I am looking for a compact lightweight 45 and have narrowed my choice to a M&P or Glock 36 are they not about the same height and width? The Smith holds 8 and that is a plus. Does anyone have both? Any input? This will be for CCW.
S&W M&P compact 45 VS Glock 36
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I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to own a 45C and a 36 at the same time. I now only have the 45C (along with a 9C and 40C).
Right out of the box they were both flawless in reliability and function. The Glock trigger was as expected; just like any other Glock. The Smith trigger was extremely disappointing, however that was fixed with an Apex Tactical DCAEK. I personally prefer the cantilever trigger of the Smith over the safe-action trigger of the Glock. In my opinion the grip of the Smith is much more ergonomically pleasing than the Glock grip. Sights, fit / finish and felt recoil with both pistols are pretty much equal.
After putting a few hundred rounds through each pistol it boiled down to the fact that I simply preferred shooting the Smith over the Glock. My preference. Since I didn't need two striker fired 45's, the Glock was sold to make room for a Kimber Ultra CDP II.
You really can't go wrong with either pistol. It's a personal choice that only you can make. I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever one you decide to go with.
Right out of the box they were both flawless in reliability and function. The Glock trigger was as expected; just like any other Glock. The Smith trigger was extremely disappointing, however that was fixed with an Apex Tactical DCAEK. I personally prefer the cantilever trigger of the Smith over the safe-action trigger of the Glock. In my opinion the grip of the Smith is much more ergonomically pleasing than the Glock grip. Sights, fit / finish and felt recoil with both pistols are pretty much equal.
After putting a few hundred rounds through each pistol it boiled down to the fact that I simply preferred shooting the Smith over the Glock. My preference. Since I didn't need two striker fired 45's, the Glock was sold to make room for a Kimber Ultra CDP II.
You really can't go wrong with either pistol. It's a personal choice that only you can make. I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever one you decide to go with.
obiwankabaldi
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i also had both and ended up keeping the M&P 45c...Love it. Not to say that the Glock was not a great firearm, I just really prefer the M&P for ergonomics and fit and finish. More rounded and less boxy feeling. However like MIST the trigger did need some TLC and the APEX did the trick.
Allen-frame
Member
The Smith and Wesson M&P is made in in the U.S.A.
The sale of the glok pistol, whether made in America or Austria, supports glock,
a company based in Austria. And Austria is a anti gun country.
I would pay retail for a Smith M&P before I would buy a glok wholesale.
As far as mechanically, they are both hammers that will pound nails.
Aesthetically the Smith has more appeal to me. The glock resembles a black brick.
Allen Frame
The sale of the glok pistol, whether made in America or Austria, supports glock,
a company based in Austria. And Austria is a anti gun country.
I would pay retail for a Smith M&P before I would buy a glok wholesale.
As far as mechanically, they are both hammers that will pound nails.
Aesthetically the Smith has more appeal to me. The glock resembles a black brick.
Allen Frame
Last edited:
nearlynormalmike
US Veteran
I cannot verify that all Glocks in the US of A are made here, but the is a large facility right here in Smyrna, Georgia that makes many!
I had to return my Glock just today and it went to Smyrna.
It is incidentally a model 36 that I have had for several years. It has never fed hollow points reliably.
I also own Smith M&Ps, incluing a 45 though not the compact model. I personally prefer the M&P and do not find the trigger all that bad though it does take some time to get the feel for it.
The G 36 is not fun to shoot as it pinches the hell out of my pinkey, a common complaint. It does carry well though in relative comfort.
Try them both if you can.
I had to return my Glock just today and it went to Smyrna.
It is incidentally a model 36 that I have had for several years. It has never fed hollow points reliably.
I also own Smith M&Ps, incluing a 45 though not the compact model. I personally prefer the M&P and do not find the trigger all that bad though it does take some time to get the feel for it.
The G 36 is not fun to shoot as it pinches the hell out of my pinkey, a common complaint. It does carry well though in relative comfort.
Try them both if you can.
I have both. I really like both. I feel the G36 carries better. I enjoy to shoot both, with the edge going to the G36.
I prefer the M&P grip over the Glocks as well as the trigger.
I have a couple of M&P .40s, which I prefer to the Glocks I had, so I'm sticking with M&P's, and the G36 is going as soon as I get a chance.
I think the M&P 45c is about the size of the G19, the G36 may measure out close, but feels more compact.
