Glock 21 Gen 4 VS Springfield Armory XD45 Mod 2

A few years ago I went looking for a polymer frame 45. Glock was just to big for my hands and I’m not a fan of the Springfield XD series guns.
I found that the S&W M&P fit my hand a had the features that I liked. I have been very happy with the M&P.

tercel89 said:

I've had the M&P45 and it shot nice. I just don't like the fact that the rear sights hold in the firing pin safety plunger. Removing that rear sight when you detail strip it is a pain.

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But how often does one detail strip a firearm? If a factor in choosing a new gun is the ease of detail striping, Glock would be the one to go with.

I have a Glock 21 Gen 4 and a SIG P320 post-upgrade. Both are soft shooters and flawless performers, but I shoot the P320 better than the Glock, probably because the grip fits me. It's a fantastic shooter and very accurate.

I've shot the M&P45, and while it was relatively ergonomic I just didn't care for its shooting characteristics, especially the trigger.

I've heard good things about both the XD45 and the USP45, but have had no chance yet to try either one. My only other experience with full-size .45s is with metal-framed guns (P220, 1911) and needless to say I much prefer the metal framed 45's to polymer.

Biggest advantage of both the Glock and the XD are the standard capacity of 13+1 vs. 10+1 for most of the others.

The only one I have experience with is the Glock Gen3 SF . I was very impressed at how accurate I was with it . I do like the feel of the Mod2 in 9mm , but have never held one in .45 .

tercel89 said:

So I want a fullsize polymer 45 pistol. I have Springfield Xd in 9mm and Glock in 9mm and 45ACP . Just seeing which you guys prefer . How is the reliability of the S.A XD45 in Mod 2 ? I know that Glock's are easier to get parts for. Thanks for any information. For those asking , this is a home defense gun only .

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Both are good guns.

I would trust my home defense on the reliability of either pistol once I ran a few boxes through them to be sure.

I have a both a Gen 4 Glock 21 and an XD Mod 2 3.3 compact (.45).

I disliked the XD trigger. Seemed sloppy. Replaced it with a Powder River Precision carry trigger. Totally different gun and shoots great. I have both 9 round an 13 round mags.

I also like my Glock 21. Only mods I’ve made are sights, a 4.5 connector, and G34 style slide lock/release.

Now, I’m trying to decide which to replace...it’s either sell the XD an get a G30 or sell the G21 and get an XDm 4.5.

I am pretty much a Glock guy, but the G21 has a grip a bit larger than I like. But I shoot it okay, and can get past it if I had to.

Decisions.....

Of the two listed I prefer SA's plastic offerings.

My true preference with plastic guns though would be with HK. If it were me, I'd look for an HK45 or USP with a LEM trigger. It's not a striker fired gun, but you get the same consistent pull over and over which is a benefit to striker guns. The SA has a clear capacity advantage though, if that's a concern.

I own a Glock 21 and was looking at an XD a while back for a second option and was fairly unimpressed with the XD triggers (I looked at the regular and M) in comparison, plus they didn't feel all that much smaller in the hand and the honking tall slide and bore axis didn't shoot nearly as soft as my 21. So I stuck with my 21 and R1 double stack as my high cap .45 options.

Hand fit, trigger and recoil are all highly subjective, so YMMV

I liked the ergos of the mod2, trigger and FO front sight better than Glock so went that route. Guess trigger is all personal preference, but I prefer a distinct wall with clean break and very much like the mod2’s. I previously owned PPQ’s but switched them out for Mod2 because shot them better. Glock trigger I like too and I wouldn’t dislike having that either. Just judge a hair below the mod2. Both have good capacity too. As far as M&P’s, never liked their triggers. To gritty and creepy for me.

I began shooting handgunss in 1968 when I entered the service. The USAF standard issue was a S&W Combat Masterpiece .38 Spl revolver while the other branches used 1911 .45s. I acquired a 1911 then and used one or another as a primary pistol until 2008 when I acquired an SAI XD45. The grip angle of the XD series is the same as the 1911, the Glocks are substantially different. That sealed the deal as to the choice. Further, I prefer the sights and trigger of the XDs to those of the Glocks. The Glock line are fine pistols and, while I can't shoot them as well as XDs, I would certainly recommend them to anyone not totally trained on 1911s.

I've had a lot of different guns. If I'm looking at a plastic striker fired gun Glock is always my 1st choice. But the Smith 2.0 versions of the M&P have impressed me quite a bit and would be my 2nd choice. I'm impressed with the Sig M17 that I have too. They make the very similar 320 in 45, but for a couple of reasons I just like the military version better and it is only offered in 9mm. I really want to like the FN pistols too, but the one I had proved to be unreliable. Hopefully that was just one bad example.

I had an XD a few years ago. From an accuracy and reliability standpoint there probably isn't much difference. But there are some design features that are deal killers on the XD's for me. They are SAO and I want no part of a grip safety. I'll tolerate one on a 1911, but it would be a better pistol without it. The 1911 grip safety is a much better design. The one on an XD is more likely to prevent the gun from firing when you need it to fire than when you don't want it to fire.

The grip angle argument is not valid. A Glock and 1911 are the closest to being the same of all pistol designs. With an arched mainspring housing on a 1911 they are virtually the same and 1911's issued to the military from the 1920's up until they adopted the Beretta had the arched mainspring housing. The flat housing only became popular with target shooters fairly recently.

needmorecowbell said:

As far as M&P’s, never liked their triggers. To gritty and creepy for me.

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I think you would be pleasantly surprised by the M&P 2.0 triggers as they are much improved over the 1.0. My M&P45 2.0 is way better than the M&P9c I used to own.

Glocks don't fit me well. I've had good luck with my XDms. Just got a email that Springfield is offering a mag deal again.

mavracer said:

Glocks don't fit me well. I've had good luck with my XDms. Just got a email that Springfield is offering a mag deal again.

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I got the same email. Does not apply to the full size XD series 45s

Buzznrose said:

I got the same email. Does not apply to the full size XD series 45s

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Well crud apples. I really don't need another 45 anyway.

tercel89 said:

I went with the XD45 Mod 2 Service model . I think it is well built and kind of "overbuilt" for a polymer pistol which is good. The fit of it in my hand is as good as the Beretta APX which is awesome. It's amazing of how thin this 45 polymer pistol is for one that is a double stack holding 13 rds just like the Glock 21. The 21 is a great gun but its huge compared to this XD45 yet they hold the same capacity.

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Well, it is about a quarter inch taller, so that helps. When I looked at them both I noticed that my, admittedly larger than average, hands didn't notice much of a difference side by side.

If you are going to carry this pistol the grip safety on the XD gives you an added level of comfort while holstering if gripped in a manner that does not depress the safety. I've never heard of XD Leg, just sayin.