Posted on 04/08/2009 3:01:19 PM PDT by Choose Ye This Day
I'm finally buying a handgun this week, after a long time wanting one, my wife finally relented.
I know I want a 9mm. (No, I don't want anything bigger than that.) It's mostly for target shooting, and to have around the house, not for concealed carry.
The two I'm interested in are the Glock and the Springfield Armory XD-M. I'm torn between the two.
Those that know handguns far better than I do...which would you choose, and why?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Go to a gun shop with a range and test them both. It comes down to your preference. Check out the H&K USP too.
Reliability, simplicity, durability....it’s Glock for me.
Shoot them if possible, and more than one round. You might find, like I did, that while the Glock name brand sounds good, it don’t feel good in your hand after a few rounds. Their grips are just too big imo.
In my hands, the XD-m shot better; the Glock fits fine, just more accurate with the XD-m.
That said, I bought a Glock (G17) since I have this handy little folding carbine (Kel Tec SUB 2000) that takes Glock mags...
For target shooting I’d opt for the Springfield as long as you opt for adjustable sights, which are not available on the stock Glocks. Glocks are easier to field strip and clean, though. Find a place to try them both out and believe me, you’ll know.
How you like that little guy? I keep thinking of buying one for a stow away in my car.
Get yore-self to a range that rents both and put a couple hundred rounds through each.
Check out the Beretta PX4 storm also. Just got one and I am in love with it. There’s a compact model as well.
The only thing that I would add....
Handle the guns first. I had pretty much determined I was going to buy a Sig p226 and I walked out of the store with an HKP30 on order as the one in store was already sold. You really need to hold these things to determine what you like.
The Glocks and Springfields are both fine weapons. There’s a huge waiting list on Glocks at the places I frequent in NJ.
If I were you, just keep an open mind. Pretty much any handgun that runs $500 bills or more isn’t going to be a piece of garbage so get the one you like, specially if it’s your “one shot” approval from the wife.
As far as I’ve been able to tell, none of the gun shops around here have a range. I fired the Glock last week, and it felt a bit awkward in my hands, and I consistently shot low and to the left with it.
I haven’t yet shot the XD-M, but it felt pretty good in my grip (I have big hands).
Is it more an issue, then, of which feels better? Because each salesman was extolling the virtues of his favorite weapon—referring to the construction and design. It left me rather confused.
I own a springfield XD-40, a prior model to the XD-M. I chose it after shooting a number of guns including a Beretta PX4 in .40, a Sig 226 in .40 and the Glock full frame and compact in .40. I chose the XD just because it seemed to fit my hand better for whatever reason. I like everything about Glocks - I like their durability, I like the fact that there are bazillions of them in service so finding parts is no problem, I am reasonably accurate with them, I just don’t like shooting them. I also like some of the safety features the XD has, like the grip safety and the loaded chamber indicator.
I’m sure you’re going to hear this a lot, but go out and shoot them. Shoot them some more. Shoot other guns. Then pick the one you like. The best gun is the gun you are going to feel comfortable enough to train with religiously.
Glocks and XD’s are very similar in form and function and both enjoy good reputations for reliability. I might give an edge to the XD for its ergonomics, but that’s subjective. If you have an opportunity to check out any CZ pistols (75 or P-01) I’d give them a look too (I have the latter and I’m in love with it). Shoot safe.
Buy whichever is in stock. :)
Seriously, hold each one and see which one "fits" better. If you can shoot it, so much the better.
Other than that some like the XD because it has multiple safties. Some like the Glock because it doesn't have multiple safties. For a house gun either would be fine. Just get the full size. No need to go compact in this case.
I should qualify that - there IS a Glock target pistol, model 34, with adjustable sights out of the box. Haven’t shot it, but I do own two other Glocks, one of which, the 19, is acceptably accurate and the other, the 22, is simply amazing. That said, I’d still favor the Springfield by just a little. YMMV.
I also opted for XD-m due to the grip size and comfort.
Gotta Grock AND gotta an XD9 3” compact carry.
Get the one that fits your hand the best. If it feels like a glove, go with it. You need to look at other handguns IMHO. Buy a bunch of em!
Why limit yourself to only one of them? ;-)
Get both.
;-)
in a year you’ll be looking for a Howitzer
Some gun ranges allow you to test them out or rent them.
Springfield is newer technology. I am going to be looking more closely at one. I have tried Glocks before and I was not crazy about it but that maybe just me. Many people love them.
The Glock is very simple, rugged and will last forever. It has this two piece trigger which some people love and some do not. Very simple. They have little plastic trigger clips because a few cops discharged them for some reason by mistake. I think the XD-M has a more standard safety.
Accuracy? I think the Glocks are ok but not great. I think who need to use a stronger grip. The Glock’s polymer body in racking the slide takes getting used to. I prefer a metal gun like a Beretta F92 or my old Ruger P85 when I rack the slide when inserting a new clip.
I probably would give the nod to the XD-M based on my preference. The Glock’s “will last forever” simplicity may be very desirable if things get bad.
Any guys here know anything that ever breaks or needs replacing on a Glock? Firing pins or springs?
Grip size between the two guns will be the determining factor.
