Springfield Armory XD-S 9mm – Media Day at the Range SHOT 2013

Authors Paul Helinski SHOT Show 2013

A year ago all the buzz in guns was about the Springfield XDS, a six round pocket .45ACP that proved to be a game changer in the concealed carry world. Everyone has asked over the past year, will the XDS be available in 9mm and .40 S&W? For SHOT Show 2013, Springfield answered for the 9mm, and the answer is yes. The XD-S 9mm is the same dimensions as the XD-S .45ACP, but it holds 2 more rounds in both the flush and extended mags, 7 and 9 respectively. We got to shoot the gun today with Rob Leatham, and as little as the .45ACP kicks in the XD-S, the 9mm is even lighter shooting. Check out our Media Day at the Range video with our host, Julie Mac. No word yet on an XD-S .40, but the 9mm is going to be a big hit. Hopefully we’ll get one soon for a full review.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Loren Strodtman July 25, 2014, 5:09 pm

    Just to fan the flames a little more… “When is Coonan going to release the .357 Magnum version?”

  • Paul D. March 2, 2013, 12:41 pm

    I’m excited for the XDS 9mm. I have the XD sub 9 and love it. I havent had it long, but have so far been very impressed with its overall performance. I havent had and issues FTF, FTE and has very little recoil. I recommend any of their products for those looking forsomething new, or as a first time owner. Trigger pull is very nice. Not long like some others like the ruger. I’m looking forward to the XDS because of its thiness. Not excited about the amount of rounds it holds, but its necessary since its a single stack.

  • C-Man February 23, 2013, 7:24 am

    Great reading. I use to shoot many many years ago and appreciate everyone comments. Even the ones not so appropate. Im purchasing a pair for my wife and myself. Thanks for all your comments its really helping me to decide

  • schram February 20, 2013, 3:39 pm

    I have an XDs in 45 ACP and I love it. It is a dream to carry, and 6 rounds of 45acp is nothing to sneeze at. It is a very well engineered gun, and a great shooter. 230gr +p’s are brutal to fire more than a few mags through, but manageble for familiarity drills with carry ammo. 99% of what I put through this pistol are 185gr swc or 230gr cast “ball” reloads with light/medium loads. It has decent sights, and is very accurate. I spend alot of time at the 25yd steel knockdowns, and even venture to the 50 yard “dueling tree” for some long range practice from time to time. I carry an extra magazine in my offside pocket.

    Having said all that, I will buy a 9mm XDs. Extended range sessions would be doable with this set up. The magazine capacity would allow me to use it in local IDPA type events that force too many reloads with the 45. My wife could carry the 9 (she does carry a S&W bodyguard 380 right now), as the 45 is too much for her. 9mm will be much cheaper to shoot for those that do not reload.

    The XDs is a fantastic platform, regardless of the individual caliber that it might be chambered for. It is mighty thin, but still has enough meat on the grip to be manipulated comfortably. It has redundent safety features that are attractive to some buyers. It has a decent trigger with a decent reset.

    When the .40 becomes available, I’ll probably pick that one up too. I could see it being a better carry option for me (I love the 45ACP…not knocking anybody’s favorite here) over the 45. Springfield came up with (imported) a really really good platform that is going to work for alot of people.

    Now, If they could just figure out how to jam a 10mm in there…they would have the PERFECT CCW gun, imho.

  • frank February 20, 2013, 10:46 am

    guys, chill out any gun in hand is better than nothing .

  • Joe Haines February 5, 2013, 1:04 pm

    When is the .40 s&w version coming out?

    • Administrator February 5, 2013, 3:11 pm

      No idea.

  • Mark February 4, 2013, 8:02 pm

    Greg you really are a dumbass….the 9 mm is really great for a woman or if you aren’t man enough for a .45

  • Airstreemer February 1, 2013, 9:59 am

    This is for the person that is not comfortable with a .45 ACP.
    People always ask me what is the best self defense carry firearm.
    My response is always, ” Carry what you know you can effectively and comfortably handle.”
    If you carry a firearm that you are nervous about or are not familiar with because you are afraid to practice with it, you become dangerous to yourself and other potential innocent bystanders not involved with your situation.
    This nine gives everyone the option to carry what I consider to be the most reliable and best engineered pistol I have ever owned, in a caliber that most anyone can handle.
    You cannot go wrong with this XDs!

