Review: Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP 10mm

By Scott Conditt
Posted in #Guns
Save
Save Remove from saved articles
Like
Like Unlike
Share
Facebook Share Twitter Share Pinterest Share

Review: Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP 10mm

September 30th, 2021

4:59 runtime

From the very first time I shot an XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact chambered in 9mm, I was a fan of the overall size, the host of upgraded features, and quite simply, how it felt in my hands. It simply just felt “right.”

Why? It’s the compact sibling of my full-size XD-M Elite, which is one of my favorite 9mm pistols to run at the range. This is mainly because the gun comes right out of the box feeling like a competition gun. It’s the details on it that make all the difference. For example, the flat-faced Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly (META) in my opinion truly lives up to its boast of being the finest factory trigger in a polymer-framed pistol.

Springfield XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact OSP 10mm with HEX Dragonfly
The new XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP in 10mm offers CCW enthusiasts a powerful new option for EDC that accepts red dot optics like this HEX Dragonfly.

Other features also help make this Elite pistol more than simply the sum of its parts. These include fully ambidextrous controls with the addition of an ambi slide stop, match-grade barrel, removable extended and flared magwell, and overall exceptional ergonomics and handling.

The appeal of having these upgrades, which are usually found in competition-geared match guns, in a formidable CCW pistol was absolutely exceptional. I can honestly say it was one of the very few guns in my experience that immediately fell into my shortlist of pistols that came straight out of the box to fit my hand and shooting style like a glove, with no modular grip or component changes or other tweaks required. For all of these reasons and more, I was very excited to learn about the pending release of the XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP chambered in… 10mm.

Stepping Up

Throughout all of my years learning about, shooting, testing and studying various firearms platforms and writing about them, it dawned on me that I had never actually had the pleasure of shooting 10mm before. Sure, I enjoyed shooting countless “high-caliber” handgun rounds like .357 Mag., 44 Mag. and .50 AE, but surprisingly never 10mm.

Man shows compact nature of the XD-M Elite Compact OSP in 10mm
Springfield Armory delivers a lot of punch in a compact, lightweight package that doesn’t skimp on ergonomics or reliability.

The 10mm has been championed as having merit as both a pistol hunting round by hunters and also as a “superior defensive caliber” by EDC enthusiasts. As a result, I was genuinely curious to learn what all the hullabaloo was about. For a round that isn’t exactly the new kid on the block, the innovative 10mm cartridge certainly has been stealing the limelight lately.

The 10mm was born back in the 1980s, promoted strongly by no less than Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper of Gunsite fame, and adopted for issue by the FBI over the more common 9mm round. Unfortunately for the 10mm, its recoil and the size of the pistols required to fire it doomed the round with the FBI, leading to the development of the .40 caliber round — basically, a shorter and lower-velocity version of the 10mm.

9mm vs. 10mm vs. .45 ACP caliber comparison
The 10mm round (center), offers increased bullet diameter and power over the 9mm (right) and much greater velocity than the .45 (left).

However, the 10mm’s popularity soldiered on behind the scenes, with shooters appreciating the power it brought to a semi-auto platform. Now you can find it chambered in 1911 and polymer-framed full-size pistols that are easy to shoot well and can handle a steady diet of the powerful cartridge.

But what about a compact, CCW-sized 10mm? Those are fewer and farther between. Why? Is the round too powerful for a packable-sized pistol? Needless to say, I was very interested to find out when I had the opportunity to test the new XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP chambered in this very round. It was time to unbox this bad boy and hit the range to see firsthand what all the noise is about.

Out of the Box

Aesthetically, the new 10mm Compact had all the same features and characteristics of the 9mm Compact I had tested. As far as I am concerned, this is a good thing as I really like the aggressive and unique styling that melds the sleek competition-style contours of a high-end match gun with ultra-modern striker-fired polymer pistol lines and edges. Why change a winning formula?

Surprisingly compact and lightweight in hand, the pistol weighs just 25.3 oz. without the magazine and 27 with it. The height of the platform with the 11-round stainless steel magazine is 4.58”, and overall length is 6.75”. This is a quite small gun for being a 10mm.

10mm Springfield XD-M Elite Compact magazines
Full-size 15-round magazines with grip sleeves (left) are available. This gives the pistol more capacity than the standard 11-rounder (at right).

But one of the most exciting features that caught my eye was the OSP-ready slide (with OSP standing for “Optical Sight Pistol”), cut to accept a variety of compatible optics. For a compact EDC gun, not to mention one chambered in 10mm, this feature is truly a rare treat.

Springfield Armory offers the pistol as a standalone option or also packed with a HEX Dragonfly red dot optic. The Dragonfly has been a longtime favorite pairing for me on my 9mm XD-M Elite and having it available as an option through Springfield Armory is a fantastic option in my opinion.

HEX Dragonfly on Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm pistol
The XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP in 10mm is intended for serious defensive work.

Now I already knew I loved the design of the previous XD-M Elite pistols that had made it through my rotation in the past, and looks are one thing, but how the gun runs is really all that matters.

