Will it be Glock or Smith & Wesson M&P?

[TinyDee]

Just read an interesting article about who will, if anyone, take over, at some point, from Glock with Police? Most think the S&W M&P will be the likely survivor. Of course Glock has a long way to go to lose the police contracts it now has. Wadda you think?

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

Glock has been around for many years. However, there has been a great surge from manufactures in the ergonomics and advancements in designs. Many of the Police Departments are gearing toward other manufactures. The M&P had some design defects but has been corrected. There are pros and cons on each manufactured gun. Before you buy, research each gun or if you can rent and shoot that would be even better. As for me, I own and carry a Springfield .40 XD 4 inch for my concealed carry. I practice and practice so the gun is like a glove in my hand and can shoot where I aim. I enhance my skills with advance tactical courses from reputable shooting academies. Each person has his or her's likes on a gun but don't be mislead from relying on someone's word. Remember, for a quality gun, the price will be higher.
Nick

 

[M&P777]

Unless Glock develops some kind of QC problem in the future, I wouldn't bet against the company. The M&P is excellent, but its track record is still about 30 years behind the first Glock. I own both and prefer the grip on the M&P, but if I were reduced to just one polymer-framed pistol, it would be the Glock because of its much longer reliability record.

Glock's recent frame/slide modifications indicate the company is not sitting on its laurels. I hope both companies thrive well into the future.

 

[presspics]

Glock has had a lot of bad PR lately. The problems with the .40 are legendary, the failures of the Glock 19 with the NYPD are huge. The "redesign" of the grip texture and slide serrations are simply cosmetic. If anything it proves that Glock is resting on it's laurels. Glock is at the top but is falling from grace. Many many departments have switched or are in the process of switching to the M&P pistol. With the latest versions of the M&P it has finally worked out all of the bugs that plagued the early guns. In my opinion the M&P has finally been perfected.

 

[RobG5589]

Glock is not going away. They sell at a low price, have great reliabilty, and tons of support. I personally do not like the grip so I do not own a Glock but, I can respect a weapon like Glock produces.

 

[fastgun1962]

Glock Glock And More Glock LOL

 

[biglew0923]

I carry the Glock as a primary for work. It is a good weapon. The grip is different, but once you get used to it, it is no big deal. I love the M&P's and would rather have one to be honest. However, with the Gen. 4 the Glock just introduced, it is a different ballgame (to me anyway). I like the fact Glock has finally put an adjustable back strap on the pistol, very good. I am 6'6" and don't have any problems with the Glock, but the 5'4" female deputy beside me is going to have issues with the grip. I know there are many other features Glock has changed with the gen. 4, but that is the biggest deal for me. Make the gun fit the shooter, not the shooter to fit the gun. Both are very reliable weapons and would carry either for protection.

 

[kscardsfan]

I think Glock will have the strong hold for now. But a lot of guys who started their careers with a smith wheel gun in their holsters are in charge of T&E and procurement for new equipment, including sidearms. We are seeing more and more agencies switch over to the M&P series, but a lot of agencies just made the switch to glock within the last 5 to 10 years so it's not going to transistion right away. Smith and Glock both have the right idea with no decockers, safties, etc to train with. Less things to teach, better gun to issue. I saw too many people on my range screw up with the sig P series and I think if they had just pushed them into their holsters like a glock instead of having to "work the process" they would've been much better off. I personally witnessed 2 ND's using sig's: one into the railroad ties that made up the protective wall for the target system; and one over the berm off into space and god knows where.

 

[ken158]

Glock "took over" many years ago. Nobody can beat their department prices and they will trade back to update guns. Money talks at budget time and frequently low bid is gonna win out. A dept can send a box full of bad mags to Glock and receive new mags in return at no cost. They will do whatever it takes to get any other gun out of a dept and get themselves in.

 

[Fastbolt]

A lot of firearms enthusiasts aren't old enough to remember the slow start Glock had when it was first being imported into the US. Some firearms instructors may have been at it long enough to remember some experiences from the late 80's. (Anybody else have a copy of the FBI report from their FTU about Semiautomatic Pistols dated from 1987-1988?) Glock had their own teething problems in the early years. Glock also failed the DHS testing several years ago, too.

Anyway, the market is Glock's to lose, so to speak, much as it was S&W's to lose when the M39/59's seemed to dominate the LE field when revolvers were being phased out as service weapons.

I suspect we'll continue to see Glock losing market share as the other manufacturers are recognizing, embracing and responding to the civilian LE market's apparent desire for plastic-framed service weapons.

I suspect the newest S&W, Sig & Beretta plastic service pistol designs will start to accelerate the erosion of Glock's position.

Springfield may finally get some momentum going in the civilian LE field, too. They aren't exactly aggressive in this regard, for whatever reason.

HK would do better if they didn't hold their point so high. Sometimes it all comes down to bid/costs.

Some of the other larger companies seem to be focusing on the commercial market instead of the LE/Gov market, at least for the time being (Taurus, Ruger & FN, for example).

Walther seems to have its attention directed toward LE/Gov customers located outside the US, although their 99 series is a good one worthy of attention. Who knows what they have in mind?

