JTQ
Member
I suspect the stovepipe jam was merely coincidental and not related to lack of cleaning. Folks fire significantly more rounds than that without cleaning their guns, even M&P's (
) and they still work just fine.
Glock vs Smith & Wesson
- Thread starter TheProf
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) and they still work just fine.
i'm just agreeing with what has already been said: there's no difference between the two in reliability or lifespan. construction and mechanics are very similar. it's mostly a difference of the grip angle and ergonomics; which fits you better and most importantly: what side of the neverending flamewar/fanclub you want to be on.
1KPerDay
Member
My M&P has been slightly more reliable than my Glocks. I haven't abused either. The things I don't like about the glocks are the ergos and the mags don't always drop free. Otherwise they're about as bomb proof as a handgun can be IMO. Remarkable design.
Slappy White
Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
- Messages
- 97
There is simply no comparison between Glock and S&W striker fired pistols. If it’s a range toy, get whatever fits your hand best. If it’s a carry or HD gun, get the Glock. Just my opinion but the only plastigun I’d trust my life to is a Glock or maybe a Sig 320.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
Get whatever feels best in your hand because there isn't enough difference to matter with the notable exception of glock mags. They are simply the best. For that reason I would choose glock especially the gen 4.
Rifleman173
Member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2019
- Messages
- 42
I just went through a defensive tactical firearms course earlier tonight. A buddy of mine had a S&W pistol which kept failing to function properly for him. Needless to say that the Glock guys were giving him a ration of trouble. It was funny and done in good nature. The sad part is that his pistol normally does not malfunction at all but tonight it failed him at least 8 times in a variety of ways. You name the problem and he had it tonight. At one point, my buddy got kidded that we would sell him a Glock for "double the price normally reserved for them if he was nice to us." His response involved placing a Glock in a part of human anatomy not normally use to hold guns. That was kind of tacky on his part...
Old Dog
Member
The anecdotes on gun forums always crack me up some, because it's almost always a "buddy's" gun or someone else's gun that has the problems … Not that I don't believe the stories, but it's simply that reports of pistol issues rarely come from those who actually own and shoot the snot out of, the pistol model in question.
FWIW, I have eleven year's worth of experience on the range, every month, twelve months of the year, supervising training and qualification of a variety of law enforcement personnel of differing experience levels shooting the S&W M&P -- and while I typically see the common malfunctions fairly regularly (FTRB, FTE, FTF), in almost every case they are shooter-induced (failure to seat magazine during reloads, riding the slide forward, failing to rack slide all the way back, limp-wristing, thumb riding the slide while shooting). We rarely see repeat or serious malfunctions, and can count on one hand the number of problem pistols over the past decade.
While the M&P may not be the most accurate (but this has improved considerably since the first production runs and especially with the advent of the 2.0) nor have the best trigger (this too the 2.0 improved substantially), it is nothing if not reliable and durable.
Guy on the SIG Forum who's a law enforcement officer and active competition shooter loves the M&P and has shot literally hundreds of thousands of rounds through his, documenting all the while. Sometimes seems over there that there's more guys who favor the M&P or Glocks over SIGs -- point is, if a gun is worthy, those guys are honest about it, and the accounts are not from a guy working in a gun shop who's handled a few, a buddy on the range whose pistols craps out, or the brother-in-law who believes everything he reads on the internet.
FWIW, I have eleven year's worth of experience on the range, every month, twelve months of the year, supervising training and qualification of a variety of law enforcement personnel of differing experience levels shooting the S&W M&P -- and while I typically see the common malfunctions fairly regularly (FTRB, FTE, FTF), in almost every case they are shooter-induced (failure to seat magazine during reloads, riding the slide forward, failing to rack slide all the way back, limp-wristing, thumb riding the slide while shooting). We rarely see repeat or serious malfunctions, and can count on one hand the number of problem pistols over the past decade.
While the M&P may not be the most accurate (but this has improved considerably since the first production runs and especially with the advent of the 2.0) nor have the best trigger (this too the 2.0 improved substantially), it is nothing if not reliable and durable.
