[mcone]

Comparison between M&P and XD



I'm a real XD fan. I still carry my XD 40, as I am very used to handling that pistol. About six months ago I found a pistol that could challenge the XD from my perspective: the M&P40. So I purchased it for my daughter as a graduation gift. She is going into LEO work eventually. This affected my choice for her.



Here are my impressions after owning both pistols for a while:



BOTH Strengths:

Both pistols feel good in my hands. The grip on the XD is awesome. But the M&P still has the edge - because it is adjustable-awesome.



M&P Strengths:

• It is more durable (if that is possible) (The XD is tough enough!)
  
• The slide will not rust (My XD slide will if not cared for carefully.)
  
• The chasis system is very good. (XD has rail tabs that are polymer in the back. Don't know if that's a problem. Some guys swear that it is not.)
  
• The slide is through hardened. (XD? Case or Through?)
  
• Interchangeable palmswells!
  
• The trigger is very nice (like it better than the XD)
  
• The magazine release button is the most comfortable I have ever felt. Easy to use too.
  
• 15 rounds versus 12 on the XD.
  
• No failure to feed issues. (On the XD, I had issues with FTF, sent back to factory, they fixed it. Has been OK since. Many others have experienced FTF initially on the XD 40.)
  
• The slide stop is impossible to activate accidentally.
  
  • 
    
    
    
    
    
    The XD Strengths:
    
    
    
    • Loaded chamber indicator that pops up
      
    • The XD grip safety has saved me from potential shirt-tail holstering trigger pulls. The M&P will not be so forgiving in this regard. But if the choice is interchangeable palmswells OR grip safety, but not both, then I will take the interchangeable palmswells.
      
    • The XD can dry fire without a magazine.
      
    • The slide stop is much easier to operate. But this can be a problem too, if my thumb presses it accidently (before the mag is empty).
      
    • Serrations on the front of the slide for gripping the front cycling the slide. (Don't try this on an M&P - you will burn your fingers!)
      
    • XD support and resources. S&W is really good about support, but their customer service doesn't even have a part list yet! The XD has been around a while, and there a lot of vendors that sell product for this pistol. The M&P is still too new in this regard. And S&W needs to get more aggressive in supporting the M&P with accessories (just my opinion)
      
    • The existence of the XD 45 ACP model. I wonder if S&W will try this in the M&P?
      
      
      
      • 
        
        The M&P strengths seem to be much more significant to me than the XD strengths. Overall, I think the M&P will be a more durable gun. Either gun is good. But the M&P, I think, is a superior firearm.
        
        
        
        When S&W and other vendors start beefing up the accessory part of the business relative to the M&P, then this will be one superior package from nearly every perspective. But, even without the support network built up, I still heavily recommend the M&P.
        
        
        
        So, after having purchased the M&P, I still think that it was a wise purchase - compared to purchasing another XD. This is one pistol that will seriously challenge the XD, Glock, and other polymers.
        
        
        
        
        
        -Mike
        
        
        
        
        
        

 

[Jester]

I was in your boat earily this year.. had 4 XD's and got rid of them all for 1 M&P, that is how strongly I felt about it.

3 - I can dry fire without a magazine.

check the post on how to eleminate this.

5 - Serrations on the front of the slide for gripping the front cycling the slide. (Don't try this on an M&P - you will burn your fingers!)

never cared for this method anyway as to you'll usually flag the line.

6 - XD support and resources. S&W is really good about support, but their customer service doesn't even have a part list yet! The XD has been around a while, and there a lot of vendors that sell product for this pistol. The M&P is still too new in this regard. And S&W needs to get more aggressive in supporting the M&P with accessories (just my opinion)

I have ran into the fact that XD's don't sell repair parts,

, I have asked for parts from smith and more often than not they send them out free.

7 - The existence of the XD 45 ACP model. I wonder if S&W will try this in the M&P?

Soon young jedi, soon.



One more thing: after firing about 2k rounds in one day the XD will wear in your hand where the upper part of the palm swell is, Being that the M&P is more fitted, I managed to hold 3k rounds in one day and still be ready for more.

I've also found that the XD has more felt recoil than the M&P, and is smoother in operation(with the same rounds. I even installed the 24 lb spring on the XD and it helped but not as much as the M&P.

 

[targetsup]

Ive fired the XD40 and 45, they feel good but I still chose the M&P40 because it felt better to me. The XD grip still felt too large for a normal carry, almost like a glock. I am more than satisfied with the M&P 40. And when the .45 model comes out I will be getting that one as well.

 

[Buckshot]

The M&P is still a brand new platform, I believe in time the aftermarket will start filling the voids we are seeing.

 

[jclif1995]

Interesting post. I owned an M&P 40 and recently sold it because the recoil and expense was more than I cared to bear. I was faced with a decision whether to buy the XD-9 service or the M&P 9mm service.



