The next step up the price ladder included products from American companies and are among the best sellers on the market. The pistols in this segment were the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 Pro Series C.O.R.E. (Competition Optics Ready) and the Springfield Armory Elite XD-M 5.25 Precision, and despite their slightly higher MSRPs, both pistols offered excellent value in their own right.
While not boasting an optics-ready slide, the Springfield Armory Elite XD-M 5.25 Precision is also intended for competition. Its claim to fame, at least for this article, is the highest-capacity native magazines of our test group at 22 rounds. The Elite series is a step up in features over the standard XD-M lineup. Elite features include Springfield’s new META trigger with overtravel stop, a removable flared magazine well, more aggressive slide serrations and fully ambidextrous controls including the mag release and slide stop. The Precision model features a fiber-optic front sight with a fully adjustable rear sight, and it includes a 5.25-inch hammer-forged barrel and a lightening cut slide.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
In all fairness, the more expensive pistols have extra latitude with the materials that can be used and the extra touches that can be applied. There was still a lot of respect given to the less pricey options. I caught Lincoln taking a couple of extra turns with the Springfield Elite XD-M 5.25 Precision, and he was a fan of its accuracy, ergonomics and its very nice META trigger. Brad was impressed with the IWI Masada’s accuracy, high hold and its very comfortable grip. He was also impressed with the optics-ready slide considering the pistol’s MSRP.
