On this Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 evaluate, I obtained the gun as a loaner from the corporate to evaluate. No settlement for a optimistic evaluate was made or requested. All different gadgets proven within the pictures are personally owned by me.
The brand new Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 9mm pistol caught me off guard. The unique XD line has been round for greater than 20 years and stays within the firm’s stock. Whereas Springfield Armory did promote a Mod.2 for some time, then the XD-M and XD-M Elite, I had figured the corporate was focusing future growth power into the Springfield Echelon line.
Then the corporate despatched me the Mod.3 for evaluate, shocking me with its enhancements and really aggressive value: $325.
I’ve to say that I’m impressed by this striker-fired pistol, and I believe it is without doubt one of the greatest weapons for the cash in the marketplace in the present day.
What’s the Springfield XD Mod.3?
The brand new XD Mod.3 is a polymer-framed pistol chambered for the favored 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. It’s an evolution of the corporate’s XD9 pistol, particularly the 4” mannequin. Be sure you learn my earlier article, Springfield XD 9mm evaluate, for extra details about that handgun.
Springfield’s XD Mod.3 is almost an identical in total dimension to the XD9 Service mannequin. It’s also very comparable in dimension to the ever present Glock 19.
After I unboxed the Mod.3 pistol, I used to be struck by how completely different it appeared from the unique gun. It balanced about the identical, however it felt completely different. Its heritage is apparent, however it’s not only a recent coat of paint on the outdated weapons.
XD Mod.3 Slide Lower for Purple Dot Sights
One of the vital important adjustments you get with the Mod.3 is that the slides are actually lower for crimson dot sights. When the primary XD pistols had been launched, only a few folks used an optic on their pistols. Now, reflex sights are way more frequent.
The Mod.3 makes use of the identical OSP mounting plates that Springfield Armory makes use of with its XD-M OSP, XD-M Elite and its XD Optics Prepared slide assemblies. Particular person plates are comparatively cheap ($25) and out there for a variety of crimson dot sights.
Listed below are a number of the confirmed compatibilities:
Optics Mounting Plate XD5071
Burris Fastfire 3
HEX Dragonfly
Vortex Venom and Viper
Optics Mounting Plate XD5072
Crimson Hint 1500
HEX Wasp
J-Level
Leupold DeltaPoint and DeltaPoint Professional
Redfield Accelerator
Protect RMS, RMSc and SMSc
SIG SAUER Romeo Zero
Optics Mounting Plate XD5073
Holosun 407c and 507c
Trijicon RMR and SRO
My XD Mod.3 got here with the XD5072 mounting plate. I attempted the Leupold DeltaPoint, Protect RMSc and Crimson Hint crimson dot sights on it. All match as anticipated with no points.
Springfield Armory features a cowl plate for the slide in case you don’t have any desired so as to add an optic. This additionally match properly.
Enhanced Slide Cuts
The OSP lower will not be the one new machining work being executed on the XD Mod.3 pistol. The slide options improved serrations each ahead of and to the rear of the ejection port. These cuts are extensive and deep, supplying you with a very good buy on the slide when racking it.
Taking a cue from the Echelon, the rear of the slide has a flare lower to additional cut back the potential for your hand slipping off the rear of the gun when operating the slide underneath strain.
When Springfield Armory launched the XD slide meeting final yr, I commented that they improved the slide serrations. These cuts surpass these by a large margin.
Up to date Body
Whereas the unique Springfield Armory XD had an appropriate grip, however it was nonetheless a bit slicker that I want to have on an obligation gun. Lots of people apply skateboard tape or different materials to enhance their grip on the firearm.
Springfield Armory fastened this with the Mod.3. It has a extra aggressive texture on the backstrap and on the entrance of the grip. It makes an enormous distinction in controlling the pistol when taking pictures.
Oh, and earlier than anybody asks: no foolish Grip Zone markings.
There’s a beneficiant undercut on the set off guard. This lets you get the next grip on the gun to additional improve your management of the handgun.
Flat Set off on the XD Mod.3
Unique XD pistols have a skinny, curved set off. It’s not dangerous and is preferable to a number of the triggers on competing pistols. Even so, it’s not good. Just like the body and slide, the set off has additionally been improved on the Springfield XD Mod.3 pistols.
As a substitute of a curved face, the XD Mod.3 makes use of a flat set off. It seems to be, and feels, quite a bit just like the META set off the corporate makes use of on it’s XD-M Elite pistols. Match Enhanced Set off Meeting, or META, is the title given to the corporate’s precision set off that it claims is the “best manufacturing unit set off out there in a polymer-framed pistol.” I don’t know if I’d go that far, however it’s a nice feeling set off.
