The Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact 10mm OSP was one of the easiest handguns to review in a while. After working with it, I decided that if I could only have one handgun — one that would perform well for any possible task — it would be this one. No matter how good the gun, though, it can’t fulfill multiple purposes if it isn’t chambered for a caliber up to the task. For example, the 9mm Luger — as popular as it is across the U.S. these days — just doesn’t have the power to handle certain jobs. The 9mm may be better than a clenched fist, as they say, but it’s certainly not my first choice of cartridge in bear country.

The 10mm Auto Cartridge

The 10mm auto cartridge is a marvel of firearms engineering. It is powerful enough to mount a creditable defense against dangerous animals as well as human attackers. And it’s legal for deer hunting. From the right handgun, the 10mm is very accurate out to 100 yards or more. Plus, it’s much more widely available than it was just five or six years ago.

To get a feel for the Springfield Armory XD-M, I tested it with Federal’s full-power Hydra Shok Tactical (HST) load. The 200-grain HST bullet is driven to 1,130 feet per second from a 5-inch barrel, delivering a substantial 567 foot pounds of muzzle energy. That performance is up there with the Winchester 175-grain Silvertip .41 Magnum. The Federal 10mm lineup also includes the SWIFT A-Frame 10mm Whitetail Hunting load, which propels its 200-grain bullet at 30 feet per second less velocity than the Hydra Shok Tactical self-defense load. And the American Eagle 180 practice load is less expensive and a much more sedate 1,030 feet per second.

About the Springfield Armory 3.8 XD-M

Springfield bills the 3.8 XD-M as a concealable 10mm and outdoor companion. I found both to be true. If you’re used to carrying the Glock 19 for self-defense, the 3.8 XD-M will pose no issues. At 27 ounces, it is 3 ounces lighter than the Glock 19. And its match-grade barrel is .2 inches shorter.

The Springfield Armory 3.8 XD-M features a polymer frame and 1911-style grip safety. Its trigger assembly is match-enhanced (META). With ambidextrous magazine release buttons as well as slide release levers, this handgun fits well in any hand. And the removable flared magazine well accommodates available 15-round magazines.

Specifications

Length: 6.75 inches
Weight: 27 ounces
Height: 4.58 inches
Grip width: 1.2 inches
Barrel length: 3.8 inches
MSRP: $653

The rear sight is Springfield’s superb fixed white outline “U.” I would have preferred the front sight be the one Springfield uses on the Hellcat series. However, the XD-M 10mm front sight is a red fiber optic. The OSP Model includes a Hex Dragonfly red dot optic.

Firing the XD-M

My sample XD-M 3.8 10mm came from the factory with two stainless steel 10-round magazines. Current 10mm 3.8s ship with two 11-round magazines. I tested the handgun at a friend’s backyard range with Federal’s Premium Personal Defense 200-grain HST from 25 feet

Springfield’s embedded videos of the XD-M 3.8 10mm being fired note the slight flexion of the polymer frame each time it is fired in this video. It is this frame flexion that mitigates recoil from powerful cartridges like the 10mm. My friend remarked, “That’s not bad,” as he dropped several of the full-power 10mms into the center bullseye target.

I fired on a steel silhouette target from 25 feet as well. The impact sound was impressive. It would have been obvious to anyone listening that we weren’t using 9mm. I picked up the shooting pace as I ran through the 10-round magazine and was able to keep all the rapid-fire shots hitting dead center. It was a fun shooting day!

Should You Buy the Springfield Armory XD-M 3.8 Compact 10mm Handgun?

We were both duly impressed with the Springfield Armory XD-M 3.8 10mm. It does everything that Springfield claims it will do and more. It is capable of taking game (where legal), defending against dangerous predators, rocking steel targets and engaging in informal target shooting. Had we had the available room, the XD-M 3.8 Compact 10mm would easily prove capable at 100 yards. The Springfield Armory XD-M 3.8 10mm will get the job done with the right ammo … and if you do your part.

Sources:

Springfield Armory: SpringfieldArmory.com
Federal: FederalPremium.com
XS Sights: XSSights.com