First Look: Springfield Armory XD-E in .45 ACP

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posted on November 27, 2017
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Springfield Armory announced the expansion of its line of hammer-fired XD-E pistols, bringing a .45 ACP pistol model to the market for consumers who prefer the big-bore caliber over the 9 mm.

“Our customers told us they’d like the fight-stopping power of a .45 ACP, with the easy racking ability of our XD-E Series,” Springfield Armory CEO Dennis Reese said. “The new XD-E .45 gives them exactly what they asked for: a no-compromise pistol that offers multiple safety modes for peace of mind, no matter how you choose to carry.”

The XD-E pistol in .45 ACP incorporates many of the same features as the 9 mm, providing a slim, easy-to-carry handgun that measures just 1 inch wide. The pistol also incorporates the company's Low Effort Slide, which reduces the amount of effort required to chamber a round by 27 percent compared to similar guns in the same class. This allows individuals with weaker hand strength to have the ability to rack the slide easily, giving them access to a purpose-built personal-defense pistol. The reduced effort also makes it easier for users to manipulate the slide in wet environments.

One of the most prominent features of the XD-E is the external hammer, giving would-be users the ability to carry confidently inside the waistband, knowing that they can both feel and see easily whether the gun is cocked or not. The hammer also enables shooters to control the hammer while reholstering, allowing them to prevent the hammer from falling from an unintended trigger pull.

The external hammer is part of a double-action/single-action operation, which provides shooters with an external thumb safety/decocker combination. The decocker safely lowers the hammer and provides double-action operation for the first shot, while single-action trigger pulls are provided for each following shot.

Springfield Armory focused on the ergonomics of this new platform, providing shooters with an intuitively pointed polymer frame that gets them on target quickly and easily. The frame also features strategically placed texturing to ensure that the gun remains secure in the grip, even through rapid-fire strings.

Other features of the Springfield Armory XD-E include low-profile white-dot rear sights and a fiber-optic front sight. The pistol also features a Melonite-treated 3.3-inch barrel, a dual-spring recoil system and a full-length guide rod. The gun comes with one six-round and one seven-round magazine, featuring a pinky extension and grip extension, respectively.

The Springfield Armory XD-E is also available with a Viridian E-Series laser. The suggested retail price on the gun starts at $568.

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