Well Ifinally got some time to go to the range and do a back to back shooting comparison between a Gen 4 Glock 17 ( big thanks to @EugeneFJR for loaning the gun to me!!) and an M&P 9 to determine which gun "platform" I would be choosing as my primary pistol. The M&P 9 is a Performance Center model, but this was more about feel in the hand and "natural" accuracy of the guns pictured below...
I went to GA Firing Line for me "test". I put 100 rounds of Federal red box 9mm through each gun to familiarize myself with each as I have very,very little experience with each gun.
Once that was done, I put another 50 rounds through each gun in a very short "reliability" test. The rounds came out of my dump box which is filled with all types of random 9mm ammo...everything from aluminum cased Federal to Hornady Critical Duty. Neither gun had any malfunctions with the rainbow loaded mags.
I then did a few speed tests in which I fired ten rounds through each gun as fast as I could back to back to see which I was best with. The best results are below :
Glock
M&P 9
Then I did an accuracy test in which I did 4 shots through each gun back to back trying to be as "accurate" as possible. Yeah, I know I'm not the best shot ever.
Glock
M&P 9 ( ignore the far left shot...)
No matter what I did I seemed to shoot the G17 left of PoA. I do like the way the G17 fills my hand but the odd grip angle was noticeable as I presented the gun for fire. Much of my pistol experience is with 1911s and HKs and the M&P 9 is nearly identical as far as grip angle is concerned.
Both pistols are excellent guns that will likely never let the user down...but for me when I consider cost, feel, and my shooting abilities I am going to go with the American Smith and Wesson M&P 9 series of guns.
I went to GA Firing Line for me "test". I put 100 rounds of Federal red box 9mm through each gun to familiarize myself with each as I have very,very little experience with each gun.
Once that was done, I put another 50 rounds through each gun in a very short "reliability" test. The rounds came out of my dump box which is filled with all types of random 9mm ammo...everything from aluminum cased Federal to Hornady Critical Duty. Neither gun had any malfunctions with the rainbow loaded mags.
I then did a few speed tests in which I fired ten rounds through each gun as fast as I could back to back to see which I was best with. The best results are below :
Glock
M&P 9
Then I did an accuracy test in which I did 4 shots through each gun back to back trying to be as "accurate" as possible. Yeah, I know I'm not the best shot ever.
Glock
M&P 9 ( ignore the far left shot...)
No matter what I did I seemed to shoot the G17 left of PoA. I do like the way the G17 fills my hand but the odd grip angle was noticeable as I presented the gun for fire. Much of my pistol experience is with 1911s and HKs and the M&P 9 is nearly identical as far as grip angle is concerned.
Both pistols are excellent guns that will likely never let the user down...but for me when I consider cost, feel, and my shooting abilities I am going to go with the American Smith and Wesson M&P 9 series of guns.