Testing
Running several passes on steel in DA/SA the XD-E was pretty smooth, in fact very easy to run. Press through on the trigger and it was great. Subsequent SA shooting was rather surpassingly fast. I sort of expect these pistols to be more of a chore than a joy to shoot, but this was very enjoyable to run. By the end of the day I was running it as fast and accurately as most larger pistols. Recoil is minimal at best with little muzzle rise.
Accuracy testing produced some pretty solid results for a pistol this small. My best group overall came from Hornady 124-grain XTP at just under 1.75 inches. Their Critical Duty 135-grain load was just a tad wider but still under two inches. I was able to keep most everything under two inches, not something normally accomplished with a compact.
Other Considerations
At no time was the safety lever inadvertently decocked during a firing cycle. Shooting from the DA/SA configuration the trigger was smooth enough not to disturb the sights. There is no staging this trigger, at least not that I could find: either pull straight through or carry it cocked and locked.
Handing it over to a friend of mine who due to some hand injuries has difficulty running a slide, he commented it was noticeably easier to manipulate, especially with the hammer back and safety on. Comparing it to two other full-sized 9mm pistols it was all but night and day. If you are looking for a compact that is easy to manipulate this is a good choice.
Final Thoughts
If you want a solid, concealed-carry compact using a hammer that can be carried either in condition 1 or 2, then it may be just the ticket, especially if you want one that is easy to manipulate. Either way, it is a ton of fun to run, accurate, reliable and soft shooting, which is a rare combination in a concealed carry pistol this size . . . and that is good all around. See it at your gun shop, or contact Springfield Armory, Dept. OT; Tel.: (800) 680-6866; Web: www.springfield-armory.com
