Another XDm 10 Mini Review

[Bongo Boy]

About 18 mos ago maybe when I first discovered that SA was making a 10mm, I started reading reviews--I think universally they were very positive.  I continued to read reviews, watch the YouTube and save my shekels until last week the time was Right.  Did the transfer today at the Club, and with the RIA Ultra and Glock 20, hit the range. Here are my opinions and findings.

The case it comes in is about as close to a Pelican case as I reckon you can get without buying a Pelican. So, immediately positively impressed even though the gun will likely not see the inside of the case again. The unit is wedged into a glove-tight foam insert, as are the two spare mags and grip inserts. Very nice. After removing the firearm, checking for clear and grasping in a most manly and authoritative manner, I was also immediately impressed by its svelte and comfy feel. I could feel the back strap in the heel of my hand and suspected it would be a problem for me, what with my baby-soft girlie hands. This proved not to be the case at all. I then headed into the pistol range.  I only checked for obstructions to normal manual cycling, some evidence of lube, and any sign of debris in the gun. After that, I selected the ammo, loaded up two magazines for the Xdm, 2 for the Rock Ultra, and 2 for the G20.

In the range bag, I had about 200 rds each of: 180 gr truncated cone cast over 14.3 gr AA9, 180 gr round nose flat point over same, 180 gr hollow point cast--some over 13.6 gr AA9, some over "14.5-14.7" gr of AA9.  I also had on board about 200 rds of 180 gr XTPs, also over 14.3 and 14.6 gr of AA9.  It was going to be an Accurate #9 day.

First with the RIA, to check that my shortening of the COAL on all of this ammo solved my feeding problems. It apparently has.  No cycling problems at all except that pesky last-round-in-mag jam that I saw on most (but not all) loads.  Next with the Xdm--no feeding/cycling problems at all of any kind--more about the 'first impressions' in a moment.  Finally with the G20--and of course, as expected, it jammed no less than 5 times and failed to hit primers hard enough to discharge on about 3 or 4 rounds.  All but two of these fired on subsequent hits, but two of them would not fire even after 3 tries each.  Primers appeared to me to be hit more than hard enough, by a long shot.  I loaded those two rounds into one of the XDm magazines, and both fired first try. The trigger and springs in this thing are not stock and there's a good chance the striker spring isn't either--so no blame goes to Glock for the 'light' strikes.  I actually don't think they were light strikes at all--I think the primers weren't seated, personally.

For all the negative comments I've read about the trigger--I was surprised and pleased with it.  Yes, it does have a long take-up...to me this is a big 'so what?'.  After pretravel is taken out, I found the trigger to be extremely smooth, with no noticeable feel at all other than nice, uniform, grit-free and stack-free.  I'm no expert on triggers--but I have zero complaints about this one and am thrilled I didn't send any money off in the belief an aftermarket replacement is necessary.  Sure isn't for me--I actually like the trigger.  I naturally couldn't help but compare it to the 1911--which may seem silly--but while I think the Rock has a very decent (if not heavy) trigger and I like the unmistakably single-action portion of the program, I felt I could be totally thrilled with the XDm trigger and have no motivation to replace it.  I can say without reservation it beats the aftermarket ones I have on the G20 and G29, and to say I 'prefer' it over the *stock* G20 and G29 triggers is a huge understatement. These are my opinions & preferences only.

I plowed through a fair amount of this ammo and while the Rock experienced some troubles here and there, the only trouble with the XDm was with the cast truncated cone bullets--oddly enough.  There was no FTF here, really, but these rounds would consistently just miss going into battery.  I was able to home the slide with a gentle push of the thumb in each case, and they were actually as accurate as anything in the bag.  But, the RNFP and HP lead loads, as well as the all XTPs, cycled without issue.  No end-of-stack jams either, which was nice.  I loaded all magazines generally to 10 rounds each as I didn't have my MagUpula, but I also loaded a good number in both guns (I threw the G20 in the range bag early on) to 14 rds, and that was no issue for cycling.

