Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

After being a long time fan of the SA XD, I broke down and bought an XDm .40.

I decided to do a little bit of handwork and polished the guide rod and the barrel, they come black from the factory. Shoots like a dream and after only 150 rounds through the tube I can feel it get smoother and smoother.

More pics later. Here is a teaser.

:D
http://i44.tinypic.com/2qvs96t_th.jpg

After being a long time fan of the SA XD, I broke down and bought an XDm .40.

I decided to do a little bit of handwork and polished the guide rod and the barrel, they come black from the factory. Shoots like a dream and after only 150 rounds through the tube I can feel it get smoother and smoother.

More pics later. Here is a teaser.

:D
http://i44.tinypic.com/2qvs96t_th.jpg


I think I'd have bought a Bi-tone pistol rather than take any factory finish off, particularly of a brand new work of art.

I bought a compact XD 9mm for my wife and the two tone didn't cost any extra.

Don't you need to put some type of protectant on it? I admittedly don't know a lot about smithing, and if you don't, I am happy you are happy.

XD's are excellent firearms, IMHO.;)

I polished the finish off of the barrel, not the slide. Basically, the barrel and guide rod are blackened as a by product of the melanite process. Polishing it does not remove any metal, it just shines it.

As far as protecting it just do as you would do with any firearm. Keep it clean and lubed and oiled.

You polished the finish off the barrel???????? WTF? :confused:

The black color is NOT a "by product" of the Melonite process. It's a part of the process.

Congrats....you just polished off the nitride coating that protects and reduces friction.

You polished the finish off the barrel???????? WTF? :confused:

The black color is NOT a "by product" of the Melonite process. It's a part of the process.

Congrats....you just polished off the nitride coating that protects and reduces friction.

Darin,

I hope you do not think I am as stupid as you are implying.

I did my research.

A member of an XD forum contacted SA to see if polishing the barrel would either...
A) Void the warranty
OR
B) Damage the weapon.

The reply he got said that it would not void the warranty as long as none of the contact parts were polished, contact parts being the lower feed ramp and the other part that hangs down next to the feed ramp (Not sure of the nomenclature). The SA rep went along to say that if the weapon was properly maintained (Cleaned/lubed) then polishing it with a light compound #3 - #6 and a felt polishing wheel would not damage the weapon. The SA rep also added that they saw some of the pictures on the forum and they loved the look.

Believe me brother, if doing this could damage the weapon in any way I would not have done it.

If Springfield Armory didn't want the coating on there then they would have left it off. There's a reason it's on there. I most certainly wouldn't take the word of "someone on a forum that called SA".

Now you have a bright shiny metal ring poking out that should be black.





Just sayin...

I polished the finish off of the barrel, not the slide. Basically, the barrel and guide rod are blackened as a by product of the melanite process. Polishing it does not remove any metal, it just shines it.

As far as protecting it just do as you would do with any firearm. Keep it clean and lubed and oiled.

Bad idea there bro. That finish was on there for a reason. Same reason theres a blue on a gun barrel. I believe polishing off that coating will leave the metal unprotected. Leaving a slime of oil will not prevent rust and will attract dirt and dust. If the gun is in the safe, lube it up, but a carry gun should not be smeared with oils.

I gotta back up Coastie on this one. The only reason the bbl is black is to make it black. There's no NP3 or anything like that. It's just a color. Look at the bi-tone XD's. The bbl is silver like the slide. It's not a silver finish, it's the natural color. If you look at a black bbl thats well used, you'll see that the finish begins to wear off anyway. Removing the finished color off the bbl does not weaken or injure it.

In fact, I think it looks rad. You point that .45 sewer pipe at johnny sh1thead with a black slide and the outline of the pipe gleaming silver? Thats the bees knees!

If it wouldnt make mt gun weigh 300lbs, I'd show chrome the whole thing like a '55 Chevy bumper and engrave the whole thing with scroll work like a freaki'n PIRATE GUN! Big pimp'in!!!!

I gotta back up Coastie on this one. The only reason the bbl is black is to make it black. There's no NP3 or anything like that. It's just a color. Look at the bi-tone XD's. The bbl is silver like the slide. It's not a silver finish, it's the natural color. If you look at a black bbl thats well used, you'll see that the finish begins to wear off anyway. Removing the finished color off the bbl does not weaken or injure it.

In fact, I think it looks rad. You point that .45 sewer pipe at johnny sh1thead with a black slide and the outline of the pipe gleaming silver? Thats the bees knees!

If it wouldnt make mt gun weigh 300lbs, I'd show chrome the whole thing like a '55 Chevy bumper and engrave the whole thing with scroll work like a freaki'n PIRATE GUN! Big pimp'in!!!!


If the MFG says it's ok, I guess it probably is :)

If the MFG says it's ok, I guess it probably is :)


Again, I must add, I read an email from Springfield Armory stating that it would not damage the weapon.

Darin, I would not take the word of some guy off of the internet.

Darin,

I hope you do not think I am as stupid as you are implying.

I did my research.

A member of an XD forum contacted SA to see if polishing the barrel would either...
A) Void the warranty
OR
B) Damage the weapon.

The reply he got said that it would not void the warranty as long as none of the contact parts were polished, contact parts being the lower feed ramp and the other part that hangs down next to the feed ramp (Not sure of the nomenclature). The SA rep went along to say that if the weapon was properly maintained (Cleaned/lubed) then polishing it with a light compound #3 - #6 and a felt polishing wheel would not damage the weapon. The SA rep also added that they saw some of the pictures on the forum and they loved the look.
....

Sorry, my friend, but it did kinda sound that way to me, too. ;)

Polishing and even JEWELing a barrel will not hurt it or the guns preformance. Unless you are taking off a lot of metal there is nothng to worry about. COASTIE...enjoy your new addition.

Sorry, my friend, but it did kinda sound that way to me, too. ;)

No problem, I should have made it clearer and said that the "Reply email, froM SA, stated..."

i love my xdm...put about 500 down it so far, and its just gettin better.. i was thinking of doing the same thing to my barrel but i will be using my xdm as my duty weapon and thats prob a lil to much bling!!! looks great tho!

i love my xdm...put about 500 down it so far, and its just gettin better.. i was thinking of doing the same thing to my barrel but i will be using my xdm as my duty weapon and thats prob a lil to much bling!!! looks great tho!


I have only put about 200 rounds through it but it feels like very time I take it out it gets better and better. More accurate and a smoother trigger pull. Excelent weapon.