Springfield XD Sub-Compact: Initial Impressions
Category: Firearms...
Posted Friday, November 03, 2006 at 06:14 PM [GMT-6]

MLB had the day off and so we headed for the shooting range this afternoon to break in the new pistol.

The range was quite busy, and someone pulled into our customary spot at the benchrest bay, so we headed the other direction, to one of the open pistol ranges. We figured that was probably a better choice anyway, since it gave us more options for target distance and shooting positions.

I stapled a couple of targets onto the backing boards and walked through the pistol's operation and safety features again, as much for my benefit as for my wife's. Keep in mind that neither of us had ever been on our own with a semi-automatic pistol, and we wanted to err on the side of conservatism (which, to be honest, is the way we approach all of our dealings with guns anyway).

I went first, so she could see the recoil and hear the noise. That short-barreled .40 caliber pistol has plenty of both, compared to the Colt Python we normally shoot (well, unless we're firing .357 ammo). My first shots were pretty dismal, as I was unaccustomed to the trigger pull, the grip safety mechanism, and basically everything else about the gun. However, the few times that I managed to squeeze the trigger when the target came in proximity to the sights made it obvious that this is a gun that will shoot where you aim it.

My wife was up next and I have to tell you that should you ever decide to become a threat around her while she's holding that little Springfield, you should make sure your next of kin knows where the safety deposit key is stored. OK, that's a little gruesome, but the point is that she out-shot me from the first magazine, and was quite comfortable with the gun from the outset. Maybe I need to invest in LASIK surgery to compete with her. (Note: I took that terrible photo with my phone, and I'm fortunate I even got her in the frame. The sun was so bright that I couldn't see anything on the screen; I just pushed the button and hoped for the best.)

I showed her how to work the ammo-loading tool and she was quite adept at that, too. She loaded and used the 9-shot magazine, and I used the 11-shot case. It's amazing how easy some tasks become when you use the tool designed to do the job. ;-)

By the time we'd gone through a couple of boxes of ammo, we were both feeling much more comfortable with the gun, and our accuracy had improved considerably (especially mine, although I had more room for improvement). MLB is going to have to continue experimenting with the right position for her non-firing hand, as it kept getting clipped by the recoiling slide. And I still need to get used to gripping the gun so that the integrated safety is disengaged. Overall, though, we enjoyed the target practice, and it was with a sense of accomplishment that we adjourned from the range and rewarded ourselves with a visit to Starbucks for coffee (gingerbread latte for her) and a shortbread cookie. Who says the West is still completely Wild?