M&P .45 or G30sf

[ryno31]

Hi all. I'm looking to buy a new .45 in the next couple of weeks and I've narrowed it down to either a S&W M&P .45 w/thumb safety ( I personally find the thumb safety appealing, I know many don't) or a Glock 30SF. The purpose of the gun would be mainly range, home defense, and other random utilitarian tasks. I really enjoyed the way the M&P felt in my hand, however I wasn't a fan of the fish scale serrations on the slide or the mushy stock trigger. The trigger seems like a pretty easy fix by purchasing an Apex sear and the serrations are only cosmetic so not a big deal but they did get my attention and not in a positive way. Mags for the M&P .45 seem to be plentiful online and surprisingly low cost. The Glock 30sf really surprised me as well as I do NOT like Glocks...at all. I find it incredible that I'm contemplating a move to the dark side with this purchase. For a gun that holds 10+1 I find it to be remarkably compact and comfortable to hold. I found the stock trigger on the Glock to be much better than the M&P and over all the gun left a very positive impression on me except for the goal post sights and the mags seem to be about $10-15 more expensive than the M&P mags from what I've seen (still neither of those on their own are a deal breaker). On one hand I almost prefer the increased size and heft of the M&P over the G30 as I'm not trying to conceal and just want something rugged and dependable that can handle everything from a weekend in the forest to an all out shtf situation but then again something more compact like the G30 also comes with a few advantages of its own while providing the same capacity. I find myself at a draw at this point and going back forth between the two pistols every other day. Anybody out there happen to have experience with both? With one or the other? Any feedback, ideas, or issues that I haven't addressed which might sway my decision more definitively one way or the other? Thanks ahead of time for any feedback.

 

[tarosean]

I only have experience with 9mm Glocks but owned the MP45 for a while.
My experience M&P was more reliable (never malfunctioned) and the trigger was pretty bad. I bought the APEX FSS, which helped, and it was far more ergonomic than any of my glocks. With all that said, I still never grew to love the pistol and sold it.

I dont think you can go wrong with either though and it just comes down to personal preference.

 

[MachIVshooter]

They're pretty well matched competitors, except for ergonomics; the M&P wins by leaps & bounds in that category.

I like my G20 well enough, but if the M&P had been available in 10mm, the Glock would not have even been considered.

 

[ryno31]

Thanks for the feedback tarosean. The fact I can't really seem to go wrong with either one is the thorn in my side at the moment. I guess I'm just not really even sure what my personal preferences are at the moment. I'm constantly going back and forth. I appreciate the reliability comment in regards to the M&P as I have a friend with one who says he has shot easily over 1,000rds without a hiccup while I have another friend who has a G30 (regular frame) whose has had a "few" hiccups in his Glock but has fired more than twice the rds over the years (still pretty darn good in my book though). Decisions, desicions.

 

[danimoth17]

I would look at the 30s over the 30sf personally.
Same frame with narrower slide.

 

[ku4hx]

I really like my 30SF. So does my son ... so much so he has it now. That left a hole in the safe but my wife refilled it with an XDm-45 3.8. They're pretty much the same size.

I'm not a S&W fan (although I own a few) but having shot the XDm-45 3.8 and knowing it came with both a 9 and 13 round magazine (plus the sleeve) and has replaceable back straps, I'm just not sure I want the 30SF back.

 

[Robbins290]

My g30 has a few hiccups every now and then. But the m&p has been flawless. Plus it has better ergo's for. I would sell my glock but its my wifes now. She liked it

 

[jmr40]

When S&W first came out with the M&P with a safety I thought I'd found the perfect gun and bought one of the 1st I saw. Good idea in my opinion, but poorly designed. I already had a G-21 and if i had liked the Smith had planned on selling it. The safety just didn't work very well. It did not have a positive feel and would quite often be in the wrong position. It was almost as if you could breathe on it and move it.

I also have several 1911's and am familiar with that type safety. That was the appeal of the M&P with the safety. It combined the best features of a Glock and 1911. It just didn't work for me and I got rid of the Smith.

 

[thess02]

I picked up a used Glock 30SF not long ago in a trade. I am not a fan of Glocks but I traded a Rossi .357 mag revolver and a small bit of cash for the Glock. My 30SF runs reloads including jacketed or hard cast 200 grain LSW and 225 grain LRN without issue...and no leading. The polygonal rifling on Glocks plus the less than optimal ergonomics kept me away from them...but I disliked the Rossi more than the thought of a Glock...especially in .45 acp.

The 30SF is actually a good shooter...reliable with jacketed or lead reloads and mags are available at least in my area. But most important...the ergonomics are actually quite good. I can recommend it...but I think S&W quality is better, especially in the frame. It appears glock puts all their money into slides and barrels...and stick those onto cheaply made frames. But...they do seem to work.

 

[onthehunt]

For years and years I never ever considered a Glock.. That ended when I held one in my hands and fired it. I originally went to the range to test a M&P 45. But to be honest, two different people were having issues with their rented M&P's (don't know what calibers). After seeing that I asked the range employee to let me shoot the Glock 21.. I did and I was sold.. I didn't leave with a 21 but two days later I bought a Glock 19.. I'm not saying all M&P's have issues. It was just my first impression of them when I went to the range..

