February 1st, 2023
6minute read
To me, pistols are tools.
The same variations exist in the defensive firearms world.
TheSpringfield XD-M Elite line is a series of pistolsfor those who demand the performance and reliability from their tools.
The Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 10mm is an amazing pistol. Having one in Magpul OD Green version is a great option.
The handguns speak directly to the soul of shooters, evoking a sense of strength and determination.
They are formidable tools that exude confidence and capability.
In short, the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite line of handguns demands respect and commands attention.
Springfield Armory uses the Cerakote process to apply the Magpul OD Green color to both the slide and backstrap.
The weapon system delivers incredible performance.
Today I will review the Sportsmans Warehouse exclusive version of the 10mm XD-M Elite.
Special thanks to Nosler for providing ammunition for this review.
One of the best factory-installed striker-fired triggers available is the META. It has a flat face, smooth pull and clean break.
The company generously sent me some of its premium defensive loads for testing.
More on those in a minute.
The distinguishing feature of the gun is the Cerakote finish on its slide and backstrap.
This 10mm pistol feeds from 16-round magazines. A flared magazine well helps to make reloads fast and reliable.
Sportsmans Warehouse selected the Magpul OD Green color for these parts.
I consider this a heck of a deal.
Im a sucker for practical guns with a twist.
One of the things the author likes about the XD-M Elite is the grip texture on the frame. He found it provided an excellent surface that affixed the gun into his hand.
I like to have something that is a bit different, yet remains completely practical.
This is one of the reasons I like the Sportsmans Warehouse-exclusive XD-M Elite.
Caliber
As mentioned above, the gun is chambered for 10mm.
Even without a red dot sight, the XD-M Elite 10mm is capable of fast, accurate shooting with the bright front sight and wideU-notch rear.
This cartridge is respected for its power and versatility.
Because of this, it can fill several roles.
With defensive ammunition, the gun is perfect for home defense and personal protection.
Nosler provided all of the defensive ammo for this review. It performed well: good accuracy and 100% reliable performance.
Further, deer hunting with 10mm is a perfectly reasonable outdoor pursuit with this pistol.
For me, I see this as an excellent defensive tool on the trail.
Deep-penetrating 10mm loads are readily available and should provide adequate bear defense if you put your shots on target.
The author found the 10mm XD-M Elite to be a soft-shooting pistol. While the ammo is intended for self-defense, the Nosler loads were relatively easy shooting cartridges.
Coupled with that power is an impressive magazine capacity.
Standard mags hold 16 rounds.
The 4.5 barrels, made of forged steel, are precision-machined to provide exceptional accuracy and consistency.
Each has a Melonite treatment to ensure a long life.
Sights
Springfield Armory uses excellent sights on all of its defensive pistols.
This pattern continues with the Sportmans Warehouse exclusive XD-M Elite handgun.
Out front, Springfield uses a red fiber optic sight.
In the rear, a U-notch rear sight rides on the slide.
This gun is an OSP model.
A protective plate is included if you decide to use the factory sights.
This wasnt a surprise as Ive enjoyed shooting all the pistols in this line.
As described above, the ergonomic grip has interchangeable backstraps.
This allowed me to customize the grip to fit my hand size.
Popular opinion suggests the 10mm cartridge provides a significant increase in recoil compared to many other calibers.
Ive found that well-designed 10mm pistols arent difficult to shoot, and the XD-M Elite handled the recoil well.
Even with heavier 200-gr.
loads, the pistol was comfortable to shoot.
Ditto with the lighter, zippier rounds.
One of the things that stood out to me about the XD-M Elite was its accuracy.
The match-grade barrel and factory sights made it easy to hit targets at typical handgun distances.
I found the front sight was bright in all lighting conditions.
I was able to consistently shoot tight groups at 15 yards unsupported.
Nosler provided ample quantities of its 180-gr.
JHP ASP load and its 200-gr.
This allowed me to confirm the pistols reliability with hollowpoint ammunition.
Both the ammo and the gun performed exceptionally well.
Noslers reputation for manufacturing excellent ammunition components is well-known.
That reputation appears completely deserved with these loads.
The company puts each round through a multitude of checks to ensure maximum reliability and precision.
I thank them for sending me the ammunition for this review.
Ammunition Performance
Final Thoughts
This is my favorite XD-M Elite.
The size, two-tone color, features and chambering all blend into an amazing Springfield Armory pistol.
Overall, this exclusive edition Springfield Armory XD-M Elite performed exceptionally well.
Its accuracy, ergonomics, and versatility made it enjoyable to shoot.
