Posted: 11/16/2005 6:36:14 PM EDT
| Hi guys! I am new to the site and I have a XD 40 for about six months. Is any one having the slide finish breaking down/rusting after some use? The quality of the finish in this gun is far away from the ones that I see on other Springfield products. |
welcome. Check out hs2000talk.com They are the AR15.com of XDs . I didnt even dick with mine after its horrible reputation of being rust troubled. I sent the slide to Macs(shootinirons.com) to have it refinished in gunkote. Now I shoot in the rain and dont clean it for days and no rust. Well worth the $60. 
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I'm a member of the xdtalk.com forum and there's a specific thread about rust there, if you want to read people's opinions and experience. For me, my 1st XD has NO rust on it. My 2nd XD I had Gun-Koted in blue and silver only because I wanted to make it special for my fiancee (was a gift for her). I'm not worried about my XD rusting. I take care of it properly (I think) and keep it cleaned and out of the rain. I truly believe that the finish isn't exactly the issue, but a few other things: 1. where you live (humid, moist, wet conditions) 2. what you do w/ the XD (concealed carry next to your sweaty body, shoot it in the rain, drop it on the damp grass) 3. where you keep it (holster, nightstand, gun case w/ foam in it) 4. how you take care of it (never clean it, don't wipe it off after it gets wet, lightly oil it) These points all play a role in whether your XD will rust or not. If you keep it in a gun case w/ foam in it: If your XD is a little wet and you put it in w/ the foam, the foam will just trap all that moisture and rust is bound to happen. Also, getting a stainless steel slide won't make a difference, since stainless steel can rust, too. It's all about points #1 thru 4. Not the finish, IMHO. I don't ever expect my XD to rust, and if it does, it'll most likely be due to my negligence than Springfield's finish on it. Just my 2¢ on the rust issue. |
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Yes some are weaker than others.Blue wonder armordillo does help prevent this but Like Dave I like custom finishes and alot off Good places to get it done. I am looking at hard chrome for my comp piece. I also have one Gun koted buy canyon-creek.com And one with armory coat. Lots of options around pick the one that suites you best another is www.xd-hs2000.com |
| Dear Dave. Thanks for yours .2cents( looks to me more like $2.00) I have about 18 guns in all calibers and I take care like you do, always keep the guns cleaned and oiled.What happen on the case of the XD, that I've owned for aproximately six months but have never carried it, was in my side holster in a recently two day carbine class.By the end of the second day the finish began to oxidize where my arm brushed against it. I have a Glock that I carried almost every day for the last 12 years and not a sign of any oxidation of any kind.Glock has an amazing finish. I am already contacted Springfield about this but I don't think that I will send the gun for inspection.The slide in those guns are made in Croatia and probabily the finish are not the same than other products from Springfield. I still like the gun very much, shoots very well and is well made. I was only a litlle disappointed with the finish and I dont think in a gun that cost around $500 dolares we should have to take it to a shop to apply a better finish in such short time of usage. I would like to thank you and every one else for taking the time to discuss this issue. |
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Dave, you make valid points. However, it should not rust if moderately taken care of no matter what the elements. I own an XD40 5" Tactical, I love it and plan to buy another. It is marketed as a service pistol it should be able to handle the elements and some abuse and neglect without rusting. I shoot mine regularly in the rain, take it with me fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and other salt water bays and lakes and stays holstered. I never had a rust problem until I skipped the coating of RIG that I was religious, up until that point, at applying after cleaning it. I had a litle rust, but it wiped off, did not pit it visibly and recoated in RIG and now it's good to go. Guns rust with neglect, but there is a serious problem with the XD's and it seems very lazy to me on Springfields behalf that it is a simple problem to solve and they apparently do not care. I will still buy Springfield products but they really should fix this, just because most of us are faithful customers does not mean everyone is. Look at some boutique guns, they are definitley not meant to service pistols but their finish even handles it, the XD should. You keep it coated it does o.k. but in my opinion you should not neccesarily have to do this everytime, Glocks you do not(I honestly can't stand Glock so don't start the flame throwers). There are several officers I work with that I imagine their Glocks never come out of the holster except when used in self defense or on felony take downs. They are in the rain, wind, cold, heat, humidity and taken in out of air conditioned vehicles and bldgs all day and night and into hot humid weather and no rust. Suck it up Springfield and fix the problem! 
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You're welcome Chopperjoe. Hmmm... your arm brushed against the slide a little for a while. Maybe it got a little damp either from your body "oils" or FL was experiencing some humid weather recently, or a combination of both? Had you wiped the gun down w/ a cloth to remove any potential dampness after the class? I'm not trying to point the finger at you. Just wondering about the circumstances that would have caused this. Either way, the fact that the guns are made in Croatia doesn't matter. I would think that Springfield would take care of your finish problem. I think most of the XDs are made at the Croatian factory. So, Springfield should stand behind their warranty, wherever the gun was made. I'd definitely consider sending it to them, or calling again and asking what they can/will do for you, and what the cost would be to you. You might want to check out the "official rust poll" thread over at XDtalk. You might be able to read up on what others have done, and what success they've had regarding warranty work. Link to the thread here: www.hs2000talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=23678 Also, you can do a search for rust problems. There has been great discussion about thr XD's tendancy to rust easily. Sorry I'm not much help on this issue, but my XD hasn't rusted (so far). Good luck! |
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The finish problem on the XD is way over blown especially on the internet forums. I run my XD fairly dry all the time and probably haven't oiled the "outside" in months. I finger my XD daily too. If you care for the XD like an ordinary blued gun you should not have a problem. YMMV on this. I do know from personal experience (I don't have the problem) that all it takes is for some people to touch a piece of steel and it will rust. It depends on the acidity of your skin to a large extent. I've carried my standard in a nylon passport in 90 degree weather for days at a time with no rust. And this was in a sweat soaked holster with no interim cleaning or oiling. It did get a through cleaning and oiling afterwards though. I will say that I have a few scratches and some finish wear where the gun has been holstered and unholstered. And I do think the finish on the Glocks is more robust; but SA will make good on the finish even if your just unhappy. I carry my XD and expect it to get beat up some. But it also goes bang everytime and hits where I aim so I really could care less if it isn't a thing of beauty. Even though it is. 
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