Yes, it's a lot of numbers and letters to remember, but every single character in "Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5" OSP 10mm Auto" means something valuable to you, the shooter. The "Springfield Armory" part is easy; the storied gun manufacturer needs little introduction. The "XD" stands for eXtreme Duty, because the entire lineup of XD pistols was created to be the ne plus ultra in "duty guns." The "M" stands for "Match-grade," describing the quality and finish of the gun's chassis and barrel, suitable for shooting matches right out of the box. The "Elite" part describes the top of Springfield's match-grade line. The "OSP" stands for Optical Sight Pistol, meaning that the pistol's slide comes pre-cut, ready to accept your preferred reflex (or "red dot") sight. The 10mm is, of course, the gun's chambering.
Now that you've read its pedigree, watch our friends at American Rifleman put the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5" OSP 10mm Auto through its paces and demonstrate why this affordable striker-fired semi-auto made NRA's Gun of the Week! "Our range experience with the XD-M Elite 4.5" OSP was a positive one," they note, "despite the added juice from the gun’s hefty chambering. Springfield’s META trigger system is a joy to press. The flat face provides a great feel. Like all other XD-Ms, there is no manual safety, merely passive systems that require a positive hold and firm trigger purchase. Our testers particularly enjoyed the flared magazine well, which is removable. In addition to easing our reloads, it was found that the flare also aided in our grip, and this feature, along with other ergonomic elements of the grip frame, enhanced purchase during live-fire exercises. The provision of a three-slot Picatinny rail is an added bonus." For more, visit Springfield-Armory.com
