Grand Power X Calibur review

[Avenida]

Folks!
I recently found a video by a site sponsor about this gun.
I believe this company put together a nice video but do to lack of experience with the gun the mentioned PROS as CONS and they forgot to mention a few things.
I have been shooting this platform for 6 months now and I can say two things: It is awesome and ugly, but once you see your shooting go to the next level you forget about the ugly part. lol

Here is what I wrote to them, I decided to put it here because the site won't let me put it in their thread:

Hi!
I hope this does not derail your thread, but I have been using this pistol for 6 months now and I can provide a bit more insight if you want?

Pros (things you did not mention)
Replaceable back straps. Ergonomics are really good!
The auto forward function when a new magazine is inserted! This is KEY! During competition it comes extremely handy.
Flutted barrel/heavy barrel, reduces recoil significantly!

Things you put into CONS, but I still see them as PROS, and, last but not least the reason why I bought this gun:

Slide release, it is far for a reason, to avoid being in contact with your thumbs with a thumbs forward grip. Not sure why it is a con to you, as a matter of fact, this is the only pistol that will not go accidentally to slide lock due to this!
The slide release can be reached easily when needed. It is perfectly placed. It might seem far at first, but once you get familiar with this you will notice how perfectly placed it is.

Safeties, if you prefer small levers, get the small ones that come in the box, another little detail you missed The little ones are just like a CZ, but, the big ones are perfect for resting your thumb and the size has no effect whatsoever, in other words, not sure why BIG is bad. If you are right handed shooter, you can remove the big one on the left and insert a small one (that came in the box) and problem solve. That is how I run it to avoid the lever touching my hand, this is an issue for me, but it not an issue for certain people. It all depends on your hand size.

Take down, it is different that any other gun but it is not a CON after you do it 1 time, your inexperience and frustration has nothing to do with the gun design in my opinion. Sorry

You mentioned that is not a CZ, things are missing? not sure what is missing since the XCAL is probably just as fast or faster, extremely accurate and easy to shoot. I would shoot this pistol over a CZ any day. We might be both a little bit biased? lol

Good video and good for you guys for spending on this kind of marketing and I like your relaxed style but I feel you did not spend much time with this pistol at all before doing this therefore you pointed out things as Cons where in fact they are just different for a reason, fair to say?

Cheers!

 

[Avenida]

I am planning on doing a review myself, would anybody be interested in getting feedback from someone who has 6 month experience, 5 Grand Powers, including a XTRIM, and over 10 thousand rounds through?

 

[colinjw]

I watched the review and in most part i thought that it was well done.
However in respect the removing and installing the top end, it does require a slightly different method
than most other designs , I think due the rotating barrel.
But once I saw the correct way to do it, it is fast & simple.

 

[bushwhacker]

Maybe I do things bass-ackwards to everyone else, but for me best way to re-assemble is to hold slide upside down with barrel fully forward, flat on barrel against flat in slide. Set lower onto slide, pushing it forward against tension of spring until it drops into place. Release pressure, and put front of trigger guard back into place in frame.

 

[xdmer]

The review doesn't do the platform justice. These are very solid guns, GP in general, I have an K100, X-Trim, P1S and will have an X-Cal. Unfortunately lots of people misunderstand these pistols and their features.

PS. I'll take GP over CZ any day of the week.

 

[VanMan]

Loving the Grand Power line too. Started with one X-Calibur, added another as a backup gun and a K22 X-Trim from cheap practice. Pickedup a K100 and lately a P40L just because lol

About the only thing I do to them is add some grip tape. Canuck223 stepped up this year as the Canadian distributor and did a great job bringing in spare parts and extra mags. Now just waiting for an X-Calibur version of the P40

View attachment 61441

 

[xdmer]

^ What have you got there for a red dot and mount? I want this on mine.

 

[VanMan]

^ What have you got there for a red dot and mount? I want this on mine.

I had Chris over at Amerigun make an adapter for me because the Grand Power dovetail is not a standard one. Cost me $140US and $20 in shipping. It was just something fun to do, the Trijicon SRS is very small so if you are off by just a little bit when you post up, you have to hunt for the red dot.

