The XD frame is best dealt with via aerosol degreaser and then lubricant. In a safe area, spray, scrub with a brush, spray again. Let dry. Then apply lubricant. The XD frame rails are traditional in size and thus need lube. Be sure to put a drop on the trigger-return spring and on the safety plunger and striker release in the rear of the frame.

Springfield doesn't recommend removing the locking block and internals. Unless something is broken, scrub it, dry it, oil it and get back to shooting.

Put a drop of oil between the trigger drawbar and the frame and work the trigger a few times to get the oil distributed. Wipe off any excess.

In the slide, you have a few more differences. As with the Glock, you have to press the striker assembly forward to relieve pressure on the rear plate and thus slide it off.

Unlike the Glock, once you've pulled out the striker spring and cocking indicator, you're done. The striker of the XD is held in place by means of a roll pin that both contains the striker and acts to restrict its movement, thus controlling firing-pin protrusion in the breechface.

To remove the striker you need a roll-pin punch. Unlike regular punches, a roll-pin punch has both a hemispherical bump on the front to remain centered on the roll pin and a shoulder to drive the pin.

If you use a regular pin you risk marring your slide and/or damaging your roll pin. Since Springfield is not yet providing spare parts (you get new parts by sending your pistol back for service), messing up a roll pin could result in a trip to the local shipping office. Therefore you remove the striker spring and cocking indicator, hose with aerosol cleaner/degreaser, lightly lube and reassemble.

The Glock's striker safety must have square shoulders in order to block the striker. Check to see if the edges are peened or worn.

One other point in which the XD differs from the Glock is in the barrel. The XD doesn't care (within reason) what your bullets are made of. You can shoot lead all you want, as long as you keep the bore clean. Nothing new here; any bore you neglect and allow to become leaded loses accuracy.

Once they're cleaned and lubed, reinstall the striker spring and cocking indicator, press down and slide the rear plate back on. Slide in the barrel and recoil-spring assembly. A drop of oil on the chamber and a bit of oil on the spring guide, please.

Slide the slide assembly back onto the cleaned and lubed frame, and once it bottom outs at the rear, lock it in place with the slide-stop lever. If you can't get it back far enough, you probably have the recoil-spring guide slightly out of alignment, and it is hitting the frame without going into its seat. Slide off the frame, center the guide and try again. Once locked back, press the disassembly lever down, run the slide forward and do your function checks.

GLOCK UPGRADES

You can easily get your Glock upgraded with new factory parts if the design has changed or replacements if yours are worn: Go to a GSSF match. The Glock Sports Shooting Foundation holds matches around the country. Not only can you compete against other Glock owners (and even win loot, i.e., more Glocks) but each GSSF match has factory-trained armorers on hand. They will gladly inspect your Glock and see if it needs upgrading. They'll also replace worn parts for you. Yes, Glock parts can wear out. Anything made by man is subject to wear, and nothing is forever. The matches feature classifications for shooting skill and classifications for the type of Glock you are shooting, so it isn't as if you'll be thrown in with the pros to sink or swim. You can go just to have fun, go to test yourself or go to get your Glock cleaned and inspected.

The function check is the same for both Glock and XD. Make sure whichever one you are checking is unloaded. Check again. Yes, at times I sound paranoid about it, but I have yet to see a gunsmith's shop without at least one hole in a workbench, cabinet or wall.

Unloaded? Good. Cycle the slide. Dry-fire. Hold down the trigger and cycle the slide. Ease the trigger forward. It should reset. Pull the trigger again. The pistol should dry fire.

Work the slide, and get out a section of dowel or an unsharpened No. 2 pencil. Lock open the slide. Put a small piece of tape on the end of a dowel or eraser end of a pencil and insert it into the muzzle, tape/eraser end down. With the pencil or dowel resting on the breechface, push the slide stop down. The pencil should be bumped out of the muzzle but not go far.

Look at the tape. Any mark? None? Good. If there is, you need to replace the striker safety. Put the pencil back in, stand where the ceiling is high, point the muzzle up and dry fire. The pencil or dowel should be launched. Low ceilings and sharpened pencils mean holes--and stuck pencils. It's messy and the sign of a goofball.

Short of actually firing, you are now certain that your reassembled Glock or XD works as intended.