Well, I now have my XDM 5.25 in .40. As I would expect it shoots pretty dang good! It has a Springfield Custom Shop trigger job on it, currently breaking at a little over 3 lbs, a narrower front sight and a jumbo tungsten guide rod from Canyon Creek Custom. All else is stock, although that is going to change soon. I am investigating the use of the .40 for both limited and production class use in USPSA competitions.
I’m going to work up minor caliber loads for Production Division and will start by seeing how the lighter 155 grain bullets shoot. I’ll modify the gun to the same specs as my 5.25 9mm guns. I will not make any permanent mods that would make it illegal for production class, but I am going to try mag wells and extra heavy guide rods, to aid in limited class.
For Limited Division, I will explore changes to make it more competitive against the $2,500.00 dollar high-cap guns we now use. I’m guessing this will be no tough task, if my experience with the 9mm 5.25 is any indication.
My first range session was just to zero the 5.25 and while the gun functioned fine with the two factory loads I had on hand, both are way too hot for a serious competition load. All the proper speed .40 ammo I have is loaded too long to fit in the XDM magazine. This is necessary to get Single Stack and high cap 1911′s to work properly. I’ll just crank down the powder charge, go to a standard overall length and work up from there.
Recoil when compared to a 43 oz. Single Stack Division 1911 was a little sharper, as you would expect since the gun only weighs 34.5 ounces, when weighed with empty loaded magazine. Even with that CC Tungsten guide rod installed that’s 1/2 a pound less!! When I get more weight on that frame with a big mag well, I’m going to be able to make a better comparison. As far as being able to shoot it fast, I had no trouble hitting the IDPA target’s 0-zone at 25 yards at a medium to fast pace. I will do more performance tests when I have the proper load worked up.
Here’s what I really think. For someone who loves the polymer pistols and wants a .40 for competition, this is going to be a no-brainer. You get for the price, an accurate, reliable, durable piece of equipment. Going to be interesting to see where this goes…
Rob