AO Review: Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm w/ Hex Dragonfly

When it comes to being in the great outdoors, which we discuss a lot here at AllOutdoor, as wonderous and memorable as our outdoor exploits might be there are always dangers that await as well. This can come in the form of a twisted ankle miles from your vehicle or coming face-to-face with an apex predator like a wolf or bear. When the latter occurs, your civilized words will not afford you much sanctuary. Rather, it would be better if you had something compact to carry with you that delivers a lot of power. That is where the newly introduced Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly red dot could shine. Let’s dive right into our review and see what our impressions of it were after shooting it!

Springfield Armory Coverage @ AllOutdoor

Specifications – Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm w/ Hex Dragonfly

When it comes to the NEW Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly red dot there is a lot to unpack and know about this firearm. While it might make its home with backwoods hunters and adventurers looking for a new defensive sidearm, some of the more audacious readers in the audience could make it their new EDC (everyday carry). Here are all of the specifications listed below as presented by Springfield Armory:

CALIBER: 10mm
BARREL: 3.8″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
SLIDE: Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, Optics Ready
FRAME: Black Polymer
SIGHTS: Fiber Optic Front, Tactical Rack U-Dot™ Rear, HEX™ Dragonfly

RECOIL SYSTEM: Captive
GRIP WIDTH: 1.2″
MAGAZINES: Two (2) 11-Round
WEIGHT: 28.5 oz
LENGTH: 6.75″
HEIGHT: 4.58″

The initial MSRP for the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly is benchmarked at $818. As always, in the rare event that you should ever need service for your firearm Springfield Armory has a Lifetime Warranty that stands behind all of their firearms. One final snapshot into what the XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly is all about can be read below in Springfield Armory’s Press Release statement:

Combining potent power with cutting-edge performance, the new XD-M® Elite 3.8” Compact OSP™ 10mm provides concealed carry users with an outstanding defensive pistol option. Compact yet powerful, the pistol packs in 11+1 rounds of the powerful 10mm. Additionally, the OSP pistol comes packaged with a HEX™ Dragonfly™ red dot, featuring a rugged machined aluminum body and a 3.5 MOA dot. Harness fight-stopping CCW power with the new XD-M® Elite 3.8” Compact OSP™ 10mm.

First Impressions – Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm w/ Hex Dragonfly

When I opened the box to the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly red dot for the first time I was surprised to find that it was the exact same size as the XD-M Elite Compact OSP 9mm that Springfield offers. In fact, if you go on Springfield’s website, the 10mm is 1/2 ounce lighter! So, from the start I knew I was handling something unique in that it was toting around 11+1 rounds of 10mm in a size typically reserved for 9mm only.

Next, as I dug deeper into the box and all of its accoutrements I came across the various grip panels and magazine sleeves that it ships with. For some people these might be an after-thought, but to me it was a good reminder that you can always tailor a grip and fit to personally fit your hands for more confident; thus, accurate shooting while at the range or while carrying.

Something else that is special about the XD-M Elite series of handguns is the flared and beveled magazine well that is also removable. With it installed, it makes magazine insertions smooth, consistent, and more swift than if you did not have one. If you were to remove it, then you have the ability to deploy even higher capacity magazines typically reserved for the XD-M series of handguns. So, either you afford yourself more capacity than you might believe possible for a compact 10mm, or your compact magazine insertions will be as smooth as possible with the magwell installed – its your choice.

Another element I appreciated was that Springfield gives you all of the hardware to properly install almost any micro red dot that might trip your trigger. The factory-installed Hex Dragonfly performs fantastically, but that is not to say you might want to try a different one. If so, Springfield gives you all the screws, mounting plates, and necessary hardware to achieve that. A nice touch in going the extra mile and understanding some shooters might really be in love with their “X, Y, Z” red dot of choice.

Range Time – Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm w/ Hex Dragonfly

To be completely blunt, I went into this review with the mindset of: “You’re shooting a compact 10mm… this recoil is probably going to be horrible… this is going to suck.” I bared down on the grip with my best dexterity possible and pressed off the 1st shot, and to my astonishment I barely noticed the recoil?! I followed up with a 2nd shot with keen attention to the recoil impulse and it authentically felt like a 9mm. At this point, I was bewildered yet giddy at the fact that this pistol kicked so little and I ripped off the remaining rounds in the magazine making my steel target sing like a wind chime.

With the Hex Dragonfly red dot bore-sighted it shot a little high at 15 yards on steel, but it still was supremely accurate and flat shooting which I would come to expect of the 10mm cartridge. Even with the compact magazines which obviously allowed for less grip, it shot very well and was easily controlled. At no time did I feel like I was losing dexterity from start to finish on a magazine. This is the most controllable non full-size 10mm I’ve ever shot – bar none.

Oddly enough the full size magazines (with the beveled magwell removed) shot the exact same for me as the compact; same level of accuracy. Although, I had a greater purchase on the firearm with my hand, I maintained the same level of proper grip and dexterity with the compact ones as well.

All of the other crowning features of the XD-M Elite performed terrific as well from the META trigger (Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly) to the texturing present on the frame.

Final Thoughts – Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm w/ Hex Dragonfly

So, all in all what are my final thoughts on the newly unveiled Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly red dot?… Well, for starters it is one of the softest recoiling 10mm pistols I have ever shot. That is amazing in and of itself. Secondly, the fact that it has the same dimensional footprint as its 9mm counterpart impresses me. I go black bear hunting every year as well as grouse hunting where timberwolves are constantly present and this could easily find a home on my hip or in my pack for an additional layer of protection against some of nature’s most apex predators. Also, at a full retail of $818, I believe this pistol is completely worth it.

In closing, I want to say thank you to Springfield Armory for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm with a Hex Dragonfly is something worth spending your money on? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

Adam Scepaniak