Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 9mm: New Grip Zones & Optics Ready

Let’s get the elephant out of the room immediately: no, the pistol does not have “Grip Zone” printed on it (I think Springfield would sell 10x more if they did, but I digress). The new Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 touts improved stippling throughout the frame, better cocking serrations on the slide, and an optics cut as well making it an appealing new offering at a sticker price of only $325.

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Specs - Springfield Armory XD Mod.3 9mm

The XD Mod.3 has a familiar appearance to it while still building in some new features as well. It utilizes the original XD 16-round magazine, has a Melonite finish, and a fiber optic front sight paired with a white dot rear just like the XD Mod.2 did. The rest of the specs for the XD Mod.3 can be read below:

• Cartridge: 9mm
• Barrel: 4" Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
• Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, Optics-Ready
• Frame: Black Polymer
• Sights: Fiber Optic Front, White Dot Rear
• Recoil System: Dual Captive Recoil Spring w/ Full Length Guide Rod
• Grip Width: 1.2"
• Magazines: (1) 16-Round
• Weight: 27 oz
• Length: 7.3"
• Height: 5.5"

A Word from Springfield Armory on the XD Mod.3

Springfield Armory is pretty excited to deliver the 3rd iteration of the XD to this family of handguns which now includes 5 unique variants: XD, XD Mod.2, XD Mod.3, XDM, and XDM Elite. They share their thoughts and opinions on the XD Mod.3 via their press release statement below:

The platform that set the standard for feature-rich striker-fired handguns remains a top choice for shooters worldwide. The XD® Mod.3 OSP™ features a factory-milled slide designed to accommodate today’s most popular optics, enhancing accuracy. Its aggressively textured frame ensures superior control, while the improved serrations on the hammer-forged slide provide a reliable grip in adverse conditions. The combination of a passive grip safety, tactile loaded chamber indicator and striker-status indicator add an extra layer of security. Additionally, the flat-face trigger delivers a consistent pull, with a defined wall and clean break. The XD Mod.3 ships with a 16-round stainless steel magazine.

While I think Springfield missed out on a tremendous marketing opportunity to give us back our “Grip Zone,” I still believe that these pistols are going to sell like hotcakes given that the MSRP is only $325 for a pistol with a flat trigger, aggressive stippling, improved slide serrations, and it is optics ready as well.

As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Springfield Armory and the XD Mod.3 in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.