Springfield Armory XD-M Threaded Barrels in 9mm, 10mm and .45 ACP: First Look

By Will Dabbs, MD

Springfield Armory now offers threaded barrel options for the XD-M line of pistols. Designed as a drop-in replacement for the 4.5” model handguns, Springfield is offering threaded barrels for the 9mm, 10mm and .45 Auto cartridges. Will Dabbs had a chance to test the new barrels and offers his thoughts on the installation and use of these in his review today. He also gives us a sneak peek at an interesting new Hellcat threaded barrel as well.

Let’s be honest. Threaded barrels are just simply cool. They not only offer the ability to fit out your pistol with a suppressor or even a compensator, but they also make up your pistol’s “wow” factor. But, they can often be expensive, and you might not be sure they will work right with your gun. But how about a threaded barrel available direct from the original manufacturer at a great price? Springfield Armory has done just that.

The XD-M Elite line of handguns is the flagship defensive pistol among Springfield Armory’s expansive pantheon of top-quality smoke poles. If I’m counting correctly, they currently offer 15 different models of the pistol. Each one incorporates superlative engineering and workmanship along with combat-proven features. They come in compact, standard, longslide and “tactical” versions, and in many cases with or without an included red dot optic.

Now, Springfield Armory is offering threaded barrels for 9mm, 10mm and .45 ACP as an option for those who already own the standard-length 4.5” handguns in those chamberings. These barrels are a drop-in fit for not only XD-M Elite pistols, but all applicable XD-M models as well.

The barrels feature a black Melonite coating for rust-resistance and lubricity. The barrels come with included thread protectors.

Rate of twist of the XD-M barrels is 1:10” for 9mm, and 1:16” for both 10mm and .45 ACP. The 9mm barrel weighs 4.04 oz., the 10mm barrel 4.45 oz., and the .45 ACP barrel 3.66 oz. The 9mm barrel feature 1/2×28 threading, while the 10mm and .45 ACP barrels sport .578×28 threading.

Why should these being available matter to you? Suppressors have steadily become very mainstream. There are several reasons for this. The biggest is inflation. The $200 transfer tax that is levied every time you transfer one of these delightful devices was enacted back in 1934. That was around $3,500 in today’s inflation-adjusted money, effectively shutting down commerce in sound suppressors.

However, over time, inflation took the teeth out of that $200 tax. Nowadays, $200 is hardly chump change, but it isn’t the onerous impediment it once was. Once typical American shooters tasted the joys of sound-suppressed guns, there was no going back.

As of 2021, according to data I was able to locate there were 2,664,775 sound suppressors registered in the NFRTR (National Firearms Registry and Transfer Record). And that number is growing daily. If you bought your XD-M pistol with a flat snout and now you’d like to add a can, Springfield Armory has your gear. Adding this capability to your favorite pistol is quite literally painless thanks to this new offering from Springfield Armory.

Installing an XD-M Threaded Barrel

If you can fieldstrip your handgun for cleaning, you can easily install one of these threaded barrels. Adding one of these threaded tubes could not be easier. To start with the XD-M barrel installation, strip the pistol down as you might for routine maintenance. You can see our XD-M field stripping video here as a guide.

Next, remove the factory barrel from the pistol slide. Now, remove the thread protector from the threaded barrel. This will allow it to fit inside the slide. After installation, you can reattach the thread protector. Slide the new threaded barrel in place. You can now reassemble the gun. Easy peazy. There really is nothing else to it.

Once installed, the threaded barrel runs just like the stubbier sort. These tubes all come with thread protectors. With very few exceptions the threaded guns fit the same holsters. I have packed these guns both ways and cannot tell a difference with either the carry or the draw.

Why Go to the Trouble?

Sound suppressors will absolutely ruin you to noisy guns. If you haven’t had the pleasure, they don’t make the gun silent, not by a wide margin. A can just makes shooting way more pleasant.

For recreational training on a range, that means attenuated muzzle blast and more neighborly shooting. A properly-executed sound suppressor does not adversely affect the host gun’s reliability, and it also diminishes both recoil and muzzle flip. A decent can will often actually enhance accuracy as well. The addition of a threaded barrel really doesn’t have a downside. You can thread on the suppressor when appropriate and leave it off when it isn’t.

The transfer process for a sound suppressor is undeniably onerous. You have to be fingerprinted, and the paperwork is convoluted. Additionally, the wait times can be absolutely insane. While the process could be done better, most of this is due simply to volume. In 2022 the NFA Branch of the BATF processed 709,508 forms. That’s 2,728 forms per workday. They make the rules, we only abide by them.

Now, that being said, buying a sound suppressor has recently been made much easier. Silencer Central will let you purchase and transfer a suppressor without leaving your home, which is pretty darn cool. The BATF e-Forms system also cuts a good deal of time off of the processing. My first e-Forms application took me three hours to input. My last one took me eleven minutes. Like most things, it is function of familiarity. The e-Forms site is tough to use, but once you get used to its quirks things go more smoothly. (To learn how to purchase a suppressor, please see our article on Silencer Central here.)

Trigger Time

I outfitted my threaded Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 9mm pistol with a SilencerCo Osprey sound suppressor. This unconventional can features an offset bore and rectangular cross-section. That helps you clear the sights. To install the can, you just snug it down tight, press the brake button, rotate the can around to the right position, and release the button. It literally couldn’t be easier. The Osprey is also one of the most effective pistol cans I have ever fired. When run outdoors with subsonic 9mm ammo, the gun is comfortable on my ears without hearing protection.

The XD-M Elite pistol feeds from a 22-round magazine and includes such sweet stuff as a magazine funnel in the grip, bilateral controls and an awesome grip safety that renders the gun inert until you grab it. The slide is cut for an optical sight if desired, and the polymer frame has all the bells and whistles. The gun is also available in either OD green, flat dark earth, or basic black.

With the Osprey installed the XD-M Elite is indeed a thoroughbred on the range. Follow-up shots are fast and smooth, and the controls and trigger are perfect. So long as I did my part the gun grouped magnificently. The standard XD-M Elite is great. The same gun suppressed is even greater.

Ruminations

I think Springfield is onto something here with these new threaded barrels for the XD-M. Rugged, accurate, controllable, and cool, a sound-suppressed Springfield Armory XD-M Elite pistol is rarefied iron indeed. Once you thread a can on that snout you’ll never look at noisy guns the same way again.

Also, the company is offering a cool upgrade for your 3” Hellcat as well — a threaded barrel kit with a 3.8” threaded barrel along with a Self Indexing Compensator and a thread protector. This drop-in barrel features a black Melonite finish on the barrel for rust-resistance and lubricity. The compensator, included with the kit, is made from 8082 aluminum and is anodized matte black. Rate of twist of the barrel is 1:10”, and it weighs 2.72 oz. The Self Indexing Compensator weighs 0.7 oz.

So there you have it, so great options for some of Springfield’s most popular polymer-framed pistols. Be sure to check them out at the link below.

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