Poll: Please help pick my next carry gun

[MrJT]

Hi folks. I'm looking into picking up a new carry gun. I've decided to go with a compact semi auto in 9mm. I cant decide if I want to go with an M&P9C, Glock 26, or a sub comp XD.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I know I'll get honest opinions here, and not people saying the M&P only because it's a Smith and Wesson.

Thanks
-JT

 

[BigRich315]

I haven't shot the Springer, but just holding the 3 in the shop made me go with the M&Pc. The Springer felt clunky and I didn't like the Glock at all. The feel and ability to just throw it up and the sights be aligned sold me. I had already heard great reviews about them also.

Since then I've had to the opportunity shoot the Glock and I still prefer my M&Pc hands down. It shoots right with the Glock but much more comfortably. I don't know anyone with a Springer so I can't compare there, but I can't imagine it getting any better.

I do like the shorter barrel in the other models though. If only Smith made an M&Psc variant... Accuracy would suffer slightly but for my purposes it would be great.

 

[Spotteddog]

Well in these parts, you might get just a bit of a biased opinion!
All three you've mentioned are fine guns. All three will deliver far more mechanical accuracy than 95+% of shooters can bring to bear. So it sounds very much like my search for my first ever Tupperware and 9X19 pistol (late 08'). My selection was made based on Rich 315's experience mirroring my own. I had a set of Novak's wide notch night sights installed
Novak Wide Notch Sights .
The gun has been 100% reliable with now 4 K through her. But for me the most important thing was that she came to the sights when presented. I'd say make the selection based on that one handling quality alone. Regardless of who's product it is.

 

[BarbC]

I have never shot or owned a Glock because I can't get past its looks and feel in my hand at the showcase. It may simply be an irrational prejudice but I just don't see what other people like about them.

I have an XD45 full size, an M&P9 full size, and an M&P 45 compact.

The XD is comparable to the M&P although the XD spring is much heavier and is harder for me to pull it back into a locked position when empty. I think, though, the M&P45C actually has less perceived recoil than the XD45. Maybe that's due to the grip comfort due to the M&Ps adjustable grip sizes.

The M&P line are well-built guns, easy to take down and reassemble, and will shoot anything you feed them.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

You might want to add the Kahr P9 series to your short list. About 16 ounces empty, 8-round capacity, very concealable grip-frame, good standard sights. In my experience (with 3 Kahr pistols) workmanship is excellent, accuracy is excellent, and they are easy to shoot well after a brief familiarization. I have never experienced a failure to feed, fire, eject or any other failure with the Kahr pistols.

My Kahr P40 disappears under a golf shirt and will shoot 4" groups at 50 feet all day long.

 

[Capt Steve]

"The M&P line are well-built guns, easy to take down and reassemble, and will shoot anything you feed them."

To quote Sara Palin: "You Betcha!"
My personal favorite is the MP9C. Don't buy anything else until you get a chance to shoot one, chances are good you will buy it and never regret having done so.

 

[dennis40x]

I have both the S&W MP9 and the Glock G17. Neither one is esthetically pleasing. Both are and would be a choice between ugly and ugly. On the other hand functionality trumps esthetics.

This is a composite shot group @ 50Yds for both the MP9 & G17. Accuracy one is no better than the other. Point-ability /sighting both shot to the same POA.

Either one is an acceptable choice. My preference leans towards the G17 basically more experience/ familiarity with it.

 

[7shooter]

I am trying to like the M&P 9 that I have had for about a year but keep going back to my Glock 17. I shoot the Glock faster and more accurately in competition. It's probably because I have thousands of rounds of experience with the Glock. They both are good guns and I haven't given up on the M&P. I do like the M&Ps looks better.

 

[38-44HD45]

You might want to add the Kahr P9 series to your short list. About 16 ounces empty, 8-round capacity, very concealable grip-frame, good standard sights. In my experience (with 3 Kahr pistols) workmanship is excellent, accuracy is excellent, and they are easy to shoot well after a brief familiarization. I have never experienced a failure to feed, fire, eject or any other failure with the Kahr pistols.