Guy on the SIG Forum who's a law enforcement officer and active competition shooter loves the M&P and has shot literally hundreds of thousands of rounds through his, documenting all the while. Sometimes seems over there that there's more guys who favor the M&P or Glocks over SIGs -- point is, if a gun is worthy, those guys are honest about it, and the accounts are not from a guy working in a gun shop who's handled a few, a buddy on the range whose pistols craps out, or the brother-in-law who believes everything he reads on the internet.
TomJ
Contributing Member
I've owned a Glock 23, 27, 30S, 29, 20 and 21. I still own a 19. It's possible one of them malfunctioned, but I don't remember it happening. Great guns, but the grip and grip angle don't work for me so I don't shoot them as well as I'd like. I own M&P 2.0's in a full size 9, compact 9, full size 45 and a Shield 9mm. No malfunctions with them either. It's good to have choices. Ignore the internet haters and pick the one that works for you. Between the two options you won't go wrong.
My experience is different, but similar in many respects. I spent the last 4 years running a weekly USPSA match. Combine that with shooting other matches, and I've RO'ed (followed closely with a timer while acting a referee and safety officer) several thousand shooters. People shoot a lot of different handguns (and, nowadays, 9mm carbines, too) in that game. I've gotten to see a lot of guns run, and a lot of jams/failures, too. Here are observations I would offer:
- There is no such thing as a gun type or brand that never, ever has a problem. You name it, I've seen it fail. Yes, that includes Glocks - I once saw one shear the locking lugs/camming lugs right off the barrel. Yes, that includes Sigs. Yes, that includes H&K's. Yes, that includes S&W's and Walthers and CZ's and Colts and Rugers any other brand that has its fans. There's no such thing as a gun type that is literally 100%. If you shoot a gun enough, you will eventually get some kind of failure. Might be a freak thing where the ejected shell bounces off a wall and goes back in the ejection port. Might be a magazine feed lip getting bent or spring getting old. Doesn't mean the design is bad.
- There are things the user can do to foul up the operation of any gun, and there is no gun so reliable an incompetent reloader can't make ammo it won't eat.
- Most of the mainline service-type weapons are very reliable, however. Glocks fall into this category. So do the S&W M&P's.
- Occasionally a lemon gets past QC or something breaks. Figure it out and fix it.
- If you shoot enough to be competent, it won't take you very long to figure out whether your gun, as currently configured, is reliable. The "mystery" comes when people shoot a 50 round box once every calendar quarter whether they need the practice or not. When they get one failure per range session, it's very hard for them to figure out whether it's the gun, the ammo, a magazine, or something they are doing. They're just not getting enough "reps" for the pattern to be clear.
Thanks for all the replies. I love Glocks...but lately I'm wishing it had an external safety like a 1911. Hence, my question about the M&P.
I shoot about 150 rounds per week.. every week for the past 10 years. (Glocks primarily. 9mm, .40, .45 love them all.)
I shoot about 150 rounds per week.. every week for the past 10 years. (Glocks primarily. 9mm, .40, .45 love them all.)
JTQ
Member
There is also the SIG M17
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...new-toy-on-the-way-home.850058/#post-11102154
Went through a phase a couple years ago where I got bored with my Glocks and wanted to try something different. Really liked the look of the 5" M&P 2.0 so I went and held one and just didn't like it nor the trigger (no interest in changing triggers on defensive pistols). Realized I was invested enough in Glocks with many thousands of rounds through them and shoot them better than anything else including 1911s so I've stuck with the boring Glock and am fine with that. I'm not a fanboy though and think they're the Apple of the gun world now, but they work for me.
I would never dissuade someone from getting an M&P though if it's what they liked. They seem to be good guns.
I would never dissuade someone from getting an M&P though if it's what they liked. They seem to be good guns.
I also like an external safety. The one on my 2.0 Compact is very much like a 1911 safety and I use the same grip style and ride my thumb on it.
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