  • RetiredFCC February 1, 2013, 8:17 am

    For the last year people have been clamoring for this gun in a 9mm….WHY? There are already a plethora of “Wonder 9’s” out there that are as small or smaller than the XDs so what’s the point?
    I own the XDs in .45acp and love it! The TRUE greatness of the XDs is in the .45acp configuration because of its size and weight. The XDs is a FANTASTIC 45 because it fills a niche that hasn’t been filled WELL before. The same gun in 9mm is just going to be another small 9. I’m afraid the people who were holding out for the 9mm are just going to start complaining about the magazine size and then be pushing for extended mags and on and on, Just like the guys/gals who were bashing the mag capacity of the XDs 45. MY 2 cents.

  • Marty February 1, 2013, 5:28 am

    Beware the grip safety. I have the xdm 9 5.25 and had an accidental discharge testing the grip safety. I know it failed versus me touching it as the gun did not rack, kick out the cartridge and reload. Other than that one episode though, I love the weapon!

  • LarryD January 23, 2013, 7:24 pm

    Picked mine up today. Need to do some hand/finger strength exercising because the slide pull/release is a BEAR. Once locked open, the push back to free the release is trully micro sized, and god help your finger if it gets in the way of the slide snapping back. Hope a couple hundred rounds will calm it down. As for the trigger pull, so sweet, so smooth. Can’t beat it. Yeah SA.

  • Ronbo January 19, 2013, 1:30 pm

    Had mine for a few months. I added the Pearce grip extension to the 5 round mag and am very satisfied. The reviews are not exaggerated. Recoil and accuracy are surprising for a pistol of this size. I’m sure the 9mm will be equally impressive.

  • doug January 16, 2013, 7:28 am

    I have had one for a short time. It is a nice shooter, kicks about the same as my 1911, go figure. Cost me a lot less than my 1911. I got the 7 round magazine which makes it feel like a 1911. shoots +p ammo with no problem, shoots 230 gr hardball with no problem. has a grip safety and a trigger safety and will not shoot if one is not depressed. Comes with holster and double mag holster (nice) and a very nice case. nice gun for plainclothes or CCW.

  • FlycaterTony January 16, 2013, 7:16 am

    I’m a huge fan of my .45 XDS (for .45 a true micro CCW), and 5+1 should be enough for the reality of this little pistols purpose, self defense at an average of 7 feet. A 6+1 extended mag would be perfect as I feel the 7 round mag is to long for CC, but nice for the range. However I do admit I debated waiting to see the 9mm and .45 side by side before deciding which I would purchase until research made my need for a comparison null. My research seemed to conclude that the 9mm (now available) and 40S&W (rumored) version I suspect they’ll make by next year, would all have the same dimension and similar weight with only capacity differences. Since the size was same and weight about the same, I wanted the .45 hands down since there are many smaller 9mm of very good quality on the market already, but not a .45 with the small dimensions of the XDS. If they’d been able to make the 9mm smaller L:5.5″-6″ x H:Same x W: .8″-.9″ and lighter 15-19oz, with a 6 or 7+1 capacity, now that would’ve been a breakthrough CCW. And did I hear that correctly, that the 9mm is heavier by a half ounce? The 7+1 capacity is nice on the new 9mm but I think I’ll stick with 5+1 of .45, being that the two are the same size and that there are other true micro 9mm CCW, some of which I own. The new XDS 9mm is going to be a hit and a great small pistol I’m sure, but not a micro in the 9mm market. So the 40 S&W version will surely be a 6+1 capacity I imagine, and should be equally interesting as the .45 has been since Kahr seems to be the only other company manufacturing micro 40S&W & .45ACP. Also the S&W M&P Sheild 9mm is smaller and lighter than the new XDS9 as will be the M&P40 to the XDS40 when available, presumably. Anyway my 2 cents.

  • Danny Woodfin January 15, 2013, 9:35 pm

    Nice but I love my XD-M 9mm.

  • Smitty January 15, 2013, 8:52 pm

    Looks great! I’ve been waiting for them to release the 9mm for a while now. Can’ t wait to pick one up!

  • Jag January 15, 2013, 8:08 pm

    Ive been holding off to get my next 45 and man I’m pumped to get this new XDs 45.. I’m a Springfield collector and love myXD 9mm so sign me up….

    • Jock Itch January 15, 2013, 8:47 pm

      Jag, the xds45 isn’t new… Jesus some people are frickin dumb.

      • Timbeau January 15, 2013, 10:58 pm

        Jock Itch, why the need to be an insulting mood-killer? Jag sees something he likes, expresses his excitement, and you feel the need to step in and stomp on him? If someone yelled baseless insults at you every time you were wrong or didn’t know something, how would you like it? Would it belittle you and make you feel small? Lighten up.

