| FIRING LINE REPORT | BY JEFF JOHN
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD-M ELITE 3.8 COMPACT SPRINGFIELD ARMORY’S XD-M ELITE 3.8 Compact offers a smaller, handier pistol with the styling and ergonomics exemplified in the full-size Elite series pistols that include the Precision, OSP, 4.5 and the 3.8, the Compact’s long-grip 20-shot cousin. The new belt-size Elite 3.8 Compact offers 14+1 rounds in a dependable, easy-shooting, short-frame platform not to be confused with ultra-concealable, high-capacity pistols like Springfield’s 11+1 Hellcat. Yet this bigger 27-ounce pistol is perfectly sized and balanced for home defense, will still fit under a jacket for concealed carry and fits even large hands comfortably. The Elite-series slides are sculpted along the top, reducing the annoying boxiness many polymer pistols exhibit, and generously sized slide serrations on either side of the ejection port give good
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purchase for charging and clearing. After some 20 years on the market, testing an XD is like shaking hands with an old friend. The ergonomics were carefully laid out way back then and have only gotten better in feel with upgrades in grip texture and slide serration design. Mechanics have improved, too, and the new Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly (META) has a flat-face trigger with integral overtravel stop. The new trigger pulls straight back with a pull length of a half-inch and breaks a hair before the overtravel stop hits the frame. Reset was unnoticeable under recoil. The trigger pull is a pleasing 4.75 pounds. Other key features include a hammerforged match barrel, forged-steel slide, and left- and right-side magazine and slide releases. The mag release is easy
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
XD-M ELITE 3.8 COMPACT TYPE: striker-fired semiauto CALIBER: 9mm Luger CAPACITY: 14+1 BARREL: 3.8 in. OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 6.9/4.6/1.2 in. WEIGHT: 27.4 oz. CONSTRUCTION: Melonite-finished carbon-
steel slide, polymer frame SIGHTS: fixed; red fiber-optic front, white outline U-notch rear TRIGGER: META, 4.75 lb. pull (measured) SAFETY: internal firing pin block, trigger lever, grip PRICE: $559 MANUFACTURER: Springfield Armory, springfield-armory.com
to reach; its button is shielded and stiff to prevent inadvertent mag drops. When pressed, empty mags rocket out for fast, fumble-free mag changes. WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
