BASEPADS
1. What is a 140/170mm basepad?
This is a measurement that is commonly used across some of the major shooting sports. When we call a basepad a “140mm basepad” what we are saying is: when you put this basepad on the full-size magazine it was intended for, your entire magazine length will be approximately 140mm. The shooting sports have limits on certain divisions where the shooter can be penalized if his magazine exceeds 140mm, or 170mm for other divisions.
It is 100% up to the customer to “gauge”, test, and thoroughly check their equipment before any competition.
2. What capacity should I be getting with my 140/170mm?
Using the description of what a 140mm basepad is (see above), this tells us that since not all magazines start out the same length, that not all “140’s” will be the same size and give the same amount of added capacity. In some cases, you may get a +3 to +4 (9mm), while others you are looking at +5 to +6. We don’t like to give a hard and definite “you WILL get this amount in your magazine” because frankly, it can vary.
What you WILL get is increased capacity. Any estimations we do provide, however, are based on using 9mm ammo and using your stock follower and one of our extra power magazine springs. Generally, you can just subtract one round of estimated capacity for .40 applications.
3. 140/170mm not getting full capacity
As with many aftermarket parts and accessories, sometimes there is a minimal amount of configuring needed to get the desired compatibility. This is especially true when the factory part is extremely mass produced (like a plastic follower). A common issue with extended capacity basepads being used for the first time is finding that you aren’t getting that extra capacity.
What is most likely happening is one of two things:
1. The follower is catching on something when trying to go down into the basepad. Whether its the bottom of the magazine tube body (where the follower doesn’t normally go down that far) or the aftermarket basepad itself. Fill the magazine up to capacity, put your thumb over the top round, pressing down into the magazine. Hit/smack the magazine firmly downward in a stabbing motion on something firm (but not damaging, like a carpeted floor). This should force the follower past whatever its catching on. A lot of times this will solve the problem. If the issue persists, simply take the follower out and just put it through the bottom of the tube body or basepad with your fingers or pliers or something, you will usually be able to identify exactly what part is too long or tight and then just kiss that part of the follower with some sandpaper or a file. VERY LITTLE is needed. Give it one swipe, test it, repeat if necessary. Do not remove too much material.
2. The spring is binding/flipping when installing. Sometimes the spring will flip so that it is not against the bottom of the basepad, but instead flipped to the side wall or something similar. Usually you can fix this by slapping the empty magazine firmly in your hand a few times till you hear it "right" itself inside. Once installed, you can slightly back off the extension and look down inside with a flashlight to see the status of the spring.
4. What is a “Spring/Follower option” and what are extra power springs/grams? Do I need them?
When your magazine is originally designed to be a certain length, they develop a spring for it that is meant to provide the appropriate tension over that distance. Since we’ve just changed that distance by adding an extra capacity basepad (140/170), we often need to switch to a spring that will provide sufficient tension. If you do not, there is a good chance that you will find that your magazines no longer feed reliably and/or your slide will not lock back after last shot fired. We sell our 140/170’s by default with an extra power spring. If you have your own extra power springs you can select the option to not get an extra power spring. Our springs for 140mm basepads are 11 coil, while the 170’s use 13 coil.
One additional option for many of our extended capacity basepads are Grams Follower Kits, made by Grams Engineering. They have made a handy upgrade that comes with both an extra power spring of the appropriate length and their own aftermarket follower that adds one extra round of extended capacity.
5. Which XDM basepads do I order...dimpled/square?
This can depend on if you are using 9mm or .40. Please see pictures on the product description pages.
If you are shooting .40, you will need to order the “Dimpled” basepads, and then use those in conjunction with the locking tab floorplate that you have with your factory magazine.
If you are shooting 9mm, things get a little more complicated. Now, you will need to take every magazine apart to see which type you have. If your springs have the little “v” notch on the bottom that locks down into the basepad, then you have dimpled springs and need to order dimpled basepads. If your springs are totally flat on the bottom base coil and lock into a little raised catch on the basepad, then you have square style springs and need to order a square style basepad. If you have 6 magazines, you could have three of one style and three of another, so its up to you to make sure you are ordering the correct basepads!
