The Springfield Armory XD handgun traces its heritage back to 1991 to the war-torn Balkan nation of Croatia. Initially, entry into the U.S. market was less than stellar via the HS2000 brand. In 2002, Springfield Armory had acquired the licensing rights to the design. Springfield Armory’s tweaks helped turn around the model’s reputation quickly. By 2006 the XD was winning multiple prestigious industry awards.

Like most modern handguns, the XD functions via short recoil-operated locked breech a la Browning’s design with camming-cut below the barrel. This serves to unlock and lower the barrel during the recoil cycle. The XD has slightly modified Browning’s design by removing the locking points located on the barrel in front of chamber. Instead, the XD utilizes a single locking lug milled above the barrel’s chamber, thus using the slide’s large overhead ejection port as its locking recess. The front contour of the barrel lug cam slot has been cut square to direct counter-recoiling forces up and forward, reducing stress on the lug.

Evolution has been constant with the XD. Springfield Armory decided to update their XD handgun lineup via the XD-M Elite series. After all, it would smack as arrogant to assume that refinements would not benefit the user after years of being on the market. The XD has always attracted admirers thanks to its ergonomics. For example, its grip angle found favor with many who argue it offers a better natural point of aim than competitors, especially polymer ones from Austria. The XD-M Elite 4.5-inch barreled 9mm featured herein is the latest creation building upon customer feedback and manufacturing expertise. Thankfully, Springfield Armory maintained the grip angle with the XD-M Elite model. Instead, they focused their attention on other aspects of the design, such as the trigger, magazine well, undercut trigger guard, enhanced slide serrations, extended beavertail, and sights.

The XD-M Elite 4.5-inch modifications consist of a capacity increase, a new magazine well, slide serrations, an ambidextrous slide stop, a more prominent grip safety with memory bump and, most importantly, a trigger upgrade. The XD-M Elite has a reinforced polymer frame and steel slide with a significant design emphasis on ergonomics for ease of function. The slide is covered with a Melonite finish for durability wrapped around the 4.5-inch match barrel. Stippling and raised grooves adorn both the front strap and the forward face of the squared-off trigger guard. Material has been relieved where the trigger guard connects to the grip allowing for the shooter’s hand sit as high as possible. This allows the XD-M Elite to sit low in the user’s hand. This assists in limiting muzzle flip during recoil. The frame features a beavertail to help prevent slide bite as well as further manage recoil, especially during rapid strings of fire. I have always felt the XD’s grip safety and grip angle gives off the aura of a polymer framed 1911. An integral railed dust cover allows for lights/laser. The XD-M Elite also comes with interchangeable backstraps to accommodate individual shooter requirements for grip feel. Vertical chevron-like cuts are found at the rear and front of the XD-M Elite’s slide for increased purchase when manipulating the slide. The pistol weighs 29 ounces.

Further enhancements with the XD-M Elite consists of Springfield’s Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly (META). Not only is the META one of the best out of the box striker-fired triggers; it stacks up well with many aftermarket trigger offerings. The trigger pull measured approximately five pounds. The Springfield Armory META’s straight trigger offers a near 90-degree break for better geometry and is less likely to pull sights to the right or left. The key with the XD-M Elite is how it provides the same trigger pull every time. Overall, the XD-M Elite META trigger is an asset.

Ambidextrous slide stop, fiber optic front, and Tactical Rack U-Do Rear sights and an increased magazine capacity of 20+1 round out the Elite’s list of features. Springfield Armory includes a removable extended and flared magwell to accommodate the 20-round magazines. Springfield Armory has developed the XD-M Elite to serve as the premium version of XD-series to show off the potential of the platform. The user knows something is different with the XD-M Elite as soon as its soft case is opened.

We evaluated the XD-M Elite using several drills experienced during training with Redback One, TMACs, Tactical Response, Graham Combat, and other schools. Drills included working around breaching facades, door entries, and other CQB activities. Multiple magazine changes and high volume ammunition consuming drills exhibited no idiosyncrasies with the XD-M Elite. The magazine release button is easily accessed and the magwell appreciated.

The Springfield Armory XD-M Elite impressively handled all ammunition brands, bullet types, and weights with equal aplomb. XD-M Elite ergonomics and handling characteristics were quickly appreciated. A user understands why the XD-M Elite and its predecessor are so well thought of. The beavertail grip frame and overall balance of the pistol made felt recoil negligible. The slide reciprocates smoothly with the sights tracking smoothly in between shots fired.

