For right now the XDm is going to be made in .40 S&W. Springfield plans to continue making the XD and the XDm side by side, which I think is a plan that will have a short life. Except for those who have to have a compact gun, there is no reason to buy a full-size XD instead of an XDm. Pick them up side by side, and I think you'll agree. Shoot them if you can, and I know you will agree.

I hate to be the predictor of bad news for Springfield, but it has made a new model so good it will hurt sales of the old full-size XD. Not the compacts, as I said.

If you want a compact, concealed-carry .40 XD, you can get it. But for those looking for a full-sized gun, the big XD is a goner. Then again, if the new Springfield XDm causes problems with the sales of its own full-size .40, imagine what it will do to the sales of its competitors.

And when you consider that Springfield is also sweetening the pot in terms of what you get when you buy an XDm, there's an even stronger incentive to go that way. Along with your pistol, you get a Pelican case for it, spare mags, holster, mag pouches and magazine loader.

Everybody who makes a full-size .40 S&W polymer pistol (and that is now a large group of manufacturers) has its R&D department looking over an XDm. And you know what? We're all the better for it. Let the manufacturers work hard to make the best possible pistols for us to buy, and I'm sure you will go out and buy them. Right now, that means buying an XDm. As in right now--before your buddies do and gain advantage over you at the gun club.