Selecting a handgun for dusty environments

[drw]

Daily I work on my property, managing the cattle, doing tractor work, and gardening (heavy day-long garden work involving shovels and hoes, etc). I've been carrying an XD45 (I love that gun) in a Don Hume OWB holster, but at the end of the day I find the top of the firearm is covered in a thin layer of dust. I then have to break it down and clean all the dust out, and I'm worried about my firearm and it's reliability in dirty conditions should I need it (most likely when a pack of feral dogs come up over the hill).

I read somewhere that revolvers are much better for outdoor work... is this true? Do any of ya'll have a recommendation for me? Or should I just stick with the XD45 with daily cleaning?

[melkor41]

From what I have read the XD and Glocks will function after being buried in sand. I think you would be fine with a layer of dust. You could clean it weekly instead of daily and be just dandy.

[Lumberjack98]

Your XD will be fine.

Try this test. Don't clean it for several days and at the end of one day, run a couple of mags through it.

Also, make sure that you're not over oiling the pistol. It doesn't need very much lubrication to run properly and if you put too much on it, it will actually hold that dirt / dust / sand in place and cause malfunctions.

[drw]

That's very reassuring, thank you both! I'm sticking with my much-loved XD45.

[Kalrog]

I'm sure the XD will be just fine as is. But this sure sounds like a great excuse to get a new gun. Make it a revolver... say a .357Mag or 10mm and have fun. My picks would be either a Ruger GP100 or a S&W 610.

[shootthesheet]

http://www.galatiinternational.com/Merc ... areTrigger

Try this type of holster. Won't stop the dust completely but they do help. The catalog for this company has right handed versions so you may want to call if you order from them.

[drw]

Thanks ya'll!

[308nato]

you could keep it in a large ZipLock baggie, if any dogs come at you just zip it open
put your hand in a fire , helps save your brass also.

[seamusTX]

you could keep it in a large ZipLock baggie, if any dogs come at you just zip it open
put your hand in a[nd] fire

I actually thought about this. If you are shooting a semi-auto pistol, there's a chance of the bag getting hung up in the slide and jamming the weapon.

Would work for a revolver.

- Jim

[Mike from Texas]

From what I have read the XD and Glocks will function after being buried in sand. I think you would be fine with a layer of dust. You could clean it weekly instead of daily and be just dandy.

Don't believe that for a second. This is the very reason I sold my XD45. I used to wear it at the lease while riding 4 wheelers and such. It would get the light film of like you are talking about. Got home after a weekend of riding and such, dropped the mag, cleared the chamber and went to drop the striker. It wouldn't fire at all. Did a detailed strip on it and found the area where the striker pin sits and it was so full of crud that it wouldn't shoot. That was no fun to take apart and clean out. Couple of months later same scenario, but this time it took everything I had to get the mag to drop out. Again, the mag release assembly was full of that fine dust. Not to mention how much of a pain that was to take apart and reassemble. IMO their design is a very poor one.

My 10mm Glock has been subjected to the exact same conditions and no failures or hiccups whatsoever and much, MUCH easier to detail strip and clean if necessary.

For me it was a no brainer to sell the XD and replace it with a Glock. I currently have a G21SF in place of the XD45.

This is not to necessarily bash the XD, I like them a lot. But it was a comfort thing for me. After having those 2 issues happen and after seeing how complicated the design is compared to the Glock, I never could get a comfort level again while carrying the XD. I caught myself wondering, will this thing work if I need it?

For me the Glock is the weapon of choice in these conditions.

[drw]

Is it true that revolvers are completely invulnerable to dust issues?

[seamusTX]

No. A grain of sand between the cylinder and frame can jam up a revolver quite handily. The internal mechanism of a double-action revolver is also quite complicated, more than most semi-autos.

- Jim

[drw]

That G21SF sure looks nice... Another gun for my wishlist.

[fm2]

Mike, I heard a similar story. That's why I am not too hot on the XD.

[Deaf Smith]

In Iraq the Glocks are VERY popular. The polymer frame is more or less self lubercating so just the innards of the steel slide and barrel need a touch of dry lube.

About as close to a AK as you can get in a handgun.