        • Bullgumbo January 16, 2013, 1:04 pm

          well said, Timbeau. Perhaps Jock Itch was just having a bad day.

      • You're a DBag January 16, 2013, 11:22 am

        But in the grand scheme of things, it’s pretty new. So quit being a dbag.

    • Smitty January 15, 2013, 8:55 pm

      The .45 version has been available for quite some time already. This is the first showing for the 9mm.

  • Mike Johnson January 15, 2013, 8:06 pm

    Sold when can I pick it up?!?

  • Terry Johnson January 15, 2013, 6:45 pm

    Nice little pistol. A little to small for my hand. I prefer the .45ACP.

    • Smitty January 15, 2013, 8:54 pm

      I think in the video they mentioned the size and how you can only get two fingers on the grip as it is, if that’s what you’re wondering. Assuming you’re wondering why it isn’t smaller?

    • cypher January 15, 2013, 10:19 pm

      gee way to be a buzz-kill maverick…

    • Revolverdude January 15, 2013, 11:41 pm

      It is the same gun, just different chambering.

    • Rusty Shackleford January 16, 2013, 8:05 am

      “The XD-S 9mm is the same dimensions as the XD-S .45ACP, but it holds 2 more rounds”

    • david robinson January 16, 2013, 12:34 pm

      I agree, and so do our people in our special forces. I do not care what caliber anyone comes up with. For combat or self defense the 45acp is thee only one that does the job. It was designed by John Browning prior to WWI. At the request of the U.S Army. Mr. Browning definitely knew his stuff. If you hit someone with a 9mm you’d better plan on hitting them more than once or twice before you stop him from advancing. If you hit a charging felon in the chest with one 45acp the felon will not only stop, but head in the other direction and down. I was trained to always put two or three in the enemy. I have carried that policy throughout my entire life. Anyone who breaks down my door is entering the here after. I WILL NOT GIVE UP MY GUNS.

      • doug February 1, 2013, 8:08 am

        the .45 is good for combat & defense. the 10 mm is superior to the .45. I have both the 10 mm is like a .41 magnum with 15 shots. shooting steel falling discs the .45 knocks them down nicely. the 10 mm slams them down

    • Greg January 19, 2013, 9:03 am

      Yea you have big hands…blah blah, but your penis is small… You realize caliber is only incidental to gun fame size… seen a Glock 17? Why do fans of that fat slow .45ACP rounds feel the need EVERYTIME the topic of a nice 9mm handgun comes, they HAVE TO to comment how 45ACP is superior… well it is not… It is just one of MANY pistol calibers that fits one mission… The metrics, on paper, the .45 ACP has a little more energy, but is weak compared to a 357 magnum… My S&W 686P 357 magnum has way more power then you pistol, and it can switch off to shoot less expensive 38SPCL for practice. The 45ACP is not the be all end all. THE .45 ACP IS EXPENSIVE AMMO, and a premium 9mm +P defensive round has as much energy as a fat slow .45ACP at the lower range; while I can buy expensive 9mm ammo or lower priced 9mm (about .23 a round) to practice with and have fun. All 45ACP ammo is expensive. I image most 45ACP owners spend lots of time polishing their barrel and looking at their self in the mirror, in a 70’s female cop show pose, verses shooting because they can’t afford the +$45/box of ammo. I am not arguing about “knock down power”…. I concede a big fat slow moving (like most people who shoot them, Ha ha) 45ACP has more “punch”. However for carry I far prefer my Ruger LC9 and Glock 26 Gen 4…. A miss with a 45ACP is not as good as a hit with a 9mm. We are not talking about 45ACP, so please sit down and shut up for a minute; let us 9mm fans talk for gosh sakes.

      • DAVID S. February 1, 2013, 9:32 am

        Agreed. I also have the LC9 and Glock 26 for carry…depends on what I’m wearing. I have grown weary of the 45 vs. 9mm debate. I feel very confident with +P 9mm Gold Dots in my guns.

      • Jason April 1, 2013, 5:18 pm

        I’m one of these .45ACP guys. All I want to comment on is your choice of gun. An LC9 and a Glock?!?!?! really. what about a Sig or CZ shit even a Kahr! Any of those options I just listed are way better guns FOR THE MONEY (meaning higher VALUE not necessarily lower price) and they all make compact 9mm with Concealed Carry in mind. You’ve got way better options than an LC9 and a Glock.

Send this to a friend