XD or M&P in 40 cal.

XD or M&P in 40 cal.

  • XD

    Votes: 76 56.3%

  • M&P

    Votes: 59 43.7%
  • Total voters
    135
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Roadwild17

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Im getting a compact and a full size in one of these and was wondering what the general consensus was as to which would be a better buy. The XD is a bit cheaper around here, but 50 to 100 isnt a whole bunch as I'm probably going to get that much in mags. The only thing that bothers me about the XD is the .45 holds one more round than the .45.

Anyway I just wanted to hear from anyone who has both.
 
Had both. Only have M&Ps now.

The M&P is a lot lighter and slimmer and handles much better compared to the much blockier and top-heavy XD.
 
I personally don't trust S&W anymore. Colt's python is a better revolver than anything they have anyway. But the real issue with me is my uncle had a sigma and he could play russian roullette without fear it jammed so much. The XD is a eastern european design and is XDremely reliable. I'd suggest the 9mm over .40. The M&P is just another "interchangeable backstrap" gimmick. A well designed gun, like the 1911,doesn't need trash like that. The XD is a well designed gun, the M&P isn't.
 
I like 'em both, but if buying before the end of the year the M&P $50 rebate and two free spare magazine offer from S&W really tips the scales in its favor.

--wally.
 
I personally don't trust S&W anymore. Colt's python is a better revolver than anything they have anyway.
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What the heck do revolvers have to do with discussions of autoloaders? Not to mention that Colt doesn't make DA revolvers anymore, and Smith & Wesson offers a full line from J to X frames.
But the real issue with me is my uncle had a sigma and he could play russian roullette without fear it jammed so much.
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Yes, early Sigmas were problematic. The enhanced "E" series Sigmas still have crappy triggers, but they're reliable, US made, and backed by a lifetime warranty. Beyond that, the M&P is an entirely different design and an entirely different pistol.
The M&P is just another "interchangeable backstrap" gimmick.
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Interchangeable backstraps aren't a gimmick. They allow one gun to fit a large percentage of users. If they were gimmick you wouldn't see them specified in recent US Military RFIs & RFPs for pistols.
A well designed gun, like the 1911,doesn't need trash like that. The XD is a well designed gun, the M&P isn't.
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What the heck does the M1911 have to do with a comparison of M&Ps and XDs? Plus, you obviously have NO experience with M&Ps, and very little with XDs. Both are fine guns, but the M&P has some advantages. One of the greatest advantages is that the M&P can be detailed stripped for service & maintenance using standard punches & hand tools. The XD requires specialized tools which are only available from Springfield Armory, and unless things have changed recently they'll only sell those tools to persons who've successfully completed a factory sponsored armorer's course. If you need a part for an XD you're dependent on Springfield Armory having it on hand or them being able to get it from IM Metal in Croatia. With the M&P your parts are available domestically from S&W, one of America's largest gun makers.
 
I would get an HK...
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The poll has two options - The M&P and the XD. The OP (Original Post) asked about two pistols - The M&P and the XD. Please enlighten us as to what HK offers which makes their pistols worth nearly twice the price of the two pistols specifically asked about.
 
just my personal taste

I have shot a XD40 and a M&P 9mm full-size as rentals. I bought a M&P 9mm compact. I like the shorter trigger stroke and superior hand fit. The XD, while certainly by no means a bad gun, did not impress me either.
 
I've fired about 50 rounds through an XD9. While thats hardly enough to call intimate, it does give something of a feel for the gun. It was a straight shooter, functioned flawlessly, and isn't ugly like a Glock. But my big issue was the feel. It just wasn't right. My opinion, of course. I'll admit that. But it really felt like it had a high bore-axis, even though looking at it and the M&P, there's not a huge difference.

Maybe I'm biased towards the M&P now, but I love the way it shoots and feels. It's been flawless after the first 300 rounds. The trigger has smoothed out, and it needs little in the way of detailed service. I just detail-stripped and cleaned it a few weeks ago and it only set me back a few hours of time. Routine maintainance is quick and easy. It'll eat anything I feed it. Control is great, considering it's a 40. The bonus of Smith's service and "Made in USA" makes it better. Oh, and the rebate and free mags. Don't forget those. :D
 
Buy a Sig
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Again please expand upon your statement. Which model of currently available SIG has anything in common with the two pistols asked about in the OP? Like HKs, SIGs cost substantially more than either an XD or an M&P. What is gained in return?
 
ugaarguy has done a good job responding to CZ 42's "I don't trust Smith & Wesson anymore." comments, so I wont add much to that.

I have owned two of Smith & Wesson's M&Ps. The first a Compact .40 S&W and the second a full size 9mm.

