Glock, XD, M&P or What?

[andrewdl007]

I used to participate in defencive pistol competitions using a borrowed .40 caliber Glock 23. Im finally buying myself a pistol to compete in IDPA and other defensive pistol shoots that require a pistol that is accurate, quick to draw, and generally trustworthy. The only gun that I have actually shot that I would consiter buying is the Glock 23. I don't like the design of the S&W M&P but If anyone has praise for the gun Im willing to listen. Ive heard good things about the XD as well but I just have just never shot or even seen one up close. I know in the end it is up to wat I feel the most comfortable with but does anyone out there have any recomendations on a gun to get. The only restrictions, is that I don't want an ultra-compact pistol or a target pistol with a long slide. I dont mind what caliber it is but I guess a caliber whith inexpensive ammo would be best. Im going to a local gun store tomorrow to just look at and hold some of the pistols but I would really appreciate and advice, thanks.

 

[RNB65]

Add the Beretta PX4 to the list.

All of them are good, reliable guns that you can count on in a life or death situation. All semi-auto handguns have slight differences in feel, balance, and location of the controls. Handle each one and see which one feels the best in your hands. Try to test fire them if you can. Is there a range nearby that rent's guns? Or maybe some nearby THR members can let you test fire them. You supply the ammo and they supply the guns.

 

[medmo]

You have shot the G23, liked it and are familiar with it. Why change? I don't think you would go wrong with any of the three choices you mention.

 

[EdLaver]

The M&P is downright my favorite pistol I own, great ergonomics and accuracy right out of the box. You get your choice of backstraps to customize your grip, none of the other guns you selected give you that option, and it eats +p and +p+ ammo. Lemme tell you, I have never been able to get 1.5" groups with many pistols at 25 yards...I can with the M&P!

 

[nwilliams]

+1 on what EdLaver said above, I couldn't agree more. The M&P is by far my favorite handgun purchase in years.

Tom Gresham on Personal Defense TV is a huge fan of this gun and on recent episode compared it to a 1911, I was surprised, but he justified it well and I have to agree with him. I'm not a Glock or XD fan but the M&P feels like something completely different and its the best carry gun I've ever owned. Personally I think the design of the M&P both in looks and ergonomics blows the Glock and XD out of the water, probably the most comfortable gun to hold and shoot I've ever fired.

Here's his debut impressions of the gun when it first came out:
http://www.guntalk.com/site22.php

I also have to agree with RNB65, check out the Beretta PX4, I picked one up a few months ago and I really like it, very smooth shooting, acuurate firearm, not a single malfunction so far after 500rds. Its not my carry gun because its a 9mm and I prefer to carry my .40 M&P. Also very nice ergonomics on the PX4, I know some people don't like the design but I think its pretty attractive.

 

[chaim]

I don't own one (yet) but the more I look them over and handle them, and the more I read about them, the more I think that the S&W M&P may be among the best of the new guns on the market. The XD is nice, the FNP is nice, the Taurus Milennium Pro and 24/7 are nice. There are plenty of really good guns out there these days. I'm not a huge Glock fan, but they are good guns too.

That said, in your situation I'd probably get a Glock 23. You already sound like you have a fair amount of experience with it. Since you are familiar with it, get the Glock and hit the ground running- you won't need to familiarize yourself or train with a new gun. You can start your competitions sooner, and if you want to use it for CCW or home defense you are already familiar with it. Later, you can start your search for something new if that is what you want and take your time and not rush training and becoming familiar with it since you'll already have a gun that does the job.

 

[MythBuster]

The S&W M&P has no advantage over the Glock or XD. If you are foolish enough to assume the M&P is a better quality pistol then feel free to buy one.

I think it is funny that S&W tries to make the "overall safety" of the M&P a selling point of the gun.

They make out like that since you don't have to dry fire the gun before you field strip it that makes it "safer" than a Glock.

