Although the circumstances are different, a similar upheaval is currently underway with those who employ handguns for self-defense.
Ten years ago, it was hard to find a factory pistol with a red dot option.
Today, nearly every pistol manufacturer offers at least one option.
Springfield Armory now offers you a way to upgrade your XD pistols to use a red dot optic with a new OSP slide assembly.
All these pistols feature slides cut from the factory to accept red dot optics.
XD OSP Options
Springfield Armory is offering three slide conversion options for the XD full-size pistols.
All three versions come with taller sights to allow for co-witnessing options.
Available in three different packages, the new Springfield Armory OSP slide for the XD includes an optics cut, mounting plate and heightened sights.
The rear sight has a U-notch, and the front is a high-visibility fiber optic unit.
The slide kit option is also quite interesting, and Ill cover that separately below.
Reinstall your slide, and you have an XD OSP.
The above image shows the parts that Springfield Armory includes with the primary Slide Assembly kit. Plate cover and optics plate shown.
The base assembly comes with only the slide and a mounting plate to keep it very affordable.
For a little extra money, Springfield Armory offers a second option that includes a Crimson Trace CTS-1500.
Springfield Armory then adds in a new 9mm barrel and recoil assembly.
As seen from above, the new slide has a rich black finish, an optics cut with protective cover, and the iconic Springfield Armory logo.
In other words, the kit offers a completely new top end for your XD pistol.
But there is an additional benefit as well.
You now have a fully functioning 4 9mm XD pistol.
If you need an optic for your XD slide upgrade, Springfield Armory provides a Slide Assembly that includes the CrimsonTrace CTS-1500.
The new XD slides uses taller sights, with a U-notch rear and fiber optic front.
For my testing model, I mounted the Crimson Trace CTS-1500 optic.
Normal height sights would likely be unusable in this configuration.
The Springfield Armory Slide Kit is the complete upper assembly that allows you to convert any of four different XD pistols to a 9mm 4″ XD with OSP capabilities.
Range Time
Logically, I know that the new slide kits should work without any problems.
Nevertheless, Im a firm believer in testing everything.
As a defensive-style pistol, they have no margin of error for reliability issues.
Taller sights are standard on the new Springfield Armory XD OSP slides, and feature a U-notch rear and fiber optic front.
And this is one of the reasons why I like them the XD pistols just work.
I hit the range with all four guns, the new slide and a whole crate of ammunition.
I intended to check the OSP slide kit on each of the guns to ensure functionality across models.
As shown above, you can convert an XD Tactical 5″ in either 9mm or .40 to a 9mm XD OSP (top) with the Springfield Armory Slide Kit.
As I hoped, the factory slide kits ran perfectly on all of the different XD frames.
I encountered no hiccups with any ammunition I tried, including standard and +P pressure loads.
The Springfield Armory slide kits seem to be completely interchangeable with the stock assemblies.
The sights can co-witness with a red dot like the Crimson Trace CTS-1500 when it is mounted on the XD OSP slide.
Mine run reliably, shoot well and feel good in my hands.
The fact that these pistols are still popular today is a testament to the inherent value of the line.
So, the new slide kits are a very welcome addition to the market.
With the included mounting plate, the CTS-1500 red dot sight easily attaches to the XD OSP slide.
Having the ability to swap from .40 to 9mm will also appeal to many shooters.
Go to forum thread
XDSeries
XDOSPTM 9mm Slide Assembly
While the Crimson Trace CTS-1500 is included in some slide kits, the XD OSP slide will accept a range of red dot sights like this Shield SMSc.
The XD OSP Slide Kit and Slide Assemblies are not firearms. They are simply an accessory that allows an existing XD to employ a red dot sight.
