Just got an optic ready XDM and mounted a Fastfire 3. Unfortunately, the trigger is SO BAD I could not determine how accurate any load was at the range. This thing is well beyond bad. It creeps unevenly a bit, stops, creeps some more, and again. Finally after squeezing hard it shoots. Truly impossible to hold on a target. Absolutely unacceptable and it ought to be embarrassing for a major manufacturer to release something as bad as this. I suppose if the adrenaline is flowing and you're using it at close range in an actual encounter it wouldn't matter much but that's not how pistols receive the bulk of their use. For shooting at a range or in competition, which I do not do, this is a 1 on a ten scale and probably on a 100 scale. Pure garbage. Bow your head, Springfield. You ought to be embarrassed.

I have bought a replacement and will install this weekend. I doubt it could be worse.

That's really interesting as the 4.5" XDM has been calling to me lately. The two things I have been researching are trigger jobs and night sights. Please share with us the results of your trigger work.

I am looking at Powder River Precision for my XDm 3.8 compact 9mm. From what I can tell, Powder River Offers one of the best XDm triggers available,  If there are better options, please let me know


Ken

This is what I'm having my son, an ex Air Force armorer, install: "Powder River Precision, Drop in Trigger Kit, Black, Fits XDM Models In 45 ACP Only, Not Compatible With The First Generation XD Models Or XD Mod.2 Models." He checked with the manufacturer and was told the 10 is on the 45 frame so this trigger is proper. At this time this was the only after market trigger we could locate and it's not particularly expensive. Once I get to try it I'll report.

Springfield ought to realize what a black eye for them selling a decent pistol with a horrible trigger is but apparently they do not.

Nope, but at least there are options, be cautious on the exact trigger. One of there's is something like a 2.5lb pull, for sure bad news if it's a carry weapon
Thanks

Ken

Well my ex-AF armorer son tried over the weekend to install the Powder River trigger with the help of a you tube video uploaded by Springfield - and failed. He said the video was woefully incomplete skipping some steps entirely. He'll bring it to a practicing gunsmith shortly. Not much use for this message other than to warn others who might be tempted to undertake this themselves.

Thanks Sneed, already talked to my Smith about this, he said they are not hard, but can be tricky, for  $20.00... it's worth  every penny : )

An update. My son called Powder River Precision to complain about their inadequate and incomplete installation instructions and ended up talking with a tech person who had lots of experience with such problems. He walked my son through the installation and it was done shortly. The tech mentioned he had done this innumerable times in 20 years. Perhaps they should consider creating and posting complete instructions but at least their customer service was excellent. BTW, the trigger is a lot better than the original Springfield pos but also the first striker fired pistol I've owned so I still notice some creep as the spring is loading. After that it releases cleanly without the need for the death squeeze the Springfield trigger required.

Glad the Powder River trigger brought you some relief. None of us has much use for a handgun with a lousy trigger.

Weird my trigger is not that bad and is perfect for SD handgun. I learn the trigger rather than replacing a trigger on an SD gun. Call me what you want but I am not giving any DA or jury a reason to put my butt up for years. A trigger job on a SD weapon can put you in bad defensive scenario if you are prosecuted by some liberal DA. It's personal choice good luck with it.

The trigger on my XDm 5.25 was not bad, it just had more travel than I liked. I installed a PRP trigger to lessen the travel. Wasn't real concerned about reducing pull weight. I have installed PRP trigger kits on 4 of my guns and I think they are great. Sorry to hear that you had trouble with yours but they are relatively easy to install for the do it yourselfer.

Hey Ramjet, That's a great point about learning the trigger rather than changing it. Now that I have run aprx 1500 rd's through my XDm compact 9, I'm not disliking it nearly as much, and then there is that liability part you were talking about
Thanks

Ken

I really wonder how much additional "legal exposure" there would be with an improved trigger on a SD or EDC weapon... I hear this mentioned every now and then.
I mean many weapons have light triggers out of the box... would I be in more jeopardy with a good 1911 ?
What about using hot loads (+P) ? You could make the same argument.
Personally, I would rather have a weapon that has a crisp trigger and that I can shoot more accurately.

PS. I have Powder River improvements on all my XD's & XDm's

I've never really bought into the whole never carry your own handloads, don't have an improved trigger, etc, in a self defense gun. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in the situation where you need to use deadly force and you come out of it alive, your still ahead of the game. If you're unfortunate enough to have an overzealous prosecutor involved, they're still going to come after you, regardless of having a trigger job, or not.

Fortunately, in the case of the XD, Powder River Precision states on their website that their triggers are already in some factory guns. So it isn't really an aftermarket change as much as an original equipment swap.

I'd also be happy to explain to a jury that my old Delta Elite has a Wilson Combat trigger in it, just like every Wilson 1911 ever made.

Plus if it's a clean shoot your miles ahead. In MN, you best have 10 people videoing the guy on top of you with a butcher knife, and you still may have problems.

Ken