[RevViNg HiGh]

M&P .40 or XD .45ACP for first gun purchase?



Please help me with my first gun purchase. I went to the gun shop to look at the M&P and fell in love with the grip but i also liked the SA XD .45ACP 5". I liked the XD's grip saftey, striker saftey, trigger saftey, 5" barrel and the ambidextrous mag release. However i really liked the M&P because of the ambidextrous slide stop and mag release, mag saftey, and internal lock saftey.



I really wish the MP was a .45 cal...

Could you guys give me some advice or insight to why i should choose the M&P over the XD?



It is greatly appreciated.

 

[chadc]

I decided by firing both. I went to a range, rented both and a glock. I own the M&P, it is far superior in my eyes.



I like the way the grip angle is on the M&P MUCH better than the glock or XD. I also liked the trigger on it better, although it is gritty at first. But the only way you will be able to know is the fire both, and then make a decision.

 

[Jester]

Grip sold me, then I sold my XD's had 4 total and sold them all for the M&P



Then I felt how smooth the slide is compared to the XD. Everything fits just alittle bit better in my opinion. Not that I don't still have a place in my heart for the XD..





BTW get the 40 cal then when the 45 comes out thats a reason to get another.

 

[raz-0]

My personal take is that the 5" XDs pretty much suck, if you get one go with a 4" model as the shortcomings are more balanced out.



This is because the XD has a high bore axis to begin with. Then they throw a lot of metal into the slide. Which are strikes against the design in general.



Then for the 5" model, they extend the slide and in doing so stick a bunch of extra metal up front. Not necessarily a bad thing in most guns, but it's a lot of weight, and due to the design of the gun, even the metal aorund the guide rod is kind of high. There's an extra quarter pound out front over the 4" model, it's all reciprocating mass, and most of it is above where you'd like the bore axis to be (but isn't). The net result is a VERY flippy gun. Much worse than the 4" model. Haven't tried the .45, but have tried the .40. Don't see why the .45 would be much different other than swap some flip for some torque.



The XD compact really isn't bad even with the high bore axis. At least in 9.

 

[Jester]

very good points, My first XD was a 4" and I liked it, then I got the sub, and it didn't have the balance that the service had, and I wasn't as confident in it as the service, so it got traded for a 5", and it just sucked, I was still more accurate with the 4", and was why I got another.



One of the first things I noticed about the M&P was the bore was lower, and was more "1911 like" It almost wanted you to grip it like a 1911. The recoil is more into your hand instead of on top of.

 

[RevViNg HiGh]

My personal take is that the 5" XDs pretty much suck, if you get one go with a 4" model as the shortcomings are more balanced out.



This is because the XD has a high bore axis to begin with. Then they throw a lot of metal into the slide. Which are strikes against the design in general.



Then for the 5" model, they extend the slide and in doing so stick a bunch of extra metal up front. Not necessarily a bad thing in most guns, but it's a lot of weight, and due to the design of the gun, even the metal aorund the guide rod is kind of high. There's an extra quarter pound out front over the 4" model, it's all reciprocating mass, and most of it is above where you'd like the bore axis to be (but isn't). The net result is a VERY flippy gun. Much worse than the 4" model. Haven't tried the .45, but have tried the .40. Don't see why the .45 would be much different other than swap some flip for some torque.



The XD compact really isn't bad even with the high bore axis. At least in 9.

With a loaded mag, the 5" XD felt pretty balanced in my opinion. Its still a tough decision. I am getting both the XD and the MP but the decision is still up in the air on which one to buy first.

 

[Jester]

with the loaded mag it does feel good, but its upon recoil that you feel the weight. The extra weight makes it harder to get back on target as fast.

 

[RevViNg HiGh]

with the loaded mag it does feel good, but its upon recoil that you feel the weight. The extra weight makes it harder to get back on target as fast.

You had said that you owned both the 4" and 5" XD? The 5" is only an extra 2 ozs. over the 4". It is that noticable? If you were to buy another XD you would buy the 4" service?

