.45 in M&P or XD?

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sharpshooter01

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I'm new to the site and almost new with handguns. I had a Glock 30 and sold it a couple of years back due to divorce and money problems, that is now long behind me :banghead: I'm looking at buying either an M&P .45 or an XD .45, if you were to go tomorrow and buy one without shooting either one what would it be and why? I know S&W has a rebate until 4/30, but one of our local gun shops usually has a no sales tax holiday in the spring. I could use the rebate from S&W or take the no tax and buy an XD. You guys that have them let me hear the good and bad. Thanks!
 
Personally, not having fired either, I would get the XD 4" COmpact, because ten rounds is respectable and it looks good, I like guns that look more proportionate in regards to the grip length/slide length.

Pretty sure you will discover they are both excellent guns whose owners love them.
 
I have an XD-45 tactical as my house gun, which I love. It's swallowed everything I've ever fed it without a single hiccup, it's ergonomic as hell, and I just can't praise it highly enough.

On the other hand, I've personally never seen an S&W autoloader I've liked. Love their revolvers, but wouldn't have one of their autos. I work for a police department that used to issue S&W 9mms (it's Glocks now). I had to carry a 6906 for my first several years. Never liked it, and experienced a few malfunctions at the range (not the shooter induced kind either) which tended to sap my confidence in the thing.

Then they replaced the 6906s with 5946 TSWs. I hated that damn brick! It was way too heavy (and I say that as a guy who prefers all steel guns like the 1911 and Hi Power), the grip wasn't at all comfortable, and the reliability was so poor, the department had to take back the first two I was issued and return them to Smith & Wesson. The third one I carried for about two years, and had even less confidence in it than the 6906. After only two years as our issue sidearm, the department finally got fed up with all the problems we were all having with the 5946 TSW and switched over to the Glock.

Now I realize that the M&P is an entirely different pistol. I know this. But the fact is that by the time I was issued that craptastic 5946, Smith & Wesson had been making service autos for about a half a century, and they still pretty damn clearly hadn't got it right. Consequently, S&W is going to have to do something pretty spectacular to persuade me to buy one of their autos ever again.
 
Consequently, S&W is going to have to do something pretty spectacular to persuade me to buy one of their autos ever again
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Go rent one, friend. There are worse ways to spend the rental fees. The M&P has been turning heads in a good way.

Sharpshooter, neither the M&P nor the XD "feel" the same as the Glock. To many, myself included, this is a good thing, as I can't stand the glock grip angle nor the finger grooves. I'd bet most indoor ranges rent either gun in a 9mm or 40cal. Some might even rent the 45s. Regardless, that should gve you an idea of what they feel like. Both are fine guns, but you'll have to decide what you prefer.
 
oh, as to the actual question, I'd go with the M&P 45 w/o the thumb safety. They've also got the mid-size 45 availiable (same length as the 40 full size). That's probably where you'll get the largest difference between the XD and M&P. There is no M&P45 compact yet (though that's supposedly in the works).
 
I own both those smiths you just mentioned BILLY SHEARS and I have never had a single hiccup with either one. Neither does any of my friends or people I've seen that own one also. The 5946 TSW isnt that heavy anyways... if we are talking about carrying steel guns. Other than that, to be back on subject, I dont think you can go wrong with either autos. The XD shoots great and is reliable as hell, and the M&P is just as good. It will come down to personal taste and feel. I personally love how the M&P feels compared to any other polymer-frame. Have fun picking, but either way ya in good hands.
 
The M&P is more comfortable to hold. The grip is much better designed than the rectangular grip of the XD. They both point well though, and the XD is not uncomfortable. Either would be fine guns. "6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other" is the way I look at it. I guess if I were pressed, I'd pick the M&P.