The XD Mod.3 set off has a reasonable quantity of take-up with a lightweight pull. It breaks clear. An integral cease prevents overtravel. Set off reset is a contact longer than I would really like, however it’s properly inside my private tolerances.
Sights
Along with the choice for crimson dot sights, Springfield Armory contains high quality sights on the XD Mod.3.
Utilizing a well-liked 3-dot sight association, the entrance sight is a brilliant crimson fiber optic sight in a rugged metal body. The rear sight, additionally metal, makes use of contrasting white dots which can be straightforward to align with the fiber optic entrance.
Grip Security
If there may be something controversial in regards to the XD line it’s the inclusion of grip safeties. Whereas I don’t suppose they’re mandatory for striker-fired pistols, I can’t recall ever having an issue with them on the XD.
Springfield did construct up the decrease portion of the security lever giving it a form that’s similar to the XD-M Elite. The security is snug when gripped and was 100% dependable in my taking pictures.
Picatinny Rail for Equipment
Unique XD9 pistols have a Picatinny rail with two slots. This works positive for many purposes. The XD Mod.3 provides a 3rd slot on the Picatinny rail. It doesn’t offer you any further size, however it does permit for a extra exact finding of an adjunct on it.
This will likely not appear to be a lot, however getting a greater match of a flashlight mounted to the pistol might provide the good attain for the swap activation.
Journal Compatibility
Customary XD Mod.3 magazines maintain 16 rounds of 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition. The our bodies are manufactured from stainless-steel as is the spring. Followers and base plates are black polymer. The corporate additionally presents 10-round magazines for people in less-free jurisdictions.
One of many nice issues about this new mannequin is that it maintains 100% compatibility with current XD9 magazines. So, in case you have a pile of current XD 9mm magazines, these ought to run completely on this pistol.
After I was on the vary, I examined this and had full reliability with the older 9mm mags.
Aspect notice: I beforehand picked up a boatload of 16-round XD magazines for affordable at GunMagWarehouse. These are new in bundle, real manufacturing unit magazines and are actually low-cost! Examine them out right here.
Further Particulars
As with the unique pistols, the XD Mod.3 has an ambidextrous journal launch, loaded chamber indicator and a striker standing indicator. These seem like the identical as what’s discovered on the unique weapons.
Springfield XD Mod.3 Specs
There are two variations of the pistol: a normal and a low-capacity mannequin. Apart from the low-capacity model utilizing a 10-round journal, the specs on the weapons are an identical.
Caliber: 9x19mm Parabellum
Barrel Size: 4”
General Size: 7.3”
Grip Width: 1.2”
Peak: 5.5”
Weight (unloaded): 27 oz
Sights: metal entrance crimson fiber optic with white dot rear; optics prepared
Slide and Barrel Materials: Melonite-finished solid metal
MSRP: $325
Palms on with XD Mod.3 on the Capturing Vary
I ran the pistol by a battery of taking pictures drills utilizing a broad vary of ammunition. I’ve had wonderful efficiency from the opposite XD pistols I personal, and I anticipated the identical from this gun.
Reliability proved 100% dependable with about 850 rounds by it to this point. Hollowpoint ammo and full steel jacket (FMJ) rounds all fed, shot and ejected with none points. Ejections had been vigorous with all hundreds.
Recoil was modest. Sure, a 9mm spherical doesn’t produce as a lot felt recoil as another cartridges. Nonetheless, 9mm – particularly +P hundreds – can nonetheless generate stout recoil in small or poorly designed pistols.
The XD Mod.3 has a superb grip and texture that gave me nice management over the pistol when taking pictures. Muzzle rise was modest, and quick strings of fireside had been comparatively straightforward to manage.
Inherent accuracy seems to be higher than my taking pictures expertise. After I did my job, the bullets would punch the paper in tight teams. If I acquired lazy on the fundamentals, the group sizes would open up.
Capturing at varied distances from 3 to fifteen yards, the Springfield Armory pistol constantly produced good teams – all the time inside middle mass throughout double faucets and fast taking pictures. The three-dot manufacturing unit iron sights provided a transparent sight image with the fiber optic offering a brilliant aiming level. When taking pictures fast fireplace or gradual precision pictures, the XD Mod.3 carried out admirably.
My Backside Line on the XD Mod.3
The Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 is a superb worth within the self-defense firearms market. The semi-automatic handgun delivers dependable efficiency in a considerably upgraded bundle that’s aggressively priced. This makes it top-of-the-line values out there for a defensive handgun.
My guess is that this would be the ultimate iteration of the XD line. The acute reputation of the Hellcat and Echelon strains doubtless chart the course for the corporate’s future improvements. If that is the XD’s final hurrah, what an amazing pistol to exit on!
FAQ
Listed below are just a few questions that you might have in regards to the Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 pistol.
