Your impressions Glock 21 v. M&P in .45ACP

JPriest

JPriest

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Hi guys,

I apologize if this has been covered before, but I did a search and spent about 10 minutes going through the results and did not find exactly what I was looking for.

I recently sold a Glock22 (.40 cal) with the idea of replacing it with a Glock21 in .45 ACP.

My lgs is out of the Glock, but they have a nice looking M&P in .45ACP that is beautifully done in flat dark earth with black slide. It is also very attractively priced, coming in well over $100 cheaper than what the G21 would be.

I'm not looking to stir things up with a what is better, Glock or M&P thread, but I am looking for impressions from those of you who have owned or used and shot both of these guns enough that you feel comfortable giving your impressions of both.

In particular I am looking to how they feel to you when shooting, did you like one better than the other, etc. Was there anything about one gun or the other that you really liked or something didn't and why.

I have fired the G21 several times and found it to be a lot easier to handle than the G22 - I just shoot better with it, which is why I sold my G22. I have not had a chance to fire the M&P. My lgs says they are getting a 9mm in a few weeks that members can try out, but I am looking for a .45.

Thanks,

JP
 
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Well, for me it comes down to ergonomics. I never made friends with the "Luger" grip angle comon to Glocks, and the model 21 grip feels to me like a piece of fencepost, which makes me slow shooting it. Give me all day and I can hit with it, but when I try to go fast---well...YMMV

I rejoiced when the M&Ps came out, and bought 3 of them.
 
Don't know how much help I will be but I recently shot a Glock 30sf and was blown away at how nice it was. I also had a Glock 22 that I sold (I hated it).
 
Thanks guys. Had one more queistion. Is there any size difference in the frame of the 9mm and .45ACP for the M&P?
 
The M&P won me over instantly with the ergonomics. The grip angle and grip shape are much more comfortable for me. Honestly, the Glock probably has a better trigger feel right out of the box. But the M&P wears in nice and there are immediate corrections available (Apex) if it really bother you. The newer ones are improved I hear.

My agency issues Glocks, but I was willing to buy my own M&P and leather to carry one.

I am an Armorer for both brands. Both are engineered well and dependable. It just comes down to which feels better in the hand, and for that the M&P won with me.
 
I have some pictures of my fs 9 next to my 45c if that will help you any. Can always take more if you're looking for something specific.

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
 
laskt9 said:
I have some pictures of my fs 9 next to my 45c if that will help you any. Can always take more if you're looking for something specific.

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

Thanks, those pics would be helpful.
 
Hmm not sure where they went. I have them both out what pics do you want?

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
 
I held a 21 the other day at a gun shop and I swear I've just gotten so spoiled with just how good my M&P feels. I rented the M&P 45 and it was a pleasure to shoot.

I just don't like the glock grip...
 
I went into my LGS to buy a G21. The guy saw I was a lefty and handed me the M&P & told me I could switch the mag release and it had the ambi-slide release too. Well obviously guess what I brought home. I liked the ergo's and southpaw friendliness of the Smith.

I have a 9c as well. Trigger break-in expected and not a big deal for me.


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laskt9 said:
Hmm not sure where they went. I have them both out what pics do you want?

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

Could you do one side by side from the rear, and one side view of both in the same shot? Thanks.
 
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They both have medium grips on them. The slide is basically the same size. Other than the 45c being a little shorter it feels the same in hand. I had forgotten about this thread after shooting my new 9c so I quickly snapped some

Edit: please excuse my hairy leg :p

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
 
I carried a Glock 21C as duty sidearm for 5 1/2 years from Jan. 2003 until July 2008.

Carry a S&W 45 ACP M&P starting in July 2008 until now.

Not a complaint against the Glock, the M&P just feels better to me.

Plus I have carried S&W sidearms since 1979 the vast majority of time.

It is all personal preference in my case.

I just feel better with a S&W at my side.
 
ToddS112 said:
The M&P won me over instantly with the ergonomics. The grip angle and grip shape are much more comfortable for me. Honestly, the Glock probably has a better trigger feel right out of the box. But the M&P wears in nice and there are immediate corrections available (Apex) if it really bother you. The newer ones are improved I hear.

My agency issues Glocks, but I was willing to buy my own M&P and leather to carry one.

I am an Armorer for both brands. Both are engineered well and dependable. It just comes down to which feels better in the hand, and for that the M&P won with me.
Click to expand...

I'm really considering adding a M&P 40c or 45 to go along with my Shield. How long does it take the trigger to "wear in" as you say?
 
