Thanks in advance for your help.
Beginners should start with NRA Certified trainingI would recommend training
from an NRA Certified Instructor inRefuse to be a victim
NRA training for women
Basic pistol
Personal protection in the home
and the newly released
Personal protection outside the home
NRA Gun Safety Rules
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use
I would go shoot both models to see which one fits your hand the best. Provided you have a gon shop with a range nearby.
Otherwise, the Glock gets my vote
Bookmarked for later reading...I’m also looking to purchase one soon (in .40 caliber).
I recently bought my first pistol (through gunbroker.com).
The choice: a 9mm Glock 19 (compact version).
One of the reasons for the choice was to be sure my wife (and daughters) would be comfortable with the size and recoil of the weapon. The wife was fine with my getting one (I bought it as my birthday gift to myself)... her only request, if I was going to get one, was that I help her learn to use and be comfortable with it.
Mission accomplished.
“THAT WAS FUN!”, she says, after our first outing with a few dozen rounds. Honestly, the recoil wasn’t nearly as harsh as I feared.
OTOH, her comment about the 1000 rounds of ammo that arrived before the pistol was: “They’re shiny.”
Sure, honey. Shiny. But also deadly.
Enjoy your new handgun.
If you’re new to handguns, don’t get a Glock. Even the FBI recognized that they were prone to accidental discharge. When you read about accidental shootings (Plaxio Burris, Boston subway, etc...) its usually a Glock. Also, you have to squeeze the trigger before you can disassemble to clean, and many people (police included) have accidentally shot themselves or someone else because of that.
Between your two choices, Glock or XD, get the XD. But, know that there are excellent options besides these two. A few of the posts here mentioned my favorite, the Beretta PX4 Storm. The fit in your hand is fantastic. Shoots like a dream. Accurate as the dickens and super easy to disassemble and clean.
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There are far more Glocks on the street than XDs or whatever. If there is ever a complete breakdown of society and you suddenly can’t buy parts and accessories through a gun store, you will have many more options with a Glock platform.
Also, do a google-video or youtube search for “glock torture test” and see how many videos you come up with. Now try that for any other weapon. Thats why I bought a Glock 17.
Were the choice mine, I would opt for a .45 ACP.
Not much more kick than a 9mm, nice action, ergonomic, easy to handle, and good stopping power. It is a fun sidearm to practice firing on the range.
Short of that, I’d go Glock.
A.A.C.
I’d bet that a S&W M&P 9 would fit your hand better.
Either is a fine weapon. More important than which weapon is how much you will practice with it and how capable you are of using it if you ever need to save your life.
That said, if I’m not mistaken the Glock has a standard 15 round magazine. the Springfield XD-M has a 18 round magazine. You may need those three rounds some day.
I initialy liked the idea of the grip safety on the XD. Then heard more about the XDM. I have large hands, and the XDM felt good (has three different handle grip sizes).
I got the XDM .40. Points real nice for me. First time with a handgun and from 15 yards to 25 yards got two magazines (32 shots) all in a 10”x10” circle on a sheet of newspaper out in the woods. Later found out I should have started out closer! But, the local range said you have to be able to hit a 2’ x 2’ target at 25 yards and I didn’t know if I would be able to or not.
Lots of information at a site called www.xdtalk.com
Obviously very pro XD, but some talk on failures, etc. In general it seems that the failures have been related to poor technique, etc. (Lots of pistol newbies - like me). Also, lots of guys with both Glocks and XD’s (and other stuff).
The Glock is more resilient, more time tested and has more corporate support for gun owners.
Extra magazines for the Glock are more prevalent and cheaper...much much cheaper...holsters are more available.
Im sticking with my Glock 19 and my walther P99
If you want to shoot reloads, then go for the XD...it has a supported chamber, which the Glock does not.
These days, however, it does seem easier to find an XD on the shelves than a new Glock..so if you want to get one now, and can’t wait..you won’t lose if you opt for the new NEWER NEWEST variant called the XDM you won’t come up short..just get as many of the extra 19 round magazines as you can.