Jason
 
I own both those smiths you just mentioned BILLY SHEARS and I have never had a single hiccup with either one. Neither does any of my friends or people I've seen that own one also. The 5946 TSW isnt that heavy anyways... if we are talking about carrying steel guns.
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It's noticeably heavier than a 1911 or Hi-Power. And what can I say? This isn't my imagination, nor is it an experience unique to me. My entire department had problems with the things. I had to be issued 3 5946 TSWs before I finally got one that was (somewhat) acceptably reliable. After a mere two years, my department got so frustrated with the reliability problems we were having with them that they ended a 70+ year stint as S&W customers. If you ask virtually anyone on the Norfolk police department who carried a 5946 TSW, they'll tell you they didn't like it, and many (myself included) will tell you it's a piece of crap. When the department switched over, I had a chance to buy my TSW for $150, and I passed.

Our department's experience with the weapon was that it's a substandard piece of gear. The record the weapon had with us speaks for itself.

Maybe the M&P is a great gun, but I've no interest in one. I have other weapons that I like better, and meet my needs more than adequately, and I have far more experience with S&W autos, and put more rounds through them than the vast majority of civilian shooters, and I have not been favorably impressed by them.
 
Get the XD45. Its got a better trigger, grip safety, higher mag capacity by 3 rounds and its just a tiny bit lighter.
 
I've had both XD45s and M&P 45ACP (no safety). I still have the M&P, and love it. I sold the XD.

The XD handles like a brick in comparison, and (other than an increase in overall capacity) offers nothing that the M&P can't do better.
 
Ironically enough I bought the XD .45 the other day and my buddy bought the M&P two days later. His M&P is lighter and definitley has a different feel to it than my springfield. However, we went shooting in the rain on lunch and he said that he developed rust on it before he even got home that night?!? Seems wierd to me but I saw him trying to sell it to a guy for this reason so I am inclined to believe him. Anyways I shot the M&P very little but it seems nice. I have shot about 1000 rounds through my XD (5" TAC) and I love it. It's dead accurate and has very little recoil. Never had a malfunction either even at -5 degrees and dirty as hell.
 
I prefer the XD. Great ergonomics as in very instinctive feel when point and shoot drills are used. Excellent accuracy as well. Has taken all the abuse I could load on it and still keeps on firing without a problem.
 
I have shot the M&P .45. It's nice, and it fits the hand well. I shot the XD in 9mm but not in .45. I prefer the ergonomics of the M&P.
 
I like the M&P, but opted to go for the springfield XD. For me I like the feel of the gun about as much as the M&P, but the deciding factor was the 13 round mag vs the 10 round. I aslo think the XD tactical's 5" barrel makes it a better house/truck gun.
 
Thanks for all the answers. I just purchased (drum roll please) an M&P. I get home and look at the ammo I bought and the guy behind the counter give me .45 GAP. I get to go back tomorrow and trade that in, but I will probably use one of my free range sessions while I'm there.
 
You've done well. I have an M&P9. Liked it so much that I bought the M&P9c a week later.

I think you'll be very very happy with it.
 
Considering the Same Purchase

This is an interesting topic for me. I just returned from our local indoor range where I shot both the M&P and Springfield XD (compact) in 45ACP. I love both pistols and shot each about equally well. I've done a lot of web research, read through a variety of discussion board postings, and talked to shooters with experience with one or both.

I think both are quality handguns. The status of my current thinking is to purchase the XD compact. My primary interest is in concealed carry. Having the flexibility to switch between the 10 round compact magazine and the 13 round extended magazine was the deciding factor.

I have two other S&W semi-autos...a model 4506 (45 ACP) and a 5904 (9 mm). Both have been great pistols--but the 4506 is too big to carry concealed (at least on my frame), and I prefer the 45 ACP for self-defense purposes.

So that's the benefit of my thinking. Congratulations on your purchase of the M&P. From what I've been able to learn, I think you'll really enjoy it.

P.S. I did consider the Glock. Although I appreciate its reputation, I just did not shoot it as well as the Smith or Springfield discussed above.
 
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