45 Raven

G19 with Meprolight night sights. Glockmeister trigger. Daily carry: Mitch Rosen 5JR-DL holster. One spare magazine in a Rosen MBS-DL magazine carrier. Speer 124 gr. GDHP ammo. Competition: Blade-Tech SRB holster and magazine carriers. Montana Gold 124 gr. JHP over 4.2 gr. Titegroup at 1.120" COAL.

I added the Dawson FO front sights to two Springfield XD(m) pistols (one in 9mm and the other in .45 ACP) and left the stock rear sights in place. They combination worked quite well in both calibers.

I have no personal experience with the Dillon 650, but in my opinion, the + or - .004" in COAL you are experiencing is normal on a Dillon 550. Also, I seem to get a bit more COAL variance with the 9mm cartridge as compared to the .45 ACP. And one more comment: It doesn't have to be different case (brass) manufacturers that contributes to variability. I have found that cases from the same manufacturer (even the same bag) can have a surprising amount of variability. But none of them have ever had much more variability in the COAL than the figures you described in 9mm. YMMV.

Can't say I recall seeing that information. However, if one left the amount of powder the same and increased the COAL in a rifle, it is quite possible pressure and velocity could be increased if that new load with the longer COAL is seated out to touch the lands in the barrel. It is not uncommon for pressures to increase when ammunition "uses up" the available throat space in a rifle chamber. Throat length plays a big part in affecting pressure of a cartridge. Even if the bullet and powder charge remain the same.

I had one and recently sold it, but the sale had nothing to do with the quality of the pistol. I had added a Dawson Precsion FO front sight and had the trigger tuned by a reputable gunsmith. I never had one malfunction with the pistol in the approximately 8-10 months I woned it, and I shot it in a few steel matches locally. I personally think the XDM platform is seriously under-rated and is a great pistol. I can't compare it to the .45 Tacrical, as I have no experience with that pistol. The griop on the XDM (in both 9mm and .45) seem to fit my hand better than any pistol with the exception of a 1911. Accuracy of my pistol wwas on par with any Glock 21 or 21SF I have owned, certainly more than adequate for a carry pistol or for mtach shooting. Good luck with your purchase.

Welcome back and have fun!I recently began shooting pistol matches again after a 22 year absence!!

Dave: Very helpful information and a great idea for the Torx driver. Thanks very much. Ken

Well, I might as well weigh in here. I participated in "API 250 - General Pistol" at Gunsite (then called "The American Pistol Institute")at Paulden, Arizona in March, 1981. The class was 5 1/2 days long. I had two instructors. One was named Jeff Cooper The other was named Clint Smith. They personally press checked their 1911 pistols by placing their thumb INSIDE the front portion of the trigger guard and the "pad" portion of their index finger just below the barrel over the recoil spring plug, and "pinched" the the slide back an adequate distance to perform a chamber check. And they taught all 48 students enrolled in the class to do the same. And for several years thereafter, I checked the chamber on my pistols exactly that way every time I prepared to carry them or after I had shot and reloaded them. This included in "IPSC" matches in the Tucson and Phoenix area in the early 1980's. By around 1982 or 1983 (to the best of my recollection) numerous gun clubs, match officials, and rangemasters would not allow this methodology for a chamber check. So while this approach may have "come from the movies" for some, it didn't have its beginning that way for many. Not arguing that it is the right way or wrong way to peform a chamber check. Just stating facts that at one time, two of the most prestigious pistol experts in the world taught their students to do it that way. When I returned to Gunsite in 1993 for "350 - Intermediate Pistol", that process was no longer being used or demonstrated as a teaching methodology. Times change.

I didn't know it was unpopular, but it obviously is not as popular as the Glock. I own two XD(m) pistols. One in 9MM and the other in .45 ACP. After having the triggers done by KS Custom Guns in Glenadale, AZ, I feel that the triggers are better than any Glock pistol I have personally shot. That doesn't mean there aren't better Glock triggers out there. It just means that in MY experience, the XD(m) triggers are better than Glock triggers after the XD(m)triggers were done by KS Custom and after the Glock triggers were done by Glockmeister. Also, based just on my pistols, the 9MM is equally as accurate and relaible as my G19 and my G17. And the .45 ACP has proven to be as reliable as any of my 1911's. Perhaps not as accurate, but I have about 1/3 as much money invested in the XD(m) as I have the 1911's. And the 1911's are not three times more accurate than the XD(m)! One final thought: I personally like the way the XD(m) pistols fit my hand much better than Glock pistols in the same caliber.

Jon: I load the MG 124 gr. JHP to an OAL of 1.115" over 4.2 grains of Hodgdon Titegroup. I get these results: Glock G19 with 4" barrel = 1121 FPS / 139 PF Springfield XD(m) with 4.5" barrel = 1149 FPS / 142 PF Ken

Kent Singletary at KS Custom Guns in Glendale.