Norma ammunition led the way in testing with FMJ, NXD, and MHP loads. Hornady, Remington, Federal, and Black Hills was also shot. T&E was conducted at Echo Valley Training Center (EVTC), a private range located near Winchester, VA, where many local and federal law enforcement tactical team members train. Shooting from sandbags produced 2-inch groups at 25 yards. I quickly realized that the XD-M Elite possessed inherent accuracy superior to what I was capable of. That is a nice feeling that instills confidence in a handgun. The XD-M Elite digested anything fed to it. For example, the cutting edge (pun intended) Norma NXD 65 grain load, characterized by reduced recoil thanks to light bullet at high velocity, had no issues. A finicky ammo appetite is not an endearing trait with a personal defense handgun.

Norma has been manufacturing and innovating ammunition for 120 plus years. Norma Ammunition is associated with some of Europe’s other finer offerings—Premier League soccer, double rifles, and Formula 1 racing. All are truly world class.

The Norma MHP (Monolithic Hollow Point) is a monolithic solid copper projectile. Expansion is the MHP’s forte. Ballistic gel shoots with the 108-grain 9mm MHP exhibit compact 11-inch penetration, limiting concern of over-penetration. Expansion to 0.9 inches means all the energy created from the 1300fps+ 108-grains is dumped into the target. The MHP is skived so that expansion is generated from four petals that erupt from the projectile. The bullet profile is similar to an FMJ, so feeding will not be an issue.

PERFORMANCE:

EVTC’s Jungle Walk Range proved an ideal test location. A premium is placed on a quick handling accurate handgun such as the XD-M Elite with multiple rounds fired in quick succession being the norm to put a target down. The natural pointability of the XD-M Elite comes into its own in this realm. Random steel and paper targets were placed along the trail. Target arrays consisted of single and multiple engagement points only visible when shooter discovered them while coming around corner of the trail. Significantly, no malfunctions were experienced while test firing over 700 rounds.

Somewhat counterintuitively, the XD-M Elite would prove a solid choice for training new shooters. Its size is conducive to proper grip. Sights are intuitive. META trigger offers no excuses. In short, you perform the firing sequence correctly, you will be rewarded with rounds going where intended. As shooter proficiency increases, the XD-M Elite is more capable of keeping up.

The new Springfield Armory META trigger reminded me of other polymer handgun selections with one important nuance; only after they had experienced custom work from qualified gunsmiths, including aftermarket accessories. That is meant as a compliment to the new META factory trigger. The new trigger is crisper and has a tactile/audible reset. Everyone surely agrees that a trigger set-up properly is a great aid to accurate shooting. The XD-M Elite’s combination of good sights and trigger along with Springfield Armory quality control produces a weapon that can run plate racks at 25 yards with monotony. Along these lines, the XD-M Elite can deliver multiple hits on IPSC style targets at close range using point shooting techniques within 3-7 yards. This is a compliment to its overall design.

The key point with the XD-M Elite is that it is eminently adaptable to individual, or department needs no matter mission or budgetary concerns. Everything from the homeowner with a light/laser combo to an elite operator with night vision and infrared target designator will find the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite a handgun worthy of consideration. The buyer is getting a lot of value for the listed purchase price of around $609. The XD-M Elite is a potent package due to its accuracy, reliability, and capacity—all of this combines for increased lethality.

With the XD-M Elite, the Springfield Armory attention to detail is instantly sensed. Crucial items such as magazine release button shape, grip texture, trigger, and placing the shooters hand as near the bore axis are seamlessly interfaced. The XD-M Elite is one of the flattest shooting handguns I’ve shot. By flattest shooting, I am referring to minimal muzzle flip with sights tracking smoothly between trigger breaks. Springfield’s years of experience with the XD platform has allowed their engineers to take the nebulous concept of “feel” and translate it to the XD-M Elite being one of best shooting pistols on the market right out of the box.

Many may ask what the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite offers to shooters compared to other polymer-framed striker-fired handguns already on the market. The answer lies more with refining the striker-fired concept more than creating anything revolutionary. The XD-M Elite benefits from lessons learned combined with a manufacturer intimately familiar with quality weapon production.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Make: Springfield Armory
Model: XD-M Elite
Caliber: 9mm
Weight: 29 ounces
Magazine Capacity: 2-20 round magazine provided
Width: 1.2 inches at grip
Height: 5.75 inches
Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
MSRP: $609
URL: springfield-armory.com

The state of Israel was established in May of 1948. The years since Israeli independence have been marked by conflict with neighboring Arab states as well as the Palestinian-Arabs. Though there have been many negotiations and peace talks, seems that Israel appears to be in a constant state of conflict. They have survived under difficult circumstances and the country seems to have prospered despite war, religious conflict, boycotts, mass immigration and terror attacks. Because of these conflicts, Israel has produced several well thought out firearms and tons of accessories that are on the cutting edge. This has been based more on need than just to make a profit in the weapons market. Now the Israelis have come up with a firearm accessory that solves an age-old problem: how to hit long range targets with a handgun.

