First-Time Gun Buyer....XDM?

[VoteRedTeam]

I'm new to the gun community and trying to decide what my first purchase will be. Wavered between .40 and 9mm but leaning towards 9mm for more affordable trips to the range. I really like the Springfield XDM but don't like the look of the 3.8 and thinking the 5.25 might be too big so thinking 4.5. I'm not looking forward to a $600 price tag, but think I'm stuck with it due to my bad timing in gun interest. Any tips from experienced folks on first-time gun purchases? Thanks.

 

[aaron580]

In todays market, I would go .40 because its the same price as 9 in every gun shop ive been in so far this craze. Might look at the glock to. My first handgun purchase was a glock 21. Couldnt ask for a better gun.

 

[Hammer]

I have the Xdm in 9mm, love it. but get what you can shoot the best and feels right. YOu might want to look at the Glock offerings as well.

And $600 is not a bad price in these times.

 

[SubUrbanCamo317]

This sounds crazy, but i paid 629 about a year and a half ago for my XDM subcompact .45. It came in a range case with all the springfield goodies. I just recently sold it for 600$ with a serpa level 2 holster included. This is a picture of it I took for the arms list ad. Anyways, I never had a problem with the gun even after 825+ rounds through the tube. I shall get another, maybe a different caliber....Moral of the story, I have found that guns do not depreciate like cars.

 

[maxmayhem]

you might get tired of lugging around a 5.25 and may end up wishing you got one of the shorter barrel options..especially if you want to conceal carry iwb

 

[maxmayhem]

What places have you looked to find one?

I'm new to the gun community and trying to decide what my first purchase will be. Wavered between .40 and 9mm but leaning towards 9mm for more affordable trips to the range. I really like the Springfield XDM but don't like the look of the 3.8 and thinking the 5.25 might be too big so thinking 4.5. I'm not looking forward to a $600 price tag, but think I'm stuck with it due to my bad timing in gun interest. Any tips from experienced folks on first-time gun purchases? Thanks.

 

[maxmayhem]

yeah..this....you cant really go wrong with todays modern ammunition..just really comes down to personal preference

In todays market, I would go .40 because its the same price as 9 in every gun shop ive been in so far this craze. Might look at the glock to. My first handgun purchase was a glock 21. Couldnt ask for a better gun.

 

[No2rdame]

See if you can get a feel for the different sizes. While I would agree with you about the look of the 3.8, the truly best way for a new gun owner is to see which one weighs best in the hand and which one you grip better.

As far as the caliber, I was recently faced with a similar dilemma in that we already own a 9 and a .45, so for my next I was thinking about getting a .40. I went with another 9 strictly due to the cost difference in ammo. Of course, once the dust settles and panic buying slows who knows what the cost difference will be.

Either way, good luck with the XDM. Fine firearm, Springfield makes a good gun.

 

[maxmayhem]

i saw this one on armslist in lafayette...ARMSLIST - For Sale: Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 Bi-Tone you considered the 3.8 inch barrel too?

 

[inccwchris]

I absolutley freaking love mine. Momma got it for me when I was 18 as my first carry piece when I worked for Blue Line Security. its had a few thousand rounds through it trouble free. Its very accurate and I even used it recently for my ILEA qualification. Indy Trading Post has a few XDM's for rent, 10 bucks plus cost of ammo. Come in and try one out if your in the south Indianapolis area.

 

[beardedbrodel]

The XDs are nice. I have a Ruger SR9. It's a great gun and a couple hundred less.

 

[Black Cloud]

I love my XDm 9 4.5. I just installed a Powder River Precision Ultimate Match trigger in mine (and I'm a noob) and had an INGO sponsor Cerakote the slide and install TFO night sights. This is the pistol my crew uses in 3-gun matches, and it's also our EDC now. With the trigger and sights, it's in a whole new ballpark.

Pics on this thread: https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo..._now_the_sweetest_thing_in_my_collection.html

 

[roustabout]

I now have xds 45. I love it. Easy to carry. Pretty accurate. very manageable recoil. I've had so many guns over the Years. You can get a bad gun in any brand. Find what you like feel of. You can afford. As long as it goes bang every time you pull the trigger and your happy its a good gun. I say 9 mm good round. 40 also good. I am a 45 guy. They all will do the job.

 

[achilles]

+ 1 for the XDm with 4.5 inch barrel. It was my first gun purchase (in 9mm) and I sold it to get the XDm in .45 ACP. Missed it so much, I sold the .45 to get another XDm in 9mm.

 

[cwagner1]

You won't find many people that own an xdm saying bad about it. I've got an xdm 5.25 in .40. I LOVE it.

But you should definitely look at the s&w m&p, glock, Walther ppq, and obviously springer xdm lines. They're all equally reliable and good. Just pick the one that feels best to you.

As for size, it depends what you want to do with it. If you want to iwb carry, and you're a little person, the xdm 5.25 will be horrible for you. If you want to open carry, it's awesome. Pick the size that fits your application.

For caliber, if you haven't shot a 9 mm or .40 before, go shoot them first. Some people think its not a big difference until they actually shoot a .40. They are "snappy," and I LOVE .40. Some people can't handle the snappiness. A full size xdm holds 16+1 rounds of .40, so I wouldn't be worried about capacity. That should be PLENTY.

 

[JeepArn]

I have an XDM 9mm 3.8 compact as well as a XDM 45 3.8 compact and love them both... easy to carry and great shooters.. both are more accrate than I am. Overall, I like the 9mm for higher capacity and lower round count.
Also picked up a gen4 Glock 19 and kinda like it a good bit too. But the Springfields fit my hand a little better.

 

[KJW]

Lots of good points made. I've raved about my xd(m) 4.5" in 9mm which had a trigger job done by SA. LOVE IT. But, a friend's M&P 9mm sure felt soft shooting. So go with what feels best and you shoot best. I just got a Sig P229 in .40, a great deal from my friend that I couldn't pass up, but I do wish it were also 9mm. Even being all metal the difference in recoil is noticeable.

 

[firecadet613]

XDm 3.8 Compact .40 here...love it!

 

[seedubs1]

Make sure to hold (and fire if possible) all of the main polymer pistols if you want to go that route. Don't go off looks alone. Smith, springer, glock, kahr, Walther, and hk all make great products. Pick whichever fits you best.

 

[Mark-DuCo]

I love my XDm 3.8 compact .40, wouldn't trade it for anything.