Thoughts regarding a 45

[S&Wmax]

I have also looking at a MP45/XD45. Still unsure on which to get.

 

[fdw]

XD-45

Here's the benefit of cocked and loaded chamber indicator:

Your Humvee has just run over an IED at night. You come-to semi conscious in a dark alley and you hear some "tango s" coming your way. You can "feel" if your pistol is ready to go, rather than having to rack the slide and thereby giving away your position by that distinctive sound.

or

You are asleep in bed, and you hear that breaking glass downstairs. You don't want to turn on you light and give away your situation or location. You pick up your XD, no question if it's cocked and loaded.

or

You pick up your Glock and ask yourself, hmmm, did I put one in the chamber before I went to bed? No problem if you ALWAYS keep one in the chamber, but maybe some don't because of children in the house etc.

Neither the cocked indicator, (striker projecting from back of slide) nor the loaded chamber indicator (small projection on top of chamber) will interfere with the pistols reliability. And grip safeties have been in use since before 1911 and not many complaints about that one.

Here is some comments from a trainer of "operators" re XD-45.

Q:"According to the professionals and elite of the elite on another forum the XD is pretty much a range toy, prone to mechanical failures. Has anyone had problems with this line of pistols?"

A:"Yeah, whatever. I'll just bet they are all excited about the S&W M&P or something like that, ain't they?

I have shot the living **** out of several of the XDs, including a prolonged torture test on a .45 Tactical that appeared in SWAT Magazine in the July 2006 edition. That pistol currently stands at about 8K rounds with no drama.

They all ran pretty much flawlessly, and none of them had any mechanical breakage or terminal malfs of any kind. Any malfs we did experience were directly attributable to ammo quality or operator errors. I have not shot any of them in .40, all I have used have been 9mm and .45
also:
The standard XD model does not have a thumb safety anyway.
Grip safety and "safe trigger" trigger safety, and fully ambidextrous mag release with buttons on both sides!

They also have a tactile loaded chamber indicator and tactile cocking indicator. Steel sights instead of chocolate chips, (like standard on Glocks), and they point like a 1911.
Stainless steel magazines.

Integral pic rail underneath and they make a excellent platform for the (>$100.00, often about $65.00 now)) also very excellent Streamlight TLR1 weapon light.

They also take down far easier than a Glock. I have taught 14 year old girls that never handled a firearm before to take down and re-assemble an XD. They average about five to seven minutes of instruction before they have it down cold."

also:

"The XD is, for my money, the best straight from the box combat gun available today.
I tried one after Louis Awerbuck (RIP), told me that of all the pistols that come through his classes, the XDs were the ones that invariably made it through the classes without taking a dump in any way shape or form.
My own XD is the .45acp Tactical and we have thrashed the bejeesus out of it with no ill effects.
The round count is well in excess of 5K now, and no malfs.

I used to have literally every Glock model available. From 17 through 35, I had them all (except for an 18, dang it) and I now own zero Glocks.
I have personally witnesses Glocks failing in a multitude of ways, including having two model 23s blow upright next to me at the range, both times their extractors blew out and hit me in the left temple hard enough to stick there. I now stay to the left of Glock shooters.

The XDs have internal extractors, Thank God, and seem impervious to this particular failing. They also have more supported chamber area than the Glocks, as well as magazines that actually drop free, an ambi mag release, excellent safeties, loaded chamber indicator, cocking indicator, and a grip safety."


I do have a Glock 17 and like it, (the original and best IMHO), but the XD-45 is the one go to pistol for all occasions.

dang, that's a long post...

 

[Arik]

XD-45

Here's the benefit of cocked and loaded chamber indicator:

Your Humvee has just run over an IED at night. You come-to semi conscious in a dark alley and you hear some "tango s" coming your way. You can "feel" if your pistol is ready to go, rather than having to rack the slide and thereby giving away your position by that distinctive sound.

or

You are asleep in bed, and you hear that breaking glass downstairs. You don't want to turn on you light and give away your situation or location. You pick up your XD, no question if it's cocked and loaded.

or

You pick up your Glock and ask yourself, hmmm, did I put one in the chamber before I went to bed? No problem if you ALWAYS keep one in the chamber, but maybe some don't because of children in the house etc.

Neither the cocked indicator, (striker projecting from back of slide) nor the loaded chamber indicator (small projection on top of chamber) will interfere with the pistols reliability. And grip safeties have been in use since before 1911 and not many complaints about that one.

Here is some comments from a trainer of "operators" re XD-45.

Q:"According to the professionals and elite of the elite on another forum the XD is pretty much a range toy, prone to mechanical failures. Has anyone had problems with this line of pistols?"

A:"Yeah, whatever. I'll just bet they are all excited about the S&W M&P or something like that, ain't they?

I have shot the living **** out of several of the XDs, including a prolonged torture test on a .45 Tactical that appeared in SWAT Magazine in the July 2006 edition. That pistol currently stands at about 8K rounds with no drama.

