Springfield XD-40 Subcompact Essentials Package

Founded in 1974, Springfield Armory, Inc. is an arms manufacturer and importer based in Geneseo, Illinois. After the United States Government closed down the federal armory (Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts) in 1968, one Elmer Balance registered the trademark name "Springfield Armory" for his company. That company was later sold to the Reese family and is today operated under the name Springfield Armory, Inc. With that quick history lesson in the books, let us get to the Springfield XD.

In 2002, Springfield Armory brought the XD line of pistols to the U.S. market. They quickly rose through the ranks, surpassing other polymer pistols in terms of performance, safety and reliability. Their factory-standard two-stage trigger will have you placing tight groups on any target with ease. They also boast a number of safety features like the loaded-chamber indicator and the striker-status indicator, which provide the shooter with visual and tactile confirmations as to whether the pistol is loaded and cocked. Add in the grip safety, ultra safety assurance (USA) trigger, drop safety and out-of-battery safety and you have a pistol that is at the top of its class in all of the areas that matter most.

The Springfield XD-40 Subcompact features a three-inch barrel alongside an overall length of 6 1/4 inches. The steel barrel has both a Melonite finish as well as a fully-supported ramp. The forged steel slide also features a Melonite finish for enhanced protection against rust and corrosion. Joined by a lightweight, polymer frame, the pistol weighs in at just 26 ounces – making it manageable by just about anyone. The controllable recoil of the .40 S&W cartridge does not hurt either. The pistol also includes a three-dot iron sight system, which features a dovetail front sight and provides for a rapid acquisition of targets and pinpoint accuracy. As noted the pistol includes two magazines – one flush-fitting nine-round magazine as well as an extended 12-round magazine. Other features include a MIL-STD 1913 rail for mounting lights, lasers and other tactical equipment.