Need a new pistol...M&P or XD?

[hobby-gunsmith]

M&P or Springfield XD

Well, I have to say both guns are in the running. I favor the Springfield for better safety and engineering that went into designing the gun. It is designed on the German engineering such as Sig Sauer. The gun has two passive safeties and two non passive. The gun does not have loose breech right from the factory where the M&P does have some loose breech. I have shot at least five thousand rounds from the XD and it still does not have loose breech. The take down lever gives that extra tight lock up when closed. If you understand how a gun works, you can see the superior qualities in the XD. I have never had any malfunctions with the XD. The people at Springfield are great when it comes to additional parts for the gun. The locking block is held by two massive grooved pins and are bumped at each end for security. Also, the take down pin holds the block and the rear end of the block fits in its groove for extra tightness. The magazines are all stainless steel one piece with massive springs to hold the cartridges. The follower is designed to hold the rounds straight without tilting to preclude jamming rounds. The locking block is steel and you have steel hitting on steel and not plastic. In the long run, the XD will outlast the M&P. I could go on and on in the workmanship of the XD and any gunsmith will substantiate the true workmanship and thoughtout process in designing the gun. Hope this helps.

Nick

 

[coobie]

I love S&W, i own an m&p15 that rocks, but i dont have a handgun of theirs. i know this is a biased place to ask the question, but i am leaning towards an m&p 40, but love springfields XDs as well. My roommate has a sigma, but i dont like how it is just a mock glock... what other smith and wesson autoloading pistols are good for under 600$? i preferably would like to spend 4 or 5 hundred from the good ole tax returns.

I own 3 M&P 9mm love them.Neighbor bought a new CZ P-07 duty(compact) in 9mm came with (2) 16 round mags for $499.I have read very postive reviews on them.coobie

 

[kozmic]

I assume since you are comparing the M&P to the XDs you are thinking about the .40 M&Pc (compact). I have a M&P 9c and the Springfield XDs in .45. I see the merit of having both (particularly if you buy them in different cal.)
I love my M&P. It fits me well and has proven to be a very dependable and durable piece. I just recently got my XDs and it quite impressive but I still putting it thru it's paces. It carries very well and is dimensionally close to the Shield. So far I like it very much.

If I had to chose one (caliber not a factor) I would pick the S&W. If you ask me after a few more trips to the range with the Springfield, I may give you a different answer!

Since you asked about other S&W's, I own a Shield in 9mm. I think I would rate both the M&Pc and the XDs slightly better. Just my opinion.

Ultimately it should come down to the one that fits you better and represents the best value in your mind. All are excellent! Good luck!

 

[VTvibe]

whoa, thanks for all the input guys! Surprised that everyone wasnt super biased on S&W...well anyways i went to a couple gun shops today and really felt out both the XDm 40 and a M&P 9mm (just cause they didnt have .40 in stock). I am completely sold on the XDm, it fits like a glove, holds 16+1 .40 rounds, which is purely awesome. The safety features i really dig as well, and the match grade barrel, and really nice trigger pull. Its a little out of my price range, 675, as the XD and M&P is about a hundred bucks cheaper. Might as well get the XDm though, it will be worth the extra bill in the long run. Do you guys really think the prices will drop in the next month or two, or if laws change i should just get it while i can?

 

[robnron]

Well, thats a loaded question. I would get it will I could. IMO

 

[VTvibe]

and oh yeah, the M&P i saw at the shop was NOT made in the USA...i forget where actually but i know it wasnt America. XD is Croatia. Which sucks.

 

[VTvibe]

Well, thats a loaded question. I would get it will I could. IMO

yeah it was a dumb question, im going to get it in the next week or two either way!

 

[Jabbit]

and oh yeah, the M&P i saw at the shop was NOT made in the USA...i forget where actually but i know it wasnt America. XD is Croatia. Which sucks.

M&P 22 says "Made in Germany" I believe, because it is basically a Walther P22.

 

[sharpshooterassassin]

I've got the SA XD .45 and SA XD 9mm, M&P 9mm Shield and M&P 9c. The XD's are great guns and I had bought them first and thought that they were the best. Then I went over to the S&W M&P line and I like them a little better. The main thing I didn't like about the SA XD's was the grip safety, but if I had to choose, I'd keep the M&P's IMO.

 

[ablediver]

M&P .22's, 9mm (full size & compact) and .45acp (full size ) are well - built and accurate pistols. The 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 acp are all built in the US on Page Blvd, City of Springfield, Peoples Republic of Massachusetts ( ironic, huh ? ). I went on the factory tour, talked to a couple of Joe-Bob's and Jane-Barb's that were putting them together one at a time, on a bench. These people do care about the product they make. Interesting to watch entire carts of slides being wheeled by. Unfortunately, at the end of the tour, they served dinner but no free S&W samples. If you're ever in that neck of the woods, it's worth a call to check out a tour.