They all ran pretty much flawlessly, and none of them had any mechanical breakage or terminal malfs of any kind. Any malfs we did experience were directly attributable to ammo quality or operator errors. I have not shot any of them in .40, all I have used have been 9mm and .45
also:
The standard XD model does not have a thumb safety anyway.
Grip safety and "safe trigger" trigger safety, and fully ambidextrous mag release with buttons on both sides!

They also have a tactile loaded chamber indicator and tactile cocking indicator. Steel sights instead of chocolate chips, (like standard on Glocks), and they point like a 1911.
Stainless steel magazines.

Integral pic rail underneath and they make a excellent platform for the (>$100.00, often about $65.00 now)) also very excellent Streamlight TLR1 weapon light.

They also take down far easier than a Glock. I have taught 14 year old girls that never handled a firearm before to take down and re-assemble an XD. They average about five to seven minutes of instruction before they have it down cold."

also:

"The XD is, for my money, the best straight from the box combat gun available today.
I tried one after Louis Awerbuck (RIP), told me that of all the pistols that come through his classes, the XDs were the ones that invariably made it through the classes without taking a dump in any way shape or form.
My own XD is the .45acp Tactical and we have thrashed the bejeesus out of it with no ill effects.
The round count is well in excess of 5K now, and no malfs.

I used to have literally every Glock model available. From 17 through 35, I had them all (except for an 18, dang it) and I now own zero Glocks.
I have personally witnesses Glocks failing in a multitude of ways, including having two model 23s blow upright next to me at the range, both times their extractors blew out and hit me in the left temple hard enough to stick there. I now stay to the left of Glock shooters.

The XDs have internal extractors, Thank God, and seem impervious to this particular failing. They also have more supported chamber area than the Glocks, as well as magazines that actually drop free, an ambi mag release, excellent safeties, loaded chamber indicator, cocking indicator, and a grip safety."


I do have a Glock 17 and like it, (the original and best IMHO), but the XD-45 is the one go to pistol for all occasions.

Glock has a loaded chamber indicator! It's on the extractor. You can only feel it when it's loaded.

XD. In classes it has had problems with grip safety sticking/breaking. Along with the roll pins breaking.

Stainless mags? I have yet to see a Glock or HK USP mag break. All but the very first Glock mags drop free. You are pulling info from 1989.

Ambi mag releases are irrelevant and I'm a lefty. And glock does have ambi mag releases. Check out a new one made in the last 4 years or so.

Those grip safeties are neat until you have the use of only one hand. Then good luck cocking the gun. Also when the seize up good luck using the gun.

Ammo quality? Run absolutely everything through my HK and Glocks. No anything regardless of quality.

Wondering if it's loaded? No! It's ALWAYS loaded, ALWAYS!

 

[wwsnyder]

Here's a pic of my P220R Stainless that I've decided to keep. If I sold it I doubt i would ever buy another one as nice. I have shifted to mainly shooting 90mm but its nice to have a 45 around.

 

[Rpg]

Although the pistols you are considering are reasonably quality pistols, you should consider a 1911 platform.

Takes some training and practice, but superior to the striker fired pistols by a significant margain.

I've never met anyone who couldn't learn to shoot the 1911 better than the pistols you are considering.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I have two FS45s, both with no improved reset. I don't think they've even started giving the 45s a new reset yet since both of the models below are from 2014. I bought them both used and the only mods are a DIY round/polish job (free mod) on the striker blocks, an Apex hard sear and lanyard take down tool.

If they came out with a new slide stop to show a noticeable reset I might buy them if sold separately, but I've had no problem with the barely felt reset that's there now.

I've had a few other poly 45s like a G30SF, 2 XD45 tacticals, etc, but these are by far my favorite.

 

[forrestinmathews]

So glad to hear you kept your 220 ST. That's a latter model than mine. When I bought it they were still using the internal extractor and narrow trigger. I may purchase a M&P45, but I doubt I'd sell my Sig. It just lines the bullets up in a row and it runs with all kinds of loads from longer reloads to wimpy cheap stuff. That reminds me. Time to replace the springs. Thanks!

 

[nocents]

dang, that's a long post...

you meant to say "long winded" right?.....I read that whole rambling by this "expert"...and in one breath says "i own ZERO Glocks now"...and in the next says " I have a Glock 17 and like it".....he can't keep track of his own bs...

 

[mrrick]

nocents:

If you read it closely, many of the comments were made by a friend who trains professionals.

I guess you missed this crucial line.

"Here is some comments from a trainer of "operators" re XD-45."

That is why I used quotation marks, but maybe you don't understand what the " " marks mean.

I, the poster never claimed to be an "expert", oppps, there's those dang quotation marks again.

Thought this was a friendly forum devoid of personal attacks.

 

[S&Wmax]

I have two FS45s, both with no improved reset. I don't think they've even started giving the 45s a new reset yet since both of the models below are from 2014. I bought them both used and the only mods are a DIY round/polish job (free mod) on the striker blocks, an Apex hard sear and lanyard take down tool.