View attachment 61445

There's a standard adapter for an Eliason sight, but I don't think I'd put it on the X-Calibur, The weight of that slide and barrel are finely tuned, so you would have to run some pretty hot ammo to get it to cycle properly with the extra weight of that adapter plate and red dot sight.

h ttp://redhilltactical.com/products/jpoint-mount-for-elliason-style-sight-cuts

 

[Avenida]

That is why I am thinking of doing a review, because what I have seen does not make the platform justice.

I do too re assemble the pistol with the barrel and slide bottom up. It is really easy that way.

Glad to see other gp shooters!

 

[Avenida]

Hey Vanman, are you reloading for the Xcal?
What are the experiences with the 21vs23 coil recoil spring? If any.

 

[Avenida]

Maybe I do things bass-ackwards to everyone else, but for me best way to re-assemble is to hold slide upside down with barrel fully forward, flat on barrel against flat in slide. Set lower onto slide, pushing it forward against tension of spring until it drops into place. Release pressure, and put front of trigger guard back into place in frame.

This is exactly how it should be done.

 

[Avenida]

I had Chris over at Amerigun make an adapter for me because the Grand Power dovetail is not a standard one. Cost me $140US and $20 in shipping. It was just something fun to do, the Trijicon SRS is very small so if you are off by just a little bit when you post up, you have to hunt for the red dot.

View attachment 61445

There's a standard adapter for an Eliason sight, but I don't think I'd put it on the X-Calibur, The weight of that slide and barrel are finely tuned, so you would have to run some pretty hot ammo to get it to cycle properly with the extra weight of that adapter plate and red dot sight.

h ttp://redhilltactical.com/products/jpoint-mount-for-elliason-style-sight-cuts

Mr King has really good stuff and he is very nice to deal with. His stuff is top notch, highly recommend him. His holaters are excellent.

 

[Avenida]

Maybe we can all chime in and create a thread sharing what we like about the platform. If you have any ideas post them here or send me a pm. I can gather all of these and talk about them in a video (or anything we can come up with).

 

[VanMan]

Mr King has really good stuff and he is very nice to deal with. His stuff is top notch, highly recommend him. His holaters are excellent.

Yep, I've got one of his holsters. Really great quality and they fit all my Grand Power 9mm handguns. I picked one up to use for USPSA and wish I had known about them before. I could only find a CR Speed WSM II that would fit my X-Cal when I started shooting IPSC. The Red Hills holster is much more secure and doesn't slow down my draw at all.

View attachment 61449

 

[VanMan]

Hey Vanman, are you reloading for the Xcal?
What are the experiences with the 21vs23 coil recoil spring? If any.

I reload 147gr Campro's with 3.5gr of VV N320 at 1.100 COL and CCI primer. It gives me a nice ~910 FPS in my fluted barrelled X-Cal and 925FPS in my bull barreled X-Cal. I've tested some loads at Campro's suggested COL of 1.060 and think 3.4gr would give me the same speeds. I'm going to do some more testing of that and may switch over to that in the winter.

I've also worked up loads with Titegroup @ 3.4gr and Longshot @ 4.3gr that gives me a nice 910FPS in my fluted barrelled X-Cal. I just find the VV N320 burns a little cleaner

I initially started using the lighter coil spring with my 147gr loads and had my reloads set to a 130pf. I've since switched to the medium coil spring and bumped up my pf to 132. I find the slide cycles a bit faster, and returns to battery more positively. With the light coil spring, I occasionally had the slide fail to fully return to battery if the gun was dirty (eg towards the end of a 500 round practice session).

 

[Avenida]

that is great info, thank you.
I have been shooting 147 campro and using the short spring with great success, loading 3.3 Titegroup at @132 pf, but reading up on your comments I might need to revisit my loads.

I have recently acquired a few K of Campros in 124 that I want to try and load up to 132 PF, using the medium spring as well.

Do you find your pistols shoot a little bit left? before we get into fundamentals, this is not a shooter issue Even when benching all my GP, they tend to shoot 1" left at 7-8 yards. I have had 5 GP and they all do the same.
I have other shooters (top production shooters) with the same results.

Wondering why they tend to shoot a tiny bit left.

Thank you for sharing the info on your loads, it comes really handy. I will refer to this when I go back to 147 (If I do).
Do you have a load for 124 Campro?