I like thin grips but many pistols currently have really fat grips and they are quite uncomfortable to me.
Smith&Wesson M&P .40 cal
With my hands, going compact isn’t even an option. They’re both in stock at Cabela’s right now. Unfortunately, there’s no ammo in stock. :o(
It’s not ME limiting myself to one. It’s the wife and the family budget.
But I get the feeling guns are very much like Lay’s potato chips.
You can’t have just one.
I saw a Dirty Harry Magnum at Cabela’s. It LOOKED like a Howitzer.
Was the XD-m a short carry? I was not crazy about Glock accuracy. My old Ruger P85 is about the same. The Beretta FS 92, Sigs and a CZ-75 are istols by comparison by the FS 92 has a long barrel.
how is the accuracy on your Kel Tec SUB 2000. Also the durability. Kel Tec makes some neat little guns. Ruger also has a new carry 9 mm with 15+ capacity and a good price.
Thanks.
You can't stop at only one.
GMTA.
I own 5 Springfield XD9 Tacticals (courtesy of the NRA for our college marksmanship program) and have shot several Glocks. My suggestion is to get a Browning Hi-Power. Better gun all around. Plastic pistols are cheaper (and the XDs are EZ to clean, and I should know), but you’ll be happier with a Browning. I don’t dislike the XDs, but Browning’s are better. Better accuracy, pretty easy to clean (not as EZ as an XD), lot’s of aftermarket parts. Yeah they cost a bit more.
You like tha PX4 Storm? My list is probably the PX4 Storm or the XD-M. I like Berettas. The company has been in business since about 1534 AD! Has to be one of the oldest companies in the world.
Common with Glocks supposedly due to the trigger.
Personally I think it's grip because a shot analysis target says "jerking or tightening fingers". Well since the Glock grip is larger you feel like you have to grip it harder to hold on to it.
The remedy is what the salesman said, "you'll get used to it" or usually "practice practice practice"
If it all comes down to grip size, I’m going with the XD-M. It was more expensive, but it felt much better to me.
I just didn’t know if the grip was the main factor I should be considering.
....looking at it can be a deterrent
Yup. :o)
You win with either one both the glock and xd are good quality rigs, follow the advice of initial posters. Go rent one at a local range or take a friend that is willing to let you shoot their xd or Glock.
YOU have to like the firearm, be able to make accurate hits and be comfortable carrying it . Spend a day wearing it in your home to see what I mean by sharp edges, poor holster selection , weight , size etc ........
I carry the Glock 19 at times and love it. I do not own a XD so will not say anything other than my trusted friends that have one love em !
As well look at the SIG 239. This is a very very good CHL rig. I highly recommend you look at the SIG 239 in 9MM.
http://lundestudio.com/wallpaper/p239-9-left-full-hi.jpg
I sure wouldn’t want to be on the wrong end of one.
Unfortunately, the SIG is simply out of my price range.
It’s down to the Glock or the XD-M.
Sig 226 (not on your list, but should be).
I have a Glock model 19 9MM and a Springfield XD .45 and hands down I like the XD more. In my part of the country the prices are close to the same.
My XD will hold 13 in the mag also and I have small hands and the grips fit my hand perfectly.
Is the CZ-75 almost a target pistol like a Beretta FS 92 or a SIG? You used to be able to get them pretty inexpensively after the wall came down but they are not so cheap now. good stuff.
If you had to live in a commie country (before the wall came down) - Czech Republic would have been probably better than today in most of California, eastern Michigan, NY or NJ. The Czech’s (even under communism) made good guns & beer plus the women are HOT. ;-)
Smith & Wesson model 36 with a fedora and a cigar.
I hate these Chevy vs. Ford threads.
Just buy plenty of ammo soon before it is all priced out of reach.
The other thing I liked about the XD-M in 9mm is that it holds 19 in a clip. The Glock holds 17.
That’s going to be one of my big problems. All the ammo is gone around here.
But I wonder if Glocks are more durable in the long run...
Disturbed mother kills son, self at shooting range
Article from: NEWS.com.au
By staff writers and wires
April 09, 2009 06:40am
* Woman thinks she’s the anti-Christ; kills son
* Turns gun on herself at shooting range
A DERANGED mother has held a gun to her unsuspecting son’s head at a shooting range and pulled the trigger. The woman killed him before turning the gun on herself.
Marie Moore, 44, who thought she was the anti-Christ, took her 20-year-old son Mitchell to the Shoot Straight range in Casselberry, Florida, for what he thought was an afternoon’s firing practice, The Sun reports.
Moore apologised several times in a series of recordings and suicide notes left for her boyfriend and police and said repeatedly: “I had to send my son to heaven and myself to Hell.”
The Associated Press reports police as saying today they still had no motive for the murder-suicide that shocked fellow customers and employees at the Shoot Straight range in Casselberry, about 16km north of Orlando, on Sunday.
“We have no clue. I don’t even want to begin to speculate,” said Deputy Chief Bill McNeil of the Casselberry Police Department.
Read the full report here
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25312437-5012748,00.html
OOPs. Reversed.
Interesting. No kB’s reported in the 9mm Glocks...
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