I Carry: Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 Tactical in a CrossBreed Holster

Welcome to another episode of "I Carry," Shooting Illustrated's weekly video series covering the guns and gear needed to put together an ideal everyday-carry kit. Today, we have a Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 5-Inch Tactical pistol in a CrossBreed SnapSlide holster. We also have a CrossBreed Executive Belt, a Bravo Concealment Single Magazine Pouch, a 5.11 Tactical Prefense Courser 2.5 folding knife and a Streamlight Twin-Task 3 AAA flashlight.
 
Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 5-inch Tactical (MSRP: $637)

Released in early 2017, Springfield Armory’s XD Mod.2 5-inch Tactical model, in .45 ACP, is designed to offer double-stack performance in size much closer to a single stack. With 13+1 rounds of .45 ACP on hand, the 5-inch Tactical is a mere 1.2 inches wide, and sports a 5-inch barrel (hence the name) with an overall length of 8.1 inches.

Normally, a pistol chambered in .45 ACP with double-digit capacity would be too large to consider as an EDC pistol. The XD Mod.2, though, is less than an inch longer and taller than the Glock G19, widely regarded as an easy-to-carry pistol. The XD 5-inch Tactical is quite close in overall size to Commander-size 1911s, with increased capacity.

Enhancements rolled out with the new Mod.2 updates, such as the aggressive grip texturing, undercut trigger guard and fiber-optic front sight, improve the handling the 5-inch Tactical Mod.2. The slide is Melonite-treated carbon steel for longer life and greater corrosion resistance, ideal for a daily carry pistol. While it might be slightly larger than the average concealed handgun, the modest increase in size really helps during range time.

CrossBreed SnapSlide Holster (MSRP: $48.50)

CrossBreed’s SnapSlide holster allows for even a full-size handgun to be easily carried and concealed through a design that keeps it tight against the body. A precision-molded Kydex shell bolts to a cow- or horsehide backing, producing a large number of configurations for a variety of EDC needs. The SnapSlide features a slight forward cant to assist in drawing the pistol, and is available in a “straight drop” configuration to accommodate red-dot-equipped pistols.

CrossBreed Executive Belt (MSRP: $74.95)

Hand-oiled and available in brown or black finish, CrossBreed’s Executive belt is a step up in style from the usual carry belt. Reinforced and lined, these ¼-inch thick belts can carry even the heftiest of pistols, and look good doing it. Buckles are available in bronze, gloss and matte finishes, and a hook-and-loop insert that works with CrossBreed’s V-Clips is available as an option.

Streamlight Twin-Task 3 AAA Flashlight (MSRP: $66.30)

Referring to the light’s ability to provide either a spotlight or a floodlight, the Streamlight Twin-Task 3AAA flashlight (obviously) runs on three AAA batteries and provides up to 240 lumens. Weighing 7 ounces and measuring 5.45 inches long, it’s a little big for a pocket, but certainly not for a belt or cargo pocket. Unlike many lights we’ve featured, the Twin-Task 3AAA light uses a body-mounted pushbutton rather than a tailcap. Three settings are available: Spotlight, floodlight and spot/floodlight, with 240, 60, and 165 lumens, respectively. Runtime varies from 3 hours and 15 minutes in the combination mode to 11 hours in the floodlight only mode.

5.11 Tactical Prefense Courser 2.5 Folding Knife (MSRP: $49.99)

Designed with input from renowned knife expert Steve Tarani, the 5.11 Tactical Prefense Courser 2.5 knife offers an AUS8 stainless steel blade, fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle and completely ambidextrous operation. Its 2.5-inch long blade and 6.5-inch overall length give it exceptional balance, and precise texturing throughout make it quite easy to hold onto for a variety of tasks.

Bravo Concealment Single Magazine Pouch (MSRP: $28.99)

Kydex construction and beefy hardware make the Bravo Concealment Single Magazine pouch an essential part of your EDC gear. The single magazine pouch (a double pouch is also available) offers dual loops for precise anchoring on the belt. Adjustments to increase or decrease tension can be made with a Philips-head screwdriver to allow varying levels of retention (or simply to accommodate different magazines).