Handguns of today are extremely accurate. In fact they are capable of far better accuracy than most shooters are able to achieve. The problem is not the gun itself but holding it steady enough to make a shot at 100 yards or beyond. This is now not only possible but can be done with relative ease. The Israeli produced, EMA Tactical RONI is not a firearm but rather an accessory that turns a handgun into a deadly long range carbine.

The RONI is an innovative chassis that a handgun fits into. It gives the handgun a telescoping shoulder stock, an extended sight plane and a foregrip. This all adds up to a lightweight pistol caliber carbine with extended hit capability. Many think you can’t put a stock on a handgun, but it can be done as long as it is done the right way. The “right way” involves registering the host handgun as an SBR (Short Barreled Rifle). This is done by filling out an ATF form 1, sending it to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and waiting for it to be approved and sent back. The key words here are “waiting for the approval to be sent back.” A few words of caution here. Do not put the RONI on your handgun or even have it in your possession until the paper work is approved. This constitutes a felony and could very well buy you a hefty fine as well as some jail time.

The RONI is a clamshell device that is made from polymer and aluminum with a weight of just 3.26 pounds without the handgun. It features a five position telescoping stock with an adjustable cheek piece, a flat-top Picatinny rail across the top and short rails on the bottom and both sides. The top rail is a generous 9.5 inches long with room for sights, optics or a combination of optics and night vision. The side rails are positioned just right for using the off-hand thumb to activate a light or laser. It also is equipped with an extra magazine holder. The RONI comes with no sights but they are available as an optional accessory. As SAR received one of the first RONI’s available for testing, the optional sights were not yet available so a set of the excellent MagPul MBUS (MagPul Back-Up Sights) were installed. These low-cost sights are color injection molded from a high strength polymer. The front and rear sight both fold into a very low profile and snap into an upright position with a touch to their spring loaded release levers. The MagPul MBUS are fully adjustable and fit all 1913 Picatinny rails. Although designed for the AR-15/M16 family of rifles, they worked perfectly on the RONI. Another option that is available is a folding foregrip. In the author’s opinion the folding foregrip is a must as it allows for a solid forward holding point, folds cleanly out of the way and can be used in either the folded or extended position. A brass catcher is also offered as an accessory but was not yet available when this article went to press.

The RONI has a hinge point at the bottom and can be opened up to allow the insertion of the handgun. It is then hinged closed and held that way by sliding front and rear caps that lock it shut. The handgun can be installed or removed in less than 6 seconds. The handgun is locked firmly in place with absolutely no movement. This is important as it is the main factor in the amazing accuracy of the RONI. This accuracy is also repeatable. You can remove the gun and reinstall it with no loss of accuracy. The RONI we received for testing was for a Glock but other models will be available in the coming months. These will include variants for the Beretta 92, Beretta PX4 Storm, Para-Ordnance P16-P18, Jericho, Springfield XD, SIG-Sauer, H&K USP, S&W M&P, FN 5.7 and Glock 21. There also might be other models for other popular handguns. The Glock model received for testing will fit models 17, 18, 19, 22, 31, 32, 34 and 35. Putting the handgun into the RONI requires no disassembly of the host gun; it is just a simple drop-in installation.

Our testing was done with a Glock 17 that was previously registered as an SBR. The gun was a Generation 3 Glock and fit perfectly into the RONI. Installation the first time took considerably longer than the advertised times but once it was done; successive installations were done in the advertised 6 seconds. To install the gun the RONI is first hinged open, then a two-sided, polymer charging handle is slipped onto the rear of the handgun’s slide. This is merely a slip fit. The handgun is then inserted into the RONI and its two halves are hinged back together. The sliding front and rear end caps are slid back into place and locked with 2 HK style push pins. The push pins are held captive so there is no worry about losing or misplacing them. Once the front and rear end caps are locked into place the RONI is ready to use. A recessed push button on the top of the buttpad is used to extend or retract the telescoping stock. The stock is skeletonized and holds a spare magazine positioned right below the shooters cheek. This position is the ideal place for accessing the spare magazine for rapid mag changes. The holder has a release lever that holds the magazine in place but it is not needed to release the magazine. To release the magazine you merely grab and pull. With the stock collapsed the overall length is just 19 inches. Extending the stock takes it out to 22.25 inches. There are also four sling swivel points on the RONI allowing it to be carried in a variety of ways to suit the individual shooter.

