ORIGINAL: driftrider

While it's similar in function from the shooters perspective to the Glock Safe-action in that it has the trigger safety and all the safety mechanisms are automatically deactivated by the intentional trigger pull, saying it's a copy is not true. The Glock Safe-Action only partially pre-cocks the striker when the slide cycles, and the pull of the trigger acts to fully cock and then release the striker, making the Glock more of a double-action pistol. The XD, on the other hand, fully cocks the striker as it cycles, and the trigger pull simply disengages a sear that allows it to move forward to strike the primer and fire the pistol. This makes it, by definition, a single-action pistol, albeit with a relatively long trigger pull by single-action standards, but shorter and crisper than a Glock trigger. This makes a big difference in now the trigger feels and, for me anyway, how well I shoot it. I, personally, believe that Glock designed the almost-double-action trigger mechanism intentionally, in part, to make the Glock feel more familiar to police officers used to double-action revolver triggers which were pretty much the standard issue at the time the Glock 17 came on the market, and who might believe a shorter or lighter trigger pull would be safe to carry without manual safeties.

I, personally, prefer the XD to the Glock. It has a better grip angle that makes the pistol point better (for me anyway), the trigger is far better than the stock Glock trigger, it's got an ambidexterous mag release, and you don't need to be an 800lb gorilla or an aftermarket lever extension to activate the slide release. I had a Glock 21 that had the 3.5lb trigger kit and extended slide release, and I still prefer my XD to it hands down, which is why I no longer have the Glock, while the XD is in my bedroom ready to greet unwelcome two-legged critters.

With the exception of the very small and hard to activate slide release (which may have been since remedied by making the once optional extended slide release standard equipment), there is nothing inherently wrong with Glocks, and if you like the way they feel you won't be making a mistake by buying one. They are a very reliable, tried-and-true, defensive sidearm that have no doubt saved the lives of many cops and armed citizens unfortunate enough to forced to use them in self defense. But I, personally, feel that the XD is an definate improvement on the concept of the manual safety free semi-auto handgun.

Mike