6. Which CZ basepads do I order?
CZ makes a great deal of variants for very similar products and it can get quite difficult to get compatible aftermarket parts for the casual user. For the CZ75, and variants that use standard CZ75 parts (you need to do the research on your exact model), we make non-capacity extending basepads for the 16rd, 17rd, and 18rd magazines. If you have a 17rd MecGar mag, order the basepads for 17rd magazine, so on and so forth. If you put a basepad for 18rd magazine on a 16rd mag for example, the basepad will fit just fine, however your magazine is not going to seat into the gun. You can put a 16rd basepad on an 18rd mag and it will fit just fine, however you will have a gap between the basepad and the frame of the gun.
Our customers in state regulated low-capacity areas have reported to us that the basepads for 17rd magazines seem to be the correct fit for full size 10rd mags (such as California mags) and for the 15rd full size mags (such as New Jersey mags). These were not designed with these mags in mind and have not been tested, but we have many great customers that provide us with their personal experiences and we like to pass this information along to you.
If you have this variant, or that variant, or what about that other variant…the answer is pretty much the same. You need to research your platform and if your gun uses the same mags as a standard CZ75 then there should be compatibility, however we cannot guarantee fit with anything other than the platform we designed them for.
7. What does laser engraving...numbering/name mean? What do I put in the numbering field?
Some of our parts, particularly basepads, allow the option to add engraving at the time of order. The most common would be the numbering. You can just put “1-3” if you are getting three basepads, for example. You can use the special instructions to clarify if you feel the need. We try to follow the customer’s instructions exactly, so if put “#1”, we will engrave it with the number symbol. Please note that if you get three pads numbered now, and three more numbered 4-6 a month from now, the exact placement and final engraving may not match the first 3 100%.
For the ‘name’ section, again we will follow you as exactly as possible. If you use all caps, we will use all caps for example. Again, engraving done on one order may not exactly match engraving from a separate order. The ‘name’ section is used for anything that isn’t simple numbering.
MOUNTS
8. XDM 5.25" mounts instructions/precautions.
The XDM 5.25 has a unique rear sight configuration. It does not employ a dovetail like every other XD and XDM. Our mount uses the single threaded hole in the slide which normally secures the adjustable rear sight. It is very important that all steps be taken to make the mount as secure as possible. The screw that holds the mount to the slide is rated for 16.1 inch lbs. of torque. You should clean/degrease the threaded hole and screw and follow all Loctite procedures. It is important that you allow at least 24 hours of cure time once Loctite has been applied. However, do not over use the Loctite, as it can leak down through the hole into the slide and gum up the internals. You can put a drop or two of Loctite on the square area where that the rear part of the mount rests on, with the intent of reducing any gap and making a tighter seal.
9. My dovetail mount slides in easily and is not press fit...is it too small?
Our dovetail mounts are not made to be “press fit” tight. There are two set screws that are in the dovetail section that will tighten down and create tension, as well as two fore and aft set screws used for adjusting the plane. These fore and aft screws are polymer tipped to not mark up the finish on your slide. We provide Loctite for final installation, however, we recommend dry fitting the installation first before a final, Loctite installation.
RECOIL SPRINGS
10. Will I need reduced power recoil springs?
Ultimately, it will be up to your testing at the range to decide what recoil springs you will need. Keep in mind that your gun was engineered very precisely to run a certain way. If you do something to change that, it can certainly affect the reliability of your firearm. A compensator, the actual load of your ammo, and your recoil spring all work together to determine how the gun runs. Many people will buy two or three different weights of springs to fine tune their load and their compensator. One reason why many people go to a guide rod that will allow them to use 1911 springs is because of the wider variety of spring weights available for 1911’s.
11. What weight recoil springs do I need? What load should I shoot?
As mentioned in the above entry: we cannot tell you exactly what springs you need. The ammo you are shooting, the muzzle device you are using, and other factors may determine what springs are going to work for you. That being said, the most common springs we sell for XD/XDM pistols are the 14 and 16lb springs.
We would refer you to Brian Enos’ Forums for advice or information on loads.
