Springfield Introduces 3" Subcompact XD Mod.2

by
posted on November 14, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
xdsubcompact_3.jpg

For as long as man has been using tools, he has also been inventing ways to keep them, quite literally, within his grasp. To ensure the most secure grip possible, athletes such as tennis pros and hockey players wrap racquets and sticks with friction tape, and baseball sluggers apply pine tar to their bat handles. And surfers, who especially know the need to remain “stuck” to their boards, apply generous coats of wax to lessen the chance of a catastrophic wipeout.

Maintaining a secure handgun grip, too, falls into this same category, as a prime factor in holding a safe and accurate shot. Size, shape and materials from which a grip is made are all key, thus manufacturers are endlessly on the hunt for solutions.

The newest response to this evolving challenge comes from Springfield Armory in the form of the XD Mod.2  Just when you thought it wasn’t possible for the gunmaker to add anymore models to its popular XD line of pistols, its 3” Sub-compact XD semi-automatic pistol is now presented with some dramatic changes to it ergonomics and concealability factors.

XD_Mod2_Sub_3_GripZoneXD_Mod2_Sub3_GripZone

Most of the pistol’s specifications remain identical to the original sub-compact XD, including safety features such as a grip safety and trigger safety, a striker-status indicator and loaded-chamber indicator. It is also offered in either 9 mm or .40 cal. The major modifications occur externally on the grip panel and elsewhere where ergonomics play the biggest role. In short, Springfield has labeled the areas of the gun that makes contact with a shooter’s hand, the “GripZone,” which is defined as “every surface on the frame that makes contact with your hand.”

With the Mod.2, the frame’s circumference has been reduced and re-contoured to enhance the shooter’s grip and better fit the hand. It also targets three distinct areas of contact for increased friction. The frame features three specifically molded textures, each placed exactly where a shooter’s hand most requires it in order to keep the pistol from shifting.

The stickier grip characteristics provided in the GripZone means a shooter’s hand will be less prone to torque, wrench and flip when shooting due increased traction provided by the textures.

For more on the XD Mod.2, please visit Springfield-Armory.com.

XD Mod.2 3” Sub-Compact with GripZone
Caliber: 9x19 mm; .40
Capacity: 9 mm: 13+1 Rounds; 16+1 Rounds w/x-Tension;
40 Cal: 9+1 Rounds; 12+1 Rounds w/x-Tension
Grip Width: 1.19” 
Weight: 26 ozs. w/empty mag; 27 ozs. w/X-Tension
Length: 6.25” 
Height: 4.75”; 5.5” w/X-Tension
Barrel: 3” hammer forged 
Slide: Forged steel
Frame: Polymer 
Finish: Melonite
Sights: Fiber-Optic Front & Low-Profile Combat Rear
Magazines: 1 Stainless Steel Flush Fitting & 1 Full-Size with XD Gear Mag. X-Tension
MSRP: $565 (black) $599 (bi-tone) 

Latest

Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special 1
Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special 1

The Model 87 Ultra Special: A Rare Survivor of Ithaca's Final Gamble

In the spring of 1990, an 18-year-old received a shotgun he didn't order. The Ithaca Model 87 Ultra Special he got instead was the last gasp of one of America's most iconic shotgun makers.

Five Million Friends

From one room of friends in Missouri to a nationwide movement, Friends of NRA celebrates more than five million lives touched through community, volunteerism, and a shared commitment to the future of the shooting sports.

As Gun Sales Stay High, Violent Crime Hits a Historic Low

According to a recent report from the FBI on national crime statistics, violent crime has decreased 9.3 percent from 2024, marking the largest year-to-year drop since the 1930s.

Federal to Provide Rifle Ammunition to Top Nordic Police Agencies

The Nordic Police, comprised of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, recently selected two Federal Ammunition rifle loads for duty and training use.

New For 2026: Beretta APX A1 Ported

Beretta first entered the polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol market in 2017 with its APX, and nearly 10 years later, the company has added the APX A1 Ported to the lineup.

CDC Restores Basic Armed Citizen Data

As of Aug. 24, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage is again providing defensive-gun-use data.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.