I picked up a XD with SA's ported OEM barrel, here's some observations from some quick range time... YMMV
4" XD9 (I'll be using the Glock 19 for any comparisons, as I think it's an agreeable standard for plastic guns.)
-Not much wider then a Glock 19 in the frame where the slide rides, grip width is a wash, & slide is tapered-ish so thinner-ish.
-Trigger feels crisper then a stock Glock.
-Possibly safer to handle loaded w/ a round chambered then other polymer handguns.
-16+1 for about a thumb width longer grip, though slides are a wash compared to Glock 19. I was shocked how little in extra meat it had on my carry Glock 26 when it came to all dimensions.
-As for high bore axis, my wrists aren't broken or strained (Why doesn't anyone complain about high bore axis when talking about 1911s vs. Glocks?).
-With an ambi mag release and a rail for a light, it makes a handy home defense/truck gun.
V-10 ported barrel
-I just don't see you going blind at night. No more flash in low light with crap ammo then from a Glock 19 with the same crap ammo. Frankly, self defense ammo usually is made with low flash powder anyways, right?
-You will feel the heat/gasses, even when you punch the gun out fully.
-Ports don't do much for aimed "one shot" target shooting.
-Ports make one handed shooting as accurate as two handed.
-Rapid fire seems as accurate as aimed slow fire. (I used clays-on-cardboard, so I don't have definitive proof of tight groups as the cardboard gets mangled quickly.)
So, why should anyone buy a V-10 version when you can get the regular barrel in pimped frame/slide color combos instead?
If you ever plan to rapidly fire your gun or need to shoot one-handed, it makes quite a difference and is worth the extra coin. When I pick a holster, we'll see how it carries and I'll report back.
4" XD9 (I'll be using the Glock 19 for any comparisons, as I think it's an agreeable standard for plastic guns.)
-Not much wider then a Glock 19 in the frame where the slide rides, grip width is a wash, & slide is tapered-ish so thinner-ish.
-Trigger feels crisper then a stock Glock.
-Possibly safer to handle loaded w/ a round chambered then other polymer handguns.
-16+1 for about a thumb width longer grip, though slides are a wash compared to Glock 19. I was shocked how little in extra meat it had on my carry Glock 26 when it came to all dimensions.
-As for high bore axis, my wrists aren't broken or strained (Why doesn't anyone complain about high bore axis when talking about 1911s vs. Glocks?).
-With an ambi mag release and a rail for a light, it makes a handy home defense/truck gun.
V-10 ported barrel
-I just don't see you going blind at night. No more flash in low light with crap ammo then from a Glock 19 with the same crap ammo. Frankly, self defense ammo usually is made with low flash powder anyways, right?
-You will feel the heat/gasses, even when you punch the gun out fully.
-Ports don't do much for aimed "one shot" target shooting.
-Ports make one handed shooting as accurate as two handed.
-Rapid fire seems as accurate as aimed slow fire. (I used clays-on-cardboard, so I don't have definitive proof of tight groups as the cardboard gets mangled quickly.)
So, why should anyone buy a V-10 version when you can get the regular barrel in pimped frame/slide color combos instead?
If you ever plan to rapidly fire your gun or need to shoot one-handed, it makes quite a difference and is worth the extra coin. When I pick a holster, we'll see how it carries and I'll report back.