Glock 26 Gen 5 vs Smith and Wesson M&P9 M2.0 3.6" Compact

[LookAtYou]

For anyone who happens to have experience with both of these guns, which one feels better to shoot, in your opinion (trigger, recoil, grip/ergonomics, etc)?

I hear that the M&P has better ergonomics and provides a better grip, and is more naturally pointable than the Glock 26. I also hear that the Glock 26 supposedly has the better factory trigger.

 

[CNobbe]

I assume you're referring to the sub compact model M&P 3.6 and not the 3.6 compact..

Anyway, I've got the 3.6 M&P compact and love it. It's been a fabulous shooter. I thought about the sub compact M&P 3.6 and it didn't fit my hand all that well. Any generation of the Glock 26 fits my hands better, shoots fine. The Gen 5 triggers are good, I still have a 48 which is excellent, but the M&P trigger is my favorite.

 

[LookAtYou]

I assume you're referring to the sub compact model M&P 3.6 and not the 3.6 compact..

Anyway, I've got the 3.6 M&P compact and love it. It's been a fabulous shooter. I thought about the sub compact M&P 3.6 and it didn't fit my hand all that well. Any generation of the Glock 26 fits my hands better, shoots fine. The Gen 5 triggers are good, I still have a 48 which is excellent, but the M&P trigger is my favorite.

No, referring to the 3.6" Compact.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-9-m20-36-compact

 

[edwardware]

This is sort of like asking if the 4L60e is better than the TY754 transmission. . . one's in a Jimmy and the other's in Subaru Forester!

If you like Glocks, I'm sure that Glock 26 is fine; I have a Glock, and every time I pick it up I wonder what alien species designed that grip shape, and why it's pointing at the ceiling.

I also own a couple M&Ps; they fit like a glove and point where I'm looking almost as well as a 1911.

The elements common to Glocks vs M&Ps are certainly far more significant than the particular differences between these two models.

Regarding the 3.6" Compact. . . I don't see the utility of a gun that's too big to pocket, and smaller than ~full size. If you're going to put on a holster, stick a full size pistol in it.

 

[jmr40]

I've never understood the complaints about grip shape and angle. The human hand will conform to whatever shape you wrap it around. A 1911's grip angle is closer to a Glocks than any other gun and 1911 grips are slab sided and boxy, yet they are considered the Gold Standard by which all other pistols are compared.

I've owned G26 and several M&P's, although not the specific model you're asking about. I did own Smiths version with a 4" barrel however. Less than 1/2" of barrel length just isn't an issue There was a time when Glock was the better gun, early M&P's had issues but they have been resolved. I'd rate them as equals to a Glock right now.

I no longer have the G26 I just don't see the point of a 3.6" barrel with a grip that big. Might as well buy the 4" version. Either the Smith or Glock will take longer 15, 17, 19 or even 33 round magazines intended for their bigger brothers. Honestly between the 2 it is just personal preference but with that size grip I'd just get a full size gun. With the Glock or Smith.

If you want something smaller to carry the Sig 365 is the way to go. With 10 round mags it is smaller than either and makes a great IWB carry gun. With 12 or 15 round mags you get a full grip on the gun and mine will do anything I can do with my G19.

 

[Spats McGee]

If possible, go rent both and shoot them side by side. IMHO, there's really no substitute for it.

That said, and with the caveat that I own neither and have only shot one (the G6, and only a couple of times), I'll say this: I think it would be hard to go very wrong with this choice. They're both (reputed to be) solid, reliable choices, either of which you would be able to resell fairly easily if you didn't like your choice.

 

[FL-NC]

While I have and shoot many Glocks, I think that guns like the 26 and 43 fall short to the M&P compact and shield due to the thickness and inferior grips of the Glocks as it applies to concealability and grip dimensions and textures.

 

[VoodooMountain]

No wrong choice. Just 2 different flavors. Choose the one you like better

 

[IdaD]

I think the 2.0 Subcompact is the more direct competition to the 26. The 2.0 Compact has a 15 round grip. I tend to prefer the 2.0 M&P's over Glocks but objectively I think they're equals. Pick the one that feels better to you.

 

[Craig_AR]

Nomenclature confusion: The M&P 2.0 9mm comes in three barrel lengths, 4.25", 4.0" Compact, and the 3.6" which, depending on where you see it advertised is sometimes called Compact, and sometimes Subcompact.

 

[TomJ]

I have a Gen 5 26 and the M&P 2.0 Subcompact 9. I put a Vortex Venom red dot on the 26 and use that as my carry gun for low light conditions as my eyes need the extra help in those situations, such as going to a movie (whenever we'll be able to do that again). The ergonomics on the M&P fit me much better, but ergonomics are a personal choice. I like the M&P trigger better, but there's nothing wrong with the Glock trigger. Both have been equally reliable and accurate. As others have said they're both good choices so you won't go wrong with either. Pick the one that fits you best.

 

[huntsman]

I chose M&P over Glock simply because they were cheaper, don’t know if that’s still the case.

Glock mags(new) seem to be cheaper than M&P and both have a wide variety of holsters available.

these are the things that affect my choice when buying.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have shot both in my quest to find a poly framed auto loader that I actually enjoy. There is simply no glock that fits and feels right aside from the thin single stack models, especially 42 and 43. The m&p did feel much better for me, and because of that I shot it much better. It still was not a good fit for me, but much better than the double stack glocks. I also tried an XD at the same time and it too was better than the Glock, but not as good as the S&W.

 

[LookAtYou]

Nomenclature confusion: The M&P 2.0 9mm comes in three barrel lengths, 4.25", 4.0" Compact, and the 3.6" which, depending on where you see it advertised is sometimes called Compact, and sometimes Subcompact.

There's the 15+1, full 3 finger grip 3.6" Compact.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-9-m20-36-compact

And then there's the 12+1, chopped 2 finger grip 3.6" Sub-Compact.


https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-9-m20-subcompact-no-thumb-safety

 

[drobs]

Glock for me. I hate S&W's jointed triggers.