Been considering getting a gun lately. Opinions and input requested.

GENERAL Off-Topic
1

Well, it has come time to invest in a firearm for various purposes. Home/personal defense (will explain why, shortly) and recreational shooting.

I’ve been wanting to get a sub compact for it’s ease of concealment, so I’ve narrowed my choices down to the following:

Glock 27
http://www.glock.com/english/glock27.htm

or

Springfield Armory XD40 Sub compact
http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php?model=2

I am personally fond of the fact that both shoot .40 S&W rounds, which have decent stopping power, and is fairly inexpensive to shoot.

Here is where I’m a bit torn on either gun, considering that, on paper, they are both fairly similar in terms of overall “out of the box” performance. At the local gun store, I had a chance to hold both. I personally preferred the grip of the XD. Even in subcompact form, it felt very natural. The Glock 27, not so much. Just holding it out of the case, it felt awkward, and the really short grip kind of bothered me. It was alleviated when the salesman showed me one of the magazines with the pinky grip. At that point, the gun felt a little more comfortable. But, I was still a little unhappy with the grip angle, in comparison to the overall size of the gun. Which, is noticeably smaller than the XD.

My friend has a full size Glock 22 Gen 4, which has the same grip angle, etc. but since his gun is a full size, not a subcompact, it feels very good. I actually love his gun. I’ve yet to go to the range with him and use it. But holding it, and teaching him how to field strip it, was really nice. If I were in the market for a full size, I’d get the 22, and never look back.

Another thing, I didn’t care for the factory sights of the XD. They aren’t bad, but I much preferred the seemingly faster sights of the Glock. Sights can be swapped fairly easily, I understand. But, I’ve heard from a few friends and a family friend who is a gunsmith for a living, say that the XDs can be a bit of a pain to install sights in. He said some are tough, some are easy. Whereas, he claims he can do a Glock really easily, every time.

Also, I’ve seen videos and read a lot of reviews saying that the recoil springs in the newer Glocks have had a high failure rate. I even read about a voluntary spring swap that Glock offered for most Gen 4 model pistols. So, this is a bit of a turn off. But, I imagine this isn’t an issue anymore being that the “voluntary swap” was over a year ago. I can assume it was taken care of then, and all production models after that time, came with the better setup to begin with.

So, my friends, has anyone on here fired both, or own(ed) both? So as to provide personal impressions of the two.

I’m not new to guns, but I don’t consider myself a professional by any right. The place I would be buying from also offers numerous classes from beginners all the way up to advanced tactics for personal defense. So, I’ll be attending some classes to improve my knowledge and skill. Especially, if needed in an emergency situation.

2

Whatever happened to our gun thread?

I strongly suggest that you look at the M&P 40c as well. The new M&P Shield is smaller than all the guns mentioned so far and is supposed to have the best trigger by far in the M&P series.

If you are going to actually carry your gun, or even have it around for home defense, I very strongly recommend that you look into doing something like IDPA or IPSC or something.

3

If you like the g22 except its size, try a g23. :slight_smile:

4

I carry a compact 40 Cal every day. Mine has serious kick to it and is loud as hell. At least I know if I don’t hit what ever I am shooting at, they will hear it and see a serious muzzle flash. It sounds like you have done your homework. You should go to a gun show and hold both and see which one you like best. If You buy one and decide that you don’t like it, trade it in at a gun shop and buy something else.

5

Jake, I’m also in the market for a new compact as my .380 bodyguard makes me nervous. I’m torn between Glock 27 and the new M&P Shield .40
I haven’t yet handled the Shield, but its appealing to me because it has an external safety and of course shoots .40
I like to look and feel of the XD too. Nice narrow profile.
Good luck on your search.

6

I’m confused on why one of your choices is a Glock, yet you like another striker fired gun because it has a safety. Care to explain your thinking?

7

I love glocks, loved my gen 4 22 9mm. So, if I wanted a compact glock I would go with the 27 naturally. But if I’m wearing an in-the-pants holster, I would feel more comfortable to have an external safety. If I carried the 27 I would wear an outside-the-pants holster with a baggy shirt. I carry my bodyguard in my back pocket in a soft wallet holster. It’s nice, but I’d prefer a little more power than a .380

8

Glock 22 is not a 9mm.

9

Don’t get caught up in what caliber has this or that “stopping power”, a .22 has stopping power if you shoot someone in the right spot. Just learn to shoot whatever you get. Personally, I’d get a Ruger LCP .380.

10

Zimmerman proved one shot from a 9mm has pretty damn decent stopping power. Just sayin’.

11

:werd:

12

Why do you prefer a safety for IWB and not OWB? I still don’t understand your thinking.

13

I picked up the XD .40 - Love it!

14

I liked the XD 40c that I got to shoot. Good pick.

15

derp/ I meant 17

16

What a better way to spend Memorial Day than shooting guns? :rockon:

I’ve got some pics and vids on my phone that I’ll try to upload later. But, a few friends and I went out and shot for a couple hours today.

My friend Mike brought his Glock 22 Gen 4 (Full size pistol, .40 S&W), and his friend Carter brought out 3 toys to play with as well. He brought out 2 different XDs and an AR-15 :up:

I hadn’t shot a rifle since I was younger. I believe I was around 13 or 14. So, it’s been about 13-14 years. Anyway, I had a blast with the AR. I was fairly good with rifles when I was a kid, mostly shooting .22, .270, and .308. This was a nice change of pace, as all previous rifles I ever shot were bolt action hunting/sport rifles. It was nice to shoot a semi auto rifle. I managed to hit a 20oz Gatorade bottle at about 60 yards, first shot, with only iron sights. Even the owner of the rifle couldn’t hit it. I was a bit surprised, myself.

Anyway, after firing the Glock, and both XDs (one was a full size XDM 45, and the other was a 9mm sub compact) I believe I am officially sold on the XD. It felt more natural when firing, and I personally found better accuracy with it. Even after switching back to the Glock, I still had substantially better grouping with the XDs.

I will be investing in a Springfield Armory XD40 subcompact as soon as the funds allow. :rockon:

17

Sweet!

18

Yeah, I had a great time, today. I can’t wait to go back and hit the range again. Next time, I’ll hopefully have my own. :slight_smile:

19

Did you mention if this will be your first gun or not? I forgot.

20

I think I did, but yeah, this would be my first gun.