I own an XD-9sc in all carbon steel. I recently had Robar apply the NP3 finish to the firearm and it is really top notch. This makes the firearm a flat silver though.



I ended up going with the M&P 9mm. Reasons include superior construction and materials, the method of breakdown, my past experience with the reliablity of this gun, S&W reputation, superior capacity at 17+1, and the slide being more easily manipulated for me.



Either one would have been a great choice. With the S&W, I don't have to refinish in the forseeable future.



Interestingly enough, this gun came without the mag drop disable feature. There is also no key lock on the thing. Just the way it should be. Point, pull trigger, go bang.

 

[remat457]

Call me ethnocentric but a big plus for M&P is the fact that it is U.S. manufactured.

 

[mcone]

Call me ethnocentric but a big plus for M&P is the fact that it is U.S. manufactured.

Just curious - Is it manufacturered in the States for sure? A lot of our stuff is made elsewhere.



One of my sons recently said "everything is made in China!". Knowing that I had him, I said: "Not children" He said - "Oh - they make a lot of those in China too." Score: Son 1 - Dad 0



-Mike

 

[Rooster]

I just got my M&P40 this week and have been enjoying getting to know it. As a year long owner of an XD9 I thought I'd chime in on this thread - first post on this forum too!



Without recounting points already made here, I'll just mention a few more things worth noting:



1. My XD9 has about 700 rounds through it - not once has it ever jammed on me. I have used a wide variety of ammo too. My M&P40 now has about 160 rounds through it and has jammed 3 times (Independance ammo). Each time it was on the 2nd to last round in the magazine. However, since the 80th or so round, it has not jammed - it was around that time I fired a full mag of Winchester hollowpoint defensive ammo to test it out - after switching back to Independance after that volley, all has been well. I traded a Ruger P345 for the M&P40 (plus some extra clams) and can say that my P345 used to jam alot and I used alot of Independance ammo with that gun too - so, maybe it's just the ammo?

2. The recoil of both guns seem similar - I consider myself an amauter and not a full-time, heavy duty shooter (although I'd like to be) so maybe as I get better I'll notice more difference, but to me now the guns seem to behave pretty much the same.

3. I much prefer the take-down of the XD9 for cleaning and don't understand why so many people make a big deal out of having to pull the trigger to disengage the slide on the XD? Everyone has adopted dry-firing as a good way to practice with a gun - the XD method is just a dry fire. It involves no tools and is much quicker. If you can dry fire a gun for practice, why can't we be trusted to dry fire a gun for take down?

4. I love the backstraps for the M&P - but the XD has the thumb rest that works perfect for my grip. On the M&P I still haven't found a grip or palm swell I perfer as my support hand thumb gets lost and finds itself getting in the way of my shooting finger.

5. The trigger on both guns are nice - I still really like the XD trigger better at this point, but from reading gun books I'm learning my trigger technique is wrong and I'm having to change, so I'll have to re-analyze this point at a later date.

6. The magazines seem better on the XD - this could be apples to oranges, but the M&P40 magazine is much harder to load than my XD9 or my previously owned P345 .45 caliber. My poor thumb is hurting... The XD mag seems to go in and out smoother too.

7. The S&W seems lighter and thinner - however looking at them side by side doesnt seem to confirm this - both seem the same width, but the M&P seems thinner? Either way, I like the thin feel of the M&P...

8. I'm still testing, but the M&P seems more accurate than the XD - I'm using a gun rest to try and get better results as I'm a pretty crappy shot.



In all I really like both guns alot, but my nod goes to the XD, but I am still getting up to speed on the M&P. Much better than the P345, that's for sure. And man, the M&P just looks fantastic. I always loved the Walther P99 and was determined to have that being my next gun, but the M&P just seemed alot better. I'm having fun!



Thanks!

 

[mcone]

Rooster,



Good points -

4. I love the backstraps for the M&P - but the XD has the thumb rest that works perfect for my grip. On the M&P I still haven't found a grip or palm swell I perfer as my support hand thumb gets lost and finds itself getting in the way of my shooting finger.

Yes. That depression in the grip of an XD is nice.

5. The trigger on both guns are nice - I still really like the XD trigger better at this point, but from reading gun books I'm learning my trigger technique is wrong and I'm having to change, so I'll have to re-analyze this point at a later date.

I recommend that you have Burwell Gunsmithing perform a trigger-job on your M&P. He lightens the pull to 3.5 pounds. It makes the trigger nicer than a standard XD40 in my opinion.

6. The magazines seem better on the XD - this could be apples to oranges, but the M&P40 magazine is much harder to load than my XD9 or my previously owned P345 .45 caliber. My poor thumb is hurting... The XD mag seems to go in and out smoother too.

You are pressing more volume into the M&P magazine and getting the same round count (15), which I consider impressive. You will find in your studies that the force required to load a magazine is not generally considered a significant factor in magazine quality. How well it feeds rounds into the pistol is very important.



