M&P vs XD

[Ghostrider_23]

In a 4 inch barrel chambered in 9mm has anyone compared the M&P to the XD??????

Of the two which one has better accuracy and handling?????

Which one has a better reputation and reliability??????

Please give me specifics.

 

[FieroCDSP]

I personally think the full size M&P's are incredibly reliable for feeding and firing. I've seen an XD jam at IDPA, not sure what the cause was, but might have been 45ACP handloads.

This is a question that has plagued numerous people and no matter how many times it's posted here (between any guns) it always comes down to personal preference. I can only tell you what I have experienced.

IMO:
THe M&P has better ergos. You point it, and as long as you have a decent grip on it, it'll put a hole in your target. The XD didn't seem to feel as comfortable or point naturaly as well, but again, this is subjective. I haven't held a Glock that fit my hand, but I know others are perfectly comfortable with them.

The XD shot just fine. I've only fired the 9mm, but it wasn't uncomfortable to shoot. I have heard the felt recoil on the M&P 40 is less than the XD 40's.

Here's the same advice I give everyone. Go to the range, rent one (or both if possible) and compare them over a box or two of ammo. You can get a general idea by just handling them over a glass case, but until you fire them, you can't tell how they act. For my money, the M&P was the best, but again, IMO.

 

[axeman_g]

m&p is a much smoother shooting gun to me. 9mm recoil is almost non existent with the right palm swell for your hand. I love my M&P and I did not love my XD.

Your opinion may be different then mine so please go shoot them both before you purchase one or the other.

 

[the naked prophet]

The XD feels clunky and blocky to me. I've fired them (both 9mm and .45) and they work okay for me, just not great. The full size grip is very, very long, and would work great for me if I had 6 fingers on my right hand. It's like a Glock 19 with a Glock 17 grip, seems unbalanced with the shorter barrel and longer grip - and the subcompact seems even more unbalanced, as the grip is waaaaay shorter, and the slide is so tall (not as noticeable in the full size model) that the gun feels really odd to me. Not to mention that the creepily tall slide gives the recoil a lot more moment arm, causing much greater muzzle flip.

The M&P on the other hand, has the perfect sized grip (for my hand). The full size grip is about the size of the G19 grip, lengthwise. No fingers hanging off, no feelings that the six-fingered man should be using this gun to fight off Inigo Montoya. The rounded slide makes the gun look much more pleasing than the squared off glock and XD slides. The gun also conceals far better, both because of the rounded slide and the narrow portion of the slide near the muzzle.

The XD trigger felt, to me, like pressing a paddle or popsicle stick. It works, but I disliked it. I love the trigger on my Glock 19, the short reset really helps rapid accurate fire. The M&P trigger has a bit more takeup than the glock trigger, but the break is a bit more crisp after 400 rounds of breakin (been helping my wife break hers in ). Haven't really looked for the reset yet, but if you're comparing it to the XD trigger, there is no comparison. The trigger is different than the glock, not sure which is better, but it sure wouldn't slow me down if I was considering switching from the glock to the M&P (I was considering - not any more. I'm convinced!)

Then there's the recoil. Glock recoil isn't bad. I'd consider that the standard. Compared to a Hi-Power of the same caliber, it's a bit more. The XD is more like a single action revolver, in that the gun is designed so that the recoil makes the gun twist upwards, or so it feels to me. The bore is just so high above the hand, it's awkward. The M&P has significantly less recoil than either. My wife bought a Glock 27 (.40 subcompact) and the recoil for me was just unpleasant. The slightly smaller and significantly thinner (or it feels that way, anyway) M&P .40 compact has less recoil than the G27, or even the G26. I was quite impressed. The .40 out of that tiny thing was, surprised to say, pleasant. About the same as my full-size all-steel .40 Browning Hi-Power.

I tried to like the XD. I really did. The glock grip angle didn't work for me, and I like single action. So I kept renting one XD after another, trying this guy's XD, and that guy's XD at the range. Then I went back and tried out the glock, and it worked for me. Then I tried my wife's M&P compact, and I am now saving up for an M&P of my own, but the difference between the XD and the M&P is like night and day. I'd say it's better than the glock, but not by as much.

