You never stop learning!

[XD Guy]

I had an experience at my IDPA match that might be of interest.

I recently purchased an XD 40 sub compact (3”bbl). I used it in competition for the first time this Saturday. I found that when it was time to clear my weapon at the end of the first stage, and after removing the partially loaded magazine, I couldn’t rack my slide back to clear out the last round in the chamber. It happened again on the second stage.

It turned out that even though the bullets I had reloaded myself and used flawlessly in my 4” XD40, were slightly too long for the smaller gun’s shorter chamber. If I fired all the rounds in the magazine, there was no problem. Only when I had to remove a round from the gun, did I experience any problem.

I explained what had happened to my Range Master. He suggested that I first shorten the OAL. Then, since this increased the pressure in the round, he suggested reducing the amount of powder as well.

I experimented quite a bit that evening and brought my various load and OAL samples to the range the next day. Once I identified the best performing combination, everything worked perfectly. You never stop learning!

[XD in the OC]

That's interesting that you were having that type of problem with your XDSC. I have been shooting USPSA matchs with my XD40sc and have not experience that type of problem. So far I must be lucky, because I am using reloads. I'll have to keep that in mind if that happens. BTW, I just bought an XD40 Tac for future matchs.

[spc]

Sounds like you went about solving the problem in an efficient manner. Isn't it nice that we can learn from the simplest of problems.

Hope your new loads shoot well for your competition.

spc