Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 9mm Concealed Carry Pistol
The XD-M Elite is Springfield’s advanced handgun model that fires with strikers. The XD Elite is a striking handgun with a Iron sight with a suppressor height as well as an ambidextrous stopper, and enhanced serrations. It comes with a tiny package.
The XDX-M Elite has an adjustable backstrap that can be swapped out that comes with three inserts. The pistol can comfortably fit a wide variety of hand sizes.
The optical sight
Springfield Armory has upgraded their collection of popular polymer-frame striker fired guns to the XD Elite. The XD-M Elite pistol is equipped with attributes that competitors want in a package designed for carry. This includes a high-quality barrel along with improved slide serrations as well as the firm’s Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly (META).
This barrel is hammer forged that has an Melonite match grade finish. Frame grips are compact and offers concealability and security for your daily carry. A combination of high performance and large capacity make it the ideal EDC option.
From the moment you open it, the XD-M Elite comes ready to be used with any red dot sight that you want to use. The angled portion of the dustcover of the frame has an extension of Picatinny rails that allow you to install tactical lights or lasers. This enables you to use the pistol as a backup weapon when the lighting is dim or in situations where it’s hard to see the sights.
This model also offers many of the standard features of the XD-M Elite, including an ambidextrous slide lock magazine release, which makes it suitable for southpaws, and upgraded slide serrations which provide more grip on the slide. A longer magazine well lets users to keep 22+1 rounds inside the magazine.
Like those in the XD Elite line is also compatible with +P ammo. Hot loads can wear down key components more quickly as compared to standard pressure ammunition.
The ambidextrous rear and forward sights are one of the most appealing features of this pistol. It allows shooters who are left handed to comfortably operate the pistol as well as making it simple for anyone to quickly take the gun and begin shooting.
Along with the two magazines included, you will also receive an black nylon carrying case and a flat basepad to replace the fingershooks. Additionally, you’ll receive the replacement rods of fiber optics for the front sight, meaning it’s possible to swap the red rods for an orange set should you’d prefer a different hue. You’ll need to install the new rods on your own, however, as they don’t come with any tools or directions.
Trigger Pull
In the past, if you wanted a full-size polymer striker fired pistol within the United States, your choices were restricted to those of the Big Three — Glock, Smith & Wesson M&P as well as that of the Springfield Armory XD. It’s been changed with the advent of numerous companies offer these kinds of firearms, but with regard to the XD series, this is what the firm has to offer.
The Elite comes with a number of advanced features which distinguish it from the earlier XD and XD-M models such as the hammer-forged barrel and a loaded chamber indicator to the side of the slide, which acts as a both visual and tactile indication of gun status. The extended magwell can be reversed with an adjustable rear sight as well as red front sighting with fiber optics round out the package. The Elite also has a longer barrel and slide with metal finish. It’s made to deliver long life and improved precision.
This pistol is not an exception. Both the XD and XD are known for crisp trigger pulls. It’s actually more crisp than some other competition-ready XD guns available from Springfield. It’s a great thing when you shoot a large number of targets or at bowling shoots. Springfield has the XDM extreme trigger kit this firearm, which can decrease the overtravel, take-up and reset.
In my testing on the Caldwell Matrix rest, the Elite’s three initial shots clipped the 1.1″ target at 25 yards. The following two shots smashed into the four-inch radius, but the third shot failed to clear the intended target. That’s pretty decent considering a firearm of this caliber, especially given the eyesight and age of this old guy. Federal 180 gr. This ammo is Federal’s 180-gr. of power at springfieldstore.com the muzzle.
However, I noticed it’s slide stop has a bilateral lever, which is great for lefties, but not quite as functional as some of the guns I’ve tried. The lever to the right is harder to open as opposed to the left. This is something that will probably smooth out and “break in” with time.
Accuracy
Springfield’s XD series of handguns fired by strikers has changed over time. Its current XD-M Elite series debuted in 2020 and features a number of options that gun owners are looking for, including interchangeable backstraps the best trigger as well as an optics-ready gun. In addition, the XD (M) Elite OPS is a similar model, offering many improvements that give it the best option for IDPA and USPSA shooters who compete.
One of these upgrades include one of them being a Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly (META) and it offers the top production polymer framed trigger for pistols available. META’s flat trigger with an integrated blade safety feature, a with a built-in stop to prevent overtravel, and integral blade safety improve your trigger’s performance while reducing times of operation.
META can also result in an enlarger trigger reset distance and a more constant precision. The average of my five shots was 4.3″ springfieldstore.com in the case of Federal Syntech 124gn targets to try META’s XD (M) Elite OPS. Given that the shot was taken offhand, using a steel bench rest, and using standard handgun magazines, it is a remarkable outcome.
The third major improvement is an ambidextrous slide stop as well as the magazine release. This will make an XD(M) Elite OPS very friendly for both lefties as well as righties, and you won’t require breaking your grip only to drop mags. The serrations with angled angles on the slide permit for effortless manipulation of the weapon, even when hands are cold or wet. These serrations also assist to stop the weapon from sliding off the target when it is recoiling.
The XD(M), Elite OPS is equipped with the muzzle thread to accommodate 1/2×28 pitch suppression suppressors. A thread protector that is installed in the factory is available, which can be easily removed to put in a whole assortment of sound suppressors.
Springfield comes with four mount plates which are number-coded to make it easy for you to identify them. The mounting plates can be placed right onto the gun, allowing you to switch quickly between different red dots without having to remove the slide.
The XD(M) Elite OPS has the standard 4.2-inch barrel which extends out from towards the rear of the slide, but it is possible to replace it with a shorter barrel if desired. The top of the muzzle has 1/2×28 pitch threads, so you can easily mount the suppressor even if you’re in a position to compete.
Bottom Line
Gun makers are working hard to reduce the size and weight of weapons concealed carry while maintaining their firepower. Springfield Armory’s XD Elite 9mm is a perfect example of this. The company has taken its popular XD series and integrated a 10-millimeter version that includes all the features people who carry guns want are interchangeable backstraps (this version comes with three) control that is easy to operate and an excellent trigger within an optics-ready platform.
It is also equipped with a magwell funnel. XD-M Elite also comes with the “standard” funnel for magwells that was designed to assist in channeling your gun when you reload under stress. It is important to remember this when under pressure, such as at risk of self-defense. This gadget keeps the magazine flush with the frame, permitting it to be put in easily and fired.
Another feature that comes with the XD-M Elite that I really enjoy is the ambidextrous slide stop as well as magazine release. This will make it easier for lefties who use the gun, particularly if you are wearing gloves. Springfield was also certain that the grip safety for this gun was as straightforward to use as is possible. The pistol has a finger-friendly groove placed on both sides of the grip. The safety feature reduces the possibility of accidental slide engagement when gripping the gun to shoot.
The XD-M Elite comes with the Enhanced META trigger, which was specifically designed for shooters competing in competitions who want to get the most out of the handgun they fire with a striker. META’s internal overtravel stops prevent the trigger from traveling too much, helping you to stay in control when competing.
When I tested it, I found this XD-M Elite performed very well for accuracy. The pistol fired four rounds at less than 30mm when using the 124gn Federal Syntech ammo which is very impressive. One thing I did not discover was that the gun is a bit too wide to allow for a comfortable concealed carry and it is quite heavy for some users.
Anyone who is looking to purchase the range, or conceal carry gun should think about buying the XD-M Elite. It is incredibly impressive. It is loaded with the features that a carry gun lover needs, and is available in two sizes. There’s also a specialized model for the tactical shooter that comes with a barrel threaded, and the slide is ready for optics.