There's my honest opinion, having first hand experience with all of them.

 

[.357 magnum]

Go with the MP

In a 9mm I would definitely go with the MP. The XD is an Excellent gun. I have two XD .45's. But about a month ago I purchased an MP .40 and the ergonomics are awesome! I am going to get an MP 9mm next myself. They are as reliable as the XD and they shoot just as accurately. I love the metal sights and the fact that you can but a different size back strap on the grip. If the MP would have has a 14rd mag capacity I would not have bought my last XD.45 it would have been an MP. Have a good one!

The Best to You and Yours!

Frank

http://www.gunblast.com/SW_MP9.htm

 

[Nitrogen]

I've owned both. AFter I got my M&P, I sold my XD; I like the M&P better in every respect.

 

[Cannonball888]

If the MP would have has a 14rd mag capacity I would not have bought my last XD.45 it would have been an MP

S&W announced they will produce a 15-rd magazine for the .45 in the next few months.

 

[Gary G23]

I currently own a late model XD-9 (FDE frame) and a M&P-9 (REV N). Both have been 100% reliable. They are both great guns. I don't plan on parting with either one anytime soon.

The M&P has an interchangeable backstrap. I have never changed mine since the medium that came on the gun fits me fine. The XD fits my hands well also so that is really a nonissue for me.

Both guns are striker fired but on the M&P the striker is partially cocked and pulling the trigger fully cocks the striker and then releases it. On the XD the striker is fully cocked and pulling the trigger just releases the striker. This gives them different trigger pulls and more importantly (to me anyway) this is the reason that the XD must shoot in ESP class in IDPA instead of SSP like the M&P. This may or may not be an issue for you.

The XD is easier to field strip for cleaning since you don't have to get inside the frame to pull down the sear deactivation lever. All you have to do is pull the trigger.

 

[.357 magnum]

Cannonball888-Thank you!

I talked to SW on the phone. The gentleman said they are producing a 14RD mag-[Hope it is 15] some time in October. He was not sure when it will hit the stores. That is just Awesome! Thank you for the info Cannonball888!!!

The Best to You and Yours!

Frank

 

[Baneblade]

I own two XD's and my family has a couple more. I have reached the point where I consider them to be mediocre firearms. I have fired the M&P, but not extensively. So far, I consider the M&P to be the superior firearm. More than anything, it has better ergonomics. Reliability? Durability? Not sure. I don't think either has been on the market long enough to truly say how well they hold up.

I can say that the finish used on XD's is sub-par.

 

[Anna's Dad]

I had both. I had shot the XD a number of times and found its accuracy to be fair. I really don't think it was the gun's fault.

The M&P, however, just fits me so well that I am far more accurate with it that with any of my other guns including the XD.

In fact, I sold the XD and bought a second M&P!

Reliability is hard to say at this point. Never had any problems with my XD nor my M&P but I haven't put that many rounds through the M&P yet.

 

[DomMega]

Can't go wrong with either...

I like both. I've shot Glocks, I own an XD, and I've shot the M&P. I LOVE polymer guns, LOVE THEM! However there's pros and cons with each. I don't own a Glock because I don't like the ergonomics but the trigger is fine. I do own an XD because the moment I picked it up at the gun show and pointed it, I was like, this is a really great weapon for my own personal ergonomics. I don't mind the blocky slide because I know how to shoot with it. The trigger takes some getting use to because at first it feels kind of spongy. After a few hundred rounds it tightens up a bit and becomes more crisp. I like my XD. I think its very reliable and I would stake my life on its functioning when I need it to. In fact, its my bedside piece for things that go bump in the night, with an M6 laser/light on the tac rail.

I did recently shoot the M&P 9mm at the range 2 weeks ago and loved it. A lot of XD fans don't like the trigger on the M&P whereas I loved it. When firing 9mm's downrange the trigger itself broke like glass. The sights took a few mags to get use to but I did thoroughly enjoy shooting it. I did think for a 9mm it had quite a bit or recoil (I'm 190 pounds, so its not my bodyweight) than I felt it should have had but it was also a range gun so who knows? Will I purchase an M&P in the future? I certainly will, I have a general liking to them and I will definitely own one. I think I'm going to purchase a Walther P22 first to save money on the range for a while and then I'll go ahead and make the transition to the M&P when the time is right.