 

[Aceoky]

My wife LOVES her M&P .40C - I really like it myself and being a 1911 guy that is something (IMO)

 

[mgmorden]

They're pretty well matched competitors, except for ergonomics; the M&P wins by leaps & bounds in that category.

That would be my appraisal too. I don't own either in .45 but I've got an M&P and a Glock in 9mm.

Reliability is a tie. Both are superb.
Accuracy is a tie. Both are ok.
Trigger is a tie. Without work both are pretty crappy (and both can be made good for relatively cheap)
Price is close. M&P is a LITTLE cheaper but the cost difference is low enough that I wouldn't let it affect my decision too much.
Sights - M&P wins for stock sights. Glock sights sit too low and are plastic. That said, aftermarket options for the two are largely the same and I replaced the sights on both so the point there is moot.

Ergonomics though M&P blows the Glock out of the water. I remember a while back I was prepping for a GSSF match so I shot my Glock exclusively for over a month prior to that just for practice. Got to where I thought "Hey, this Glock ain't that bad.". Then when I finally picked my M&P up again I got a little shiver of joy and realized just how much I missed that gun. The M&P just feels right in the hand. The Glock you have to put up with long enough until you ignore the ergonomics.

 

[Lj1941]

M & P

My vote goes with the M & P 45. I own both a 45 and a 9. Both of them are flawless performers and digest whatever ammo I feed them with out a hiccup. My 45 is more accurate in my hands than the 9.I would not however purchase high cap mags for the 45.They make it feel like a 2x4 in my hands.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I would get the M & P. I have had problems with glocks in general with erratic ejection (sometimes to my face). It seems to be a glock thing. I much prefer a pistol with an additional safety too. Glocks just don't feel right in my hand.

 

[CountGlockulla]

Glock if it fits your hand. Better shooters.

 

[mgmorden]

I would get the M & P. I have had problems with glocks in general with erratic ejection (sometimes to my face).

Just a note - my Glock also did this, but it was due to a chipped extractor (and it was a fairly minor chip - one certified Glock armorer missed it but a more experienced one noticed it).

To Glock's credit they replaced it (and pretty much every other part in my slide except for the barrel) for free. It has worked just fine ever since. Since I bought my Glock used I'm not going to fault the gun for the initial issue - no telling what the original owner did with it.

 

[gym]

My 30 is the only original gun I still own from when they came out. The rest have been updated or upgraded or replaced. It is just too reliable to get rid of. I have my second set of Night sights on it.
I am partial to Glocks. The 30 s is the newest member of the Glock 45 family, you may want to look at that one. My M&P really never knocked me out, they are good guns though. You are really comparing apples to apples, not much difference other than partiality.

 

[Soldiernurse]

I have a Gen4 Glock30, which w/o a backstrap is same size as 30S. My G4G30 has had no issues & an excellent shooter. However, I had some stippling done, as well as had the lower corner portion of the trigger guard milled/reduced. Now, it's a very comfortable fit. I did have the sights removed & replaced with TruGlo GRN TFO's. BTW, my G4G30 is seldom used for CCW.

I don't own an M&P45. I do own an M&P9c often used as CCW, along with M&P Shield40. M&P's are definitely more ergo than Glocks. I did have the stock trigger assembly replaced w/Apex DCAEK. Also, changed out the sights w/TruGlo's.

... kind of toss-up

 

[Flfiremedic]

The M&P 45 I handled didn't have a positive trigger reset...completely ruled it out for me. Have you looked at the Ruger SR 45? Firm trigger reset and the safety you are looking for. With that said, I would prefer a Glock to either of them. YMMV, and good luck.

 

[EOD Guy in VA]

I've had both. The M&P wins in every category.

 

[Dean1818]

I went M&P 45 compact a few years back

Awesome pistol

The new ones supposedly have the new trigger system


(I did my own)

 

[PRM]

We are issued the Glock 30SF and so far they all have performed flawless. Our agency was also looking at the M&P when we went with the Glocks. Personally, I liked the feel of the M&P better. But, the Glock did have a better trigger out of the box. There are after-market parts for the M&P triggers, if that is an issue. If it were my money, I could be happy with either, both are great guns.

 

[pitbull23]

I used to own a glock 36 which is slightly smaller than the 30 but same slide. Traded her away because of constant failure to extract a round. Got the flock 21 instead for home defence, love the 21 can hit bulls eye easily any time I want love the long site radiu. Never had a problem with it thru 500 rounds NP matter what ammo including jacketed reloads.
The 21 is a 13 + 1 great range gun but definantly not ergonomic. I think with all that said andy disappointment with the glock 36 I should go with the smith and Wesson or consider the larger glock 21. Hope this helped.

 

[ryno31]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I had a feeling going into it comparing these guns to each other was going to really be a matter preference more than anything as they are pretty on par with each other in most regards except for ergonomics where the M&P undoubtedly wins. Everyone's opinions did help and I feel more confident knowing that I'm not overlooking anything. I still haven't made a decision but I'll be heading to the lgs on Saturday and will make my decision there but I have a feeling that I'll probably walk out with the M&P and purchase the Apex sear and striker block right away and possibly the Apex trigger further down the road. Who knows though! Gotta love the excitement of buying a new toy, just wish I could do it more often! Thank again everyone, much appreciated.

 

[psp7304]

Check out the Gen4 Glock 30. I liked the Gen4 so much that it replaced by 30SF