XD/M Modifications

23 Sept 08

Modifications to Springfield Armory's XD/M Pistol:

I've been carrying my copy of the XD/M for several months now and have had the opportunity to shoot it many times during Courses, as have my students. Like my copy of the conventional SA/XD, it continues to run fine.

I notice that, when the disassembly-lever on the XD/M is in the "up" position, the pistol will not fire. This is a new "safety"feature, as the conventional XD will fire under the same circumstances. I'm sure it is a reaction to unsophisticated owners, who, on at least a few occasions, sent their slides flying downrange, along with the bullet, while attempting to shoot with the lever "up!" Again, it is not a product-upgrade that is particularly important to me, but it does indicate that SA actively communicates with its customers, even dull ones!

I asked my gunsmith to make two minor modification to my XD/M:

(1) I took the "hump" out of the trigger-guard.

(2) I reduced the protrusion of the right-side portion of the ambidextrous magazine-release button.

I don't like "square" trigger-guards. The "hump" has been rounded off on all my Glocks too!

I don't like ambidextrous manual safety-levers (on 1911s), nor do Ilike ambidextrous magazine-release buttons. I know SA wants to appeal to left-handed customers, but critical controls on any pistol should not be facing to the outside as the pistol is carried. The problem manifests itself when you find yourself rolling around on the deck, only to discover that the magazine supposedly locked within your pistol has spontaneously released itself!

My solution is simply to reduce the length of the magazine-release button on the right side of the pistol (for right-handers). It is still useable, but no longer sticks out far enough to cause concern.

My gunsmith deftly performed both tasks in a single afternoon, and I was back on-line the same day. There is nothing else on the pistol that needs tweaking, in myopinion.

The XD/M is on my "Recommended List." It is a seventeen-shooter (40S&W) that is eminently carryable and wonderfully reliable. It features variable grip-geometry too. I'm carrying my copy every day!

The 9mm version is a twenty-shooter!

/John

Hurricane Story!

23 Sept 08

This current advice, from a friend in Houston, TX who sat out Hurricane "Ike: "

"I'm finally back on line! Our part of Houston was hard hit by strong winds and heavy rain. Lots of damage to buildings and infrastructure, including my house. We had no public services for nearly a week. Roads were blocked, and we had no access to food nor fuel, not to mention a thousand other items we daily take for granted. Our power has just been restored today!

I'm now the 'expert' I never wanted to be! Here iswhat I learned about widespread disaster, mostly the hard way:

Weapons. Stick with weapons that are simple, hardy, and run under all conditions. You'll need more than just one. When they break, you won't be able to get them fixed any time soon. You'll need high-capacity, military rifles, not just pistols! Remember, any position can be taken, providing the attacker is willing to pay the price. We have many street gangs here, andthey were out, roaming. In an armed confrontation , you may die anyway, but make them work for it! Heavily armed, we confronted several groups of looters,at gunpoint, and quickly ran them off. They weren't particularly heroic!

Ammunition. Starting hoarding it now! Have an adequate supply on hand. More than one neighbor frantically came to me and asked if I had any of this caliber or that!

Battery-Operated Radios: The only contact we had with the outside world was via radio. We were isolated, but at least we had access to news and weather reports. Portable generators are wonderful, but they require lots of fuel, and power output is minimal.

Trauma Kits: Learn how to treat traumatic injuries and have the appropriate equipment on hand. I had to suture my wife's foot with four stitches. I had no pain killer, but I still had to do it. We had no access to hospitals, nor ambulances, nor medical care of any kind. We had to treat our own injuries. Have plenty of IBDs, alcohol, medical scissors, wide-spectrum, oral antibiotics, decongestants, and bandaids. You're going to need itall!

Food: Have a good supply of water, MREs, as well as canned goods, like corn, beans, rice. You'll need non-perishables aplenty. You're going to have to feed yourself and perhaps others. Who don't eat regularly, quickly become run down and despondent.

Fuel and warm clothing: Though is was not an issue for us (this time), you need a way to keep warm. Hypothermia is extremely dangerous and insidious.

Finally, and most important: Don't wait to be rescued, and don't expect help any time soon. Make appropriate preparations now, and, when disaster strikes, act immediately! Don't sit around expecting someone else to feed you, get you to a safe place, keep you warm, treat your injuries, nor protect you from evil-doers. Who do are naive and self-deceptive, and typically don't live through it!

There is no "Book of Rules" that applies to situations likethis. My neighbors and I are good and decent people, and we know right from wrong. We were not afraid to do what needed to be done to get us all through this.

We are now in the middle of putting our lives and possessions back in order, as best we can. We're toughing it out, separating wants from needs, and going forward!"

Comment: None of us can know what fate has in store for us. To be willfully unprepared and naive is the ultimate personal irresponsibility!

Pandering politicians love to assure us, particularly in election years, that they plan on legislating all the uncertainties out of life. Never believe it. You're on your own!

/John