Silence anyone? The new Springfield Armory XD(M) Threaded 45 (top) and 9mm (bottom)
Shhh! At the request of Springfield Armory, we’re going to keep quiet for a little while. I picked up a package yesterday from the folks in Geneseo, and in the box were too shiny new pistols. I mean really new, like not even on the shelves yet. The first one is a 9mm XD(M) and the second is a .45 caliber XD(M). The cool part? Both have threaded barrels! I can take a hint. I think Springfield Armory is telling me to shut the hell up.
Hot off the press, the new models share the same features of the full-size XD(M)’s with some obvious exceptions. Before we get into that, I should note that the 9mm version is an exceptionally cool looking flat dark earth color with a black slide while the .45 ACP model is all black. One more thing, the 9mm is a standard Springfield Armory product, but the .45 is a special edition for Lipsey’s. You can buy either one starting Friday June 5, 2015.
Both 9mm and .45 ACP models come with three magazines. The 9mm mags hold 19 rounds while the .45’s hold 13.
The Specs
The core guns are the same XD(M) full-size models so we won’t go through the full details on the XD(M) family. Instead, we’ll focus on the highlights of the new threaded models. For a quick review, here are the basic specs.
Springfield Armory XD(M) 9mm Threaded
Caliber: 9mm
Recoil System: One Piece Full Length Guide Rod
Sights: Dovetail Front and Rear (Steel) 3 – Dot; Suppressor Height
Weight: (with Empty Magazine) 29 ozs.
Height: 6″
Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish
Barrel: 5.25″ Steel, Melonite®, Hammer Forged, Threaded
Length: 8.25″
Grip Width: 1.18″
Frame: Flat Dark Earth Polymer
Magazines: 3 – 19 Round, Stainless Steel
Springfield Armory XD(M) .45 ACP Threaded
Caliber: .45ACP
Recoil System: One Piece Full Length Guide Rod
Sights: Dovetail Front and Rear (Steel) 3 – Dot; Suppressor Height
Weight: (with Empty Magazine) 31 ozs.
Height: 6″
Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish
Barrel: 4.5″ Steel, Melonite®, Hammer Forged
Length: 8.4″
Grip Width: 1.26″
Frame: Black Polymer
Magazines: 3 – 13 Round, Stainless Steel
Front sights are extra tall to see over large silencers.
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The Differences
Well, it goes without saying that the big difference is that the barrels are threaded, but there’s more than that.
Yes, the barrel is threaded and comes with a nifty thread protector. Unlike most I’ve seen, this one has vertical grooves (parallel with the bore) instead of a checkered pattern. I have to admit, it looks pretty sharp.
Threading also means that the gun comes with a little extra. Barrel that is. The prior XD(M) full-size models sported 4.5-inch barrels. As the threading needs to extend past the slide, these measure a full ¾-inch longer. Yeah, it’s functional and looks neat, even without a suppressor attached. Better yet, you’ll get a little extra velocity from that extra barrel length. Depending on your choice of ammo, it might be in the range of 50 to 100 feet per second more than a standard XD(M). Generally, that’s desirable. Just be aware in case you want to shoot suppressed with borderline subsonic rounds. It’s possible, though unlikely, that a round that’s subsonic in a regular XD(M) will go supersonic in this model, just because of the extra barrel length.
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