BARRELS
12. What barrel size do I order? I have a 5.25 but want threading, do I order a 6"?
You do not need to order “up a size” when selecting a barrel if you intend to get threading. If you have an XDM 5.25 and want a threaded barrel, do not order the 6”. Order the 5.25 and just select the option for the threading you want and we’ll get you the appropriate size. Same goes for the other sizes…just order it for the gun you have.
13. What’s difference between gunsmith fit/drop in fit?
All the BarSto barrels we sell start out as 6” barrel stock with no fitting done. When you order a barrel we give you a couple options. The most common is “Drop-In Fit”. This is also referred to as “semi-fit”. When you order one, we take a 6” barrel blank and fit it to whatever model you order it for, in our shop. So, if you order a drop-in for an XDM 4.5, we will cut the barrel to length, crown the barrel, and fit the barrel to one of our XDM 4.5’s that we have. This makes it a generic fit to your gun. With this option, there is always a chance that it will not be a perfect fit for you gun and will need further fitting. Accuracy guarantees from BarSto is higher if you have a match fitting done, as opposed to a generic drop in fit.
Another option is the “Gunsmith Fit”. If you ordered a gunsmith fit barrel for an XDM 4.5, we will cut the barrel to length, crown the barrel, and send it to you so you can have your own gunsmith do a match fitting to YOUR gun. Fitting to your own slide is always preferable to a generic fit. Always choose a competent and experienced gunsmith as we cannot accept returns or warranty a barrel that has been modified by someone outside of our shop.
The third option is to have us perform a match fitting for you. You can get an XD/XDM work order form from our gunsmith services page at springerprecision.com. We charge $75 for the match fitting and this is the best option for ensuring you get the best fit for your gun and barrel. You will have the tightest tolerances and we will guaranty our work and this is the best way to get the most accuracy for your money with an aftermarket barrel.
17. Where's my barrel? I ordered it a week ago, and haven't heard anything.
Our shop is quite busy with our gunsmithing services and a barrel falls under that category. Since we make all barrels to order, it can take 4+ weeks to get your barrel out to you. It can depend on the time of the year, or current workload. Sometimes it can take less than two weeks. If service loads are unusually high then it could take 6 weeks. The most common turnaround time is in the 3-4 week frame. We appreciate your patience in allowing us to give the proper attention and time to each and every order in our gunsmith services queue.
18. What's the difference between compensator and suppressor threading?
We use the same threading either way, but the difference is the offset/distance from the end of the slide. If you put our compensator on a barrel threaded for suppressor, you would have a larger gap between the comp and the slide. While still 100% functional, most people do not like the aesthetics. Most factory threaded barrels are made for suppressors. We do make a compensator for factory threaded barrels, available for the XDM 4.5 and the Sig P320. These are noted as such in the product description.
OTHER
19. Are you products compatible with other company's products an vice versa?
We cannot guarantee compatibility between our products and other manufacturer’s products. This questions comes up the most regarding compatibility between basepads and magwells.
20. Why does my anodizing not match the color I got last time?
From batch to batch, anodizing shades can and do vary quite often. This is very common in the industry and can be noticeable in the blues, reds, oranges, etc. However, blacks are very consistent. We try our hardest to make sure we match colors to the best of our abilities and always strive to use the best anodizing vendors available.
21. Do you do dealer pricing?
Please contact us at orders@SpringerPrecision.com for dealer inquiries. Thank you!
22. What is your return policy?
We're committed to your satisfaction, guaranteed.
If you would like to exchange an item due to defect, return an item for refund if you received an incorrect item, or your product arrived damaged, please return it within 30 days of your product's shipping date.
Custom Engraved and custom colors and non-returnable.
Returns not due to the previous are subject to a 15% restocking fee. Exchanges not due to the previous will require $5 for return shipping of the desired item, if approved. The order date is available on your original order receipt, available from your account online. Please contact us at orders@springerprecision.com to approve your return and let us know what’s going on.
Items returned must be in new condition. This includes any damage to the anodizing finish. For example, if you can see shiny metal showing through the inside tracks of a basepad because you fit it on your magazine, it is not a new product at that point and we cannot resell it.
Always make sure to include a note with your RMA/name/phone/email/reason for return if you send us a return/exchange. If we cannot identify what you sent us, we cannot do anything with it.
