Glock and S&W M&P

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xiton

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I'm curious. Both of these lines are very similar. Of course, Glock came first, but the S&W M&P line is also excellent, and provides a few different options.

I know people are generally of two categories, Glock lovers or Glock haters, but I notice that when recommendation threads open up, you typically just see Glock being mentioned.

My questions to all experienced would be, what are the pros and cons of choosing a Glock over the M&P line? Is there really enough difference to completely side with one over the other?
 
Which ever one you can shoot better and fits your hand better. It may be hard to test the shooting, so get which ever one fits your hand best and the one you like more. In the end its your choice, not anyone else's. Me personally, I will be buying a Glock 26 here in another month or so.
 
I prefer the Glock. The S&W uses a more 1911 like grip angle, but both these gunsd allow a higher tang grip than a 1911 will. By about 1/4" higher. So I prefer the Glock grip for Glocks, and the 1911 grip for 1911's only.

I also like all the aftermarket parts for the Glock, especially the smooth trigger fromthe 34/35. A very tuneable gun. 19 , 23, 17, 22, 35, 34 are my favorite Glocks.
 
Well, for a while I disliked Glocks for being ugly/cliche/overused. My first was an M&P 40 and I love it, but recently I picked up a Glock 23 and 27 just because they were priced well, each under $450, separate of course. They're not bad, obviously the Smith has better ergo's but the Glocks just feel rock solid, perhaps some of it is their rep(placebo) And have been around longer and are more trusted/popular, just like 1911's. Not that my M&P has failed me yet.
 
Simply put, Glocks work - Period. Out of the box, they shoot and keep on shooting. There are areas that could be improved, like grip/controls, but if anyone needed to buy only one pistol, I would recommend a Glock. But there's more ...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=589017

I have shot several hundred thousand rounds of 40S&W rounds the past 16 years in Glock 22/27 and a Glock fan. I started out shooting a 1911 and like the 45ACP cartridge. I also have shot most other polymer semi-autos, but when the M&P came out, I was SOLD to the various ergonomic improvements M&P made over the Glock.

The grip is a "Oooh, nice feel" to the hand with 3 inserts for much comfortable fit/feel. All the controls are reachable by the shooting thumb (slide release/mag release) and have fully ambi-slide release with reversible mag release. Barrels have standard land/groove rifling so I reload lead bullets with less worry. Recoil spring rate provides softer felt recoil over the Glock and comes with full-length "metal" guide rod with captured spring. And the metal magazines will always "drop free" regardless whether you have the pistol slightly tipped or not. :D

The only "con" I have that is easily resolved is the trigger. My Glocks have 4.5 lb trigger after the initial break-in. Glocks also have shorter reset for faster double-taps, but if you don't plan on competing, this is not an issue. I highly recommend the APEX sear replacement (it will be the best $40 spent on the M&P) as this will reduce the factory trigger of about 7 lbs down to lighter 4 lbs with shorter trigger reset. I did the trigger job posted on Burwell Gunsmithing myself doing about 60% reduction of APEX sear with light polishing of the metal parts. My trigger is now about 4 lbs (lighter than Glock) and it is probably the cleanest/smoothest feeling trigger that I shot in a striker fired pistol.
Click to expand...

My Glocks will place 3.5" average shot groups at 25 yards off hand. The M&P45 with the trigger job will do 2.5" all day and 1.5" on an increasing rate. The M&P tends to shoot tighter shot groups at 10-15 yards over the Glocks, but I can place smaller faster double-taps at 7-10 yards with the Glocks. FWIW, Glock 27 goes with me everywhere I go.
 
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My questions to all experienced would be, what are the pros and cons of choosing a Glock over the M&P line? Is there really enough difference to completely side with one over the other?
Click to expand...

Nope. Shoot both and buy the one you feel more comfortable with.

Neither is more natural to me. They both point about the same when I shoot them. I've owned several different firearms and the two that have felt the most comfortable and shot the best more easily for me are a full size 1911 and a glock 19. If I could only own two handguns it would be a colt government model and a glock 19. If it was only one, I'd have a glock 19...and I consider myself a 1911 guy.

I also like all the aftermarket parts for the Glock, especially the smooth trigger fromthe 34/35.
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I thought I was the only one who liked smooth triggers. Every glock I own gets a g17 smooth faced trigger. It is of absolutely no benefit, I just love the way it feels.
 
Since i gave my G 23 for 4 years, it s been my main CHL. But when i handled the M and P, it feels a world apart. It be my next eye on an handgun as budget allows. Right now, the Glock 23 rules.
 
I have both a Glock G17 and S&W MP9. That said my experience is more so with the Glock as opposed to the S&W. This past year I’ve been utilizing as my CCW the S&W MP.

In stock configuration my preference is the G17. If I had started with the S&W-MP series I’d probably have a different opinion. Which either of the two you have a preference for in the end would be the best one for you.
 
