As you can see…
…the range was a success. And I got a few more photos. Yeah, there’s one where you can see my face from the side. Oh, well.
I also filled out my paperwork for my background check tonight. I pick up and pay for my gun tomorrow.
What’d I get?
Specs are on the page.
It comes with an exterior holster, three 16-round magazines, a quick-loader, a case, a “magazine holster”, and a barrel brush, which I’m going to chuck and get a cleaning kit.
$510, with background check.
I did the math, and that’s more affordable for me than ordering the brand-new Glock from the website I mentioned before. I don’t pay the $40 transfer fee. I don’t pay shipping. I get an extra magazine, a holster, AND a quick-loader.
And I pick it up tomorrow only because the background check system is down (surprise, surprise), so I just filled out the forms and had them hold the gun for me.
I shot the gun, yes (another reason I was more willing to buy this one rather than one online). That’s the target that’s in front of TB in the first photo of him loading. That one REALLY random shot to the left? Anticipation. The guy “supervising” (they let you shoot ONE magazine, then take the gun back to the front) told me he could see it before it happened.
They suggested snap-caps mixed with regular ammo at the range, as well as dry-firing at home, to work on my grip and get me comfortable enough with pulling the trigger that I don’t pre-freak. I didn’t really realize I was doing it (except for that one time…I saw the shot go to the side and went “whoops”), but I did notice that my shot pattern started getting really random as the night went on. I was getting tired.
The Springfield shoots really well. I like it. The G19 is nice, but given the specs and reputation of the XD, and the price of the used one (it was in good shape), I decided to go for it.
So as of tomorrow, I’ll be a gun owner. Throw me a blog party.
Mad props to you! I hear nothing but good things about the Sprinffield. I’m sure you’ll like it.
Snap caps will also help you develop your misfire drill, which is very important with automatics.
Which is why I carry a wheelgun most of the time =)
Nicely done, Squeaky.
I’ve also heard good things about the XD. I was even thinking of getting one myself.
Enjoy!
W00t!!!!!!!!!!
[...] Squeaky goes off to buy a Glock 19 and ends up with a Springfield XD. [...]
Congrats! Springfield make GREAT guns! You won’t regret the XD.
I have had two G19s over the years, and then my wife bought me an XD for Christmas this past year. I absolutely love it, and I am much happier with it than I was with the Glocks. It shoots so naturally for me; it came with a basic holster and mag carrier; mags are cheap; it has a lifetime warranty and is built like a tank. What more could a fellow ask for? Glock makes some fine pistols, but I found that the XD was a much better fit for me. Hope you enjoy yours!
Was decided on the G19 and picked up an XD?
I did the same thing… :)
I had a CWP and many class 3 weapons in Florida and worked in a gun store and I always had a problem buying a gun. I finally got an explanation one day for the problem. There was a felon at large with my same name and our birth dates (month and date) were a transposed match, (ie.. 1/2/34 his was 2/1/34) and on top of that he was wanted for attempted murder on a police officer in another state. I never got to take a gun home the same day for that reason. I have some of the worst luck ever. I finally got out of gun collecting when a tornado hit my house in the middle of a hurricane (I am serious this really happened) and all that was left was my 5 gun safes, ammo and all my emergency supplies. Just be glad your not me.
P.S. Everyone used to laugh at me when I first purchased my 2 H.S. 2000’s for $275 each. No one ever wanted to try them and the few who did made some sort of remark about it being a micky mouse Glock. I laughed my ass off when those sampe people bought a Springfield XD and raved about it. Now that it was stamped springfield and they paied double it was a better gun.
YAHTZEE!
Conga-rats to you. I’m sure you’ll be more than happy with the XD. You probably like the way the trigger feels right now, but after about 2 cases of ammo, that trigger will be really, really nice. So, the moral of the story is, get shootin’! ;)
I have several friends who have glocks and after another friend of ours buying an XD, we all shot it, and everyone of our friends except me bought the XD .45, I’m still too old fashioned and I’ll stick to my 1911A1, but the XD was very sweet. And about the bozo who went off on you about getting an XD tell him to go to you know where if he ever sticks his nose in here again.
Rusty - Thanks. :-) I’m just more comfortable with a semi - but hopefully I won’t have misfire problems.
Thanks, Ace. I’ll let you know how this goes, so if you want to, maybe it will help your decision?
BobG - Simple. I like it.
AMCer - Thanks!
Brandon - Where do you get your mags? I’ve heard conflicting stories on magazine prices. This gun feels really natural for me, too - that’s what made my decision for me. Sure, the G19 that I did shoot was good, but there’s a possibility that whatever one I ordered might not work as well, and who wants to deal with that? I’d rather buy a gun I’ve personally tested.
existingthing - Hahaha…nice.
Dan - Yeah, brand-loyalty to the point of being a snob is kind of stupid. I’m not buying this BECAUSE it’s a Springfield. It’s a gun that shoots well, it’s what I wanted, and it just happens to be an XD, and the price is right. And that’s fucking weird that your house got hit by a spinoff tornado during a hurricane. Even weirder (and serendipitous, I might say) that your protection and survival equipment was what survived.
Josh - As soon as I get it, I’m going to start! Stupid system needs to get back up!
mark - Yeah, now that I’ve ranted, I’m done with it. I can ignore him now. I love this blog, because I can just be like, “OMG WTF” all over the place and then forget about whatever it was I was bitching about. :-)
Came here from PDB…
But as to the “cheap mags”, I’d recommend CDNN Investmensts…
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/springfield.html
They do have a flat $10 for shipping, so figure that in if you’re pricing…
I got my mags from MidwayUSA.com. The regular price for factory mags is $19.99, and they have sales periodically that bring the price down to $17.99, which is what I paid for mine.
RangeUSA is awesome, BTW. I worked there for a short bit many moons ago when the range was under different ownership. As far as the facilities are concerned, it is easily the nicest range in town, and the people are nice, too.