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Springfield Armory XD-S

This year at Shot Show 2012, Springfield Armory has introduced a new single stack polymer pistol called the XD-S. The XD-S is the newest addition to the XD line of pistols, but is the first single stack in the line. Initially, the XD-S will be offered in 45 ACP, with .40 S&W and 9mm versions to follow.

Specifications

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CALIBER .45 ACP
CAPACITY 5 + 1
WEIGHT 29 oz.
BARREL MELONITE®
Fully Supported Ramp
SIGHTS STEEL DOVETAIL REAR
FIBER OPTIC FRONT
SLIDE FORGED STEEL
FRAME BLACK POLYMER
MAGAZINES 2 STAINLESS STEEL SINGLE STACK
OVERALL HEIGHT
with Magazine
4.4″
OVERALL LENGTH 6.3″
OVERALL WIDTH 1″

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Features

[image title=”Springfield Armory XD-S” align=”right” size=”medium” autoHeight=”true”]http://monderno.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/XD-S-left.jpg[/image]At first glance you know the XD-S is part of the XD line of pistols, as it looks very much like an XD(M) pistol. However, being a single stack, the pistol is much smaller, and most importantly, slimmer at just 1″ overall width.

The features below are what I consider to be either differences from the XD line of pistols, or features that most or all competitors do not have. For a complete feature list, check out the XD-S website.

Picatinny Rail System

The XD-S has a single-position Picatinny rail which is a nice touch for pistol this size. Not many XD-S competitors have a rail for lights or lasers.

Trigger

Springfield Armory is calling the XD-S trigger new, and describes it has having a short travel and reset, which is always welcome. I think the XD(M) triggers are great, so I expect the XD-S trigger to be just as good or better.

Sights

The XD-S comes with low profile sights and a fiber optic front sight. This should improve target acquisition in low light, and if it works, is a great addition to the design.

Interchangeable Backstraps

The XD-S comes with two interchangeable backstraps, another feature that is tough to find on a pistol this size. I have always found the XD line of pistols to be very ergonomic.

Intended Use

The Springfield Armory XD-S is clearly intended for the concealed carry market, and for good reason. This market has been exploding in recent years, and single stack pistols have been and will remain popular choices.

Initial Impressions

I’m a big fan of single stack pistols for concealed carry, and I’m a big fan of the XD family of pistols from Springfield Armory. Because of this, I expect the new XD-S to be a big hit. My one major concern is the 29 ounce weight of the XD-S.

Weight an Issue?

As mentioned, the XD-S weighs a whopping 29 ounces, which, compared to the competition is quite a bit more. Consider the Kahr PM45, which weighs under 20 ounces. Granted, this extra weight will likely make the XD-S easier to shoot, but I remain skeptical. I can only hope that the weight will be considerably reduced in the .40 S&W and 9mm versions to follow.

What do you think? Is the weight an issue? Have you shot one? Leave me a comment below!

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[image title=”Concealed Carry 101″ align=”left” icon=”link” width=”125″ height=”125″ link=”http://monderno.com/concealed-carry-101/”]http://monderno.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cc-small.jpg[/image] New to concealed carry? Check out Concealed Carry 101, an eBook on how to carry concealed. We cover guns, holsters, carry methods, calibers, gun safety and much more, all geared towards saving you time and money.

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3 Responses to Springfield Armory XD-S

  1. binnie wagner March 16, 2012 at 6:57 pm #

    Ijust rec’d. my permit for ccw and have trouble pulling the slide back on most pistols except for the smith and wessonmp. but i like the way this lil gun looks and its a 40 cal. Is the slide easy to pull back? asking since its not been released yet. this gun is the springfield xds. could you let me know if the slide is easy? thank you Bonnie

    • Brandon March 16, 2012 at 7:23 pm #

      Hi Bonnie, thanks for commenting. No, I haven’t tried the XDS slide yet, but I’ll post a review as soon as I get my hands on one.

  2. Thomas L Hendley March 26, 2013 at 8:02 pm #

    when is the xd-s 40 cal expected?