All three guns are different and because of their differences you're going to have advocates for all 3. I'm telling you personally that I like the XD and the M&P both. Do I think a Glock is a good gun? Absolutely, they were the founders of the feast in polymer when nobody else wanted to partake in it, and I have a deep respect for them with that aspect in mind. Would I buy one of their guns? No, but again, there's plenty of LEO's that carry them daily and trust their lives to the weapon so its personal opinion. The XD took a lot of different styles and functions from many different firearm companies and implemented them all into one gun. I like that and it shows. I'm accurate with my XD40 and I've grown very accustomed to its trigger but I'm also open-minded. I'm certainly an XD fan but I won't scoff at another gun because its not an XD. Everybody gets a fair shake with me and the fact that I'm willing to buy an M&P in the future should be my testimony to that. Smith and Wesson cured their falling mag while shooting problem a few months back so I would say go out there and get a NEW M&P if thats what you decide because they're ready to go now.

Get out there, rent some, shoot some, and decide what your hands and eyes like the best. You can't really go wrong with either one in terms of durability and reliability, bottom line.

 

[MechAg94]

I hate to hijack a thread, but would anyone want to throw in a comparison with the Sig P220 or FNP9? Just curious.

Regarding M&PvsXD, I have heard people say previously on this site just get the one that fits you or your hand the best; that they are both too close to call aside from that. I haven't fired either so I can't say. I just expect to buy a 9mm auto in the not too distant future.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I have shot both, but at different times. I own a M&P in .40 S&W, but the XD I shot was in .45.

The XD felt really nice at the time, because I shot it right after a Taurus 1911. However, it was a borrowed gun, so I cannot say for sure that the XD was stock. Recoil didnt strike me as being bad or anything.

I love my MP. It has been 100% reliable for the 300ish rounds I have put through it so far. Recoil is stout, but manageable, even for someone like myself with minimal handgun experience.

Not too much insight here, but maybe it will help someone

 

[Coronach]

Both of the guns (XD and M&P) are good guns. I'd go with the one you shoot better. Make sure you try all of the different M&P backstraps before you decide.

Mike

 

[pablo45]

I prefer Glock over the two. However the M&P is reall impressive and is a huge upgrade from the sigma series S&W was selling. I think between the two I have shot. The M&P won hands down with accurassy. I have nightmare stories about the XD's reliability. So M&P won me over in that depatment as well. With accessories the XD right now is a little easier to shop for. Give it a little while and that might? change. Springfield does know how to market.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I shot a XD and a full-sized MP before purchasing my compact MP. I liked the MP better. I would not say one was more accurate than the other, but the short stroke of the MP's trigger and the hand/grip fit felt better to me. I think it is going to come down to personal preference. If you are able to shoot both of them as rentals - as I did - I would let that be your guide.

 

[model4006]

i own the m&p in 40 and love it. have held and fired an xd in 40, its a great gun but its no m&p. blocky, clunky and less accurate with me shooting it.

 

[Bilt4Comfort]

Let us know of any problems with the mags dropping out of your M&Ps after about 500+ rounds. There are estimates as high as 1 in 5 M&P owners having this problem which S&W seems to have no answer for as of yet. I'd like to know I'll have ammo in my carry gun in case I need to use it. I know, picky, but that's just me.
If the Sigma didn't teach us anything about S&W auto-loader superiority, then we weren't paying attention.

 

[dust_101]

taken from a recent post on the XDtalk.com forums ---

"I agree that the M&P's ergonomics are on top, bar none, and I really did like the simplicity of the M&P's design. But I believe they have totally missed the mark in the design of their mag catch. This is the M&P's weak point in reliability, and let me tell you, it's a nasty one to have. Take a look at people's reports at the M&P forum and by their latest poll, 22% of respondents say that they have experienced the mag drop problem. That's a 1 in 5 chance that you will have it too. And the worst part is, many don't experience the problem until they've put hundreds of rounds through the gun. That's exactly what you don't want in a pistol you're trusting your life with.

