[FIREARM REVIEW] Springfield XDs 45ACP Review for Concealed Carry

The highly anticipated Springfield XDs in 45ACP has been out for roughly a year now. If you’re still on the fence about this purchase, read on to see what we have to say about it.

My main EDC for 3 years now has been my Glock 27. It has never failed me, is easy to conceal, and is a caliber that I prefer (40 S&W). My ultimate goal is to alternate between my G27 and my new XDs.

Alright, let’s get into this!

Size

The Springfield is classified as a sub-compact, single stack 45ACP. It measures 4.4″ high, 6.3″ long and just 1″ in width. This thing is tiny considering the caliber that it dishes out. The capacity is lacking, being a single stack, and will only accomidate 5 rounds in the magazine +1 in the chamber. You do have the option for the extended magazine which would provide you with 7+1, however this adds considerable height to the firearm. Overall with the 5 rounder, this firearm is nice and slim; perfect for a tight fit against your hip.

For the full list of specs, click here.

Caliber

A powerful caliber in a small package, just like the G27 we reviewed earlier. Some say the 45 is too powerful for such a small firearm, but I have found it to be extremely manageable when it comes to recoil and follow-up shots. The design is pretty flawless and allows for ease of control, even if you aren’t a linebacker.

Safeties

The safeties on this firearm were what drew me to it in the first place. I am not a fan of manual safeties, as under pressure they may be difficult to disengage. If you want to argue with me on this, I can already tell you that your argument is invalid because it is impossible to run through and be prepared for every single situation that may arise.

Aside from the trigger safety, they have implemented a back-strap safety that needs a firm grip in order to disengage. This is a genius concept that they have had for years, as you would be putting pressure on that part of the firearm whenever you were to pull the trigger. It also helps to teach proper grip while training. It’s a win-win design.

Reliability

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: This deciding factor cannot be stressed enough. If you are not confident in your EDC, you should be looking elsewhere.

I am a firm believer in keeping my EDC completely stock…internally. A laser or grip don’t count, I’m talking about not messing with the following: Trigger, firing pin, springs, magazine release, etc. The manufacturer made it a certain way to work properly and I see no reason to mess with that.

When I first took my XDs to the range, I had a few failure-to-feeds. In between these failures, I also had a few light primer strikes. I called Springfield to explain the issue and was given the following response: “Yes, that is sometimes typical for a new XDs to have this problem. We recommend running the gun very wet for the first few hundred rounds until it breaks in. I will email you a diagram to show you the areas that we recommend applying liberal amounts of lubricant. This should resolve your issue.” CLICK HERE to download the PDF showing Points of Lubrication for the Springfield XDs 9mm and 45ACP

I am glad that they have a solution to this issue, and it has resolved since adding extra lubrication in the specified areas. Since that time, the gun has performed flawlessly. Moreover, their customer service was EXCELLENT and on that note, I am a happy customer that is eager to get my hands on another Springfield.

Grip

The grip. Well, unless your hands are made out of stone, be prepared to hurt after a few rounds. The grip etching is pretty rough, and  I ended up throwing on some Talon Grips to make it a little more comfortable. This is obviously personal preference, as some people enjoy the grip very much. Maybe my baby-soft hands aren’t made for gripping a small pile of pebbles while shooting a 45 ACP.

Simplicity

We’ll talk breakdown. This firearm is very easy to take down, and even easier to clean. My only hangup in this department is the feed ramp on the barrel. If you’re cleaning the barrel, watch your fingers and hands on that sharp feed ramp! It’s gone into my skin a few times and let me tell you, it’s sharp and painful. Keeping this in mind, you should be all set.

CONCLUSION

The XDs is a great little firearm and a lot of fun to shoot, and aside from having the initial failure to feeds, it is an overall solid product made by a fantastic company.

—
Brandon, Concealed Nation