Either way, they are both good choices!
I prefer the M&P grip over the Glocks as well as the trigger.
I have a couple of M&P .40s, which I prefer to the Glocks I had, so I'm sticking with M&P's, and the G36 is going as soon as I get a chance.
I think the M&P 45c is about the size of the G19, the G36 may measure out close, but feels more compact.
Either way, they are both good choices!
I also agree with looking at adding the Apex DCAEK. I have a Glock 23 Gen 4 and I like it okay but I wanted an M&P that was about the same size and dimensions as the G23. S&W doesn't currently produce a 4" barrel variety M&P in the .40 S&W cal. so I figured I'd go with the M&P45c. I haven't been disappointed. I added the Apex trigger kit and switched the sites out with Trijicon Novak low mount sites and I am happy as a lark. There are some excellent instructional do it yourself videos on YouTube that show you step by step on how to do it. It took about 45 minutes to go through the whole process. If you go the M&P45c route you will be pleased.
Not to say the trigger kit is a must, but the Apex trigger kit sure cleans it up well.
Not to say the trigger kit is a must, but the Apex trigger kit sure cleans it up well.
walkin' trails
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The 45c is going to be a little larger than the G36, but it has a slightly longer barrel and two more rounds in the mag. Its probably more appropriate to compare it to a G19/23 or G30. The G36 is closer in comparison to an Officers' Model 1911. I believe the Glock is going to be a little thinner, too. I've fired a few 36s but never owned one. The newer pistols work as reliably as the rest of the Glock line. The first 36s on the market seemed more iffy. The 36 might conceal slightly better, but in the end, its boils down to your preference.
Probably going to come down to which one an individual is better able to shoot, and how well they like the ergonomics and overall "feel", I suppose.
While both are good quality examples of smallish .45's, the M&P does offer some interesting refinements and design improvements when it comes to plastic pistols.
In my last Glock armorer recert class, we were told the present purpose for the manufacturing facility in GA is to make Gen3 guns for export only. This is because Glock would like to expand its international sales (the US is its primary customer country last we were told), and there are some countries who won't import guns from Austria, but they will from the US.
Naturally, this might change at any time, and they didn't know at that time where the guns that are going to be built in the second GA facility are to be sold.
While both are good quality examples of smallish .45's, the M&P does offer some interesting refinements and design improvements when it comes to plastic pistols.
In my last Glock armorer recert class, we were told the present purpose for the manufacturing facility in GA is to make Gen3 guns for export only. This is because Glock would like to expand its international sales (the US is its primary customer country last we were told), and there are some countries who won't import guns from Austria, but they will from the US.
Naturally, this might change at any time, and they didn't know at that time where the guns that are going to be built in the second GA facility are to be sold.
great thread. I am also looking for a ccw 45. I have m&p's and glock's.
I was think about the G36. I like glock trigger. I like the m&p used land and groove barrels. I still have not made up my mind. I own a few glock and a few m&ps but not in a 45 compact.
Anyone got any pictures of both together.
thanks again
I was think about the G36. I like glock trigger. I like the m&p used land and groove barrels. I still have not made up my mind. I own a few glock and a few m&ps but not in a 45 compact.
Anyone got any pictures of both together.
thanks again
The Viking
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My G 36 is very light and kicks like a mule. Good for carry bad for shooting.
Knightrider03m
Member
I would go with the M&P. More rounds and its a little bit bigger (IMO) so you can control it better.
You are comparing a compact to a subcompact. The G30 is closer to an apples-to-apples comparison to the M&P 45C. The G36 has much more recoil than the M&P 45C. I've shot all three and the Glock kicks like a mule but I love mine and will probably never get rid of it as I shoot it accurately. These are three great pistols with which you cannot go wrong.
dallascj
US Veteran
I have aG36 and 2 M&P45C's. I like them both, but do not consider them to be interchangeable. The M&P works fine as a main carry gun, as others have said, about the size of a G19/23/32. The G36, to me, is a great backup, or as a quick grab and go when going to the store. I don't find the recoil to be bad with either gun, so I would recommend trying to rent both and see which you prefer.
snowman.45
Member
I've owned a number of G36's over the years. I recently bought an S&W M&P45c. I sold my G36 as a result. My trigger was good out of the box without modification. Shoots great, carries great, only very slightly larger and carries two more rounds. I'll keep the M&P (however, I still have all of my Glock 40's and 9's).
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