I'm of the opinion that the XD's mag catch is of a superior design and execution than the M&P's for several reasons that go beyond S&W's claim that the problem is due primarily to improperly treated metal on some of their mag catches. First and foremost, the magazine to magwell tolerances of the M&P is unbelievably sloppy. Try this experiment: take the slide off of an M&P pistol, insert a magazine, now wiggle the top of the magazine with your finger. You won't believe how much that magazine flops around in there! I'd like to have an S&W engineer look me straight in the eye and tell me it's supposed to do that! Horsesqueeze! I was able to push out a fully seated magazine from my M&P 40 Compact by gently wiggling the top of the mag and applying some downward pressure! Try doing that on an XD, and you will see that there is little or no wiggle room between a mag and the magwell. It's impossible to do this on an XD and that's the way it's supposed to be.

Further, many people have commented at the M&P forum that the M&P's mag release button has too little resistance to being inadvertently actuated, and that it protrudes too high above the side of the grip with no protection, and it it requires just the slightest of depression to get the mag to pop out. I believe that these are all true observations and contribute negatively to the M&P's reliability in this area. Especially of note is the M&P owner who lost his magazine in a store while carrying it concealed in a holster and didn't realize it until he got back to his car. I experienced this too but fortunately for me, my M&P compact was in my fanny pack at the time."

As well taken from the XD site... regarding Rust (though it seems lack of care would be the big Rust issue!) ---

"An interesting point that is made repeatedly and agreed upon in that thread, after some people researched it: Melonite, when applied to stainless steel slides (as it is on the M&P), does NOT provide much corrosion resistance. But Melonite, when applied to regular steel like the forged steel in XD slides, DOES provide enhanced corrosion resistance. Therefore, this could explain why some people with M&P's are seeing rust problems, and the new melonite XD's are seeing far fewer rust problems. The quality of the "stainless" steel in the M&P slides is not "top of the line" (it's certainly not of the caliber of stainless in your kitchen sink, for example), and since the melonite does not really protect it, when exposed to serious humidity or moisture, they're finding in lots of instances that the M&P will form rust in a matter of hours. It doesn't seem to happen on all pistols, it's inconsistent, and they don't know why yet. But it's not just user neglect."

Overall, try both guns, see what you like more. Capacity diff of one or two won't matter if you practice your shot placement.

Personally I went with an XD9 4" Svc, Glocks don't fit my hand right, and the M&P I'm not sure about.

 

[molonlabetn]

Both are good guns... The M&P gets the nod for magazine capacity and the ability to custom-fit the grip to the user's hand. Both are accurate and handle recoil well. Different shooters will gravitate towards the choice which works for them.

Personally, I've found that the XD feels more like a real gun, and the M&P feels like a dog's chew-toy... I like polymer guns, but not if they feel soft and flexible. Same with the trigger, give me an XD with a metal trigger instead of the M&P's plastic, hinged abomination. I also prefer the grip safety.

 

[boomstik45]

The XD is a very good gun. I just think the M&P is better. Less blocky, more of a beavertail grip, and grip size can be changed. That and the XD's grip safety can be ever so slightly annoying when doing anything besides firing the weapon (i.e. pulling slide back for takedown).

That, and why is the XD only 12 rds capacity in the .40 while the M&P is able to equal the glock? Never figured that out...And yet, they were willing to make the .45 version match the glock with 13 rds, while the M&P has 10. Well, to be fair, the M&P .45 has an over-the-top excellent grip: both circumference and length. To have more rounds, it will have to be longer. Besides, 10+1 of .45 is PLENTY. If not, then you don't need to be shooting...

 

[Anna's Dad]

Never had a single problem with my XD, but I liked the M&P so much more I just stopped shooting the XD and eventually sold it.

 

[righteousbarbarian]

I've never shot an XD but I own a M&P 40 compact and I love it.

 

[airwrench]

I own the XD .45 service and an M&P .40 full size. The XD will only shoot factory ammo or hotter loads. Otherwise it has been a reliable gun. My M&P has run everything from hot to not including my competition reloads. It feels good in my hand. It is also a better weak hand gun than any of my other autos. I am getting the M&P .45 next week and plan to buy the 9mm when it comes out in the 5 inch barrell.