Springfield XDM kaboom
The suspected reason for the KB was a round fired out of battery.
A couple more photos can be seen at Carolina Shooters Forum and Blue Gun Blog
[Hat Tip: Blue Gun Blog]
30 Responses to “Springfield XDM kaboom”
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Almost has to be ammunition related. I can’t see how the striker would be able to reach the primer before the barrel has tilted up into the ejection port.
Could possibly be a freak accident where a grain of sand or some other piece of debris got squeezed between the breech face and the primer and set it off before it locked.
Looks like a pretty clear OOB to me… Though a catastrophic head separation in battery could have done it; it’s less likely.
In regard to the XDM Ka-boom posting:
First and foremost, let me clarify that I greatly dislike the Springfield Armory XD and the XDM series of pistols. Now this may raise the hackles of die-hard XD guys but so be it! A while back, I was given a two-tone .40 caliber XD as a gift by one of our members. Once I started shooting this Clunker I grew to despise it. Last season, I won two XDM’s (M for Match, what a joke) at the NSPPL awards banquet and sold both of them after putting them through their paces.
Now I’m basically a precision accuracy guy and a hard-core pistol shooter, but both the XD and XDM pistols in my estimation are woefully inaccurate pistols, even for defense work. The grip safety was a very poor design and totally unnecessary on a striker-fired pistol. This safety locks out the slide and not the trigger as it really should when not fully depressed. We’ve seen far too many shooters attend tactical training classes with XD series pistols who repeatedly fail to keep these pistols up and running because of this stupid grip safety, especially under stress-fire conditions.
There is no reason on Earth that a striker-fired pistol needs to be so equipped. It was a stupid idea from the get-go, as is the resurgence of optional thumb safeties that are now available on striker-fired pistols. If a shooter is so uncomfortable with the operation of a striker-fired pistol that they feel they need a grip safety and/or an additional thumb safety, then they shouldn’t own or carry a striker-fired pistol defense. Do revolvers have safeties? The answer is NO! Your trigger finger and brain are your two manual safeties. Keep your finger off the trigger and the pistol should not go boom. See I went off on an XD/XDM tangent and drifted away from the actual subject of high chamber pressures.
Secondly, the .40 S&W while being an excellent defensive round does generate upward of 65,000 Copper Units of Pressure. When these types of pressures are generated in pistols that do not have fully supported chambers, catastrophic malfunctions may occur, especially with reloads. This was a fairly common problem with the .38 Super round back in the early 70’s, and those mishaps were in the venerable all-steel 1911 pistols. I’ll bet if the statistics kept on these catastrophic malfunctions were checked by caliber you’d find that most, if not all were caused by the .40 S&W and the .357 SIG rounds and not the .45 ACP or 9 M/M. The latter two rounds just don’t generate those kinds of chamber pressures.
In my estimation, the All-time King of the Polymer-framed pistols, the far superior Glock (yes, I’m rather fond of them) have also blown apart when loaded with spicy .40 caliber ammunition. We had one blow apart in the NSPPL. The shooter was using factory-loaded, Federal 180 grain Hydra-Shock ammunition in a Glock 22. There was a recall issued on this particular lot of ammunition but nobody knew that. The first round fired generated a lot of recoil and muzzle blast. Cool huh? The second round fired caused a catastrophic malfunction and blew the top-half of the pistol apart. Glock quickly replaced the pistol free of charge and Federal begrudgingly upped a couple 1,000 round cases of Hydra-Shock ammunition after hearing the words “Product Liability” uttered by this unfortunate shooter.
Just keep in mind that the .40 caliber round is the Habanero pepper of semi-auto pistol cartridges as is the .357 SIG (same case) so tread lightly, especially if you’re reloading for it. Follow the reloading data to the letter and check your fired cases regularly for signs of excessive pressure, especially by the rim. If anything seems off-kilter scrap these cases and start fresh.
One thing is for certain. If either of these pistols were equipped with a steel frame, these shooters probably wouldn’t have a functional hand left, so hooray for the Polymer-framed pistol.
