ayoob files: dueling rifles - Jeffersonian's Home Page

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CATALOG 65
2012-2013
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Source Code: DVA
sPrINGFIeLD XD-s
Continued from page 65
The rear slide serrations are deeply
grooved and they wrap over the top
edge of the forged steel slide — a real
plus for grip, especially since the slide
is only .9" wide. The finish is black
Melonite, an extremely tough, durable
treatment seeing more use now. The
barrel, also Melonite-coated, is just 3.3"
long, but check the data on velocity
and accuracy compared to that of an
XD 5" Tactical — you might be surprised.
Slotted into the top of the slide is
a loaded chamber indicator which lifts
up at an angle providing both visual and
tactile cues. It’s a nice feature. I recommend
if the indicator is up and says
“loaded,” assume it is. If it lies flush
and says “empty,” assume it might be.
A “false negative” may seem mechanically
impossible, but still.
The slide stop is almost flush with
the slide and frame, which I appreciate
both for its lack of unnecessary
protrusion and because it discourages
use of the slide stop as a slide release.
Although the captive dual recoil spring
is strong, driving the springs to maximum
compression, especially with
shorter slides and barrels, either “slingshot”
style or overhand, better assures
sure feeding and solid chamber lockup.
Springfield calls the grenade-style
checkering of the polymer frame
“enhanced grip texture.” Call it what
you like, “knobbly” or whatever, it’s
excellent, and an order of magnitude
better than that of my XD Tactical. The
effect is very “grippy” without feeling
rough, or promising to shred fabric like
a rasp. The front of the triggerguard
is textured too, in case you use that
gripping technique. There are dished
thumb rests and magazine releases on
both sides.
The design incorporates different
thicknesses of user-changeable grip
panels, though none were available with
our test sample. A single-slot accessory
rail will accommodate whatever lights
or lasers you can find small enough to
fit. I put a Uni-Max Micro laser from
LaserMax on it. It was a perfect fit, and
didn’t extend beyond the muzzle. Keep
in mind though, if you carry the XD-S
loose in a pocket, most lights or lasers
could be unintentionally activated. A
laser glowing through fabric draws
attention. A light creating a smokin’,
flaming pocket gets even more.
Like all XDs, the XD-S has a grip
safety. Funny thing about that: I’ve
failed to engage a 1911’s grip safety
more than a few times, and I prefer a
raised ridge or “memory bump” on ‘em
for that reason. I never failed with the
XD-S grip safety, though I tried it from
all semi-reasonable angles with “hasty
Recoil
Control
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