By IPC

If you have been shooting or hunting for any length of time, you have likely heard several big names of the industry, including Springfield Armory. SA has a long and storied history in the firearms industry, including use in both the military and civilian markets. One of SA’s newer and most well-known product lines is the XD pistol line. The focus of this particular article is the Springfield Armory XD-S 3.3” .45acp.

I have been a longtime fan of Springfield Armory. One of the first full size pistols I shot was the Springfield Armory 1911A1 Hi-Cap. I spent a lot of time on the range with my father shooting that pistol when I was young. So when I had the opportunity to test out some of the newer Springfield Armory pistols, I jumped at the chance.
I tested the XD-S extensively over several trips to the range. Using all three sizes of the magazines (5, 6, and 7 round), I put the pistol through numerous drills, including slow and rapid fire, holster draws, magazine changes, and a few more advanced drills. For these drills, I used the Alien Gear ShapeShift holster system (please see my article about the ShapeShift for more information). I did not spare the pistol during testing, using Wolf steel case ammunition and not cleaning the pistol until all the testing was complete. I did, however, put some G96 CLP on high wear areas of the pistol before I began.

Through all these drills, the XD-S performed incredibly well. It had a few misfeeds at the start, but once the break-in period was over, the pistol ran flawlessly. The dual coil spring recoil system made for easy control of the pistol while shooting, allowing me to effortlessly stay on target. The trigger weight and short reset allowed for smooth, fast trigger movement. For the magazine changes, I preferred using the larger magazines due to my larger hands. Overall, the XD-S performed incredibly well on the range.

I also tested it for ease of concealed carry. Utilizing the modular nature of the Alien Gear Shapeshift, I carried the XD-S in a few different ways, including IWB, OWB, and appendix. The compact and slim size of the pistol really shone through during my carry test. With my build, the appendix carry was the most comfortable, but the pistol worked flawlessly in the other holster locations and configurations. In some carry locations, the profile was low enough that I was able to get away with just an untucked shirt in the warmer months.

Overall, I am very impressed with the Springfield Armory XD-S 3.3” .45acp. For a small compact pistol in a large caliber, it is easy to shoot, control, and conceal with the right holster. The texture and grip allow you to maintain control over the pistol despite its small size. If you are still worried about recoil and magazine capacity, SA makes the XD-S in 9mm as well, which has a slightly higher capacity and a slightly lower recoil. I would definitely recommend the XD-S 3.3” .45acp for a carry pistol.