I reload 147gr Campro's with 3.5gr of VV N320 at 1.100 COL and CCI primer. It gives me a nice ~910 FPS in my fluted barrelled X-Cal and 925FPS in my bull barreled X-Cal. I've tested some loads at Campro's suggested COL of 1.060 and think 3.4gr would give me the same speeds. I'm going to do some more testing of that and may switch over to that in the winter.

I've also worked up loads with Titegroup @ 3.4gr and Longshot @ 4.3gr that gives me a nice 910FPS in my fluted barrelled X-Cal. I just find the VV N320 burns a little cleaner

I initially started using the lighter coil spring with my 147gr loads and had my reloads set to a 130pf. I've since switched to the medium coil spring and bumped up my pf to 132. I find the slide cycles a bit faster, and returns to battery more positively. With the light coil spring, I occasionally had the slide fail to fully return to battery if the gun was dirty (eg towards the end of a 500 round practice session).

 

[VanMan]

I only had one load worked up for Campro 124gr HP - that was 5.5 gr Longshot @ 1.150 that made a nice 135pf. I've heard some top shooters mention that they prefer the way the X-Calibur slide cycles with 124gr bullets and the medium recoil spring. I may try that after I work through my current 147gr stockpile

I've found the POI for my GP's was pretty spot on with factory 124gr ammo. With my 147gr reloads they tended to be off by a couple inches @ ~2:00 o'clock at 10 yards. Once I settle on a recipe for my practice and match ammo, I adjust my sights by centering on a couple of 10 round groups.

that is great info, thank you.
I have been shooting 147 campro and using the short spring with great success, loading 3.3 Titegroup at @132 pf, but reading up on your comments I might need to revisit my loads.

I have recently acquired a few K of Campros in 124 that I want to try and load up to 132 PF, using the medium spring as well.

Do you find your pistols shoot a little bit left? before we get into fundamentals, this is not a shooter issue Even when benching all my GP, they tend to shoot 1" left at 7-8 yards. I have had 5 GP and they all do the same.
I have other shooters (top production shooters) with the same results.

Wondering why they tend to shoot a tiny bit left.

Thank you for sharing the info on your loads, it comes really handy. I will refer to this when I go back to 147 (If I do).
Do you have a load for 124 Campro?

 

[xdmer]

Great thread, now I know where to get some much needed accessories for them. I certainly wouldn't be putting the red dot on the x-cal, but I think I'll be fine on with the k100 or xtrim.

 

[Avenida]

you can set the trigger of the Xtrim with the same parts of the Xcal and have a Xcal trigger on a xtrim , which is absolutely awesome.
One thing (among other things) I love about the Xcal is that no matter what gun you grab, the triggers are VERY consistent from XCAL to XCAL and the difference (if any) is negligible.

This is something I could not get even on Glocks (that is probably the easiest trigger to replicate).

You won't be disappointed with the Xtrim. I had one but sold it as I was not using it (have no use for 4" barrel as I no longer shoot IDPA) but I was curious about them and bought one. I am curious about the Q100 now, I wish I could put my hands on one, but with a baby on the way, this is not a good time for buying toys.

The K100 base, never tried it, I am sure it is just as good as the xtrim albeit the firing pin safety...

Great thread, now I know where to get some much needed accessories for them. I certainly wouldn't be putting the red dot on the x-cal, but I think I'll be fine on with the k100 or xtrim.

 

[Avenida]

This is exactly what I have found, about 1.7-2 inches at 10 yards, using the same bullet you are using.

That is the reason I am switching to 124 and also because I want faster cycling (more gas in the load) to switch over to the medium spring. Glad to see that I am not the only one thinking this way, as this was my reasoning behind this swap.

Going to work up a load in 124 this week, try it on Saturday, will post results by either Sunday or Monday.

GREAT THREAD GUYS! thanks for all the input.

I only had one load worked up for Campro 124gr HP - that was 5.5 gr Longshot @ 1.150 that made a nice 135pf. I've heard some top shooters mention that they prefer the way the X-Calibur slide cycles with 124gr bullets and the medium recoil spring. I may try that after I work through my current 147gr stockpile

I've found the POI for my GP's was pretty spot on with factory 124gr ammo. With my 147gr reloads they tended to be off by a couple inches @ ~2:00 o'clock at 10 yards. Once I settle on a recipe for my practice and match ammo, I adjust my sights by centering on a couple of 10 round groups.