Anyone too damn stupid to check the chamber of a gun before pulling the trigger is an idiot and they have no business with ANY gun.

 

[waynedm]

+1 to everything Myth just said. M&P is the most over hyped over rated thing to come out since . . . the XD.

For IDPA you're going to want quick follow up shots, short trigger reset and little muzzle flip. Magazines that don't bend will be nice as well. If you like the 23 stick with it. You said you're drawing so the 23 or 22 should work fine. If you weren't drawing though I'd highly suggest the 35, those things rock out in the practical shooting arena.

 

[ugaarguy]

The S&W M&P has no advantage over the Glock or XD. If you are foolish enough to assume the M&P is a better quality pistol then feel free to buy one.

I think Ed Laver has shown the advantage of the M&P over the Glock and XD, at least in his hands. Between the XD, Glock, and M&P the difference in quality is minimal. Between them we have three quality pistols with different ergonomics. Let folks choose the pistol that fits their hands best, no need to call them foolish.

M&P is the most over hyped over rated thing to come out since . . . the XD.

Again, no reason to call it over hyped. Outside of the Walther P99/SW 99/SW 990 what other poly frame striker fired pistol offers changeable backstraps? The M&P offers other features that some folks prefer over its competition. I don't think it's hype when a new product offers alternative features that the market has demanded.

Lets keep this thread High Road and stay away from arguements such as foolishness and hype which lack substance. I've seen those types of assertations cause far too many threads to drift into the realm of hate thread and be closed. Lets keep this one open.

 

[Stinkyshoe]

My preference is for the Glock, but I have limited experience with XDs and none with M&Ps other than picking one up. If you know the G23 will work for you, then get that. It would be a fine choice and probably the most concealable of those mentioned.

For competition, it'd recommend the G35. I am currently reducing the grip on mine to feel more comfortable. I plan to get a 23 and do the same. No matter what gun you choose, the more time you spend with it, the comfortable you'll be with it. Keep in mind 9mm conversion barrels for practice.

Regards,
Ss

 

[Gary G23]

9mm is cheap to shoot and is no disadvantage in IDPA. What brand you choose is really just a matter of personal preference. I own CZ's, XD's, M&P's, and Sigs are they are all great guns.

 

[hrgrisso]

Polymer?

It sounds as though that's your preference. So my suggestion is this. Don't discount the Berretta Px4. I love mine. But my favoritest (I'm the deciderer) polymer pistol is the SigPro. By far the best. Get it. Learn it, love it.

 

[CountGlockula]

Great choice on the Glock 23. If that's the pistol you're familiar with...especially being ACCURATE with, then that should be the one to go.

Try out the M&P and XD to see if they work out also. Shoot 50 rounds out of them and judge from that.

 

[Lonestar]

Simple answer is to rent or try, before you buy. If you cannot then you like the Glock so far right...I would stick with it.

 

[2bigfeet]

I have all three you mention in 9mm. Though I tend to favor the M&P ever so slightly... if I had to have just one I could flip a coin and be content with whatever I'm left with.

 

[mljdeckard]

Keep in mind, the M&P is S&W's THIRD attempt into the polymer pistol market. I know how bad the first one was, and the second is a Walther.

I carried a Glock for years and had no problems. But if I had to pick from the above, I would go with the XD.

 

[kentucky_smith]

The M&P IS that good.

 

[condoor]

If I'm not mistaken, the XD is considered single action by IDPA and would be in a different class than the Glock or M&P.

My personal preference is the Glock.

 

[MythBuster]

The M&P is also a single action pistol.

 

[MythBuster]

"The M&P IS that good."

It is a decent design. If it were made by a company with better QC and made from better materials it would better.

Still it has NO advantage over a Glock or XD no matter who makes it.

 

['Card]

I have little experience with the M&P, so I can't really comment on that. I do however, have a pretty fair amount of experience with Glock's and XD's, and between the two I personally prefer the XD - and it would be my first choice both for competition and for routine carry.