One other feature of the RONI that is worth mention is a built-in safety. This is especially handy for a Glock that relies on its safe-action trigger as its safety. The RONI’s safety is merely two ambidextrous rotating tabs that can be swung into place to block the shooters finger from reaching the gun’s trigger. It is simple, fast and best of all it works. The RONI has what EMA terms a barrel shroud. This shroud is made from aluminum and surrounds the muzzle of the pistol. It has three forward canted slots that resemble a compensator. This shroud fits on the inside of the front of the RONI and actually protects the polymer from muzzle blast. The shroud is adjustable front to back in two different positions. This allows the RONI to accommodate both the full size Glock as well as the compact model of the same gun. The shroud is also completely removable which allows the use of any suppressor up to 35.5 mm diameter. We installed a Lone Wolf Distributors threaded barrel on the test gun. These match grade barrels are pre-fit, ready to use and drop right in. They are more accurate with tighter tolerances than original Glock barrels. An added advantage of the Lone Wolf barrel is that you can use lead, plated or jacketed bullets. Along with the threaded barrel we used an AWC Titanium Abraxas suppressor. As the Abraxas is made of Titanium and is very small, it requires no recoil device to allow the host handgun to cycle reliably. The Abraxas is an exceedingly effective 9mm pistol suppressor in a size that is smaller than a lot of .22 suppressors. It weights just 3.3 ounces, with a diameter of .98 inches and a length of 5.7 inches. It proves that good things do come in small packages.

Testing of the RONI was done at 25, 50 and 100 yards. An electronic optic was chosen to get the most out of the pistol/carbine yet maintain the overall quickness. The optic chosen was the new L3 EOTech EXPS3. This tiny sight is extremely fast but also has a 1 MOA red dot for enhanced accuracy. The circle dot reticle is very fast on target and the overall length of the sight saves valuable rail space for back-up iron sights or night vision. The EXPS3 runs on one transverse mounted 123 battery and has its control buttons mounted on the side instead of on the rear. Battery life is over 600 hours depending on the brightness setting and the sight features 30 settings with 10 for night vision use.

The gun was initially sighted in at 25 yards and then the rest of the testing was done at 50 and 100 yards. A variety of ammunition was used including 115 grain FMJ, 115 grain Winchester Silvertip, 124 grain FMJ, 124 grain hollow point, 147 grain FMJ, 147 grain Hydro Shock and some Samson 158 grain subsonic. Shooting was done from a rest. Twenty five yard groups looked like large ragged holes. Groups fired from 50 yards were very surprising. Most 5-shot groups could be covered with the palm of your hand and a couple shot with the Winchester Silvertips measured just over three inches. Remember this is 50 yards with a handgun. At the 100 yard range, 5 shots could be covered with a dinner plate. Head shots on a milpark target at 100 yards were made routinely. In fact, one 6-shot group fired at 100 yards measured less than 6 inches. These groups were all fired with the Lone Wolf threaded barrel installed on the gun but no suppressor. Adding the suppressor did not change the group size worth mentioning. But the RONI with a suppressor is nothing if it is not cool. Talk about the ultimate close-quarter entry weapon.

The EMA Tactical RONI is not for everybody. It is a pricey weapon. By the time you figure the cost of a handgun, SBR registration tax, the RONI itself and optics; you are looking at around the $1,500 figure. But for operators that have a need to go from a short range handgun to a long range carbine in under 10 seconds it is the perfect weapon.

EMA Tactical
1208 Branagan Drive
Tullytown, AP 19007
Phone: (215) 949-9944
Fax: (215) 949-9191
Website: www.ematactical.com

EOTech
1201 East Ellsworth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 741-8868
Fax: (734) 741-8221
Website: www.eotech-inc.com

AWC Systems Technology
1515 West Deer Valley Road, Suite A-105
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Phone: (623) 780-1050
Fax: (623) 780-2967
Website: www.awcsystech.com

Lone Wolf Distributors, Inc.
57 Shepard Road
P.O. Box 3549
Oldtown, ID 83822
Phone: (208) 437-0612
Fax: (208) 437-1098
Website: www.lonewolfdist.com

MagPul Industries Corp.
P.O. Box 17697
Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: (303) 828-3460
Fax: (303) 828-3469
Website: www.magpul.com