I had both. The Glock was the 21sf and had a picatinny rail not the Glock rail. Nothing particularly wrong with the G gun, but the M&Pc just fit better. With the mag adapters I can use the larger M&P mags. I had always been a Colt Commander or Sig 220 45 ACP guy. Now it is the M&P and the Sig250c which are my go to .45 ACP pistols.
The M&P just has the right egronomics for me. I went out and got the full size M&P in 40/357 just cause they felt so good. The .357 barrel is the most accurate, but I still like putting out a large slug(flat point).
BUT, none of them will ever replace my BHP/940 combo for potential serious social encounters. They just conceal better, slightly more firepower, and decades of good shooting(s).
 
JPriest said:
Hi guys,

I apologize if this has been covered before, but I did a search and spent about 10 minutes going through the results and did not find exactly what I was looking for.

I recently sold a Glock22 (.40 cal) with the idea of replacing it with a Glock21 in .45 ACP.

My lgs is out of the Glock, but they have a nice looking M&P in .45ACP that is beautifully done in flat dark earth with black slide. It is also very attractively priced, coming in well over $100 cheaper than what the G21 would be.

I'm not looking to stir things up with a what is better, Glock or M&P thread, but I am looking for impressions from those of you who have owned or used and shot both of these guns enough that you feel comfortable giving your impressions of both.

In particular I am looking to how they feel to you when shooting, did you like one better than the other, etc. Was there anything about one gun or the other that you really liked or something didn't and why.

I have fired the G21 several times and found it to be a lot easier to handle than the G22 - I just shoot better with it, which is why I sold my G22. I have not had a chance to fire the M&P. My lgs says they are getting a 9mm in a few weeks that members can try out, but I am looking for a .45.

Thanks,

JP
Click to expand...

I think you are better off as the M&P 45 has a MUCH more comfortable grip than the Glock 21, even in the SF or the Gen 4 model.

You will find it very comfortable to shoot. It will work reliably with monotonous regularity. :)
 
Thanks everyone, I think I am pretty much ready to take the plunge and go with the M&P. I understand they come either with or without and external safety switch. I think I would prefer the later.
 
Tundra5.7 said:
I'm really considering adding a M&P 40c or 45 to go along with my Shield. How long does it take the trigger to "wear in" as you say?
Click to expand...

Depends on how rough it is in the first place. My full size was pretty gritty/notchy when new (3 years ago). It was noticeably smoother after 500 rounds or so. My Compact 45 was much better from new and great after a couple hundred rounds (built 12/12). My buddies shield 9mm was perfect in my eyes from the get go. My Compact 45 had a crazy heavy (almost 10lb!) trigger pull for some reason. I installed the Apex Sear and Ultimate Striker Block. I have a very smooth 5.5 lb pull now.

I understand the new production full size guns are getting the newer shield style trigger. They call it a "rolling upgrade" which means as the newer parts trickle in and the supply of old ones dries up they are coming out. No way to tell by serial number or anything.
 
Both are good pistols and I can't really say that one is better than the other. For me, the M&P was a better choice because of the ergonomics and because it conceals better. It is my daily carry pistol. I've had a G21 and a G21SF in the past, and probably have more rounds through the M&P than I put thru both Glocks together.
 
As you've read, both are excellent firearms with (I believe) no advantage functionally between the two. For most shooters, the M&P feels better in the hand (which only counts at the range). If it feels better, you may train more. One is in stock and cheaper. Your choice will be......... your choice. No downside I can see for buying the M&P.
 
If you don't like the stock M&P trigger, buy the APEX USB (the whole kit is nice but the USB is where the smooth's at).

I dumped my G21 for an M&P .45 (making it my 3rd M&P) and never looked back...
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I will be picking up my new M&P45 tomorrow. Can't wait. It's the flat dark earth version with 4.5" barrel. I'll post photos when I get it home.
 
I just sold a M&P45FS. The grip is Ok, but so is Glocks. The trigger was awful, not only was it gritty, it broke at a little over 7 pounds. Accuracy between the M&P and my Glocks is about equal. I can take any Glock completely apart in about 2 minutes using a nail. I can get it back together in about 3-4 minutes. You are not going to do that with a M&P, it has more parts, is more difficult to disassemble, and a lot more difficult to get back together, with several tiny finicky little springs that are easy to lose. I'll take the Glock. It is a proven simple design, with a decent trigger. With the M&P you are going to spend $100 getting a trigger that is standard on Glock. However, to each his own. A lot of people like M&Ps.
 
I'll probably end up with both, but my lgs is saying it will be a couple of months before they can get any of the Glocks in.
 
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