These things seem to ebb & flow in cycles, you know.

I wouldn't look for a clear cut "winner" when it comes to future dominance, but more of an ordering of the various big names as the plastic pistol concept continues to make itself known.

Now, if the US military ever shifts away from the metal-framed Beretta, then we might see some scrambling ... (although I'd think we'd see the mainstay of the combat small arms addressed first, meaning the rifle/carbine inventory, which is as it should be considering how long the M16/M4 has been in our inventory). I wouldn't hold my breath for any movement for general military sidearm changes any time soon.

An announcement for new DHS and FBI submissions & testing might stir things up again, too.

 

[Andy Griffith]

It will all rest on who can influence the politics involved in getting contracts, period.

 

[GyMac]

Glock "took over" many years ago. Nobody can beat their department prices and they will trade back to update guns. Money talks at budget time and frequently low bid is gonna win out. A dept can send a box full of bad mags to Glock and receive new mags in return at no cost. They will do whatever it takes to get any other gun out of a dept and get themselves in.

I agree with this. All else being equal, money rules. I started out with revolvers, went to the 1911, came to accept DA autos like the SIG and Beretta, but now have come to fully appreciate the Glock and S&W M&P, although I own neither. As I posted today on the sub-forum for the M&P, it's hard to imagine why you need anything else. I'm glad that S&W is producing such a fine weapon.
Chris

 

[mlk18]

Glock has a cult-like following and those who love the Glock tend to worship at Gaston's alter. But the reality is that few of those people are responsible for purchasing handguns for law enforcement agencies. Secondarily I have noticed lately the Glock LE sales people have become S&W LE sales people, Glock LE distributors have become S&W LE distributors, etc., etc., etc. This does not mean that S&W has won the war of the duty gun, but it clearly demonstrates the erosion of Glock's market share. Especially for those of us who remember when Glock did the same thing to S&W and Beretta. Shoes on the other foot now.

Glock's Gen 4 line has been a failure. They have had to redesign the recoil assemblies and have had a lot of PD's return their Gen 4's. I know of a LE distributor who stopped selling the Gen 4's because of so many complaints. Glock confirmed this, per se, when they announced that they will not stop producing the 3rd Gen guns. Clearly in the hopes of not having disappointment turn to trying out a M&P, PX4 or P250. There was a time that there really wasn't a comparable equivalent to Glock, now there are a few and some of them offer better ergonomics and equal reliability. Glock will not go away, but I don't think they will be king of the hill too much longer.

 

[leejack]

I read that thread too, over at the firingline.

Little by little, the American made Smiths are coming back!

Glock will not go away, but they will lose ground every day (kinda breaks my heart).

Go Smith, Go Ruger, Go America!

Lee

 

[ladder13]

Westchester County PD here in NY, some 250 strong, just got rid of their Blocks for the M&P.

 

[leejack]

Westchester County PD here in NY, some 250 strong, just got rid of their Blocks for the M&P.

Yes!

Lee

 

[novalty]

I have shot a Glock and a couple M&P's both functioned and fired fine for me. The only differences I noted, were with the Glock I had to cover the POI with the muzzle, didn't really seem like it was a directed towards the front sight, but my grouping was great. I do like the adjustable backstrap feature of the M&P, but where Glock is doing this now, it really seems a moot point. I am sure Glock stands behind their guns as well, but I have experience exceptional customer service with S&W. These guns are in such high production, that making the decision without going out and getting a feel for them is not warranted. Not like trying to decide between a 3rd Gen and a Glock, where you might have trouble finding a 3rd Gen to handle and test.

I am still no Glock fan, and people that love them have reason to do so, but I am still not a fan of the look. Probably stupid for thinking this way, but I think the gun should be somewhat visually appealing as well, and the Glock just doesn't do it for me.

 

[32sgteot]

I know this is a Smith Website so I know what to expect. But, carrying a Service weapon 28 years now, not in an office, not in a specialized unit, on patrol. Would never want to trust anything other than Glock. They just work, no matter how many haters there are, There is no denying they work.

 

[leejack]

Would never want to trust anything other than Glock. They just work, no matter how many haters there are, There is no denying they work.

Arrogant statements like that from glock owners are what turn off many people in my opinion. It's not the gun, it's the owners.

I am "very much" pro cop, but I couldn't care less what gun the police use, shoot, like or dislike.

I have @ 40 years experience and I shoot often, very often. Not just 100 or 200 round a year to stay qualified as some do.

I do not deny that glocks work; they do. However, in my lifetime, I've never had a failure from my American made Smiths or Rugers; so yes, I would/do trust my life to something other than a glock.

Again, I think glocks are very good reliable guns for sure, no denying that. I just choose something else for me.

Lee

 

[32sgteot]

Originally Posted by ladder13
Westchester County PD here in NY, some 250 strong, just got rid of their Blocks for the M&P.

Yes!

Lee

You're accusing me of being arrogant. Kinda like the pot and kettle thing, with your above posting, don't ya think.. Again, I know it's a Smith site. Carried a model 10 first 20 years on patrol, trusted my life to it, but now I feel Glock is superior.