And like one guy said cost really is an issue, especially these days. Departments that issue guns are usually large departments that have lots of officers. Glock and S&W can out bid anybody, and 10 bucks a gun (even if it was that much) could mean the difference in a department adopting a particular gun. Plus when you count in the reputation those companies had (and the already huge availability of duty gear like holsters, extra mags, pouches, etc) the XD never even had a chance to be issued in large numbers.
Bottom line is if NYPD went out tonight and decided to issue every officer an XDM, people would be singing a different tune, and if there was a real issue, Springfield would be quick to improve to save their reputation.