crabby

Buy one ... you will love it!

I now own 4 XDS pistols (yes, I love them!). Two have been 100% flawless (really three, but I will get to that). One had a trigger that would stay to the rear after firing (S.A. replaced it!). This past week I shot #4 XDS and everything was rocking along well ... and then I started having light primer strikes and failure to fire (I immediately noticed that all light strikes were hitting high on the primers). It did not happen often ... but even occasionally is not acceptable to me. I came home and did was web research ... and to my surprise, I found a few others with the same problem. And thankfully, I found one guy with the simple fix! Simply put, the XDS has a very tight fit - frame to slide, etc. (as it should have). The fit is so tight that it may require a break in period and a good oiling. Yes, I know this is common sense ... but many are like me ... we have been spoiled by the XDM pistols (I own 5 of them and absolutely cannot find a way to make any of them fail in any way!) and we just are not accustomed to having to "break in" a pistol in the XD line ... or even be really concerned about oiling right out of the box. The following is from the "Survival Blog" - an article by Pat Cascio: "Here's what you're looking at with the XDs: First of all, we have a sub-compact .45 ACP pistol. It is very small and light-weight - only 21.5 ounces empty. And, it has a polymer frame. So, as it is with all polymer frame handguns, you have to have a firm grip on the gun - NO limp-wristing it. If you limp-wrist the XDs, the slide doesn't go fully into battery - it will be out of battery by a few thousandths of an inch - which means, the barrel isn't fully locked-up, and when you pull the trigger, the striker hits high on the primer - 'causing a misfire because it is not hitting the primer dead center - it will be hitting too high on the primer. And if the slide is not fully in the battery position, then the firing pin will not impart all of the intended energy on the primer. Additionally, the XDs is a very tight handgun - this contributes to the match-grade accuracy of the little pistols. So, when you first get your factory-new XDs, make sure you clean-off the rust-preventative oil. This is not intended as daily use lubrication, as many suspect. Then, properly oil the mating surfaces on the frame and the slide with a good lube like Break Free CLP, and be a little bit generous, initially. The XDs needs a little bit of a break-in period with some of the guns because they are so tightly fit - again this contributes to the outstanding, match-grade accuracy. So, you have two things to address: One is, no limp-wristing the XDs - it's a sub-compact, polymer frame handgun, that needs a tight grip on it, in order to properly function and feed rounds into the chamber. Secondly, add enough lube to the contact areas, this means the slide rail recesses and the small contact areas on the frame, that holds the slide onto the frame." As for me, "limp-wristing" is not a problem (after break-in and oiling, I cannot get any of my XDS pistols to fail to fire ... even shooting limp-wrist), but #4 XDS did need a good cleaning and oiling right out of the box and and a brief break-in period. In fact, after a good cleaning & oiling ... I had 100% reliability! I am sure that someone will comment that this is all common sense, but apparently there are a significant number of XDS owners who are writing about this issue on a number of Boards and in a number of Forums. Again, many are like me ... we area accustomed to taking the XDM out of the box and immediately having 100% reliability ... so we cannot believe it when something in the XD line fails in any way! I now have 4 perfectly functioning and very accurate XDS pistols! I wear two (one IWB Holster or Pocket Holster and one in an Ankle Holster), I keep one as a back up, and a family member will soon get #4. I LOVE THESE PISTOLS! I hope this helps someone. If not, oh well.

To be clear, I am an XDm fan 100% I own 5 of them ... everything from 3.8 models to 5.25 competition models. LOVE THEM ALL! And I competed in Production with the original XD. However, according to Rich ... the XDS trigger is more Glock-like than like the XDm trigger. The XDS that failed was definitely not shooter error. I even took it to the gunsmith at the range. But as I stated, 2 out of 3 work great! One has to expect some snags when a new gun first starts production. That is why I fire a minimum of 100 rounds of whatever ammo I will carry for defense (in my CCW pistols) and at least 200 rounds total ... before I will actually trust my life to a pistol. The 2 flawless XDS pistols are 100% reliable ... with every type of ammo! I even tried shooting "limp wrist" and doing anything that might possibly caused a failure ... but they both just kept on firing. Really, more than anything else, I just wanted everyone know the XDS is awesome ... and IF they hear of problems, I don't want anyone to be turned off from buying an XDS. I have carried about everything and this gun is my all time favorite! 20 ounces, flat as a pancake, 45 acp, 7 round mags for back up, not much bigger than my Kahr PM-9, 100% reliable, surprisingly controllable for a small 45, etc.

