The average garage mechanic, with minimal training, can do virtually all of the possible gunsmithing available to do on a Glock. No, you can’t do grip reductions, but there are only 37 parts, and it’s easy to buy from an amazing array of aftermarket parts (e.g., lone wolf distributors). XD is good, but is nowhere near on aftermarket support. I’ve never messed around on the internals of an XD.
I’ve also had a glock blow up in my hand from an overcharged factory round. No damage to my hand (it stung for 5 minutes, I picked up the pieces and got out my other glock and shot the rest of the stage), and everything vented downward through the magwell like it’s supposed to. All the internal steel parts were screwed, but the frame and slide body were fine. Glock completely repaired the gun for $250, no questions asked. (I used to have a bad practice of dumping all my ammo for a match into a green metal ammo can and throwing away the boxes, so I couldn’t go to the ammo mfg for the charges).
Glocks are accurate enough for any self defense or competition use except bullseye. If you’re doing bullseye, an xd isn’t going to help you.
Another poster mentioned the “trigger safety” — the little piece of plastic that wobbles inside the trigger. It’s not really a safety to protect against AD — if your boogerhook is inside the triggerguard and on the bangswitch, you’ll have an AD. The “trigger safety” prevents the trigger from moving rearward if the gun is dropped or smacked. Since you can adjust a glock trigger with aftermarket parts from about 3lbs all the way up to about 11lbs, a light trigger needs that protection.
I’ve owned all the expensive guns. Sigs are nice, HK’s are extremely nice, Kimbers are just plain awesome, Berrettas rock. You won’t go wrong. The reason I’m with glock is that my personal entropy field screws with any mechanical system. Safeties are missed on the draw or decockers are left in the wrong position. Moving parts break or get sand in them. Glock’s have the virtue of being incredibly reliable — they go bang every time with no extra motions necessary to operate any controls. Your holster is your “safety” (second to your brain being engaged).
Regardless of which one you pick, stick with it. Learn one weapon system really well and get good with that. There is no perfect gun, but Glocks are really good.
Outstanding advice. A repeat and a BTT.
Did the rear of the case blow out?
You might want to look into a fully supported barrel if you are shooting .40
The hornady load book even has a special note about barrels that are not fully supported, and hand loads. I don’t think there is any other caliber with a note.