Comfort. Wow. I did have a bit of weak hand thumb abrasion off the slide release (I use your standard high, thumbs forward hold), but after a few magazines worth of ammo I think I learned how to get a little better positioning on the XDm.  About the only thing to say is that the gun is smooth, free of obstructions, and a pleasure to hold.  With about 2/3 of my grip coming from the weak hand I felt I could very handily control the beast.  I went through 4 mags shooting at 10 yds as fast as I could acquire, and again there were no issues at all. Doing the same drill with the Rock, I dropped the magazine out about 4 times--I think I was actually depressing the mag release with my weak hand--have never done that before.

I did all shooing with the small back strap that came installed on the gun, and for my medium hands and I think relatively short fingers, it felt too skinny for my taste.  Once at home, I put on the big back strap, and while it's comfy, I notice it--so I think that for my 'medium' hands, miracle of miracles, the 'medium' back strap is going to be The One.

Someone here, I think, said they felt it displayed less recoil that their 1911, and at the time I thought that was probably very unlikely.  Now, I'm not so sure--I think it may be somewhat more comfortable.

Sights. I like 'em.  I often complain about how much I dislike fiber optic sights, but I didn't find this one to be objectionable.  I didn't find it useful, either, but at least I didn't feel like I had a big distraction in my face.  I think it's most likely that I have a sight picture I'm accustomed to, after a half-century of shooting, and the fiber optic ball stuck in my front sight is not what I'm used to, and it simply doesn't belong in my sight picture, stuck there in the middle of my post.  I don't 'get it' yet--maybe I need some training to understand the benefits--for now I can say this one is there, but not up in my business getting in my way.

I didn't do anything with the rear sight.  I was shooting about 1" to the right at 14 yards freestyle, but I was doing it identically with all 3 guns. The rear sight is low profile to my way of seeing things, and seemed to possibly have a bit of windage wiggle--it could actually have been a bit loose.  I'm no stranger to having sights loosen up (and even come off) on 10mm handguns, so this will need a little investigation.

I haven't taken down the gun yet, but no one here needs a review on take down and who cares anyway.  It comes apart, you clean it, it goes back together.

Conclusion.  I am one very happy shooter.  IMO, Springfield really has their bidnith together with this product.  The appearance, fit, finish and feel are, for me, all 100%.  Yes, it would look nicer if the bore axis was 1/2" lower, if the grip was 1 or 2 rounds shorter, and maybe if the grip wasn't quite so...grippy.  But so far, again in my opinion, I can't imagine another 5" 10mm polymer that can beat this gun.  Between the G29 and the XDm, I think all my polymer 10mm needs are met for a while.

So, with the understanding this is my first response after just a few hundred rounds, I'm giving it a full up 10, with NO reservation at all.  I'm very happy I got the 5.25, too.  For a range shooter I think it was the right choice, and I gotta think it will make a great punkin gun come next fall.

[Kenk]

Great write up Bongo Boy, Thank you!

[Bongo Boy]

It is now the Nightstand Blaster



165 gr Gold Dots

[Kenk]

Evening Bongo Boy,
Looks like a perfect nightstand option. As for your ammo choice, 165gr Speer Gold Dots, for me, that's the ideal  self defense projectile weight for the 10mm. It's funny, I just ordered a bunch more of UW's 165gr Gold Dot ammo, Lol, now they are sold out 😀😀😀

Ken

Caliber: 10mm Auto
*       Bullet Weight: 165 Grains
*       Bullet Style: Speer Bonded Jacketed Hollow
BALLISTICS INFORMATION
*       Muzzle Velocity: 1400 fps
*       Muzzle Energy: 718 ft lbs

[Bongo Boy]

Last month I was able to get Midway's 'birthday' pricing and Speer's 'More Bullets for your Benjamins' promo discount on some Speer 165 gr TMJs, which was nice.  But, the Gold Dot 'flying ashtrays' are just so much fun to look at, a fella should always have a few hundred on the shelf, just because. In any case, I think these will launch out of the tube at closer to about 1,290-1,310 in there somewhere--closer to 8.7 gr of BE-86.

I'll have to get a rail mount adaptor for the MagnetoSpeed -- to add to the fun.