SERVICES
23. What trigger job/gunsmithing can I get done?
Please visit our Work Order Forms page to download the proper form. These are interactive PDF forms that are best viewed on your computer's dedicated PDF viewer. You can go through the drop down menus to look at the options, services, and pricing available. Our number one service would be our trigger jobs.
Combat/Carry Trigger: Reduces the total travel down to 1/4" with an 1/8" of pre-travel and an 1/8" of sear engagement/reset. The trigger pull weight will be reduced to 4 pounds. The combat/carry trigger job costs $150.
Competition Trigger: Reduces the total travel down to 1/4" with an 1/8" of pre-travel and less than an 1/8" of sear engagement/reset (actual reduction varies between models). You choose a custom trigger pull weight from 2.5 to 4 pounds (.25lb increments). The competition trigger job costs $175.
Prices do not include shipping. You can request a FedEx Shipping prepaid label from us that will save you 35% on round-trip shipping, and we will bill your shipping costs on your final invoice. We cap the round-trip shipping charges so that you will not pay more than $95 for one pistol. All pistols being sent in must be sent via contract carrier with overnight service and cannot be shipped via USPS.
24. Can I get my XD/XDM slide milled for red dot?
25. Can I get Ionbond?
Unfortunately we no longer offer Ionbond or DLC/PVD services.
26. Can I get a trigger job on my xxxxx?
While we specialize in our XD/XDM trigger jobs, for which we've developed our own proprietary sears and trigger bars, we also can do installs for some other pistols as well. We have a very good 1911 gunsmith and can do trigger tuning with your stock parts or even top of the line competition aftermarket parts and really perfect your trigger.
We can also do Apex Tactical installs on your M&P, Ghost trigger installs on your Glock, and Apex installs on your CZ.
27. Can I get a xxxxx made for me since you don't make one for my model of gun?
Unfortunately our very busy machining and design schedules do not allow custom or one-off parts designs or production at this time. If you are interested in production in quantity (normally at least 100 quantity) you may contact us and we can discuss your request.
28. Can I get an ETA on my work?
For our gunsmith services, our customer service department will not have updated info on the status of your gunsmith work. We receive it and check it in, then we get it to our gunsmith at our machine shop, who is a dedicated Springer Precision employee and machinist. From there, it will go into the queue to be worked on. Once it is done, it will get back to us at our customer service and shipping/receiving hub to get its final invoicing at which point we will get payment and shipping finalized.
We don't mind getting updates to you if absolutely necessary, but when our turnaround time is 4 weeks, please try and refrain from contacting us a week after we've received it, asking if we are done or have an update for you. Thank you very much for you patience and allowing us to give the proper time and attention to all our customer's firearms.
29. What are differences between the grip treatments available on your work order form?
X-Grip
Marine Grip
Stippling
SHIPPING
30. How do I request a FedEx label?
You can go to our Work Order Forms page and fill out the form to request a FedEx label for shipping your gun to us for work. This is reserved for shipping full guns/serialized frames as it is the most expensive. This allows you to save on our discounted shipping, up to 30%. Make sure you provide us with your address when you request it or it will delay the process while we reply to you to get that required information. The labels are good for 30 days once we create them, and we will email you a PDF copy of the label for you to print out.
The law requires anyone who does not have a Federal Firearms License to ship a handgun via next-day shipping with a contract carrier, not USPS. With our discounted shipping, we will not charge more than $95 for round trip overnight.
If you are shipping a slide or anything else that is NOT a serialized frame, USPS priority is a great and affordable option. Sig P320 Grip Modules without the fire control unit do not count as a gun/frame and can be shipped any method.
31. What if I send my gun in parts, can I ship it USPS/ground then?
Unfortunately it doesn't quite work that way. ANY TIME that you ship the serialized frame (or fire control unit in Sig P320, at time of writing...this may change as modular handguns become more prevalent), in any manner of disassembly, you are legally shipping the firearm.
32. Do you export to xxxxx country?
We ship to Canada via our webstore (certain restrictions apply) but any other export request must be sent to our friends at Exports@RainierArms.com.
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