I did not like the Compact because of the recoil of .40 S&W. The 9mm full size however is perfectly controllable and with a good holster such as the Comp-tac Infidel, I can conceal the full size 9mm just as well as I could the Compact.

Here are a few bugaboos I've noticed with my two M&Ps:

On the Compact, I had the magazine drop malfunction. This is a common problem; however, it seems to have been fixed at the factory. There are varying opinions on the Compact and the magazine drop malfunction, but I know from personal experience that after the factory fix my Compact performed flawlessly, so Smith & Wesson customer service did good by me.

FYI, Smith & Wesson uses a new magazine catch that is made of harder steel. In the older catch, the metal of the magazine was harder than the metal of the magazine catch. This caused wear to the point that the catch failed. Personally, I think the magazine release spring in my Compact has always been too light.

Interestingly, it takes noticeably more force to press the magazine release on my full size than it did on my Compact. I don't know if the full size has a heavier spring than the Compact, but it sure does feel like a heavier spring.

Another problem I have experienced on both of my M&Ps is that the frame tool is a pain in the butt to remove from the gun. It takes a lot of force to remove it.

The frame tool holds the back straps or grip panels in place and if you follow the manual to the letter, you're suppose to use the metal end of the frame tool to disconnect the sear (I use my finger). The frame tool is so hard to get out that I don't see myself ever using the thing as its intended to be used.

I had Smith & Wesson customer service mail me a new frame tool for both my Compact and full size because I've managed to scratch up the originals while trying to remove them from each gun. If the smooth bottom of the frame tool is scratched the rough texture rubs against my skin and I find this uncomfortable. Neither one of my frame tools would have been scratched up if they weren't such a pain in the butt to remove from the gun.

If you do have a problem with your M&P, Smith & Wesson's customer service is the best. I have many, many tools from some of the best tool companies. In power tools, I own or have owned Hitachi, Porter-Cable, Delta, Bosch, DeWalt, and others. Of all the tool companies I've dealt with, having a lifetime warranty is uncommon despite paying top dollar.

I own power tools that cost a whole lot more than my $450 Smith & Wesson M&P. Makita, Bosch, Hitachi, Delta, Porter-Cable, and DeWalt do not offer lifetime warranties despite charging top dollar. Unlike the Smith & Wesson M&P, very few power tools are made right here the good ol' United States of America.

Even though I did experience the magazine drop malfunction, Smith & Wesson took my $450 handgun, gave me a prepaid shipping label to ship the gun back to the factory, and upgraded the gun with tritium night sights. Smith & Wesson saved me $40 in overnight shipping and about $100 in night sights for my trouble.

You can get a lifetime warranty from Glock and Springfield Armory, but from me to you, I'm very happy with Smith & Wesson customer service.

The bottom line is I am very happy with my M&P. Whether or not you will prefer the M&P over the XD is up to you. Both have a different feel to them and you'll have to decide which you like more. I personally would feel just as safe defending my life with the M&P or XD.

I hope my reply is helpful to you.
 
The M&P has a great design, overall, but the mag catch is the fly in the ointment... the mag catch spring tends to be on the weak... and the mag release is simply too sensitive for a gun to be used as a defense/carry gun. On some of these M&P's practically looking at the mag catch button drops the mag enough to stop the gun from functioning... and for some shooters if they so much as allow any part of their hand to come in contact with the mag catch button during recoil, will cause a mag drop. Sorry... but this is a deal killer for me with a defense gun.

S&W: Stiffen the heck up on that mag catch spring, get a mag catch engagement surface that doesn't wear, reduce the thumb pad extension of the mag catch and you'll have a great shooting, great feeling, reliable gun.
 
ugaarguy, with that type of thought why not just buy a hi point and call it a day? They both shoot bullets out of the dangerous end, right?

I've owned an M&P, a couple Glocks, shot an XD a few times. Now I own an HK. I had no HUGE issues with any of those weapons, in fact I like the Glocks a lot, but they are nowhere near an HK. Sigs? Never shot one, but from what I've heard, same situation as HK.

If these guns aren't worth the extra jack, why do folks continue to buy them?
 