 

[jclif1995]

1st gun?



get a nine. cheap to shoot. cheap to keep. not hard on the hand. easy to learn. available in both the M&P and XD.



decent defensive weapon with the proper ammunition.



2nd gun?



get a 1911. I prefer the commander size. own the S&W Gunsite. nothing shoots like a 1911.



3rd gun?



get a concealable. 9mm, 40s&w, 45acp. pick your poison and pack.

 

[RevViNg HiGh]

If $ wasnt the deciding factor, would you get a .40 or .45 first. I know i will want the .45 ASAP as soon as i own the 9mm, so i figures i would get the 9mm after the .45...

 

[jclif1995]

I'd get the 45 in a 1911 configuration. there is nothing that shoots sweeter in my opinion and with a 9mm as the beginner and home defense and the 1911 as the toy and defense, you might never even consider a 40cal. one thing about that 40cal round. it has the push energy of the 45 with the flip of the 9 so it get's it's reputation of being "snappy".

 

[Jester]

[quote name='Jester']with the loaded mag it does feel good, but its upon recoil that you feel the weight. The extra weight makes it harder to get back on target as fast.

You had said that you owned both the 4" and 5" XD? The 5" is only an extra 2 ozs. over the 4". It is that noticable? If you were to buy another XD you would buy the 4" service?[/quote]



If I bought another XD it would be the service, and the weight is noticable.. For some reason 2oz don't seem right for the extra length in barrel, slide and frame, but you can tell firing.



Of all the pistols in 40cal I have fired I like the USP the best with the M&P in close second and the XD at a happy third, but the prices also reflect quality.

 

[RevViNg HiGh]

[quote name='RevViNg HiGh'][quote name='Jester']with the loaded mag it does feel good, but its upon recoil that you feel the weight. The extra weight makes it harder to get back on target as fast.

You had said that you owned both the 4" and 5" XD? The 5" is only an extra 2 ozs. over the 4". It is that noticable? If you were to buy another XD you would buy the 4" service?[/quote]



If I bought another XD it would be the service, and the weight is noticable.. For some reason 2oz don't seem right for the extra length in barrel, slide and frame, but you can tell firing.



Of all the pistols in 40cal I have fired I like the USP the best with the M&P in close second and the XD at a happy third, but the prices also reflect quality.[/quote]



How come you sold all of your XD's? Why not keep one?

 

[Jester]

I did for about 2 months, and it never got shot... kinda felt bad that it was retired and needed shot.. went to a good home that put it to good use.



I never keep anything that doesn't fill a purpose, if it were filling a nitche then I woulda kept it!

 

[dawgsm]

i would buy the m&p in the 9 to start out with then a 40 i like my glocks

a lot i carry a g-29 in 10mm. i sold my xd-in 357sig to buy the

m&p in a 40 i reload so the 40 is easy to reolad.but the xd is ok

but i thank you woul like the m&p better.i've owned two xd's and

sold them both just didnt like them as much as i thought i would

for a first gun i don't thank you would be dispointed.

 

[RevViNg HiGh]

I just purchased the XD 45ACP last week. I will buy the M&P 9 next. Both are awesome guns. I just liked the features the XD had over the MP. But the MP grip is hands down the best grip i have ever felt.

 

[Jimbo]

I wanted a new pistol. It was betweern the M&P .40 and the XD .45

I loves 1911's and the .45ACP round, so the 4" 13 shot .45ACP XD was the strong front runner until I shot them.

The weight, and high bore axis of the XD, made it feel like a wet noodle flopping around under recoil.

The M&P on the other hand, felt like an extension of the hand. Like the 1911, the M&P is natural, and easy to shoot.

Not a scientific comparison by any means. Just my conclusion after shooting them.

I bought the M&P .40

 

[RevViNg HiGh]

The MP 9 will be my next gun. I liked it a lot. But i could not resist my XD 45ACP Tact Bi-tone. If SW had made the .45 i would have bought the MP. SInce i already own a .45, next gun will be the M&P 9.