Damn! Now I have a Dilemma...

[Horse'nround]

For years I have carried my trusty commander, not because of brainwashing, ego or any of that crap. In my mind the 1911 is the best self-defense / carry weapon ever designed. Anyway back to the dilemma. I have been considering another foray into the subcompact game for summer carry. My initial go around was with kimber 10-12 years ago (SHUT-UP ) and the ultras left such a bad taste with me that I refuse to succumb to going down that road again... Well, until yesterday anyway. I have eyed, watch and listened to the rhetoric about the 3" reliability issues, but more and more good gun makers are stepping into this arena. I have handled the Colt, Sig and the ECO all of which have been discussed with mixed reviews. Between the price point and the inability to shoot one has left me walking on by. Yesterday I stopped our local twice a year gun show, not much to speak of as shows go but how could one pass up 3 minutes down the road. At the last table on the way out, there it was the XDs, now I have never been a Tupper fan (still think it belongs in the kitchen) but after all the hype, OOOoooing and AWwwweing over this little "wonder" I just had to stop and check it out. Hmmmm, even with the short grip it feels nice in the hand. The hilt to slide rise looks adequate to clear the slide bite issue but not so high that the recoil would make the gun real jumpy. For a little peckerwood the balance feels really nice, it's not frontend heavy so dropping the slide doesn't push the nose down the action was quick and clean, so much like my commander it kinda pissed me off. A friend told me his son got one for summer carry and parked his Les Baer, said his son has nearly 600 rounds through it with no issues. So what to do?? At $500 bucks I could have 2 of these for a Sig or 3 for an ECO.

Could this be the one
Could I become Tupperfied??

So where else to turn but my trusted COTEP brethren,

Thoughts, opinions, advice, sarcasm...

I'm in a bit of a quandary here so a little help please...

~H

[Riverpigusmc]

On the plus side, if ya break it or lose it, ya can get another just like it....ain't like it has class or charactor

[douglas_knott]

I was looking at the same gun yesterday Chris I am thinking of getting the .45 xds myself.

[DaFadda]

my 3" is a Springer Micro Compact. No reliability issues AT ALL. It is tight, accurate, and pretty much a pleasure to carry.. but it has been supplanted by the 4.25" Dan Wesson CCO. So, the Springer sits in the safe... but I do love her so....

Da

[Razorwire]

I understand your issue, but, I have 100% confidence in my SIG Ultra 1911. Tough choice, I sold a bunch of XD's, they were the "gotta have" gun of the day. I didn't care for 'em.

[Feathermerchant]

I have to admit I too am looking at something a little smaller for carry in the summer. I had heard Tom Grisham's Guntalk about the XDS in the "stunn" mode of .45.... stun=9mm... And There was a good article in Guns and Ammo July '13. A friend dropped by my rehab and I was talking to him about this gun and that I was interested. With that he says "wanna see one". So a chair was placed carefully next to the door to avoid any unwanted visits from nurses, techs and what have you. The XDS has a very nice factory trigger, great feel in the hand, well balanced, small and just over all a nice gun that fit my hand. Cant wait until I am strong enough to go home and find one of these for myself. I tried others: Kahr, sig, walther, keltec and came back to the XDS. JMHO.

[DrHenley]

Originally Posted by Razorwire

I understand your issue, but, I have 100% confidence in my SIG Ultra 1911.

^this

Amazingly, my Sig Ultra is the most reliable 1911 I own. I had much fear and trepidation about getting a 3", what with all the press about how they are unreliable, and how 3" is too short for a 1911, yada yada yada, but the little bugger feeds everything flawlessly. And I mean FLAWLESSLY.

[dw1911]

Originally Posted by douglas_knott

I was looking at the same gun yesterday Chris I am thinking of getting the .45 xds myself.

I have ONE. It's my daily CCW. I can tell you, I LOVE my 1911's as much as anyone here. I also HATE Glocks. The XD "S" is very accurate for it's size, I can shoot 3-4 inch groups POA=POI at 15 yds. It eats all ammo , and for carry, you have 6 rounds of heavy hitting .45 ACP JHP's at your disposal.
It's easy as heck to take down and clean, has a decent & consistent trigger pull of about 5 lbs. Short Pull, Short Reset too. The trigger is actually great for the gun's purpose. From a Glock Hater, 1911 Lover's standpoint, I like the Springfield XD's. It is not a range gun, but for self defense, it fits the bill very well.
VERY Concealable! And the sights are perfect for low light, or any daytime conditions. The red fiber rod is great, Springfield gives you spare rods, even a green one if you like.
And last but not least, IF you have to defend yourself, a $500.00 gun in evidence for god knows how long, beats an over a $1000.00 one in Evidence anyday.