Speer 90 grain spitzer bullet 43.5 grains of IMR 4350 Remington 9 1/2 primer Winchester cases Variable COAL depending on specific rifle I have shot this load in three Remington M700 rifles, one Ruger M77 rifle and two Winchester M70 rifles over the years dating back to 1973. Barrel lengths have ranged from 20" to 24". Every single one of the aforementioned rifles has produced 1" or less groups (some were 1/2") with this load. It is the only load in caliber .243 Winchester that has provided such consistent accuracy in so many different firearms for me. YMMV Good luck

Montana Gold 124 gr. JHP 4.2 grains Hodgdon Titegroup. Starline cases CCI 500 primers 1.135" COAL 3" barrel (Springfield EMP) MV = 1017 FPS/126 PF 4" barrel (Glock G19) = 1121 FPS/139 PF 4 1/2" barrel (Springfield Xdm) = 1149 FPS/142 PF

Try 26.5 grains of W748 powder under the 55 gr. Hornady V-Max bullet or 23.1 grains of H322 powder under the Hornady 60 gr. V-Max bullet. Both these loads are very, very accurate in a Colt Accurized HB rifle with 24" barrel, in a Colt HBAR with 20" barrel, and in a Colt 6920 with a 16" barrel. If you are limited in range room, sight in your rifle to hit 1" below point of aim at 25 meters. That should place the bullet impact at about 1/2" high at 50 meters, approximately 2" high at 100 meters, and dead on at 200 meters. You should be able to hold in the center of the kill zone and not have your bullet strike more than 2 1/2" above or 2 1/2" below your point of aim all the way out to 225 meters. The easiest way to do this is to ensure you have your shots consistently falling into a group with a center 1" below your aiming point at 25 meters, then check all the other distances for fine tuning. There shouldn't be many excessive adjustments. Do the math to convert this information to yards from meters. Good luck.

Have you considered the Leupold Deltapoint reflex sight? It has a "delta" 7.5 MOA option, is durable, lightweight, has a large "screen", and an auto on-off motion sensitive power switch. Bowie Tactical Concepts can machine your G35 slide and install the Deltapoint in a position lower to the bore vs. mounting it on top of the slide.

Even if you can't get one right away, I urge you to get back into shooting. I just returned to competition after a 22 year absence and am really enjoying it. My skills have dimished considerably and I am one of the oldest competitors on the range, but I enjoy the challenge and welcome opportunities to improve. Just do it!!

In the unlikely event that everyone doesn't already know about this, the XD(m) in caliber .45 ACP is now for sale. I purchased one on Sunday, May 30 at Scottsdale Gun Club here in AZ. They had nine of them in stock on the day I made the purchase. The salesman told me that had sold one since their initial stock arrived. I purchased an all black one, and know that they didn't have any OD/black bi-tone ones available. That color combination doesn't show up as available on the Springfield website, but the salesman told me that SGC has some on order. The new pistol has a 13-round magazine capacity and uses standard XD .45 magazines. I purchased three spare magazines in addition to the two that came with the pistol. I already own an XD(m) in 9MM caliber and like it very, very much. I didn't have that pistol with me when I purchased the new one, and didn't think about getting one of SGC's rental XD(m) pistols in 9MM to make a side by side comparison, but to me, the guns feel identical dimensionally. If you like the XD(m) in 9MM or .40 S&W, I will predict you will like the .45 ACP as well. I never made it home with mine, as I was only about 30 minutes away from Kent Singletary's place at KS Customs in Glendale, AZ. I took it directly to him for a trigger job and the installation of a Dawson Precision FO front sight. I had these two things done to the 9MM when I first purchased it, and could not be happier with the outcome. Good luck to all who are looking for an XD(m) in caliber .45 ACP, and I wish you the best of success when you obtain yours!

Latest issue of the "American Rifleman" magazine is advertising the XD(m) in caliber .45 ACP. The "XD Talk" forum buzz is that the pistol will be introduced at the annual NRA meeting and show in May. No details on capacity, etc. available yet.

How close did the trigger work on your XDM get to feeling like your 1911? I've been reading about everyone that's dropped a trigger kit in their XDM's but haven't seen any comments from 1911 shooters that have turned to the dark side... It is not to be confused with a 1911 trigger, but is is clean, crisp, and has a longer reset. I much prefer it over the Glock trigger, but that is just my personal preference. Kent at KS Custom worked on the stock Springfield parts to obtain the very, very nice trigger in My XD(M).

I have one with the black slide and OD frame. Trigger done by KS Customs and front sight by Dawson Precision. No other changes. I like it very, very much, and have always been a 1911 shooter. Mine is in 9MM, and I would seriously consider purchasing another when it is made in caliber .45 ACP. I attended the SHOT Show in Las Vegas this month and was told by Springfield representatives that they definitely plan on manufacturing the pistol in .45 ACP. When I pushed them for a timeline, two representatives would only say "in 2010" and the third representative ventured a guess of "June or July 2010".

I had a 2007 model I bought new and had for about 14 months. Very capable off road. The head room was very limited and the vehicle had lots of blind spots when driving in city traffic. I always felt that the interior was somewhat "chintzy" for the money. Fair fuel mileage (about 16.5 MPG combined around town, on the freeway, and off-roading). Didn't like the fact it required premium fuel. The vehicle was all in all a good one, except the paint was absolutely terrible. (This is the second Toyota vehicle I have experienced paint problems with). It took almost nothing to knock chips of paint off the hood and front fenders down to the bare metal. And I don't mean stones or rocks. This would happen when a hard shelled bug hit the paint! Traded it off on a new Dodge Ram 4X4 with a hemi engine and then purchased a used 2006 Jeep Rubicon with low (16,000) miles on it. This is my third Jeep (second Rubicon) and I like it really well so far. Bottom line: Like the Jeep for off-road better and like a full size pickup for highway driving. The FJ does okay in both applications, but there are compromises you have to live with.