Go Big or Go Home: Springfield’s New XD Mod.2 Service in .45 ACP—Full Review.

To learn more, visit https://www.springfield-armory.com/products/xd-mod-2-4-service-model-45acp/.

To purchase a Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=Mod.2%20Springfield.

New for 2017, Springfield is introducing the XD Mod.2 in a 4” Service Model. This gun was clearly designed to fit into multiple roles, such as a duty gun, concealed carry or competition.

The gun comes with two double-stack .45 ACP magazines, which hold 13 rounds each, plus one round in the chamber. This pistol is just slightly larger than most of the single-stack .45 guns on the market. The high visibility low-profile sights come standard on the gun, while most other manufacturers charge extra for a similar set-up.

The XD Mod.2 comes with several safety features: A striker status indicator, loaded chamber indicator, grip safety, internal firing pin block, and what Springfield refers to as the Ultra Safety Assurance (USA) action trigger system.

The 4” Service Model features Springfield’s GripZone, which is a package of features designed to make the gun more ergonomic in your hand. The beavertail design allows higher hand positioning, which puts it closer to the barrel’s bore axis; this serves to reduce muzzle flip. The underside of the trigger guard has been relieved to allow a high hand grip, providing a greater level of control over the gun. The rear serrations on the slide are more pronounced, facilitating racking of the slide. The frame and slide have also been shaved down to make the gun as narrow as possible. The ambidextrous magazine release will accommodate both right- and left-handed shooters without having to switch any parts over. Finally, the trigger guard has been shaped and contoured to ensure that it does not snag or grab when drawing or holstering the gun.

Coming To Grips

To get a true understanding of a gun’s performance, one must carry the pistol, draw from the holster, and re-holster the pistol. This process should also include reloading the pistol with a magazine stowed on your person.

As I did not have a holster suitable for the XD on hand, I turned to my good friend Matt Tate from Integrated Survival Systems to help me out. Matt quickly crafted me a holster and magazine combination that was functional, rugged, and quite complementary to my outfit.

Matt also loaned me one of his creations: the best ear protection holder that I have used to date for my PELTOR electronic hearing muffs.

Specs

• Chambering:. 45 ACP
• Barrel: 4 inches
• OA Length: 7.3 inches
• Weight: 30 ounces
• Grips: Integral polymer
• Sights: Fiber optic front
• Action: Striker fired
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 13+1
• MSRP: $593

Shooting the XD Mod.2

There were two issues that developed with the pistol while I was on the range, and I noticed both before I fired the first shot. The two magazines that came with the gun each held 13 rounds of .45 ACP. At about 10 rounds the magazines felt full, and it was all I could do to force feed the last few rounds into the magazine. My payback for taking the extra effort and putting 13 rounds in the magazine was the slide, which was almost impossible to pull back to chamber the first round from the magazine. I know that if I had started with the slide not in battery, this issue would not have become apparent. However, I think that when evaluating a carry gun it is important to know that you can insert a full magazine into the gun regardless of the position of the slide. I would recommend down-loading one round in your magazines to make sure that this does not interfere with effective operation of your pistol when it matters most.

One noticeable characteristic of the gun is that it is a bit snappy to shoot. I think the combination of 230-grain 45 ACP and a 30-ounce gun could be a little off-putting to some shooters. I say this not because the gun was particularly punishing or uncontrollable, it just wasn’t pleasant to everyone who shot it.

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The XD GripZone texturing did an excellent job of allowing the hand to grip the double stack pistol. The texturing was not sharp like some of the stippling out there. You won’t come out of a session feeling like a blood donor; it’s rather like a medium grit sandpaper. I particularly enjoyed the sights, which were easy to pick up with their contrasting red fiber optic in front and the two white dots on the steel rear sight.

When testing a new gun, I have made it a habit to always shoot it with both hands, and then with the right and left hand by themselves. During this process, I always try to work in a reload with each change of hands. The ambidextrous magazine release greatly facilitated left-handed shooting. One distinct advantage of the XD double stack .45 ACP is the large magazine well, which is easy to mate with the tapered end of the magazine. Reloads were further expedited by the well-positioned and easily activated slide release.

I found that once I got my bearings with the trigger, the accuracy of this gun was just excellent. I could simply place as many rounds as I wanted to into a ragged hole about the size of a half dollar, at 7 yards. As I began to increase the pace, I had to be cautious and allow enough time for the gun to settle back into my hand. This is simply one of the trade-offs that you must expect in a relatively lightweight polymer gun of this caliber.

I experienced no malfunctions out of the gun during testing. The platform has been around long enough that it has been completely debugged, and since this gun is a product of a smaller version, the upscale tends to be an easy and reliable modification compared to going the other direction.

The Bottom Line

The Springfield XD Mod.2 .45 ACP is, simply put, a good gun. If you are in the market for a double stack compact .45 ACP, this gun would be a safe and effective choice in that crowded field. In terms of reliability, accuracy and functionality, you will not be disappointed if you have realistic expectations about the benefits and trade-offs of a full-size .45 ACP. Check it out.

To learn more, visit https://www.springfield-armory.com/products/xd-mod-2-4-service-model-45acp/.

To purchase a Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=Mod.2%20Springfield.