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Springfield Armory XD Magazines: A Buyer’s Guide For All
The Springfield XD has been around for decades, and in its heyday, it was one of the finest pistols on the market. It even won Pistol Of The Year by American Rifleman in 2003, which is quite an accomplishment.
Developed in Croatia, the XD (eXteme Duty) piggybacked on the polymer and steel craze that Glock created. It’s similar but unique because it does not look like a box—it has some curves.
Due to the success of the XD pistol line, Springfield expanded it and released a series of other pistols, such as the XD-S, XD-M, and XD-M Elite.
The XD-S (eXtreme Duty-Single Stack) is smaller and designed for carrying with a slimmer profile and single-stack magazine.
The XD-M (eXtreme Duty Match) uses a double-stack magazine and has an improved trigger and barrel over the standard XD.
The XD-M Elite has all the upgrades the XD-M does but more features that help with tactical applications, such as upgraded sights, improved slide serrations, more rounds per mag, a flared mag well, and ambidextrous controls.
I’ve owned two XDs and put more than two cases of 9mm and .45 through each with almost no malfunctions. Outside of the lack of aftermarket support (compared to other firearms in its tier), the XD line is good to go.
These magazines are for the XD only, whether 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP.
With that said, let’s dive in.
A Springfield XD-9 with the beautiful factory stainless mag. Source
Everyday Carry / Home Defense
9mm: Springfield XD 9mm 16 Round Magazine
These magazines are factory replacements for your standard 9mm Springfield XD. Sixteen rounds of 9mm keep the weight down while giving you enough to take care of business.
The finish on these magazines is stainless steel, which is excellent at fending off corrosion and is extremely durable. I’ve owned a few and have never had issues, so that’s a plus.
Whether you’re replacing or buying extras, these are the go-to.
10-round “Compliant” Option: Springfield Armory XD 9mm 10 Round Magazine
Say you live in a state with magazine limitations like I do. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get around this. So what do you do? Stock up on ten-round magazines and get good at reloading fast.
These ten-round magazines are similar to the 16-round magazines but feature indentations on the side to limit the amount of ammo you can carry in one magazine.
Like the 16-round magazines, these have a stainless steel construction with a black follower and steel spring. Since they’re from the factory, you don’t have to worry about fitment issues.
Fits like a glove. Or a tailor-made suit.
.40 S&W: Springfield XD .40 S&W 12 Round Magazine
While .40 S&W is not the most popular option on the market, one can’t argue with a 12-round magazine capacity. This 12-round .40 S&W magazine is a factory replacement for you .40 lovers.
The magazines feature steel feed lips and a polymer anti-tilt follower, which minimizes magazine-related failures. If you want reliable replacements, go with the factory magazines and don’t look back.
.45 ACP: Springfield XD .45 ACP 13 Round Magazine
If Springfield ever reads this, why are there 12 rounds for .40 S&W and 13 rounds for .45? I’m not sure; I’m just as confused as you are.
Like the 9mm and .40 magazines, these are factory replacements for your XD chambered in big boy .45 ACP. They have the same stainless steel construction, steel feed lips, polymer anti-tilt follower, and steel spring.
13 rounds of .45 in a package the size of the XD is amazing, considering how some manufacturers haven’t managed to find their way out of the 10 to 12-round area. While it may be slightly heavier, 13 rounds of .45 ACP is a great capacity for defense.
Being limited to ten rounds is a shame. Source
Range
9mm: ProMag Springfield XD 9mm 32 Round Extended Magazine
32 rounds of 9mm in a solid steel magazine, check. These aren’t factory magazines but do not hold back your 9mm XD. Reliable feeding and overall durability are critical features found in these magazines.
These don’t have to just sit for the range, either, as they are reliable enough for home defense. If you’re feeling silly, you can launch 32 rounds of 9mm at an intruder. This isn’t legal advice, though (wink wink).
To top it off, they are made in the USA!
Drum option: ProMag Springfield XD-9 9mm 50 Round Drum Magazine
Forget being limited by magazine capacity; 50 rounds of 9mm is great for many reasons. Anyone who said you don’t need a drum mag lied to you. Here’s why.
Do you know how tedious it is breaking in a new pistol with a small-capacity magazine? Your thumbs start to hurt from reloading every 45 seconds. Answer: Drum mag.
Multiple intruders entering your home, and you’re worried about 9mm being too weak to stop them? Nope, 50 rounds of 9mm can do the trick. And if you have more than one drum, well, they won’t be poking their heads up any time soon.
See? Drum mags can be effective. These have a steel tower and polymer drum, so the weight won’t be too much, where you can’t carry two.
.40 S&W: ProMag Springfield XD .40 S&W 20 Round Extended Magazine
Back to extended stick mags, .40 S&W XD shooters don’t have to miss out on breaking in their pistols more efficiently. While your shot groupings may look like you just went full auto due to the snap of .40 S&W, it’s undoubtedly a good time.
These 20-round magazines are made of steel but can be prone to rust if not dried after shooting in the rain. So dry them up when you’re done, and you’ll be good to go.
.45 ACP: ProMag Springfield XD .45 ACP 25 Round Extended Magazine
Again, with the larger magazine capacity in a larger caliber, something is off here, but I doubt you .45 owners are complaining. Aside from the weight, these magazines are great for knocking the factory lines off your XD in .45 ACP.
Like the other extended magazines on the list, these are made from steel, so they are tough, but they’re not the best for rain.
Again, don’t be held back by the range if you want to shoot at intruders with the extended .45 magazine, by all means. Just make sure you test it at the range first.
Everyone winds up throwing on the accessories after a while. Source
Magazine loader: maglula UpLULA 9mm – .45 ACP Pistol Magazine Loader
Stop torturing your thumbs every time you go to the range, and stop wasting time loading your mags like you have all day. Time is essential, and training is important, so get the tedious stuff out of the way so you can focus on what’s important.
This loader is compatible with 9mm through .45 ACP, so it’s not a one-trick pony.
It’ll save you time and money in the long run.
Magazine Pouches
Pitbull Tactical Gen 2 Universal Pistol Mag Carrier
Concealed carrying without a spare magazine is almost as bad as concealed carrying without a tourniquet or small IFAK kit. You can do it, but you’re less effective. And when it’s time to put your money where your mouth is, the last thing you want is to get caught without enough ammo.
Carry a spare mag. And don’t carry your spare mag in the bottom of your pants pocket—that’s a recipe for disaster.
High-Speed Gear Double Pistol TACO Magazine Pouch
Suppose you’re carrying a pistol on a battle belt using MOLLE. You’ll need a place to put your spare mags, right? Enter the TACO magazine pouch.
Two spare magazines are typical. But don’t be fooled—you can also put a tourniquet, knife, or multitool in it.
Conclusion
The Springfield XD may not have the best aftermarket support, but it’s still an exceptional pistol that performs wonderfully in the right hands. If you need replacement magazines or want more than what the factory offers, you’ll find them here.
It’s better to have them and not need them than the other way around, right? So make sure you have spares in case your old ones give out.
Be good and take care.
