Compensated XD

16 July 07

Another reason to dislike "compensated" pistols:

At a Pistol Course in WY last weekend, a young student brought a "compensated " SA/XD in 40S&W. Multiple holes are drilled in the barrel, and matching slots are in the slide. My friend and esteemed colleague, Henk Iverson, has banned all compensated pistols, as several students in his courses have been injured via gas cuts when firing such guns in a close/contact position. Iam going to follow his lead!

This XD's barrel vents bled off so much gas, the pistol consistently short-cycled. So egregious was the problem, that this student was forced to abandon it and switch to a G23, which, of course, ran fine for the duration.

We see many XDs in classes, and, in all fairness, most run fine. However," compensating" holes and cuts in barrels and slides are bad news with any serious pistol, as we re-discovered last weekend. Highly NOT recommended,and, from now on, not permitted in our Courses!

/John