The Perfect Backup/Off-Duty Gun
I tested the Springfield Armory X-DM Elite 3.8” Compact OSP with the HEX Dragonfly optic. This gun is the concealable version of the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5” Tactical OSP duty handgun, and it is the perfect backup/off-duty gun for those who use the XD-M system.
This XDM Elite 3.8” model is one of the premium models from Springfield Armory, born in Croatia, adopted into families in the U.S. and worldwide. Many agencies prefer the XD configurations over other polymer handguns because of the grip safety. The grip safety, coupled with their internal striker block, which is similar to many polymer guns, prevents the gun from being fired unless the safety is fully depressed.
I like the XD models, which include the XD-S, XD-M Elite, and my personal EDC, the Hellcat, because they use steel, Easy Glide magazines that never hang up when speed reloading.
The XDM Elite is an improvement over their other XD series handguns with a match barrel and an improved trigger. It is as if Springfield took their popular XD-S models to a bunch of competition shooters and asked, “This is good. What would make it better?”
The conversation probably went like this:
First, I would make this trigger a little more like a match trigger.
Springfield Armory: Done.
It definitely needs to have large opening for the mag well.
Springfield Armory: We can do that.
Is it possible to add a captive recoil spring?
Springfield Armory: That we can do also.
I would prefer a polymer gun that does not require a pull of the trigger in order to disassemble it.
Springfield Armory: You want whaaaat? Turns to other engineers. [Whispering in the background] OK, we can do that too.
Match barrel?
Springfield Armory: [sigh] Yes, match barrel.
Can you add a HEX Dragonfly and keep it under $850 MSRP?
Springfield Armory: [unintelligible conversation in background] Wait a minute…[more unintelligible conversation] (shouting) OK, ANYTHING ELSE?
Yes, it needs to be a tack driver.
Springfield Armory: Done.
On the range, we found that the X-DM Elite 3.8” felt exactly like the full sized version, only chopped at the grip and the slide. It shot comfortably, like a tactical sized gun. We could fire rapid, multiple shot strings, with much more accuracy than similar sized guns. However, one of the reasons it felt like a larger gun is because it is a larger gun. It is thicker and heavier than a Glock 19, with a shorter overall length. If we continue the comparison, however, we liked the grip angle and trigger, and the fact that it is quickly put into action.
The HEX Dragonfly is one of the new micro compact RDS (red dot sights), with a 3.5 MOA dot. It has a pretty rugged housing of 6061 T6 hard coated aluminum. The emitter is controlled by a single button, which we definitely liked. Instead of a smooth round hood, the Dragonfly has planed surfaces, which appear to be a little beefed up, compared to conventional rounded surfaces.
Although I personally prefer the SIG RomeoZero 1x24, with a 6MOA dot, the beefiness of the Dragonfly is its strongest suit. It also runs on a 2032 cell for a long, long, time.
I like the RDS trend for duty and off duty handguns. However, as we begin to put an RDS on smaller and smaller guns, we begin to lose real estate on the top of the slide. The most glaring example of this is the loaded chamber indicator on the X-DM Elite. The HEX Dragonfly doesn’t exactly cover it, but it is much harder to get a visual and tactile confirmation with it, considering the placement of the optic base. This does not cause me any worry whatsoever. Even if I have one of these features, I do not use it, and consider it like some of the computer-controlled features on my new car. These things are nice, but I miss steel dashboards and AM radios.
The same goes for the striker indicator. This is a steel protrusion in the rear plate area of the XD-M slide. When the striker is cocked, a pin protrudes from the rear. It gives tactile confirmation, presumably when the gun is still in the holster. This is a “nice to have” feature, but, believe me, when I am carrying my firearm, I know when I have chambered a round, and if the striker is poised to do its job. I press check my gun.
Users will like the blocky serrations that don’t abrade the hands when training with skills that require slide manipulations. The recoil spring/guide rod is actually two captive springs. This gives a progressive compression of the spring tension as one manipulates the slide, allowing for easy racking. This turned out to be a really easy gun to shoot, and the ergonomics were excellent.
Rather than use tiny stippling, the XD-M uses molded protrusions, with generous voids between the protrusions. This turns out to be well designed. If this gun is worn in a holster against the body, there isn’t the aggressive grip untucking the shirt. The magazine well is removable, and I removed it to confirm it was easy to do. Once removed, one can use full sized XD-M magazines (using magazine grip adapters), akin to the relationship between the full-sized and commander-sized guns. The grip surfaces are ambidextrous, including the recessed thumb rest, which felt natural for me.
Springfield Armory magazines are the most reliable magazines money can buy. This is one of many reasons why I carry a Hellcat. The XD-M magazines are made of the same steel, which is slick on the outside and inside, and rigid enough to take on a beating during a range session. In the XD-M, they nearly fly out of the magwell when the magazine release is pressed.
The X-DM Elite 3.8” comes with two 14 round magazines. If you really want to increase capacity, the larger XD-M Elite magazines can hold up to 22 rounds, using the grip adapters. Know this about all Springfield Armory magazines: you need a magazine loader. When you purchase a Springfield handgun, get a magazine loader. This is a good thing: Their magazines have strong, reliable, springs, mounted over slick followers.
I found the X-DM Elite 3.8” an easy gun to shoot well, with characteristics almost indistinguishable from the full-sized version. It operated smoothly, and the superior design of the recoil spring/guide rod made this gun transition quickly when engaging multiple targets.
I expect that many agencies will adopt the XD-M system, as a system. That is, a Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5” Tactical OSP on the duty belt, X-DM Elite 3.8” as the backup.
The MSRP $818. Like most handguns with an MSRP, expect to see it in stores for cheaper.
Officer Lindsey Bertomen (ret.), Contributing Editor
Lindsey Bertomen is a retired police officer and retired military small arms trainer. He teaches criminal justice at Hartnell College in Salinas, California, where serves as a POST administrator and firearms instructor. He also teaches civilian firearms classes, enjoys fly fishing, martial arts, and mountain biking. His articles have appeared in print and online for over two decades.
