Springfield Armory has truly redefined the world of striker-fired pistols with its XD and XDM. In 2012, the company introduced the XD-S in .45 ACP, and then 9mm, as a subcompact pocket pistol with a 3.3-inch barrel optimized for concealed carry. Now Springfield has gone a step further in releasing the XD-S 4.0, a pocket fighter with a 4-inch barrel. In the upcoming June 2014 issue of COMBAT HANDGUNS, author Dennis Adler gets his hands on the new guns and delivers his full report.
CLICK HERE to see a video of the Springfield XD-S 4.0 9mm in action!
He writes, “Why…make an XD-S that’s bigger? The idea is to increase accuracy by having a longer barrel without compromising the shorter grip frame so well suited to concealed-carry use. This isn’t a new idea by any means, but it is interesting to see how Springfield has approached it. They have only stretched things a bit, by 0.7 inches, installing a 4-inch barrel and a 6.75-inch slide without making any alterations to the small XD-S grip frame. Thus, the new XD-S 4.0 in 9mm retains the same excellent 7+1 standard capacity while adding the advantage of a longer sight radius, a skosh more weight (2 ounces, which helps to reduce muzzle lift), and 0.70 inches more barrel for greater accuracy. Seven-tenths of an inch doesn’t sound like a lot, but in the world of handgun design, it is. (A .45-caliber XD-S 4.0, featuring the same dimensions and a round capacity of 5+1, is soon to follow.)
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“The 4.0 maintains all of the standard features of the XD-S line, including dual safety mechanisms, the Ultra Safety Assurance, or USA, toggle trigger, Springfield’s secondary 1911-type grip safety, and the recent upgrades to the XD-S trigger and internal safety operation (signified by a small roll pin added to the grip safety). However, the XD-S will fire a chambered round without a magazine. Not having a magazine disconnect is an arguable feature, but most individuals who rely on a firearm for personal defense will favor a semi-auto that can operate if a magazine cannot be reloaded in sufficient time, has been lost or damaged, or if only a single round is available and expedience dictates dropping it into the chamber, closing the slide and taking the shot.”
For more information on the Springfield XD-S 4.0 9mm, visit: http://www.springfield-armory.com/
To learn more of the Springfield XD-S 4.0 9mm, check out the June 2014 issue of COMBAT HANDGUNS, available on newsstands and digitally March 18, 2014. To subscribe, go to /combat-handguns/
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