September 8th, 2020
8:06 runtime
Everyone seems to be thinking about personal protection and concealed carry these days.
Yes, the trigger is smooth, crisp and short.
Its also completely appropriate for concealed carry or duty use.
My Lyman digital trigger scale showed an average pull weight of 5 lbs., 9 oz.
over an average of 10 trigger pulls with the XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact.
All in all, the features of the XD-M Elite line are extremely attractive.
Bringing those features to a carry-sized handgun is a no-brainer.
Where the new XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact differs is in its overall minute dimensions.
The 3.8 barrel is long enough to push performance out of quality ammo like the Atlanta Arms Elite 115-gr.
JHP rounds I tested the gun with, but short enough to conceal even when carrying outside the waistband.
In fact, the overall length of the pistol is just under 7.
When it comes to concealment, I find the grip length to be more important that slide length.
This is where the XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact really stands apart from the rest of the XD-M Elite family.
With a height of 4.58, the 3.8 Compact is very easy to conceal.
Its big enough to help funnel in mags quickly, but not so large that it affects concealability.
Now you have a higher-capacity version of the pistol with a full-size grip frame.
Where It Counts
Concealed carry is a highly personalized endeavor.
I dont know what works best for you, but I do know what works for me.
When it comes to concealed carry and duty use, reliability is a primary concern.
I have been spending a good bit of time with the XD-M Elite pistols.
So far there hasnt been a single malfunction.
I have every intention of shooting these guns to the point of failure.
My gut tells me it is going to take more ammo than I currently have access to.
The Tactical Rack rear U-Dot sights have been a pleasure to shoot with.
I first started playing with the U-Dot pattern sights on the Hellcat, and I quickly became a fan.
Lining up the bright front fiber optic in the rear U is easy and intuitive.
While shooting, I found that the sights were very easy to track.
Overall, I found the features of the XD-M Elite to be substantial.
Conclusion
I am pleased with the release of the XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact.
For me, its the XD-M Elite that works best for CCW.
It also is a refined handgun with match grade features, right out of the box.
With an MSRP of $559, the 3.8 Compact provides custom gun features at a stock gun price.
In my opinion, thats a very attractive combination.
JHP Match
Safety Solutions Academy
Black Boar Armory & Coatings
