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Got a new gun today

TylerEMT

Regular Member
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
40
Location
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
imported post

I got my first handgun. The Springfield xmd .40. I'm really excited! I can't wait to go shooting for the first time. This gun looks so clean. It actually feels really nice in the stock paddle holster that comes with it. I was able to drive with very little annoyance from it. A very nice gun to OC I can say so far... We'll see how she shoots.
 

Thoreau

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
315
Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
imported post

Same piece I started my addiction out with =) Absolutely fantastic handgun if you ask me, and I'm sure you'll love it even more after shooting it.



Can't comment on the included holster (I quickly replaced it with a Blackhawk Serpa for OC and a Comptac Infidel for CC) but if it fits and is comfortable, rock on! :D
 

crisisweasel

Newbie
Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
265
Location
Pima County, Arizona, USA
imported post

Thoreau wrote:
Can't comment on the included holster (I quickly replaced it with a Blackhawk Serpa for OC and a Comptac Infidel for CC) but if it fits and is comfortable, rock on! :D
Tell me about the Blackhawk Serpa. I was just reading about these, and it looks like the perfect holster. I went to Sportsmans Warehouse here in Tucson, but, predictably, all they had left were LEFT-HANDED VERSIONS of this holster.

(* On another note, what the hell is going on over there? You walk into that place and it looks like a kind of nirvana of sorts until you realize everything is always out of stock. Ammunition I guess I understand, but I'm noticing it extends to a lot of the rest of their stock.)

Anyway it looks like it provides an ideal solution to the problems of retention (for me, anyway). It it as good as it looks?
 

Thoreau

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
315
Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
imported post

crisisweasel wrote:
Thoreau wrote:
Can't comment on the included holster (I quickly replaced it with a Blackhawk Serpa for OC and a Comptac Infidel for CC) but if it fits and is comfortable, rock on! :D
Tell me about the Blackhawk Serpa. I was just reading about these, and it looks like the perfect holster. I went to Sportsmans Warehouse here in Tucson, but, predictably, all they had left were LEFT-HANDED VERSIONS of this holster.

(* On another note, what the hell is going on over there? You walk into that place and it looks like a kind of nirvana of sorts until you realize everything is always out of stock. Ammunition I guess I understand, but I'm noticing it extends to a lot of the rest of their stock.)

Anyway it looks like it provides an ideal solution to the problems of retention (for me, anyway). It it as good as it looks?



I got it specifically because of the retention which was a concern to me for hiking. Hiking trails like the one to the top of Flatiron out in the Supes requires a good bit of rock hopping/scrambling and I didn't want even a slight chance of my boomstick getting away from me. So far, the Serpa has been flawless in that regard.

I also love the method used to retain the gun with regards to how to release it. Being my first handgun it helped kinda force me to get used to drawing with my index finger along the slide instead of anywhere else, and just comes naturally.

Lastly, the Serpa is a modular system, so you can mount it to the included belt loop platform, the included paddle platform, or even to a thigh rig platform that they also sell (bought that too for use on backpacking trips where a belt-level holster would be incompatible with the waist straps of a full frame backpack.)

Overall, a great system, not too terribly expensive, and pretty comfortable too. The only 'issue' i've come up with so far is that the Serpa I was able to get ahold of is technically designed for the standard sized XD, not the XDm. So instead of being a flawless fit (length-wise) for the XD, the XDm sticks out a little bit at the bottom (half inch maybe?) and isn't as protected. I have gotten a couple small scratches on the end of the slide while hiking as a result of this, but nothing major or even really noticeable.


Edit: Bought the main Serpa rig at Scottsdale Gun club, but only Sportsman's Warehouse had the thigh rig in stock back then, so I got that there. (Still have yet to see a single round of handgun ammo in stock in that place in the last six months tho.)


Edit2: Oh, haven't tried driving with the Serpa. Sport seats aren't really compatible with a holstered gun (even my IWB holster and gun are too bulky to wear while driving, and that's with my HK USP40 even, which is substantially smaller than the XDm.)
 

TylerEMT

Regular Member
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
40
Location
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
imported post

I'm in love!!!!!!!! This gun is so sweet.I went through about 50 rounds yesterday. I was able to get some very tight groupings. Wal Mart was having a sale on watermelons, so I had to cash two of them as well,just to see the "boom power" (thats a technicalterm I learned fromthe sporting goodsguy at Wal Mart)of the gun;). You couldn't tell it was a watermelon after a mag full of hollow points. I mean the thing was just a puddle of greenish red.:pI'm very glad I went with the .40 instead of the 9 mil.



I just signed up for a defensive tactical handgun course on Sunday. I have to get 200 rounds before then. I'm glad we're well stocked in all of the stores in Flagstaff. Cheapest I could find .40 ammo for was $24.99 per box,so another 100 bucks or so... Oh well its way worth it :D!
 

Hickocks Ghost

New member
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
3
Location
, ,
imported post

i have a BLACKHAWK SERPA package for $35.00 if anyone is interested.

i bought it brand new in tombstone 2weeks ago. it has the belt carrier as well as the paddle carrier.

i am a large and lovely gentleman and it didnt work out for me as a concealed unit.

i live in GILBERT near ray rd. and higley.
 
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