My Kahr P40 disappears under a golf shirt and will shoot 4" groups at 50 feet all day long.

I'm with Lobo. I did not vote in your poll, for two reasons: First, choice of a concealed carry piece is highly personal. No one has exactly the same hand/arm anatomy as anyone else, nor the same aesthetic sense, same subjective response to recoil, etc. (FWIW, I find that both XDs and M&Ps feel better in my hand and point more naturally than Glocks, even though I own neither. However, the compact XDs seem to be quite top-heavy.) Second, while I own lots of Glocks (about 17 at last count) of several models, have shot several XDs and have handled Smith M&P9s, I find myself carrying single-stack guns almost all the time. For me, they point better and conceal much better than fat-butted double-stackers, even the ones you've listed. The Kahrs are excellent choices. And Lobo has modestly understated their accuracy potential.

 

[117]

simple

The choice is Simple. 3913TSW

 

[josephthreedogs]

Not enough options!

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I have never shot or owned a Glock because I can't get past its looks and feel in my hand at the showcase. It may simply be an irrational prejudice but I just don't see what other people like about them.

I have an XD45 full size, an M&P9 full size, and an M&P 45 compact.

The XD is comparable to the M&P although the XD spring is much heavier and is harder for me to pull it back into a locked position when empty. I think, though, the M&P45C actually has less perceived recoil than the XD45. Maybe that's due to the grip comfort due to the M&Ps adjustable grip sizes.

The M&P line are well-built guns, easy to take down and reassemble, and will shoot anything you feed them.

I am with you Barb that glock is ugly. It's worse than ugly.
I have a S&W M&P 40 compact and like it. Don

 

[Tophog]

The choice is Simple. 3913TSW

+1 on that choice!

 

[roundgunner]

I used to have a Glock it worked perfectly. And was a pleasure to carry BUT, I didn't work so perfectly, when I draw and fire it is automatic and the sights fall on the target automatically. Except with a Glock, I have spent years shooting S&W revolvers and 1911 autos. The grip angle on a Glock is not the same so when I draw the Glock the sights do not fall on the target and I have to search for them. Once I find them everything works perfectly but, it's that first instant of searching for the sights instead of putting fire on target that bothered me. I shoot a lot of IDPA matches and I felt it every time. I know if I had kept at it I could have unlearned the way a Smith points but would that be wise? I sold the Glock, and now we have a copy of the Glock made by our friends at S&W called the M&P. I have a full size 40 that feels like a revolver only it never runs out of bullets! I shot the IDPA classifier with it and was 1 second from making expert with it the first time I used it for IDPA. I think it is every bit as good as a Glock and better in some ways.

Not bashing Glock they work fine. M&P points better for me.
I liked the M&P full size so much I bought the 40 compact too.

 

[Poohgyrr]

I'd say shoot them first if you can.
I think the XD is uglier than Glock, and that Glock is uglier than the M&P.

Anyone know if the M&P is as easy to work on (basic parts replacement) as the Glock? Glocks are really, really easy to do basic repairs on.

Otherwise, I really prefer the G19 to the G26, and the M&P has adjustable backstraps and feels better in my hand than either Glock.

The 3913/3914/908 series is very very good. The 3913/3914 is better than the 908, and pre TSW is better than TSW (my opinion anyway).

 

[NE450No2]

I think the BEST semiauto concealed carry gun, everything considered is a Light Weight 1911 Commander in 45 ACP....

But IF you have to have a 9mm, of the choices you listed a glock would be my choice.

You can never go wrong with a Glock...

However for a concealed carry gun they are FAT..

Because of "rules" I carried a couple of Glock 17's for several years, both on and of duty...

After I retired I went back to the LW Commander. It is much more comfortable and concealable to carry.

Extra mags are slimmer trimmer as well...

Has more "thump" too.