CZ 42 has noting better to do but bash S&W's all over this board. he needs to get a life. i have a M&P .45 and i love it...
 
ugaarguy, with that type of thought why not just buy a hi point and call it a day? They both shoot bullets out of the dangerous end, right?
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You're taking it way to far. I never said a SIG or HK didn't offer more than a Glock, XD, or M&P. The OP asked about two specific pistols. Two other folks gave one line responses recommending HK and SIG, respectively. Neither poster made any further comments to compare and contrast their recommendation against the two pistols specifically asked about. THR is amongst the premier firearms discussion internet forums. This forum reached that status by folks posting to share knowledge, not throw in one liners without any supporting statements. I'm just asking folks to add a little bit to the discussion. In this case I'm asking them to quantify what's gained for the higher price of these pistols the OP didn't even ask about.
I've owned an M&P, a couple Glocks, shot an XD a few times. Now I own an HK. I had no HUGE issues with any of those weapons, in fact I like the Glocks a lot, but they are nowhere near an HK.
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Now, I'll ask you to expand on your statement as well. What about your HK has made it so far superior to a Glock or M&P. I understand much of it will be subjective, but that's what we're after. Please, share your experience & opinion and tell us what has made the HK so much better to you.
If these guns aren't worth the extra jack, why do folks continue to buy them?
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The answer is that to most folks they aren't and they don't buy them. As nice as their pistols may be, HK has miniscule market share. SIG has been losing market share as well. Notice that even after a design upgrade the SigPro line has failed. SIG-Sauer has developed and is introducing the 250 Series pistols as a result. Part of the roll out is that SIG Arms is pricing these to compete directly with Glock and like striker fired poly frame guns.
 
i take the xd over the m&p the maybe because i own two xd's and i am totally in love with em. the m&p's ergo's are nice but the xd fits me and my shooting style perfectly.
 
FNP40. $400 and you get 3 hicap mags. :D

I didn't like the mag disconnect, the little thing you had to push down to put it back together and the trigger was a bit heavy.

XDs are nice enough but are Croatian, and flopped when first introduced. I haven't shot one, so have no real experience.
 
After doing a little more looking around today, it looks like I'm going to end up in the M&P camp, but is the mag-drop on the compact still a problem? Is anyone making "beefier" springs for the mag release?

Another thing I dont really like about the compact is my pinky is bordering on/off the frame, it will roll off the frame and under the mag during recoil.

I just dont get why a full sized XD can only offer 12 rounds of .40 and 13 rounds of .45. Its just a small thing that keeps coming up in my mind.
 
Love my M&P40

I owned an XD a few years ago and it was a pretty decent gun, accurate, reliable and more comfortable in the hand then a Glock I think. I sold it however because I wanted something else and something had to go, honestly the only thing I didn't care for was the design of the gun, I never found it very attractive. Between the M&P and the XD I do like the way the M&P feels in the hand more than the XD and I like the low profile of the M&P. I did like having the backstrap safety on the XD however. I also think there is significantly less muzzle flip in my fullsize M&P40 than there was in my XD 40.

Oh and just a reminder since it seems a lot of people missed this point, there are two options, XD or M&P. Instead of arguing over which is better HK or Sig or whatever else, why not instead stay on the topic at hand, just a suggestion:uhoh:
 
Well what is gained in HK is a lightweight polymer gun designed around the .40 caliber. It is also able to have a variety of triggers. A DA/SA, a DAO, a lightened DAO, a DA/SA with a safety, and a SAO trigger. It is also more lefty friendly than most pistols. The HKs are known for their accuracy and reliability.

If you look at the P2000 you will find a gun that is very ergonomic, has good capacity, and is excellent for carry. The USP and USPc are also great.
 
The M&P has not established a track record, and the XD hs a grip safety, is VERY complex to detail-strip. So, neither, but that was not a choice.
 
Roadwild... honestly, give the M&P another year, at least. It's a great feeling gun in the hand, but I truly don't believe it's quite ready for prime time. They're still working though mag drop issues and that just isn't something you want to have to worry or wonder about with a carry gun. Don't ask me how I know. Another year or so will, hopefully, get things sorted out for good.

The HK USP Compact with single action (cocked & locked) capability is a superb gun, but pricey. Small market share, minimal aftermarket support. Still a great gun, but...

Honestly, of everything out there (and I've owned or tried a lot of them) I have repeatedly returned to the Glock 23 as my standard bearer of a carry gun. It's compact, reliable as the sun, consistent trigger (I use a smooth faced trigger shoe and 3.5# connector which gives me a nice, short 4.75# pull with short reset) easy to pack and shoot, and holds 14 rounds of hot forty. 14 rounds of forty in a compact carry gun! That's a big deal to me. I'm a huge believer in high capacity these days.

Nothing out there compares to the Glock 23 at any price, in my opinion. It took me a long time to come around to accepting Glocks, now I'm a huge believer. Glock 23... given my strongest and heartiest "thumbs up" for all-around superb carry gun. Pop a 15 round mag in it when you're at home and it's a 16 round gun.... these days, I believe, higher(est) capacity is important to have! My M&P 40 Compact only holds 11 rounds. Besides the mag catch sensitivity, the low capacity is the other thing I don't like about the M&P. GLock 23, yep, time-tested, huge popularity, parts options galore, stone reliable, stone durable, aftermarket support that is unmatched, except by the 1911, highest capacity in class... what a truly superb carry gun!
 
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