Also, you may have noticed in my list that my XD40 magazines change shape over time. This is more of a hassle - but I really don't like the fact that I have flatten the front of my XD magazines every month or so.



Solution to hard magazine loads: I recommend that you purchase a speed loader. After you get used to it, loading a magazine is easy and fast. I use an HKS Speedloader for my XD40. I need to try it on the M&P40 Mec-Gar magazine.

7. The S&W seems lighter and thinner - however looking at them side by side doesnt seem to confirm this - both seem the same width, but the M&P seems thinner? Either way, I like the thin feel of the M&P...

I noticed the same thing. The width is really similar, however, the feel is much "thinner". This is my theory: The M&P is longer in the slide, and is less of a block shape than the XD. Also, the front-strap of the grip is much more narrow. The feel is more like a 1911 than an XD. The end effect is a pistol that is easier to get into and out of a holster. Try inserting your M&P into an XD holster. It will go in with less force.



-Mike



By the way take a look at the M&P refinished by Burwell Gunsmthing:

http://mp-pistol.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=221

 

[raz-0]

2. The recoil of both guns seem similar [SNIP]



3. I much prefer the take-down of the XD9 for cleaning and don't understand why so many people make a big deal out of having to pull the trigger to disengage the slide on the XD? [SNIP]



4. I love the backstraps for the M&P - but the XD has the thumb rest that works perfect for my grip. On the M&P I still haven't found a grip or palm swell I perfer as my support hand thumb gets lost and finds itself getting in the way of my shooting finger.





5. The trigger on both guns are nice - I still really like the XD trigger better at this point, but from reading gun books I'm learning my trigger technique is wrong and I'm having to change, so I'll have to re-analyze this point at a later date.



6. The magazines seem better on the XD - this could be apples to oranges, but the M&P40 magazine is much harder to load than my XD9 or my previously owned P345 .45 caliber. My poor thumb is hurting... The XD mag seems to go in and out smoother too.



7. The S&W seems lighter and thinner - however looking at them side by side doesnt seem to confirm this - both seem the same width, but the M&P seems thinner? Either way, I like the thin feel of the M&P...

2) the M&P handles recoil better, provided you are using a proper grip. If you teacup the gun or something similar, they are both going to be pretty flippy. You will also notice the difference more if you shoot fast.



3) how can you prefer the xd-9 takedown over the M&P. It's basically the same. If you don't want to flip the little yellow lever on the M&P, just pull the trigger. Works exactly the same if you want it to. however if you don't, you at least have another option on the M&P.



4) The XD thumb rest is more positive for sure. However, if your off-hand is swimming and interfering, you probably have a bad grip on the gun.



5) IMO the XD trigger is more consistant from the factory. It's a bit mushy, but it is lighter and smoother and one XD is closer to another XD than I am seeing with the M&P. That being said, i think the M&P trigger has more potential to be a nice crisp breaking trigger.



6) harder to get the last few rounds in is generally a good thing as long as it doesn't go too far. Usually means more reliable functioning over a longer life span. As for quick reloads, the M&P mags are a better shape than the XD.



7) teh M&P IS thinner where you feel it. basically where the shallow dimples are for your thumb on either side is where you feel how wide a gun is. on the M&P this is exceptionally narrow compared to it's competitors.

 

[Rooster]

Thanks for the input. I honestly didn't know about the M&P having the same takedown method as the XD as an option.



After trying my XD9, a friend bought an XD9 for himself. For what it's worth, the mags supplied with his XD were different than mine.



Thanks!

 

[raz-0]

Thanks for the input. I honestly didn't know about the M&P having the same takedown method as the XD as an option.



After trying my XD9, a friend bought an XD9 for himself. For what it's worth, the mags supplied with his XD were different than mine.



Thanks!

If you could get pics of the differences, I'd be interested.

 

[Mortech]

I know this is going to be a gift for your daughter but does she have any shooting experiences / preferences for either pistol ? Other than that you seemed to have made a really well thoughtout side-by-side evaluation .

 

[mcone]

I know this is going to be a gift for your daughter but does she have any shooting experiences / preferences for either pistol ? Other than that you seemed to have made a really well thoughtout side-by-side evaluation .

She has used it quite a bit, and she prefers the M&P over the XD.



Other favorites of hers:



Kimber Warrior

H&K USP 40



-Mike

 

[Kazman]

Yeah - my final 2 pistol choices came down to the M&P 40 and the XD 40. M&P won, based on design, adjustable grip, mag capacity and country of origin. S&W made in USA, XD in Croatia???



After having this pistol a few weeks now, I'm very happy with my decision. But as a long distance shooter, it cracks me up that I can't hit a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper @ 25 yds.



Read elsewhere I need a trigger job, would agree since I have national match triggers in my rifles.