 

[FlSoldier]

I recently was facing the same problem as you, so i bought both. M&P40c and XD 9mm 16+1. A bit of money for the two? Yes. Worth it? Yes. Havent fired the XD yet.

 

[RichardF]

I've got a XDM 9mm & M&P 40. Enjoy them both.

 

[shawn mccarver]

and oh yeah, the M&P i saw at the shop was NOT made in the USA...i forget where actually but i know it wasnt America. XD is Croatia. Which sucks.

The M&P in centerfire calibers certainly IS made in the USA. The centerfire M&Ps do not have much in common with the .22 version, other than looks and name.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Well, I have to say both guns are in the running. I favor the Springfield for better safety and engineering that went into designing the gun. It is designed on the German engineering such as Sig Sauer. The gun has two passive safeties and two non passive. The gun does not have loose breech right from the factory where the M&P does have some loose breech. I have shot at least five thousand rounds from the XD and it still does not have loose breech. The take down lever gives that extra tight lock up when closed. If you understand how a gun works, you can see the superior qualities in the XD. I have never had any malfunctions with the XD. The people at Springfield are great when it comes to additional parts for the gun. The locking block is held by two massive grooved pins and are bumped at each end for security. Also, the take down pin holds the block and the rear end of the block fits in its groove for extra tightness. The magazines are all stainless steel one piece with massive springs to hold the cartridges. The follower is designed to hold the rounds straight without tilting to preclude jamming rounds. The locking block is steel and you have steel hitting on steel and not plastic. In the long run, the XD will outlast the M&P. I could go on and on in the workmanship of the XD and any gunsmith will substantiate the true workmanship and thoughtout process in designing the gun. Hope this helps.

Nick

The Springfield is a nice gun, as I said previously, but it was designed and is still built in Croatia. Its lock up is pure old American John M. Browning.

 

[richeyo2]

I have both. I own an XD 9 service model (4"barrel) and a M&P 9 (4.25'' barrel).

Obviously, if you are price based and wanting it right away, the XD is the gun for you. M&Ps seem to be the 'hot' seller right now , as were the XD's 4-5 years ago.

The XDS was not even out 4-5 years ago! The XD maybe but not the XDS .45 single stack which is what I thought OP was referring too.

 

[VTvibe]

Not reffering to XDs...maybe i said XDs and meant XD plural, sorry for the confusion! I am speaking about the XD 40 or the XDm 40 (which is what i really, really want but its more expensive than both m&p and XD) and both 4" barrels. As for the M&P im speaking of is the 4.25" .40.
Im a big guy and compact pistols really annoy me and i dont think i could ever own one...i also never conceal carry really, if im carrying i dont mind people seeing it as i live in a state (VT) with super lax gun laws (which i believe will stay the same for the most part.)
As for the M&P i saw being made outside of the US, jabbit nailed it, it was a .22 model that was made over in Germany...maybe i wont make my final decision until i handle a .40 caliber m&p because im basing my decision on checking out the .22 version, which i figured wouldnt be that much different of a feel than other calibers, but i could be wrong. I wish the gun shops around me had firing ranges and you could test before you buy.
Sorry for rambling!

 

[VTvibe]

does the m&p have no safeties? and does it have a loaded chamber indicator?

 

[jagger5]

SW does have an M&P that has a thumb safety option. As far as indicators go, there is really only one on the M&P. - And it's not one to really say it is an "indicator."

There is a small hole on the top of the slide that allows you to look down and see if a round is chambered. yeah...not much.

Also, the XD's have a striker cocked indicator on the back of the slide- the M&Ps do not. Springfield definitely wins the category of indicators on a gun!

Yes Richeyo2, sorry for any confusion. I was referring to the XD line of pistols in general- even before the M factor came out. It just seemed like 4-5 years ago that was the only pistol being talked about in the polymer category. M&P really hadn't hit the market then (they were in the middle of trying to solve their sigma mess), beretta was trying to get the PX4 out, and glock of course was glock. Springfield had the spotlight!

Believe me, I'm excited to see how the XD-S line plays out. I don't know if I am a fan yet of a .45 in a gun that small but the 9mm? I guess I'd have to shoot the .45 to find out! May trade the Kahr CM9! I'd love to get my hands on a shield but for 600.00+! no thank you.

 

[Twysted]

I know it's not apples to apples, but..

I have fired a M&P 40 and a XD45 and I preferred the M&P. Felt better in my hand, and the XD's spring (or something internal) continued to vibrate/ring after the shot making it feel rather less well built. Small thing, I know, but it just felt rather odd.

But that's just my opinion. Haven't spent a lot of time with the XD, and only about 100 rounds out of the M&P...

 

[richeyo2]

If I was choosing between the XD or a M&P I'd go for the M&P myself & I'm a S/A fan...Now XDM or M&P I'd get the XDM.