Honestly, though - they're both outstanding guns. If I were you I'd make it a point to shoot both before settling on one or the other. Preference between the two is largely a matter of individual 'feel', since they are (for all practical purposes) identical in terms of durability, reliability, accuracy and features.

 

[nwilliams]

The S&W M&P has no advantage over the Glock or XD .... If you are foolish enough to assume the M&P is a better quality pistol then feel free to buy one.

Sounds like youre trying to start a "hate" thread. I've owned a Glock an XD and a M&P. Personally of all three I like the M&P the best, it fits my hand best and it s comfortable to shoot, and like I said earlier I've gone 500rds so far without a single issue so I have no resaon to complain.

M&P is the most over hyped over rated thing to come out since . . . the XD

Have you owned one? When you say a gun is over-rated its a good idea to justify your reasoning, have you shot one? Have you had bad experiences with it? Don't just say something is bad because its being marketed, unless you have first-hand experience why judge? One could easly say that companies like GLock, Sig, Kimber and HK have models that are hyped up, that doesn't stop people from buying them.

If it were made by a company with better QC and made from better materials it would better.

I've never heard anything bad about the materials of the M&P, in fact I've read a lot praise about its constrcution. I won't dissagree that S&W has had its share of negative feedback regarding quality control, I owned a first generation Sigma and it was nothing but problems, but I think theyve improved the quaily greatly since then. As for SW99 I've heard a lot of mixed reviews, personally I wouldn't buy one, I'd look for an original Walther. BUT, I would discount the M&P just because the company has had a few loosers, look at all the great handguns S&W has made over the years, every company from cars to guns has its share of doggish models, doesn't mean every new product that comes out their door is going to be that way from now on.

that's my .02

 

[ront]

I do not believe that the M&P's are considered single action. From what I have read over on the IDPA forums, the M&P trigger is more like the Glock trigger and is in the SSP Class. The XD's are in the ESP Class. Here are a couple of links to check out and see if I am reading this correctly.
http://p075.ezboard.com/Anyone-usin.../fidpaforumfrm22.showMessage?topicID=39.topic
http://p075.ezboard.com/fidpaforumfrm8.showMessage?topicID=15.topic

For what it is worth, I have had an M&P .40 Compact for a couple of weeks now. I traded my Glock G27 in on it. I had the Glock for 3 years. I have a couple of hundred rounds through it so far. These rounds include WWB 180 gr, CCI Blazer 165gr, WWB JHP 180gr, Speer Gold Dot 165gr and Ranger 155gr. All have fed well and I have had no problems at all. I really like the gun a lot! From the first time I picked it up, I knew that I had to get one. I am definitely more accurate with this gun and it has less felt recoil. Can't ask for anything else. If I do have any problems, S&W has a good warranty program and great CS.
I would also suggest andrewdl007, that the only way to really answer this question is for you to go to a range and try all of them out and go from there. I do love my M&P though!!

Ron

 

[cpirtle]

I own guns from every brand mentioned in this thread and they are all great guns or I would not own them.

Let's face it, if these companies did not all make great guns worthy of competing in the open market the luxury of debating their worthiness would be a moot point because they'd be out of business or selling in a different price bracket (ala Keltec/Hipoint).

Try to hold all of them and then decide on what you like best.

FWIW - I have never been one to have the same gun in different platforms but that all changed when I bought an XD .45, within 2 weeks I had purchased the XD 40 sub compact to be it's concealed sister.

I also own a G19, M&Pc, Beretta PX4 mentioned and they are all amazing pieces of engineering, like car's and family members each have their own good & bad points.

When the PX4 sub compact comes out I will have one of them as well.



PS: Does anyone know a third party retailer who carries the M&P Compact mag's yet? I need to stock up.

 

[jeff-10]

I'd go with the XD first, then Glock and finally the M&P.