Model: XD5350 Paddle Holster
version: Right hand only
Materials: Modern polymers
Introduced: October 2004
Facts: Will carry any model XD securely
company info: XDGEAR is Springfield Armorys name brand for its XD related products.
Manufactures website: www.springfield-armory.com
The XD5350 paddle holster is the first new product developed especially for Springfield Armorys new name brand XDGEAR®. Right off the bat you will notice someone put some thought into the packaging. The hardest part of shopping for a holster is trying it out and actually looking at the thing. Most holster companies are fine with hiding their holsters in packaging making it difficult to test for draw, retention, and fit of a particular product. The XDGEAR holster is packaged so that most of the holster is exposed and is easy to examine or test with out removing packaging. The second thing you will notice is that this holster looks very similar to the Fobus brand of Kydex holsters. Almost everyone that the holster was shown to also made that comment, so because of this I will use the well know Fobus holster for comparison. Even though the XD5350 is made in Israel just like Fobus holsters, it is not made by Fobus but by a company that uses a logo that has a letter "D" and looks like a dog paw print.
One of the most noticable things that distinguish the XD5350 from any other holster is the addition of the upper and lower frame rails. At a time when there are still new handguns developed lacking an accessory rail, Springfield Armory has included TWO picatinny rails on its holster! The longer of the two rails makes up the top or when wearing the holster the front edge. The inside of the top rail actually makes up the sight channel. Because of this the sight channel is huge. You could almost fit a Mac truck in there, so what ever sights you do have or want to put on your XD, they will fit fine and don't have anything to get caught on.
While the larger rail can accept all of the weapons lights and lasers out there the smaller rear rail will only fit an XML weapons light. When trying to install an m-3 tactical light I found out the the light will slide on the smaller rail but the arms of the rocker switch is not wide enough to go around the trigger guard area of the holster. If the front latch line of the picatinny rail were a 10th of an inch more forward then the m-3 would latch maybe later models will solve this. While you are able to carry two different accessories at the same time the total package becomes quite bulky with even one accessory attached to the rails. Although the rails may not be practical for concealed carry, they are great for keeping things together while at the range or as someone suggested while hunting, riding an ATV, or while working on the far end of your property. In other words, when you don't need to be concealed. Now I did not personally test this but I will leave it up to your imagination. If you attach an accessory it, it is basically out in the open with very little protection for the accessory. One trip down some steps or over a log and your $100.00 flashlight gets hopefully at the minimum scuffed up at the worse ripped off and broken. If you attach an accessory for the self defence role, please also be aware of the holsters limitations. The scenario goes like this-- you see bad guy, bad guy does actions that warrant the use of deadly force, your draw with your right hand and reach over with your left try to get accesory off and then put accessory on weapon. Now that's a made-up situation, and I will leave it up to you to decide if it can happen to you or not.
| Unlike the Fobus brand holster that uses a two sideded holster that is rivited together. The XD5350 is molded from a single piece unit with the paddle attached. The single piece makes for a stronger holster with no rivets to break or tear at the poylmer or wear out. There is a cut along the rear of the holster to allow for flexibility and adjustibility. At the end of the cut is a Hex head screw that is used to adjust the tension on the pistol for variable retention levels. Using the included 5/32 allen key the retention can be set for a sweet smooth draw for shooting games or to a tight secure fit needed for concealed or duty carry. |
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The xd5350 has four height levels for a full custom fit. From level one the upper most level you can lower the holster at one inch intervals at levels two three and four. The holster allows for three inches movement up or down at the extremes. If you would like a nice high carry, level one will suit you. Some women and men have a better time with a lower holster, easily accomplished with level four. On each of the four levels are bumps and dimples that allow a full 360 degrees of rake. Both forward and rearward cants are possible- again using a 5/32 allen key to lock the dimples and bumps together for a secure hold no matter where you want your pistol positioned.   |
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| The Paddle of the holster is smooth and has no rough edges or any thing else to poke at you while wearing. The curve of the paddle was comfortable and fit me well unlike a lot of paddle holsters made for skinny people that tend to dig into your legs at both ends. This seems like a paddle that will fit alot of body types comfortably, but with the limited time the holster has been available I can't tell if the paddle will mold to your body over time. Several people have asked if the hole on the out side of the holster may be another attachment point for reversing the paddel for left handed use. Unfortuantely the hole just seems to be a hole, although when the service and tactical model XD`s are inserted in the holster the hole lets you see the disassembly lever is still there. Unfortunately the XD5350 is only available in a right hand and only as a paddle. As of now Springfield Armory has yet to reveal if a left hand or belt version will be available. The holster is able to accept all three sizes of xd pistols although the tactical models will stick out of the bottom about an inch. No matter the model XD is used, When an xd is inserted into the holster the loaded chamber indicator is still visible as well as able to be felt. |
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Once the holster was adjusted for me, I used it quite a bit on the range. One thing that becomes noticable with use is that the holster is held vertically straight up and down with no inward or outward lean. Also the holster and pistol is kept a nice distance from your torso which helps with drawing and reholstering since you don't have to move anything out of the way or sweep with the muzzel any body parts. This distance kept my shirt from wanting to follow the pistol into the holster or worse yet anything getting caught in the trigger guard while reholstering. While using the holster none of the adjustments made for use came undone. It makes for a better day when you don't have to keep adjusting things. The holster did as advertised and securely and safely held an XD during use. I tried running and jumping and the holster and pistol were still there. On one sour note though while adjusting the retention I tried a tight fit, when I drew my weapon the holster followed and when brought up to eye level was still attached. The nubbs on the paddle are kind of small when compared to say a Fobus. So when using a tight fit make sure your belt or pants are relatively snug so the holster will stay attached to your pants where it belongs. On the flip side though the holster is easily removed, I had no trouble while sitting removing the holster and pistol before entering a post office. I then reinstalled it when done and never removed the pistol from the holster. Because of the materials used to make it, the holster is easily cleaned with water by rinsing it and is mostly impurvious to normal gun cleaners like hoppes 9 so this is a nice holster to have to throw in your dirty XD sprayed with oil on the return trip home. As far as maintenance and break in there is none. If you are obsessive-compulsive as I am then you will oil you hex screws and nuts but other than that its a keep it simple holster that takes it to the next level like no other holster. |
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Written by James Nicholas
XD-HS2000.com your resource for information and products XD.
Have new products for the XD e-mail me at
Birmingham, AL