Peter J. Kolovos
Academy of Tactical Training & Security, LLC
NRA Certified Pistol Coach & Training Counselor
NSPPL Secretary-Treasurer and Director of Training
That sure looks like a double charge to me! Look at how that case went into a plastic state, the edge of the case is even with the edge of the barrel breech, indicating that the chamber was closed and the guy works for Dillion Precision, too (“…from the Dillon Precision crew”). Hmmm.
I always said progressives are the devil! Single stage all the way!
Steve Steve where you loading 9mm in a .40???? LOL just kidding.
I like to know if the shooter is ok?
When something like this happens (and it seems as though the gun’s mechanism worked improperly rather than the cause being overloaded ammo), does the manufacturer’s warranty result in the gun being replaced?
Matt, Why are progressives bad? Please educate me (I do not reload).
Lance, LOL, not my gun! I think the shooter was ok.
I’m not sure how the plastic frame protected the shooter’s hand, whereas if it had been a steel frame the user “…probably wouldn’t have a functional hand left.” Looking at these pictures, the steel parts look quite good compared to the Tupperware. I can also personally vouch for the strength of Colt’s 10mm Delta Elite. One fired OOB on me many years ago. The magazine blew completely out of the pistol. The disconnector, ejector and some other small part needed replacement along with one of the grip panels. The pistol was functioning fine at the following week’s pin match. My hands had very slight powder burns along each heel and a single scratch not even worthy of a Band-Aid.
More KB! pictures for my collection.
Leisureguy,
If the KB! gun use standard factory ammo, either the ammo or gun manufacture will replace/repair it for free.
If it reloaded ammo it will void the warranty. The manual that comes with the gun should state what is in warranty and what void the warranty.
Peter J. Kolovos,
I agree. The vast majority of handguns doesn’t have manual safety. Grip safety is unneeded in a strike fire handguns. As I understand it the grip safety can cause reliability problems in the XD.
Can someone explain to me how a striker fired pistol is supposed to be safer than a hammer fired pistol? My XDM is absolutely a single-action trigger, and not any kind of double-action or half-cock action. The system holds the striker fully to the rear. Pulling the trigger merely lowers the sear and allows the striker to move forward; it does not move the striker backwards in any way. I have watched the process closely through a small opening between the frame and the slide (dryfiring). How many people carry 1911s chambered, cocked, and UNlocked? The XDM grip safety does lock the slide closed, it is also a sear-block design while the 1911 grip safety is a trigger-block safety.
Trigger blades on the XD and XDM series guns are nothing more than a trigger-block safety. (I assume this is also true about Glocks, but I’m not a glock fan. I have nothing against them except they just don’t point naturally for me.) The trigger blade safety will not prevent a round from firing if the striker somehow moves forwards.
As for revolvers, they are typically carried with the hammer down. The hammer does not rest directly on the firing pin, instead relying on either a pop-up transfer bar or a hammer that moves further forward when striking than at rest (I don’t know the proper term). Either way, people do not carry revolvers cocked.
Another example: I am fairly familiar with the Beretta 92fs. The manual safety rotates a section of the firing mechanism out of alignment, separating the hammer and firing pin. The 92fs also has an interesting trigger safety mechanism. Pulling the trigger on a 92fs raises a small block up from the slide (just in front of the rear sight). Experimenting with a disassembled gun, this appears to be an internal safety mechanism similar to a transfer bar. The hammer cannot impart force on the firing pin unless the block is raised by the trigger.
I cannot defend the XDM on the subject of KBs, but I do not understand where the gun community gets the notion that it is safe to carry a single-action gun with a round in the chamber, the striker held fully to the rear, and no safety mechanism other than a slim piece of plastic on the trigger.
Glad hes ok. It depends if he used factory ammo the gun can be replaced. if he used reloads NO.
Transfer bar is a “safety”(used loosely and quoted) on a revolver. Of course any half wit also knows to keep a hammer down on an empty revolver chamber. I have no prob with my xd40 so I cannot complain. I plan on reloading for this round and also possibly getting a barrel for 357 sig. Accuracy is acceptable on mine for normal “conflict” distances. I generally shoot for a balance of speed and precision. Im not let down at all by this handgun.
imo, it was a double charged round..
the XD, XDm are fully single action, hence the need for a grip safety/manual safety..
