Springfield Armory XD Slide Materials

xeero · August 6th, 2006, 09:44 PM

I was wondering what they use to make the XD slides for the black and bi-tone models. Is the bi-tone slide plated or is it a different material altogether?

Also, anyone know if the bi-tone XD45 slides are also Mellonite?

Thinking of getting the XD45 and I like the bi-tone... also hear that the Mellonite slide is really nice.

Bud White · August 6th, 2006, 09:46 PM

Regular xd's are steel the stainless used to be plated i don't know if that is how it is anymore

as for xd 45 no clue

hsuCowboy98 · August 7th, 2006, 01:57 AM

The XD .45 standard is mellonite, dont know about the bi-tone. However, the mellonite is much better than the previous finishes IMHO.

If the xd .45 bitone has the same stuff that is on my XD .40 bi-tone, then I wouldnt have a problem with it, as that pistol still looks like it came out of the box, despite being carried a year.

xeero · August 7th, 2006, 03:31 AM

Sounds like the bi-tone on the older XDs do help a lot. Been reading the same thing you mentioned in other forums too. Maybe I'll go with the black XD45acp for the home for now and get a bi-tone XD9sc for carry next year when I move out of Cali and into a 'shall issue' state. Who knows, maybe they'll come out with an XD45sc soon even tho they say they're not planning on it right now. (In .45 acp, i have a Glock 36 right now, but it doesn't like me so i'm gonna sell it.) decisions decisions...

hsuCowboy98 · August 7th, 2006, 04:25 PM

I highly reccomend the XD45. I shot a tactical firearms intermediate course with it last spring, about 2 weeks after I bought it, and it ran absolutely amazing. Several instructors even got their hands on it and ran some of the course with it, all were impressed with the croatian warhorse.

xeero · August 8th, 2006, 01:07 AM

Hey folks, got a reply from springfield customer service. fyi, my email:

"I'm considering the XD45 in bi-tone, but I wanted to know if the bi-tone slide is also Melonite. Is it coated? Is it more or less rust resistant than the black XD45 slide?"

The reply:

"The BiTone has a stainless steel slide."

i guess either way, the XD 45 should be good.

hoping to find a range that rents out the XD45acp Service and Tactical to compare. right now i'm leaning towards the Tactical for home defense.

QKShooter · August 8th, 2006, 01:44 AM

Mellonite is a surface protective chemical process like Tennifer.

DakotaXD · August 8th, 2006, 03:43 AM

Melonite Processing
http://www.burlingtoneng.com/melonite.html

August 6th, 2006, 09:44 PM	#1
xeero Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 80	Springfield Armory XD Slide Materials I was wondering what they use to make the XD slides for the black and bi-tone models. Is the bi-tone slide plated or is it a different material altogether? Also, anyone know if the bi-tone XD45 slides are also Mellonite? Thinking of getting the XD45 and I like the bi-tone... also hear that the Mellonite slide is really nice.

August 7th, 2006, 01:57 AM	#3
hsuCowboy98 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,023	The XD .45 standard is mellonite, dont know about the bi-tone. However, the mellonite is much better than the previous finishes IMHO. If the xd .45 bitone has the same stuff that is on my XD .40 bi-tone, then I wouldnt have a problem with it, as that pistol still looks like it came out of the box, despite being carried a year. __________________ Fear No Evil.

August 7th, 2006, 04:25 PM	#5
hsuCowboy98 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,023	I highly reccomend the XD45. I shot a tactical firearms intermediate course with it last spring, about 2 weeks after I bought it, and it ran absolutely amazing. Several instructors even got their hands on it and ran some of the course with it, all were impressed with the croatian warhorse. __________________ Fear No Evil.

August 8th, 2006, 03:43 AM	#8
DakotaXD Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 106	Melonite Processing http://www.burlingtoneng.com/melonite.html __________________ "Old Marines never die, we just smell like it." USMC 71'-83' Stay Safe

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August 6th, 2006, 09:46 PM	#2
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	Regular xd's are steel the stainless used to be plated i don't know if that is how it is anymore as for xd 45 no clue

August 7th, 2006, 03:31 AM	#4
xeero Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 80	Sounds like the bi-tone on the older XDs do help a lot. Been reading the same thing you mentioned in other forums too. Maybe I'll go with the black XD45acp for the home for now and get a bi-tone XD9sc for carry next year when I move out of Cali and into a 'shall issue' state. Who knows, maybe they'll come out with an XD45sc soon even tho they say they're not planning on it right now. (In .45 acp, i have a Glock 36 right now, but it doesn't like me so i'm gonna sell it.) decisions decisions...

August 8th, 2006, 01:07 AM	#6
xeero Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 80	Hey folks, got a reply from springfield customer service. fyi, my email: "I'm considering the XD45 in bi-tone, but I wanted to know if the bi-tone slide is also Melonite. Is it coated? Is it more or less rust resistant than the black XD45 slide?" The reply: "The BiTone has a stainless steel slide." i guess either way, the XD 45 should be good. hoping to find a range that rents out the XD45acp Service and Tactical to compare. right now i'm leaning towards the Tactical for home defense.

August 8th, 2006, 01:44 AM	#7
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Off Of The X Posts: 20,480	Mellonite is a surface protective chemical process like Tennifer.