Specifications

Here are the specs on the Springfield XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP 10mm pistol:

Chambering10mm
Barrel3.8″
Weight27 oz
Overall Length6.75″
SightsFiber optic front, Tactical Rack U-Dot rear
GripsIntegral
ActionStriker-fired
FinishBlack
Capacity11+1 (two magazines included)
MSRP$633, $818 w/ HEX Dragonfly

Where It Counts

Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to get the 10mm Compact out to the range. The plan was to put it through its paces on paper to best gauge grouping at typical engagement distances, then rapidly ring steel to obtain a general sense of overall handling during transitions and follow-up shots.

I already knew what the answer would be, but as you can probably tell, my scientific approach to test-driving the new pistol went right off the road in lieu of determining the entertainment value and general enjoyment of shooting the gun, which in all fairness, really is a valuable category when considering your next purchase.

Man testing the XD-M Elite 10mm Compact OSP at the range
The author found the XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP 10mm to be a pleasure to run on the range, with manageable recoil and excellent performance.

I proceeded to load up some of Hornady’s excellent Critical Duty 175-gr. FlexLock 10mm rounds and headed downrange to my targets. Taking aim on the paper target felt all too familiar, and if I didn’t know any better, I would have easily believed the pistol was simply the 9mm version of the compact. However, I wanted to make sure I was prepared to handle the recoil. I knew full well this little pistol was firing a round comparable to a .41 Mag.

Hornady Critical Duty 175-gr. FlexLock ammunition
The author tried out the new pistol with a selection of loadings, including Hornady’s excellent Critical Duty 175-gr. FlexLock ammunition.

Sighting in through the HEX Dragonfly and pressing the comfortable, crisp and familiar META trigger, I placed the first round on target. I was underwhelmed. Not by the accuracy, the handling of the performance of the pistol. No, it was the recoil that put me in that state. While I had been expecting a significant punch and drastic muzzle rise, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfortable and balanced “push” back of the pistol as I touched off the rounds.

It simply didn’t feel like the hand cannon I was expecting when it came to recoil, and the subsequent reset and follow-up shots were as equally efficient and controlled as its 9mm counterpart, with which I had spent ample time shooting in the past.

This is perhaps what was the most striking to me about this gun — it was downright comfortable and pleasant to shoot. You hear a lot of people talking about the cartridge and how it was essentially put to pasture back in the day because of how unwieldy it was to shoot, but the way the XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP managed the pushback of touching off the 10mm rounds was outstanding.

Man demonstrating a one handed grip on the XD-M Elite Compact OSP pistol
During this review of the XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact 10mm pistol, the author tested standard and extended magazines for grip and reliability.

Transitioning to steel targets presented an even more satisfying experience, with the Hornady rounds ringing the metal with a healthy report while dropping hammer pairs and conducting failure drills with similar ease and enjoyment from 15 to 25 yards. I then stripped off the HEX Dragonfly red dot to run the red fiber optic front sight and Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sight of the pistol, and they made for easy target acquisition and shot placement.

The removable flared magwell made quick reloads a breeze using the two provided 11-round stainless steel magazines. It is important to note that the pistol can also accept full-size 15-round magazines with grip sleeves (they are available for purchase together as an accessory for the pistol) if you remove the Elite magwell and select the proper grip sleeve to correspond with your chosen backstrap (the pistol comes with three interchangeable ones).

Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact OSP in 10mm
With the 15-round magazine with grip sleeve installed, the 10mm pistol has a full-size grip and increased capacity.

With the 15-rounder installed, I was instantly impressed by how the change-up afforded a more “full” size grip. This is an extremely valuable feature. Having the capability to quickly change and adapt the pistol to a full-size grip configuration with increased capacity is such a cool engineering and ergonomic benefit that it really sets this gun apart. It makes the pistol more than just a “compact EDC” option in my opinion.

The Takeaway

I genuinely enjoyed shooting the new 10mm compact variant of the tried and true XD-M Elite platform. This gun is going to be for those in the EDC community who desire a significant increase in punch in their highly concealable carry gun, but one that is still pleasant to shoot. And the fact it can accept a red dot optic is all the better.

If you’re a fan of the Elite series of XD-M handguns and have been looking to step up to the next level from the 9mm chambering, then you definitely should check this new offering out. Its combination of power, portability and shootability makes it a great option for CCW. And with the basic pistol priced at an MSRP of $633 and the one packed with the HEX Dragonfly at $818, it is a great deal. If you’re ready to take it “up to 10,” then definitely give this pistol a look. On the other hand, if you prefer an even larger bore pistol, check out Paul Carlson’s review of the XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP in .45.

Editor’s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!

Join the Discussion

Go to forum thread

Continue Reading
Did you enjoy this video?

Springfield Armory® recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owner’s manual. These articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Springfield Armory.

Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication.

Scott Conditt

Scott Conditt

Scott Conditt is a husband, father, filmmaker, author, photographer and raconteur based in Phoenix, Arizona. Co-Founder of Offensive Marketing Group, his daily grind consists of playing with badass hardware, dreaming up wild concepts, and conspiring to bring them from script to screen with his team. Guns, gadgets, survival, technology, archery and cutting-edge armor ... these are a few of his favorite things to create content around.

© 2024 Springfield Armory. All rights reserved.

Springfield Armory
Login

No account? Create One

Create Account

Have an account?