I have purchased 3 XDS pistols. Two are for my personal carry ... and I had hoped to eventually give the third to my son. The first two have been awesome, flawless, 100% reliable! Not so for #3. Right out of the box, first time at the range, failure to fire and trigger will not reset without racking the slide. Is this a deal breaker for me? Absolutely not! New models will have issues ... such is life. But the first two have passed every test possible!!! So #3 goes back to SA for repair. I am sure they are getting the bugs out. This is merely FYI. But I hope that in no way will this prevent anyone from buying what I believe is the ultimate CCW pistol!

Just picked up my SECOND XDS (YES, I love these pistols!) I am blessed to have a friend who is a high volume dealer ... so he held this one for me as soon as it just delivered (only two have come in and I bought them both). I have been carrying the XDS in a pocket holster in my right front pocket (with pants that allow for this ... the pleated khakis and loose fitting jeans work great). I just started carrying IWB. My CROSSBREED IWB was delivered ... and shortly thereafter, my WHITE HAT IWB was delivered. I really, really love them both (virtually the same holster). They pull the pistol in close to the body which is the ultimate for concealment. But the leather supports evenly distribute weight and pressure ... could wear all day and still be comfortable. My plan is to carry both XDS as my primary CCW pistols. Hope someone soon comes out with an ankle holster. Not many rounds through XDS #2 ... but XDS has gone through the paces with a lot of ammo. ZERO FAILURES or problems of any kind. If you can find one .. buy it! You will not regret it.

I was looking into a Kahr when I heard of the new XDS. I was always under the impression that Kahr's were very nicely made but you say the Sheild is a nice weapon how so? They are in different leagues. My KAHR PM-9 (Customized by ROBAR) is my favorite pocket pistol (carry it daily in right front pocket) ... and the Shield is much larger. The XDS is a tad bigger ... but still works in a pocket holster.

Yesterday UPS delivered my CROSSBREED IWB Holster and Mag Pouches (To be honest, I bought these merely because CROSSBREED is just one of two vendors that I could find stocking XDS equipment ... so I was a little nervous). I am pleasantly surprised! Highly recommend the CROSSBREED SUPER TUCK DELUXE IWB Holster and Mag Pouches for XDS personal defense carry.

Rich ... hoping someone soon begins doing trigger jobs on the new XDS!

Winchester White Box is not a good standard (over and over again, I have heard about problems with WWB). However, I fired a variety of target and self-defense ammo (especially Remington Golden Saber - 230gr) without a single failure. Can't address your ammo or pistol ... but I can say that I have never had a failure in an XD product. And most importantly, I now trust my life to the XDS! (Really, no higher compliment can be paid to any CCW).

Five years ago (or close to then) I switched my Production pistol from Glock to XD and never looked back! I got the first 9mm XDM 5.25 that I found and love it. So it was natural that I would be interested in the XDS for CCW. Bottom Line: my personal opinion is that this is the perfect pistol for those who need a pistol that is highly concealable but that also shoots the powerful 45 ACP round. It weights a tad over 21 ounces and is as thin as my Kahr PM-9. Works great in a pocket holster. I have ordered 2 new IWB holsters and will let everyone know how they work out. After some range sessions with a variety of ammo, I can report that it performs 100% and is surprisingly accurate ... and the amazing thing is that it is so controllable. Having read the glowing reviews and watched the Shot Show videos ... I am thrilled to report that it is all I expected ... and much more!

The weight should not be critical. I think the thin shape will be huge ... as well as the chopped grip. Should be very concealable in an IWB holster.

JUST THE REPLY I NEEDED!!! Thanks, DK

Those definitely help ... but the downward angle is not as much as you might think. But yes, that helps. Hoping someone comes out with a handle that has a more pronounced angle.

All good stuff! Does anyone have a preferred scope (other than Trijicon Accupoint) that has some type of illumination? I have another TR-124 mount (30mm tube). I bought it first and then realized I needed the 1 inch tube. So if I could find something else I liked ... and it had a 30mm tube ... I would be all set!

Purchased a FN SCAR 16 & 17. Some mounts (hardware) protrude out to the left and one can really bust his knuckles on the bolt handle ... when loading a round. On the SCAR 16, I have the TRIJICON ACCUPOINT TR-20 and the TRIJICON QUICK RELEASE SCOPE MOUNT TR-124. This mount allows me to turn it around and put the hardware on the opposite side (does not interfere with the bolt handle at all). I really like this set up but would like something different on the SCAR 17. Any recommendations as to SCOPE or any type of OPTICS (prefer some amount of magnification) and most importantly ... a MOUNT that won't bust my knuckles up? Thanks!