Ken,
Use of a transfer bar totally negates the need to carry a revolver with an empty chamber. The bar blocks any contact between firing pin and primer unless the hammer has been cocked. All DA revolvers I’m familiar with built since at least the 1950’s have been safe to carry fully loaded. Your advise is sound for SA revolvers like the Colt SAA, many (most? all?) of its European clones, and “Old Model” Rugers. They should always be carried with hammer on an empty chamber.
This same type of thing happened to my dad when a bad reload blew up in the chamber. Blew the bottom end apart and injured his hand. (Not too bad, didn’t even need stitches, but it hurt like hell.) Interestingly, I had the same problem from the same batch of ammo with my 1911. Blew the floorplate out of the mag, and proved conclusively the value of wearing eye protection. After a cleaning and a repair job on the mag I was back shooting a while later. Steel, it works for me!
My nephew had an out-of-battery discharge with one of these too, where it seemed like it just failed to lock up completely. Didn’t blow up the gun, just bit him pretty good, and blew the magazine out the bottom. That said, this one looks like it could use some JB-weld. I recommend the 5-minute kind!
I used to carry an XD (several years ago) but after a couple of failures in the range and classes, off it went. I have also noticed that it was the least accurate gun I had. I guess that explains the XDM series, huh? The last class I attended, the only gun that went out of commission was an XD.
I agree with folks on not needing rounds with such high pressures, like .40 s&w and .357 SIG. I tell my students to avoid them in favor of 9mm and 45 ACP. Save the money for training so you know how to shoot instead of plunking down extra for these rounds.
“If either of these pistols were equipped with a steel frame, these shooters probably wouldn’t have a functional hand left, so hooray for the Polymer-framed pistol.”
Huh? Steel would be far better in handling an overpressure situation in that unlike plastics, metals will bend before breaking rather than just shattering. The best plastic will never be as durable as steel.
It does seem like the 40 S&W is involved in more catastrophic failures than any other pistol cartridge.
Does Peter J. Kolovos verify any of his information? While comparing one round to another in terms of pressure is not an apples to apples comparison, both the 9mm and .40 S&W operate at 35,000 PSI. The .357 sig operates at 40,000 psi. Heck there is even one pistol round above those that operates at 50,000+ psi.
Even trying to use CUP measurements, the very few formulars to convert CUP to PSI or the reverse, you still get roughly 35000 CUP. PSI measurements are far more repeatable, and accurate than the outdated CUP. Your Pressure claims are pure exaggeration.
The grip safety on the XD/XDMs disable the trigger BTW…
Most failures I’ve read on the .40S&W have come from pistols with unsupported chambers; early Glocks. The XD/XDM have fully supported chambers.
Other failures from the .40S&W can be attributed to bullet setback. Mainly from those guys who chamber, and unchamber one round numerous times. since the 180gr bullet was originally designed for the 10mm case, shoving it in the .40S&W case, gives little error for pressure increase due to bullet setback (decreased OAL). There are a few pics posted on various forums of setback on .40S&W ammo.
Issue at hand, IMO was most likely caused by the ammo used, and not the firearm.
Just for reference, the 5.7×28 is supposed to have a PMax of 50,000 PSI and the uber-rare H&K 4.6×30 has a PMax of 58,000 PSI. .40 S&W is 35,000 PSI as noted by Matt above, and anything above 25,000 PSI in a pistol should be regarded as pretty hot. The problem with most .40 S&W pistols is that they’re almost all built on a 9mm sized platform except for newer ones like the XDM. There’s been a lot of hating of the XD/XDM series on this posting, and the pistol’s design and manufacture had NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS FAILURE. I guarantee it. I’ll bet my bottom dollar.
There’s almost no force on earth that can keep a double charged cartridge from blowing up an otherwise serviceable gun, and if these photos have shown me anything, it’s that the XDM is an excellent design, as the opperator was uninjured, and the pistol is probably salvageable by way of a new frame and possibly a new barrel, which is more than can be said for many pistols that experience the same problem.
