Springfield XD Vs. S&W M&P? Which is better?

Question

What are the pro's and cons of both these guns? I hear good things about them more about the springfield....

which is better for target shooting and really accurate? I'm looking at 9mm or .40..

Price don't matter...and no Glocks...It has to be one of these 2....

opinions anyone.....

Yeah i shot a Glock 9mm and it just felt so weird....the sight, the grip....its not for me....

Answer 1

Ah, another not on the "buy a Glock" bandwagon. I personally don't like them: I find them too light, and they don't feel right in the hand.

But to the question at hand, I've handled and fired both, and I own a Springfield XD 40 Tactical, after I did my homework, so it should say it all.

The M&P isn't a bad gun, but it's got one great big thing against it in my book. A magazine disconnect. You can't fire the action unless you have a mag inserted. I tried to old finger up the mag well trick that works so well with Browning Hi-Powers, but I couldn't make it work with an M&P. So, when you clear your pistol after a shoot, you need to reinsert a mag after you've closed the action, an it's all too easy to forget you had a round or two left in it.

The Springfield XD Tactical is a lot of gun for its caliber. It's a pretty substantial pistol with a fair amount of weight to it. But with all of that mass, it doesn't buck much, even when doing rapid fire.

Answer 2

I have owned a S&W auto and it jammed every third round or so. After I bought my Smith I found out from many people they make poor semi-autos. I own two XDs. One is a 9mm ported and the other is a .45ACP Tactical. Both my XDs work flawlessly. Smooth and accuate. Alot of people will steer you away from the XD and tell you to go Glock. For me both are just as reliable and good guns. I like the added safeties of the XD. Both the Glock and XD use the USA trigger safety system, the XD also has a grip safety (much like a 1911) and has the striker indicator on the back of the slide (lets you know the gun is ready to be fired), and the load indicator on the top of the slide (lets you know there is a round in the chamber). The XD fits better in my hand and just looks better.
But with any gun Smith, Glock, XDs, or North American Arms (joking) just buy whatever fits and feels best for you.

Answer 3

I have shot the XD and like it a lot. I don't own one because that niche is already filled in my collection. I have never shot a S&W M&P but I have a lot of experience with the S&W Sigma, their previous foray into the "Glock" market. I and no one that I know has been impressed with the Sigma for ergonomic reasons and also problems with breakages. I know one police officer who had shot the sigma for years with mediocre results. When she transitioned to the Glock she was not an expert but was markedly better. I am not trying to say "get a Glock" but only, be weary of the S&W. If the M&P is a rebuilt Sigma, stay away from it.

Deuce brings up a good point: the magazine disconnect. I own a Glock (without one) and I don't prefer a magazine disconnect but I know a cop who would be dead today if it weren't for his mag disconnect on a different type of S&W. Some like it and some don't but it is an additional safety feature. Of course, all of the safeties in the world are not as good as "don't point the gun where you don't want to shoot."

Answer 4

Since you shot a Glock I trust you have shot both the XD and the M&P. So, which one do you like the best. it is true that Smith has built autoloaders with problems, but so have most manufacturers. My information says the M&P is a reliable weapon, as is the XD. Of course, if money is no object you don't really have to choose between the 2. Get one in .40 the other in 9.

Answer 5

I personally would go with the Springfield. Just an all around nice gun.

Answer 6

.40 much better