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AR15.COM
6/24/2006 5:27:45 AM EDT

I have just purchased a Springfield XD45 ACP 4 inch Service Black.

Very nice pistol but the trouble I'm having is with the Slide Stop Lever which is extremely difficult to depress, not impossible but it takes a great deal of painful thumb force. I have a few other auto loading pistols including Beretta, Glock, etc. and none are near as difficult to depress.

Anybody else?

Thoughts?
6/25/2006 3:21:25 PM EDT
[#1]
I have the same pistol. Purchased is about 3 or 4 months ago. I experienced a similar problem with the gun at first. I have fired close to 2000 rounds through the gun and the lever has loosened up quite a bit. You may also want to make sure everything is lubed up. I use break free CLP and it seems to make a difference.

Also, you may notice that when there is an empty mag in the gun it presses against the lever to keep the slide open and this causes quite a bit of pressure until your mags are broken in. All in all after firing a couple hundred rounds through it and making sure it's lubed it functions like any other pistol.
6/25/2006 3:24:04 PM EDT
[#2]
Why are you using your thumb to move it?

Haul back on slide, let go.

The only time you should be messing around with the slide stop with your thumb is if you're messing around with empty magazines and dryfiring.

In my opinion, of course.
6/25/2006 3:36:03 PM EDT
[#3]

Quoted:
Why are you using your thumb to move it?

Haul back on slide, let go.

The only time you should be messing around with the slide stop with your thumb is if you're messing around with empty magazines and dryfiring.

In my opinion, of course.



I second this opinion.
6/25/2006 5:26:06 PM EDT
[#4]
same problem with mine. After doing it about 20 or so times it loosen up.
6/25/2006 5:32:13 PM EDT
[#5]
+1 with ElCamino, pull back on the slide and release it htat way.  It's a gross motor skill instead of a fine motor skill and your body remembers doing it after less repetitions.  It's what LEO agencies have gone to for reloads and most of the combat disciplines as well, although your competition shooters still use the slide stop for speed.
6/26/2006 10:16:20 AM EDT
[#6]
After emptying a mag the slide remains back after firing the last round, I remove the mag, insert another and use my thumb to release the slide and chambering the first round in the new mag.

Is this weird? Been doing it forever with autos.
6/26/2006 12:14:55 PM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
After emptying a mag the slide remains back after firing the last round, I remove the mag, insert another and use my thumb to release the slide and chambering the first round in the new mag.

Is this weird? Been doing it forever with autos.


dito
6/26/2006 12:57:25 PM EDT
[#8]
What they are saying is when the slide locks after empyting a mag you put in a new mag and pull back on the slide. This allows the lever to fall down since the mag follower is no longer pressing it up. Then you release the slide chambering a round. This is a technique that is good for range work. However, I would have to say in a situation where speed is required such as LE, self/home defense, or comp shooting, the thumb press on the slide lever is quite a bit quicker as it eliminates the motion of your support hand moving from the bottom of the mag to the slide and back to the support position.
6/26/2006 7:29:04 PM EDT
[#9]
I agree with Delta on this. Mine is stiff too. But got better with break in. Still stiff, but no problem to operate as I bring it up with a fresh mag in place. Very quick to reload and bring back on target.
It's my favorite pistol!
6/30/2006 6:50:51 AM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:
+1 with ElCamino, pull back on the slide and release it htat way.  It's a gross motor skill instead of a fine motor skill and your body remembers doing it after less repetitions.  It's what LEO agencies have gone to for reloads and most of the combat disciplines as well, although your competition shooters still use the slide stop for speed.



Yep, Yep, Yep depends on why you shoot. I carry, and as they say, "you fight like you train." So the only time I don't release the slide with my weak hand is when I am loading a fresh mag one handed, then I use the slide lock lever.
6/30/2006 7:28:18 AM EDT
[#11]
Yep, I've always used the slingshot method on my slides as well.  I only use the slide stop lever if I'm clearing a gun.

On my XD-45acp Tactical, I'm sort of thinking about melting (rounding) the slide stop lever a little bit.  On a couple occassions I've bumped it while shooting and locked the slide open mid mag.  I'll work with it for a while, but if it continues I'll round the edges of the lever.
7/2/2006 9:22:26 AM EDT
[#12]
Interesting that I appear to shoot in such a weird way (compared to others). Other than the first round I always use the slide stop lever especially when inserting a new mag. Use my shooting hand to release the mag, non shooting hand to insert a new one and the thumb of my shooting hand to release the slide. Understand what you guys are doing but after 30+ years this old dog.......

Anyway, as way of update I have contacted Springfield and am sending the pistol back for their review and hopefully fix.

Will let you guys know what happens.