The Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact 9mm semi-automatic pistol is the latest entry in the XD-M Elite line of striker-fired handguns, following the Hellcat in the long list of new designs proposed by Springfield Armory specifically for concealed carry and personal defense in the past year or so.

Manufactured – just like the entire XD and XD-M line – for Springfield Armory by HS Produkt of Croatia, the new XD-M Elite 3.8" Compact integrates all the improvements of the Elite series in a lightweight, compact package that will be much appreciated by CCW holders.

The capability to enhance its capacity from the baseline 14 rounds to an extended 19+1 rounds of 9mm Luger through the use of an extended magwells and double-stack metal magazines will definitely make this design appealing to law enforcement, private security and other professional users as well.

Like all other entries in the XD-M Elite line, the new XD-M Elite 3.8" Compact striker-fired pistol is built around the new META trigger ("Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly"), which according to Springfield Armory "delivers the finest production polymer-framed pistol trigger pull available".

With no manual safeties provided, the XD-M Elite 3.8" Compact relies on the grip safety and trigger safety, as well as on an internal drop safety and firing pin block.

The polymer frame sports a short Picatinny rail for accessories, a checkered grip and trigger guard surface for a positive and secure grip in most conditions, and a removable, flared short magwell which can be replaced with an extended well to quickly convert the pistol from a compact to a full-size frame with a 19+1 capacity.

The slide of the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8" Compact pistol is manufactured out of forged steel, and sports a full Melonite finish and a set of aggressive front and rear slide serrations. A loaded chamber indicator and a striker status indicator are also standard.

The XD-M Elite 3.8" Compact deviates slightly from the current market trends by not being factory-ready to accept optics; instead, it relies on a fiber-optic front sight and a Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sight, both dovetailed to the slide.

The 3.8" / 9,65 cm barrel of the new Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact pistol is hammer-forged, protected by a Melonite treatment, and offers a 1:10" rifling pitch for optimal stabilization of defensive 9mm Luger loads. The one-piece recoil spring is hosted in a full-length guide rod that protrudes sensibly from the front portion of the slide, preventing the gun from going out of battery if the need arises to fire it at point-blank or contact range.