5906 vs 40 XD

[miles71]

Well, I have been fighting with the decision for my next pistol purchase. I have had my 5906 for about 16 years now and it is a great weapon. Accurate, feels good, and reliable as ****. So I have been thinking of a 45 or 40 cal.

About two weeks ago I shot a 45 cal XD by Springfield and was kinda impressed. I did not like the safety features and the feel was a bit "boxy", but it was accurate and reliable. I put about 50 round through it with no problems.

Well today I took out my 5906 and tried a 40 cal version of the XD. Never shot a 40 before so I was new and interested. I was NOT impressed. The 40 call kicked a bit more than expected, but was not a great deal more pleasant than a 45. It was accurate, but not any more than any good pistol. The feel was worse than the 45 I had tried.

Dont get me wrong, I think the XD's are fine pistols, I was more disappointed with the all powerful 40 cal. My 5906 blew it away in accuracy and feel.

I would probably still buy a 45 XD, but add the thumb safety. I would LOVE to buy a Smith 45 cal the size of my 5906 that is double stacked to hold about 13 rounds, to bad it aint out there.

Just some thoughts.
TD

[WaterburyBob]

I have an XD 40, but I prefer metal-frame pistols myself.

If you're interested in a polymer-framed pistol though, check out an HK USP Compact .40 S&W. Mine is completely reliable and very easy to shoot accurately.

[Fastbolt]

I've spent some range time with both 9 & .40 versions of the standard XD. Nice enough. As you mentioned, it's a bit boxy, both in feel and overall dimensions.

The ones I handled and fired ... and I spent a lot more time with the .40 model than the 9 model ... seemed reasonably accurate enough for a service pistol.

The triggers are nothing to write home about, but again, they're satisfactory for service-type guns.

The comment about the HK USP 40 is a good one worth considering, though.

While the USP's are also a bit boxy (the 9/40 models a bit less so than the .45's when it comes to the full-size models), and the triggers are also nothing to write home about, they do seem to be a rather 'soft-shooting' gun when it comes to the .40 S&W caliber. Might be worth checking out if you can arrange to try one.

[Beauetienne]

I bought a used XD-40 service model as my car gun a while back. I had resisted buying a polymer pistol but, I figured it was time for me to step into the 21st century and I prefered the Springfield to the Glock.

As to the 40 caliber, it just makes sense to me energy wise and the mag capacity of the XD is adequate. I already had a 4006 and I like it.

I love my XD-40. It fits my hand well and points naturally. The blocky sights make it easy for me to align the sights and to quickly align for follow-up shots.

It does have a little more muzzle flip than the 4006 but, I find it easy to control. I shoot as well with the XD-40 as I have with any out-of-the-box, semi-auto pistol I have shot. Can't say enough good things about it. Even the trigger on it is good but, it is well used and has probably been shot many times.

You might want to try the 4006.

[sar4937]

Nothing wrong with an XD, but you should shoot an M&P for comparison.

[surveyor47]

Both my son and a friend own XD 45s. The first time I shot one I was told to shoot at the 100 yard x 12 inch plate. First shot, I was 20 yards short. So, I elevated the front sight a bit and 2nd shot was a hit. Thereafter, I hit 1 or 2 shots per magazine. I was impressed. I find the grip more natural than a 1911.

I own a CS40 only because I was given a case of Federal Hydrashocks. I generally dont like the gun and I find the round a lot snappier than the 45 ACP. The big downside of the 40 cal is that it is a touchy round to reload. Everything has to be exactly just so, because the round is know to be pressure sensitive, particularly to seating depth. I have read so many warnings about this round, that I would not dare reload it.

The 45 ACP is a low pressure round and it seems pretty forgiving in the reloading department. I think that I would stick with the 45 ACP in whatever model you buy. The local gun shops say that people are going back to 9mm and 45 and have said that they have a hard time giving 40s away at cost.

[1911ES]

My wife has an XD .40 .... which is a nice gun, but doesn't compare to a .45. The XD has too much recoil compared to the .45.......
XD's are more on the line of a Glock .... simple and reliable. I prefer a pistol made with some type of steel.