AO Review: Springfield XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP w/ Hex Dragonfly
Adam Scepaniak 06.14.21
Right now if you are a concealed carry fanatic, we are living in a Renaissance period of CCW (concealed carry weapon) pistols. We have the XD-S Mod.2, Hellcat, innumerable industry competitors, and the newly unveiled Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP. Turn the clock back 10 years ago and we did not have near the selection or elevated quality that we see in the industry today, especially being lead by Springfield.
As someone who lives both sides of the coin, I share my experiences with firearms through articles and also manage a bustling gun store. I get a better perspective of the industry than most. One dilemma I see with some gun owners is a difficulty in finding one firearm. While we all romanticize how awesome it would be to own hundreds of firearms, some people can only afford one and it needs to check a lot of boxes. If you want a full-size range pistol that can moonlight as a carry gun as well the new Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with a Hex Dragonfly red dot could be that firearm. Let’s dive in and see how many boxes this carry pistol can check for you!
Specifications – Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP w/ Hex Dragonfly
There is a lot to unpack with the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with a Hex Dragonfly red dot because it has a lot of premium upgrades and unique features to talk about. The XD-M Elite series is a tier above their traditional line of XD-M (Xtreme Duty – Match) firearms, and with that brings even more attention to detail and a methodical crafting process. All of the specifications for the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with a Hex Dragonfly red dot can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrell: 3.8″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
- Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, Optics Ready w/ HEX Dragonfly
- Frame: Black Polymer
- Sights: Fiber Optic Front, Tactical Rack U-Dot™ Rear
- Recoil System: Captive
- Grip Width: 1.2″
- Magazines: (2) 14-Round
- Weight, Length, and Height: 29 Oz | 6.75″ | 4.58″
The MSRP for the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with a Hex Dragonfly red dot is benchmarked at $818. 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. A Press Release statement can be read below from Springfield Armory which talks about the XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with a Hex Dragonfly red dot we are reviewing here today in greater length:
Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the newest addition to the popular XD-M® Elite series — the XD-M® Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP™ (Optical Sight Pistol). This EDC-ready 9mm, like all the XD-M Elites, redefines what you should expect from modern, striker-fired firearms. The XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP is designed for concealed carry, combining impressive capacity and performance with concealable dimensions for ease of carry. The 3.8″ match grade Melonite® finished barrel maximizes ballistic performance while remaining compact for concealability, and the compact grip frame houses a double-column stainless steel magazine that provides 14+1 capacity in the two included magazines.
Unboxing- Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP w/ Hex Dragonfly
With the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with a Hex Dragonfly red dot, Springfield is essentially giving you a weapon system and not just a firearm. For this review, I received two 14-round magazines (standard) and an additional two 19-round magazines to show the compatibility with extended magazines when the Enhanced, Flared Magwell is removed.
Being as this pistol is equipped with a fiber optic front sight, Springfield also gives you additional fiber optic replacement filaments so you can change the color to your liking or replace damage ones as necessary. As with all XD-M pistols, you can change the backstraps for a better fitment to your hand so you get a set of 3 total (including the one installed on the pistol).
Some more standard accoutrements are your Owner’s Manual, Safety Cable Lock, a soft side case, and the original box. The last piece to the puzzle that is anything, but standard is the Hex Dragonfly red dot. This optic mounts directly to the slide of the pistol without the need of an adapter plate. This affords the shooter the best line of sight possible for their red dot by being as close to the bore’s axis as can be. A final component is a cover plate for the slide if you wish to run your pistol sans red dot with only the factory iron sights.
Range Time – Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP w/ Hex Dragonfly
When it came to shooting at the range there were a lot of features that stood out to me. One of the very first ones was the Enhanced, Flared Magwell. Aside from it making quick magazine insertions buttery smooth, it also grouped my fingers together so I could maintain a steady grip on the pistol on an otherwise small handgun – no fingers were falling off or left behind. Add in the fact that you can remove the Enhanced, Flared Magwell entirely for a round count boost of 19+1 and the bottom end of this pistol is pretty well laid out.
The next element that caught my attention was the META Trigger (Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly). From its flat face to an integral overtravel stop, I was impressed to see a factory trigger this nice in a polymer gun. You often see premium triggers in metal frame guns like a 1911, but it was a welcomed surprise to shoot and tactilely feel a trigger this nice in a polymer framed one.
The cherry on top for this weapon system is the Hex Dragonfly red dot which does a lot of things right. For one, as mentioned earlier it is mounted directly to the slide for the best line-of-sight possible. I have officially become a red dot junkie over the past 5+ years and this red dot is as easy to pick up as any on the market. Also, while viewing the red dot there are serrated edges to the metal housing to cut down any potential glare back at the shooter on aggressively bright and sunny days.
Another thing that I am becoming increasingly harsh on red dot manufacturers for is durability which the Hex Dragonfly scores well on. I did not go out of my way to drag this thing behind my pickup down a gravel road because I am not one of those unrealistic, crazy range guys, but I tried to rack the slide into battery on a table or post for every magazine. The red dot continued to hold a zero the entire range session, never came loose, and there was no visible harm done to the glass whatsoever. What I believe is the Hex Dragonfly’s saving grace in slide racking is the forward angled metal shroud. By having it angled slightly it is ensuring that the glass never gets touched and it can be safely racked against things if necessary. As a side bar, is it necessary to rack the slide against all manner of objects? No. Is it incredibly fun and confidence inspiring? Hell yeah!
A final note is accuracy. The XD-M Elite has their Match-Grade META Trigger, Match-Grade Hammer-Forged barrel, and a new high-quality red dot in the Hex Dragonfly so being able to accomplish point-and-shoot accuracy is a breeze. Assuming you do your part as a shooter (lay off the caffeine, in my case), this pistol can execute ragged holes in paper to 15 yards and potentially beyond.
Final Thoughts – Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP w/ Hex Dragonfly
So, what are my final thoughts?… When you look at the price tag of this pistol being set at roughly $800 that is a tiny bit of sticker shock, but once you factor everything you are getting you begin to understand it is a tremendous value. This pistol has a multitude of Match-Grade components. It also gives you multiple backstraps, multiple magazine options with the Enhanced Magwell, and the Hex Dragonfly red dot retails for $249 as a standalone optic. All things considered, this genuine weapon system for concealed carry and duty work has value far beyond its $800 price tag. So, with that being said, I definitely give my stamp of approval for the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with Hex Dragonfly red dot.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Springfield Armory for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP with 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 3.8″ Compact OSP with 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.