Whenever I get tempted by auto pistols, something like this reminds me why I stick to revolvers.
cavalier you know that revolvers go KABOOM too when used in conjuction with questionable ammunition…
here’s one.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/109450-s-w-kaboom-626-a.html
I was shooting some reloads this past spring and had two rounds from the same lot fail to chamber all of the way (I know….reloads suck but there was a ammo drought in the early spring). In both instances there was about 1/8″ of case left hanging out of the chamber. The first round ejected ok when racking the slide. It did not go bang when out of battery despite my wife trying to squeeze the trigger. Lucky us. Another round from the same box failed to chamber all of the way and would not eject. This also did not go bang when out of battery despite my wife trying to squeeze the trigger. This round was in there tight. The pistol obviously would not come apart with the normal disassembly method, the round would not eject and it would also not chamber. I won’t go into what I did to get it to finally chamber but I will say it took some force and the gun did not fire until I squeezed the trigger. The gun has had about 1500 rnds through it and has been perfectly reliable other than with these two bad reloads so I don’t fault the gun at all and have no trouble recommending it.
Reloads suck when they’re made by sucky reloaders. MY Reloads, sir, most certainly do not suck.
Matt: I stand corrected. Actually the guy I buy my reloads from must do a pretty good job. He’s at every gun show and often sells out of the popular calibers. If he didn’t do a good job he’d be out of business by now. I’ve shot thousands of his rounds but will probably stick to his .38’s since I got some 9mm with swollen cases. Let ammo dry up again or the price go through the roof and I’ll probably end buying some more 9 again.
Hi, nice to join your blog, here. We just had a customer buy 4 derringers, one of them, a purple one. What do you guys think about carrying derringers in inventory? Is there any use for them? Best, Brad Gunsellers.com
Like some of the comments above I would l like to know what kind of ammo was being used at the time. And I agree it looks like to much powder in the case.
KABOOM, XD’s and OTHER OPINIONS
Regarding the reference to the hand that would have been severly injured if the pistol would have had a metal frame:
Wouldn’t a metal frame withstand such a high pressure KB better than a polymer one??
And regarding an XDM not being accurate enough even for defensive shooting:
Hasn’t the gentleman posting such a claim done enough shooting during his career to have this “Clunker” of a pistol perform to such a standard?
As I have understood, most defensive pistol shooting is drilled within a 7 to 10 yard distance. That would seem hardly a challenge for a professional such as himself.
Surely a man of Mr. Kolovos’ credentials and titles (unavoidable under his name) has had the practice and experience to make such a dreadful pistol perform within the most mediocre of standards. Police departs the world over, protecting the same fumbling masses which flock to defensive pistol classes , such as Mr. Koslovs, have found otherwise after having conducted exhaustive testing by well regarded professionls such as himself. Oops, excuse me! That was a Glock I was referrring to. How could anyone make that grip angle for defensive purposes?
I would venture to guess that Mr. Koslov does not shoot his matches with a 500 to 600 dollar stock pistol such as the ones he had won in competitions. When making the claims he did about the XD series of pistol, it would have been more interesting to the reader if he would have given us some of his favorite pistols in order to give us a standard with which to measure against. Thereby, one may arrive at one’s own
conclusion. I’ve found such a thing to appeal to the sensibilities of most gun toting individuals.
I do agree with Mr. Koslov’s opinion that striker fired pistols should not have a grip safety. But others have their own opions as noted by the gentleman named Cymond.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that it was in good taste and proper form of Mr. Koslov to not have sold the two tone, .40 caliber, XDM gifted to him by one of his clients. Also, it would have been
meritable if Mr. Koslov would have donated the proceeds of the sale of the two XDs that he had won to underprivileged youngsters who find it fashionable to adopt a “gangsta” style hold with their pistols.
Finally in closing, if the comments I have made could ever have offended a gentleman such as Mr. Koslov, I have little doubt that if he were to use an XDM in a duel against me it would provide him with the defensive capabilites he has so woefully denied it.
With utmost respect to Mr. Koslov, I remain
AMP
I’m with Nick Fitz, partially, I have used plastic for the two .40’s that I’ve owned (currently own an XD(m) .40 and feel perfectly safe shooting that one), but I just like the idea of metal between myself and that .45cal, so I am staying with the 1911 for the time being, maybe always… It’s doesn’t take too many of those exploded .45 plastic pistols to convince me on that as being a smart idea.
One note, that EXPLODED pistol appears to be just filthy, could it be that his forty-five was all gummed up internally maybe a couple thousand rounds between cleanings, etc…??