I just don't like the M&P's triggers. Trigger reset is non-existant. I also don't want to spend money on an aftermarket item to make the trigger suck less. Or shoot so much ammo that it "smooths out".

I also don't like the M&P grip out of the box, although I might be able to monkey with the backstraps and make it feel better. But really unless you are stuck on the issue of where your guns come from (ie buy American) then by all means look at the M&P. (although ruger has some interesting offerings in the American line).

I would go Glock everytime compared to the M&P line.

The Glock G21 and G30 are kind of fat to me in the grip and I would still get those over the M&P 45's. (of course I might just look at another 45 too)
 
Chevy vs Ford type question with no right answer

I switched from glock to a M&P because I shoot cast lead. The glock needs a $100+ dollar barrel to shoot lead safely so I just sold it and got the M&P(can shoot lead out of the box).

Without sounding like a glock basher I like it better ;).
 
There's nothing mystical about Glock. Only 2 out of the 5 Glocks I've owned have been trouble free out of the box.

It's all personal preference. If you have a problem, both companies will take good care of you.
 
Well I wish Smith and Wesson stock was doing better. So far its my most consistent weak link.

I wish I had purchased more Ruger stock as it has taken off.

I wish I could buy Glock stock!!!

Chevy vs Ford type question with no right answer
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But I have never owned a FORD so for me there might actually be a right answer ;)
 
Bottom line ... they are both excellent guns and you need to determine what is important to you to make a decision. All things being equal you can't go wrong with either.

I've got 2 M&P's and they shoot very well but many people I know have the Glock and say the exact same thing.

Good luck!!
 
i own the G 19,26,27, and 30 they all have about 3500 rounds through them and none of the four have ever had a malfunction. the gen 4's have three back straps you can put on to solve alot of the grip ergonomics issuse. the m&p i've shot a few times and was impressed but never owned one. the 45 i shot felt real nice in the hand and gave me the itch for one. if you want american made(go m&p) if you want to shoot reloads (by all means go m&p) the m&p is probly an even better looking gun. However if you want reliability and a gun that will run forever then go glock. ultimately i guess it comes down to if your life was in danger which firearm would you feel the most comfortable unholstering and defending yourself with
 
Most of the differences in features have already been mentioned. In the end it really comes down to personal preference--both are extremely reliable. I shoot M&Ps better myself, but I know people who shoot Glocks better, and there's only one way to find out for yourself. ;)

My M&P40's stock trigger seems fine to me. It's a little over 6 lb but feels lighter and breaks more cleanly than any Glock I've shot, although individual pistols of both models may vary a bit. The reset is neither loud nor tactile, that's true, but frankly I have zero use for that (my finger can pull even DA revolver triggers faster than I can shoot anyway, and I don't want to risk short-stroking the trigger), so it doesn't matter to me. If it matters to you, however, then either go with a Glock or get a Reset Assist Mechanism from Apex Tactical for your M&P.
 
The M&P came out 3 years too late for me. 25 years too late for some others. I'm now drinking Glock flavored Kool-Aid, and I think any other grip shape or trigger feel is subpar. I can't even shoot my revolvers in SA any better than my Glocks, offhand. I keep buying different handguns to try, and they keep collecting dust in my safe.

If M&P had come out first, it might the other way around. But I like to think the steeper grip angle/hump and the part of the Glock that fills the web of the hand have something to do with its shootability as well as the complaints of awful ergos. IOW, the M&P might feel better if you want to hold a gun in your hand for several hours a day, admiring it, because you can't afford bullets or a holster. But the "bad" ergos might be the reason the Glock actually shoots better. Just a thought.
 
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it all depends on your hands.

I like glock full sized guns. They are comfortable. The M&P is just a little bit more comfortable to me in fullsize, but I like the glock better.

In compacts (and I just felt some today) I cannot stand the glock. There is a spot on the bottom of the magazine that is way wrong and my hand rubs it. The m&p40c I handled is my next gun.
 
The G21 felt a little too big first time I held it. The G27 hump annoyed me, first time I held it (I actually considered modifying this one, at first). The G19 grip angle felt too steep first time I held it, and the trigger guard rubbed me the wrong way. The Gen4 G19 stippling hurt my fingers, first time I shot it.

The only thing I notice when I hold these guns, now, is the feeling of confidence that I will hit what I'm aiming at several times in rapid succession with zero jams. Somehow my hands just get used to the shape, and it no longer bothers me. The only modification I've done is to shorten the slide stop on my G19, and even that, I think I could have gotten used to. I shoot my friend's G19 with extended slide stop, and I don't even hit that accidentally, anymore.

I'm recently getting into revolvers more, for the fun of it. But I still shoot my Glocks way better. Aside from the .22's, my other semiautos see very little range time. I feel like they're wasting ammo that could have been shot out of a Glock.
 
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My vote goes to the M&P. I'm not a Glock hater, I just shoot the M&P better. They are both fine guns, it really just comes down to personal preference.
 
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