Recently I brought Springfield Armory’s XD-M Elite 10mm with a HEX Dragonfly red dot to the range to put some rounds through it. I also wanted to get it into my friend Candy’s hands to get her first impressions.
Sponsored by Springfield Armory
First though, I have to share some information on the XD-M Elite 4.5-inch OSP 10mm handgun.
Features:
Without mentioning to Candy what I was shooting, I headed onto the range and discreetly loaded my magazines with Remington UMC 10mm rounds. Upon first picking up Springfield Armory’s XD-M Elite 10mm, I noticed how heavy it was, especially with the magazine loaded to capacity and a red dot. It felt very solid and sturdy in my hands. (Note, my hands are not small.)
I’ll admit, upon first shooting it, I didn’t have the best grip, so the muzzle rise was more than I expected. However, after I tightened my support hand, I found it much easier to control the recoil. I went through several magazines before I turned around and saw Candy watching me from the window with a quizzical look on her face. I signaled for her to come inside and shoot.
The first thing Candy said was, “What the heck are you shooting now?” She noticed I was taking my time between shots, getting a feel for the gun. She also giggled about the flame that appeared at the muzzle with each shot, which I didn’t even notice while I was shooting. (That kind of added to the “cool” factor.) When I explained it was Springfield Armory’s XD-M Elite 10mm, she got a smile on her face and rubbed her hands together. “May I shoot it?” she asked.
When she first picked up the XD-M Elite 10mm, she mentioned how big it felt in her hands. (Candy’s hands are much smaller than mine.) After a few dry fire presses and finding the red dot, she loaded a magazine into the pistol. As with me, the first shot caught her a little off guard. She quickly adjusted her grip and began some slow-aimed fire. The reason for the slow fire was because she, too, wanted to get a feel for the trigger press and how well she could manage recoil. She was impressed with the way the heft and beefiness of the gun helped control the muzzle flip. After shooting through a few magazines, she set the gun down and said, “That is a powerful gun, but I am able to control it.”
For a person who is able to control the recoil, Springfield Armory’s XD-M Elite 10mm is a great choice for home protection and hunting. As for concealability, especially with the red dot, this version with its 4.25-inch barrel is definitely for a larger framed person. When I returned home, I switched out the backstrap for a thinner one. Although I wasn’t having issues on the range, I do feel this backstrap allows me to get a better from to rear pressure with my strong hand, thus offering a tighter grip.
Read more about Springfield Armory’s line of XD-M Elite handguns here.
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and GTM Original. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
