RE: Springfield XD or Ruger SR9???
x3 on the XD!
I have the XD 9mm service model. It's a great little pistol. I've never had a malfunction with the cheap ball ammo to the wide-mouth Federal Hydra-Shoks (my defensive ammo of choice). The grip is comfortable and the controls are well placed and easy to use. I also like that there is no manual safety (although the XD is offered with a manual safety now as an option). It has a grip safety like the 1911, with the trigger safety of the Glock, in addition to a firing pin block activated by the trigger when fully pulled. Simple to use. I traded a Glock 21 for this pistol several years ago because I found the Glock to be uncomfortable to shoot. I didn't like the grip angle or width (too steep and too wide), so even with my large hands it didn't point well for me, and it was WAY too large for my wife to handle well. My wife also didn't care for the recoil of the .45acp, but she is very recoil sensitive. Many women have no problems with a 45, especially a full sized "service" model. But I did like the Glock Safe-Action system, and it's no-matter-what reliability, so this is what attracted me to the XD. I love the pistol.
I put a M6 tactical light/laser on the frame rail. So if something goes down when I'm gone, my wife can positively ID the threat, put the dot on the bad guy and pull the trigger until he goes down. Point-n-Click... no forgetting or fumbling for a safety when you're groggy, scared, the adrenaline's pumping, and you're staring down a charging meth junky with a knife and a nothing-to-lose attitude.
Mike