Springfield XD or Smith & Wesson M&P?

Question

I forgot to mention that I am a left handed shooter. I know that the M&P has an ambidextrous slide stop and reversible magazine release. The XD has the ambidextrous magazine release right out of the box. Are there any left handed shooters out there who have tried these handguns and what is your preference?

Answer 1

They are both pretty well built. Try them both and see which one feels better in your hand. When I hold them the M&P feels a little better and has a more natural point of aim. The same might not be true for you but rest assured that both guns will function when you ask them to.

Answer 2

The M&P has the magazine drop safety, which I do not like. In case you have not heard of it, it works by locking up the gun if the magazine is taken out of the well. The logic is if someone is cleaning the gun with the mag out, the gun will be less likely to accidently discharge. Another reason for the feature is if there is a struggle for the gun, you can disable it by hitting the magazine release button. This may sound good, but more parts on the gun means more things that can malfunction and thus get you killed.
The XD does not have a magazine disconnect safety, and has fewer working parts. With self-defense weapons, less working parts are better. The fewer parts in a gun, the fewer chances you have for a malfunction. Based on that, I would take the XD over the M&P anytime.

Answer 3

XD 45 Compact.

I have two XDs. I started with a XD 45 Service but the long grip made it a bit hard to conceal. the XD 45 Compact solved that problem. And if I do want to go back to the service length grip, all I have to do is switch to the other magazine that comes with the Compact with its patented grip extension.

If I really feel like I am going into a situation, I can carry both and be like the Tomb Raider. LOL

Answer 4

XD hands down, I own an M&P and although it shoots well and has a great trigger for a striker fired gun its still a typical smith & wesson semi auto, always the first to be repaired (in my experiance the only hand guns I've had to have repaired because of parts failure). I just don't trust a gun that fails after 4000 rounds.
I'll take sig sauer over anything else though, except for maybe an H&K (I think I need a USP).

Answer 5

I tried Glock and loved the gun except for the trigger (not for me). I had a Sigma and the cheap "value series" guide rod (the same guide rod for the 908/909/910/410 series) was a huge turn-off (It gets eaten as you shoot). I think that the M&P is a triumph for S&W and the Ruger SR9 will not come close to competing with it. As far as the XD is concerned, They should deide whether to have a grip safety or a safe-action trigger system. Not both. And I do not like the fact that the barrel is plain old carbon steel. And what about parts? The gun is made in Croatia. XD has been marketed to the police but have you noticed any cops with them? It took Springfiedl Armory's name just to sell the things now everyone treats the gun like it's some wonderpistol.

Answer 6

I am an XD fanatic. And my first semi was a Smith and it did not last 4 months. It jammed every third round. I am not saying that every Smith is like that but I will never buy another semi-auto from them.
The XD is just an awesome firearm. Natural pointer/aim, less recoil, better fit to my hand. You will not be unsatisfied....

Answer 7

I would go with the XD, give them some time and they will have as good a reputation as Glock, if not better! I am very wary when it comes to Smith semi-autos.

Answer 8

I really like the XD lineup! Wouldnt touch a Smith&Wesson semi auto, EVER!

Answer 9

I vote for the XD.

S&W has just made too many dogs in the semi-auto flavor...

Answer 10

XD all they way man, I have NEVER had a problem out of it.