If they came out with a new slide stop to show a noticeable reset I might buy them if sold separately, but I've had no problem with the barely felt reset that's there now.

I've had a few other poly 45s like a G30SF, 2 XD45 tacticals, etc, but these are by far my favorite.

How would you compare the mp45 vs the xd40 tactical?

 

[nocents]

nocents:

If you read it closely, many of the comments were made by a friend who trains professionals.

I guess you missed this crucial line.

"Here is some comments from a trainer of "operators" re XD-45."

That is why I used quotation marks, but maybe you don't understand what the " " marks mean.

I, the poster never claimed to be an "expert", oppps, there's those dang quotation marks again.

Thought this was a friendly forum devoid of personal attacks.

I guess I should have been more clear on which "expert" I was referring too.......it's the one you were quoting.....the trainer that can't remember if he owns a Glock or not....or did you miss those crucial lines?.....and if you took this as a personal attack on you.....I do """"""apologize"""""

 

[mrrick]

I, the poster has a Glock 17, my friend has given up his Glocks.

No worries, mate!

 

[Justified]

I love my M&P45 [full size]. It eats everything and has never had an issue.

For its baby brother I chose the XDs45 and like it as well, but the grip tries to bite my hand...it is NOT a range gun.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

How would you compare the mp45 vs the xd40 tactical?

I don't know about the .40 since I only owned the Tactical 45s, but the M&P is by far the most ergonomic poly gun I've felt to date. The FS45s have been nothing but super accurate and reliable with any 230gr. FMJ or HP ammo I've tried in it. It shoots great, feels great, looks great and are set-up just how I like them.

The XD/M/S series is a great gun. My biggest gripe is the pointless roll pin that holds in the striker. If that goes, the gun is worthless. They should redesign the XD/M series to be like the XDS which does not have a roll pin since it's a different design. I have a XDS45 as my CCW, but my go to service size poly 45 will always be the M&P from now on.

I remember going to a local show years ago with reps from different companies. S&W was there with different M&Ps and I remember picking up both a 9 and 45 and couldn't tell the difference in feel or weight. I asked the rep "Is this really a 45?" I never really looked into one though since I already had the XD(s), but I immediately bought the first used one I saw. I liked it so much I bought another one at the same LGS when it showed up in the used case. I don't buy the exact same gun or set them up exactly the same unless it really appeals to me.

 

[BillR1]

I own two M&P 45s. My current EDC is a 45c with the Apex DCEK, and my CDP competition gun is a FS 45 with the Apex FSS trigger. Both are awesome to shoot and are VERY accurate! I've had XDs before and I kept the M&Ps. I've never been a fan if the grip safety and the higher bore axis of the XD. If they work for you, great.

 

[forrestinmathews]

Well I am curious enough to now find out what the rage is about in the M&P .45. Anyone getting accuracy to write home about at conversational distances 50 to 100m/yds?

 

[Rastoff]

I have shifted to mainly shooting 90mm...

Did you join the Navy?

 

[Rastoff]

Well I am curious enough to now find out what the rage is about in the M&P .45. Anyone getting accuracy to write home about at conversational distances 50 to 100m/yds?

Seriously? A handgun at 50 yards to 100 meters? Well, it certainly can be done and lots of guys do it. However, the M&P was not designed for it.

As you get out past 25 yards the .45 drops off considerably. It becomes more of an artillery shot.

 

[forrestinmathews]

Since I've been offered a great opportunity to pick-up a "slightly used" M&P45 at a relative bargain price, your post jumped out at me.

Don't wish to hijack your thread, but could you please add a few words further explaining this old vs. new M&P45 trigger issue? Thanks!

Use the money you saved buying used to get the Apex competition spring kit or FSS. I thought the .45 had the best trigger of all the older M&P's. I waited a while to jump on that bandwagon. In doing so I let a lot of kinks get washed away.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Well, the various items that people like and don't like about this gun or that could fill a book and actually does, I suppose. So I'll add my 2 cents based on my adventure last Sunday.

Six of us went to the range together. Four of us brought our own guns and two guys rented range guns. The rented guns were a full sized Glock 9mm and a full sized Springfield .45 ACP which, I presume, is the gun under discussion here. XDwhatever.....

We weren't shooting long distances, 7 yards being mostly what we shot. I won't discuss the several Glocks that I shot because I shoot all Glocks well and wouldn't own one if they were free. Long story for another thread but we all have our prejudices in such matters and it's not relevant here.

The guy with the Springfield .45 was tossing his rounds all over the typical B-27 target used for various testing purposes, most specifically the Texas CHL test that I am intimately familiar with. I am a certified CHL instructor and a Texas Level III combined instructor, just for the record. Also for the record, I have never fired a Springfield XD45. So I watched him scatter his shots and I asked him if he would allow me to try the gun and, of course, he said yes.

Target - green B-27
Distance - 7 yards
Gun - Springfield XD45
Result - 3 rounds touching in a perfect group right where I aimed - head shots - I gave the target a nose.

THAT is a great gun as far as I am concerned.

***GRJ***