First Handgun

[M_Olson]

I've been reading about pretty much every handgun imaginable for the last few months waiting till after my wedding so I could finally get a one. Got married on Saturday, and my wife gave me gun money for a wedding gift, so i guess its time to pull the trigger, as it were.

I've narrowed down my choices to the XD9 or the M&P9. I dont know if I should go with the full size or the compact version though (leaning toward the compact, as i want to get a CCP in the near future), and I can't quite decide which brand to go with. I've shot the XD9 at the range and it shot great for me, and I'm going to be shooting the M&P9 before I make the purchase.

I like the idea of the grip safety and the loaded chamber/striker status indicators on the XD, does the M&P have anything similar? Just from handling it in the shop, it seems the M&P has great ergonomics. On the other hand, one negative about the XD is that the compact version seems to only come in 45, while the subcompact, which comes in 9mm, is a little too small for my taste.

Anybody wanna talk me into, or out of, either of these firearms? Hopefully a pro/con discussion will help me decide one way or the other.

 

[antsi]

I don't think there is going to be much to choose other than just personal preference between those two. Go with whichever one fits your hand, has the sights you like best, and/or that you shoot the best.

One thing that would really tip the balance for me - if either one of those guns has a .22 conversion kit available for it. .22 LR is the ideal training and practice caliber - it really helps you build better skills. If you can have the same gun that will shoot a defense-capable caliber, and can also be converted to shoot .22 LR, you have an excellent set up for learning, for fun, and for self defense.

If neither of those do have a .22 kit available, you might want to look at a few pistols that do. If not that, then minimally, you should have a good .22 pistol be next on your "to get" list.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I like the idea of the grip safety and the loaded chamber/striker status indicators on the XD, does the M&P have anything similar?

The M&P was more tastefully done in that the Loaded chamber indicator is a peep hole above the chamber, rather than an additional mechanical device that pops up.

The M&P:


The M&P can be had with or without a magazine disconnect and with or without a manual thumb safety. They do not have a grip safety.

The XD is a good pistol, far superior to Glock IMO. However, S&W has really outdone themselves with the M&P; besides the sleek styling, the ergonomics and safety features are customizable to suit most people's individual tastes. I like that much better than the one-gun-fits-all approach of the XD and Glock. That, and the M&P is American made.

 

[M_Olson]

The M&P can be had with or without a magazine disconnect and with or without a manual thumb safety.

That actually was a concern of mine about the M&P, as i don't want the mag disconnect or the manual safety.

I was just trying to find what type of trigger the M&P uses and the only thing I found is that its double action. Does that mean double action only? So basically, the firing pin(?) is cocked and released with every pull of the trigger?

 

[Dobe]

I personally like the thumb safety.
I believe you will find the firing mechanism on an M&P to be in a semi-cocked mode, and by pulling the trigger, you actually finish the compression of the main spring and release the striker.

 

[former-redberet]

I own an XD40 and an M&P9. The XD is inferior in virtually every facet compared to the M&P. I also own a glock 19 which is the best of the three. I would recommend a glock for your first pistol but the M&P is a close second and over 100 dollars cheaper in most cases. Hope this helps.

 

[Ala Dan]

Uum~! Well, I own a 4" service model Springfield Armory (full size)
.45 ACP; and I think the Croatians did their homework, before this
weapon was put on the market~! It combines the best qualities of
polymer weapons as made by H&K, SIGARMS, and Glocks; with a
few added features of their own. Yes, the S&W M&P as well as the
Glocks are great guns; but in my eyes, the XD out shines them in
nearly every aspect. The only modification I have made to my XD,
is the installation of a set of Tru-Glo TFO's~! We sell the .45 cal
XD's starting at $499-complete with the G.E.A.R. package. I've
owned my XD-45 ACP since late December of '05, and it has
served me well~!

 

[M_Olson]

Thanks everyone for the info, I think I'm gonna get the M&P (assuming the range trip goes well). I still really like the XD though, so I may just have to start saving up for that a little way down the road.

 

[former-redberet]

By the way that was just my opinion on the comparison.

 

[12many]

Try to shoot both before you buy. The decision will be made for you then as you will most likely pefer one over the other. No rush to buy. You will have it for a long time.

 

[Lonestar49]

Thumb safetys have their good use IF..

Quote: The M&P was more tastefully done in that the Loaded chamber indicator is a peep hole above the chamber, rather than an additional mechanical device that pops up.

The M&P:


The M&P can be had with or without a magazine disconnect and with or without a manual thumb safety. They do not have a grip safety.

The XD is a good pistol, far superior to Glock IMO. However, S&W has really outdone themselves with the M&P; besides the sleek styling, the ergonomics and safety features are customizable to suit most people's individual tastes. I like that much better than the one-gun-fits-all approach of the XD and Glock. That, and the M&P is American made.
-----------
...

I don't have one, nor have I handled either, but from the pic, and from what others have said, along with, IF the thumb-safety is anything like how 1911's work, mainly, while drawing out, and being able to maintain a proper 2-hand grip to thumb-flick them OFF at the same time, then my vote would be M&P with thumb safety..

But, without really knowing how the thumb safety works, or can be worked, I'll wait for more information from those with, and without, safetys to respond.

In general I don't like safeties, as with my Sig's DA/SA decockers-only, but with my 1911's SAO, wouldn't leave home, cocked and locked, without them.. ON


Ls

 

[chupacabrah]

i love my m&p, to me it just felt much better than the XD. and waaaaay better than the glock. I don't much like shooting glocks.

I have the fullsize. can't beat the rebate and the 2 free mags, either. good stuff.