XDM 525 range report

[Hamma Slamma]

Here is my take on the XDM 5.25 after getting a few hundred rounds through it this morning. <cough cough> I'm still hacking up a lung from all that gun smoke.

I wouldn't say I am a novice shooter but I haven't yet shot my first USPSA. I plan to now that I have all the necessary gear. I am comparing this firearm to my expeirences shooting various other pistols including the XDM 4.5, S&W M&P, Browning Hi Power, Glocks and more.

I tried the various back straps, the middle one was a little too small, but the large one a little too big, I find I shoot best with the middle back strap and a glove. I'll either have to cut off the finger tips or really practice more with finger manipulations while wearing gloves. Recoil wasn't bad, there was almost nothing when wearing a glove on my strong hand.

I tried with various ammo including Winchester 124 gr and Federal 115 gr. I even tried some wolf because I had it laying around and I will say the 5.25 does NOT like wolf, nor should it lol. I doubt I'll ever shoot any wolf through it ever again. I just wanted to try. The XDM5.25 seemed to shoot best with the 124 grain. I intend to try more and various ammo at a later date at a longer range.

I zeroed the sights at 50' using the 124 gr. Out of the box the sights were waaay low and waaay left. I thought I was jerking the trigger (right handed) so I set the gun on a rest and slowly squeezed a few times making sure there was no way I was jerking. After 20 or so shots I knew the sights were just way off and so I adjusted. No big deal, I don't know why I expected them to be sighted in. <shrug>

I like the front sight, but think it's maybe a little big. I'm going to search for a smaller fiber optic front sight I have a red fiber on my SLP shot gun and just checked, the slp front dot is substantially smaller. My target was a 1" square at 25 and 50'. At 50' the bead completely covered my 1" square.

Speaking of trigger, I've got to do something about it. I don't plan on it yet, as previously stated I want to shoot a match totally stock so I have something to compare against when I start to add mods. The slack is just too much for my tastes. I just tested my BHP and there is alot less trigger movement before the snap with the BHP, and that's what I am most used to shooting. FWIW I put both triggers on my RCBS trigger pull gauage and each maxed out the gauge past 72 oz (4.5 LBS).

Overall I like the gun, I like the weight, I like the feel. I'm happy with my purchase but need more trigger time with the gun. I'll win no awards for this, but at 21' I shot a 6 shot group within 2" with the XDM. I'm going to try to take it to 25 yards next week and see what it can do and what ammo it likes the best. With my BHP I can not hit a 2'x3' paper at 100 yards with an offhand shot, I get pretty close. I wonder if I can with the XD 5.25.

After reading the warranty document. I am curious if anyone else has noticed that using reloads will void the factory warranty? Probably a standard line in every firearm warranty document, I've just never noticed before.

Edited August 30, 2011 by Hamma Slamma

[Darrell]

I benched mine today at 25 yds with WWB 115 and 124, and my 124MG reloads. Gun shot 115 and my reloads good, but didn't like the wwb 124 nato at all. I'm expecting my trigger kit today and my .100 sight, and I ordered an insert for my ransom rest so when it comes in I plan to do an extensive test with factory and reloads and see what this gun can do.

[RIIID]

Be aware that polymer guns don't Ransom rest that good, they will shift. If you over tighten the gun in the fixture you can cause malfunctions in the guns operations.

[Darrell]

Be aware that polymer guns don't Ransom rest that good, they will shift. If you over tighten the gun in the fixture you can cause malfunctions in the guns operations.

Thanks Rich,I'm very aware of the tension needed for polymer guns, I've tested many and got 1.1"groups from M&P, 1.2" from Glock, and 1.15" from my XD9 Tactical. You just have to know how to read your initial set-in groups I usually fire at least 15 shots to settle them in.

BTW got my trigger kit in today, can't wait to put it in tonight and shoot it tomorrow.

Edited August 31, 2011 by Darrell

[Darrell]

Put the trigger kit in and sight on,trigger pull is 4.0# and I was looking for at least 3-3.5# Any suggestions? Still feels better than stock, less reset and overtravel. Shot it today and at 15 yds standing put 4 out of 5 in a 3/4" hole and the one shot was 1/2" out the group to the left. That was with Bayou 125gr bullet. I was shooting way left before I put the trigger kit in, now I'm hitting point of aim point of impact. My match load 124MG JHP and N340 shot a 1.2" 5 shot group at 15 yds. Once my ransom rest insert comes in I'll test out farther.

Edited September 1, 2011 by Darrell

[Darrell]

Well Rich was right the my XDM did terrible in the ransom rest, but it didn't do much better benched. Not happy with the groups I got benched either, my reloads did shoot better the WWB 115 and 124's, but no sub 2" groups here. 124's shot over 5", 115's about 3, and reloads 2.5". I was hoping for at least 1.5". I do more load development after the Nationals when I have more time.

[shooterguy]

Well Rich was right the my XDM did terrible in the ransom rest, but it didn't do much better benched. Not happy with the groups I got benched either, my reloads did shoot better the WWB 115 and 124's, but no sub 2" groups here. 124's shot over 5", 115's about 3, and reloads 2.5". I was hoping for at least 1.5". I do more load development after the Nationals when I have more time.

What distance were these number from?