A custom XD[M] duo: that "M" stands for more

American Handgunner, July-August, 2009 by Roy Huntington

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ah ... but that Lincoln. Better finish, more options, that "thunk" of the door when you close it, that "is it running?" quiet power and grace; well, you see where we're going. Both are good cars, but one might just be considered a notch above. For the more discriminating perhaps?

The More Discriminating

While the new XD(M) has many of the features of the XD, it also has, urn, more features. Which might explain the "M." As Denny Reese, head man at Springfield told me, "Why Roy, the 'M' stands for more."

More features, more function, more ideas and just perhaps--more fun, I asked? "Exactly," said Denny. "Especially the more fun part."

So to clear the air, a short list of the "same" bits are as follows. The loaded chamber/cocked indicator, ambimag release, grip safety, and general design, action and functional bits are essentially the same. And indeed, the two are certainly obviously siblings. One, the handsome brother, and one, the "scrapper" of a tough-guy brother. Guess which one's which.

But it's what's different that matters in this equation. The elegant reverse-angle of the slide from top to bottom changes the tone of the XD(M) completely--the Lincoln side showing.

The forward slide mill slots are more refined, the slide lock and take-down levers are re-contoured to not bite the hand feeding them, the contours of the frame around the trigger are changed for the better and the grip molding is dynamic and more functional. The lanyard attachment is thoughtful, the match-grade barrel an "oh, really?" addition, and the more rigid polymer frame allows a bigger magazine, translating to higher capacities. The action is improved, with less take-up and a shorter reset, which is very nice. But just perhaps, the high point are the modular frame inserts. The Hi-Power feel wasn't good enough, you see. Now you can have a Hi-Power feel customized to your hand! Exclamation point inserted intentionally, by the way.

The "new" XD(More) is more in many areas, and they're all good. Don't toss your XD, it's a dandy duty rig, keep it in your bass boat, knock it around in your kit for camping, bang it around as a loaner gun for your buds kind-of-a-gun. But get an XD(M) for yourself Keep it secret, hide it, and enjoy it in private. Like you'd polish your new Lincoln in the garage at night while sipping a good Merlot. It's yours, alone, and you've wanted something like it, and saved for it for a long time.

And now you have it.

Oh, and make sure you're sipping a 2004. Trust me on that.

The Custom Shop

Oh my, but things just got more complicated. Imagine that same car but after the administrations of a light-handed custom tailor. Ever noticed how an Armani suit always generates comments? "Geez, you look great today Harry, what is it? Lose weight? Comb your hair different?" No, it's almost always what a tailored suit will do for you.

Ditto the XD(More). Thanks to the Springfield Custom Shop, under the guidance of old bud and sterling metal-working genius Dave Williams (a savant when it comes to handguns if ever there was one), the XD(M) takes on even more guise, as it were. The test guns on loan are the first two custom XD(M)s in existence and until I spoke with Dave, I had no idea such things existed. Dave told me what they did with the comp, and I told him I didn't believe him, and he sent me the gun, and now I believe him after I shot it, and told him so. Which is a long sentence, but exactly how it happened.