Im looking for the pro’s and cons of each. Ive decided i want a .45 caliber fighting pistol and have narrowed it down to the two of these based on price, capacity, and reliability. Im trying to decide between the two of them. Ive held both and they point and feel great for me. Which one is more durable? more accurate? right now im sorta leaning the direction of the M&P 45 because its a tad smaller, and American made.
Cheers!
At this stage I would opt for the G21SF but only get the model with the Glock rail and regular (right handed) mag release. They’ve stopped making the Pic rail/ambi-mag release version but there are still a lot floating around.
The reason I would choose the G21SF is mostly due to the consistant trigger pull and crisp reset. Just about every M&P trigger that I’ve felt/used is different and they still lack a strong & crisp reset.
The trigger on the M&P is more tunable but it will cost you a significant amount of money (shipping, sear, gunsmith). By contrast you can swap out connectors for trigger springs on the Glock yourself in a matter of minutes for less than $30 for the parts.
Also, parts, accessories and holsters are easier to find for the Glock but that gap is narrowing.
Either way I think you’ll be more than happy with either one. These are just the reasons why I would choose the G21SF over the M&P at this point in time.
I like both platforms, but the 21 SF gets the nod because of the trigger.
I am a big Glock fan, but I really like the way the M&P feels in the hand. You also can’t go wrong with Smith’s customer service.
I concur with M4arc’s comments and recommendations. I’m not sure if Glock has made any public announcement of it, but they have just made available a RTF2 version of the G21SF; I’ve long contended that the biggest beneficiaries of the RTF treatment would be the large-frame Glocks. That would be the one I’d recommend (but it’s not as if there’s a bad choice to be made between the Glock or M&P platforms that are being considered).
Best, Jon
Both Great guns… Not sure you can go wrong. I like the capacity of the 21 with
I do like the way the M&P FEELS over the21 Hate the trigger
Although the Mass compliant parts do help.
I can’t really say anything bad about the S&W, especially since I love my MP15T from them…
BUT…
I’ve never had/saw/shot a GLOCK I didn’t like…
I also never shot the M&P Pistols, but have handled them several times in the stores…
thanks for all the replies guys. i think ive been swayed towards the glock. the trigger on the smith was the thing i hated about it, the trigger seemed really squishy and kinda long. So between the trigger, ease of making the trigger better, and higher capacity, it sounds like the glock is the way to go.
The 21 is fitting for the occasion any way… Ill be buying a glock 21 on my 21st birthday 
I too would go for the Glock. However mine happens to be on the chopping block at the moment.
I’m not very fond of the gun. But having shot M&P’s, I’ll take the Glock.
Going to resurrect this thread from the dead as time has gone by and S&W has changed up the parts some.
What are the current opinions?
Still M&P.
old post…
I was on the same road few months ago. The M&P 9 feels better in my hand, but I shoot the glock better. Then I rented a m&p45 and I dont know why, it might be because my skinny hands but I control better the glock, so I got the glock 21 gen4 and switched the m&p 9 for a g34 gen4.
both are great guns, I have read many many positive reviews about the m&p45, the downside is only hold 10 rounds but it is thin… on the other hand the glock 21 is bigggggg but it holds 13 rounds…
Mi not sure what it is, but my Gen3 21 is easily the most accurate pistol I own, and I have quite a few. It’s eerie how this thing shoots. And the soft recoil is just icing on the cake. It’s pretty bulky, but there is no doubt I’d choose a G21 every time. The Smith might feel better, but we’re not talking about seats in your car. You won’t have your hand on it all day, so the comfort of a grip while its in your holster or on the nightstand is a silly criteria.
I voted for the G21 due to the trigger
M&P with a Apex trigger is phenomenal. There is nary any over travel so trigger reset becomes moot, IMO. Although my full size 45 (late 2012 manufacture) is extremely accurate and a dream to shoot I did have some feeding problems that I narrowed down to the extractor.
It would feed hollow points just fine, but ball ammo would FTF on the last round about 90% of the time with a few different brands of ammo and on occasion even FTF in the middle of a mag.
I was able to file the bottom-inside corner of the extractor enough (after 3 tries) to get ammo to now feed. But I will need to run several more hundred rounds through it before I trust it as an HD gun.
I have owned both and still have the Smith. It is a good shooting accurate pistol. Perhaps the Glock’s recoil is a little softer, but I like the ergonomics and the trigger of the M&P better. Mine is stock except for Heinie Ledge night sights. The trigger has smoothed out considerably since I bought it and is consistent. The Smith is also a bit easier to carry concealed. Magazines are probably easier to get for the 21. Again, both are good so it’s just a matter of preference.
I had a Gen 3 G21 and it was a very nice pistol, however I much prefer my M&P45 with FSS trigger. I shoot it much better and it feels like an extension of my hand. The trigger upgrade makes it an awesome pistol.
+1 G21
Same here. My M&P 45 only had three FTF’s in a couple hundred rounds, but that’s three too many. Put a Apex extractor in it, and it’s been flawless ever since. I need to put a few more rounds through it to completely regain confidence in the gun, but it seems to be fine now.
No experience with a G21, but post-2009 Glocks scare me. I’ve kept only one gen 2 G19.
I bought one of the first if not the first Glock 21 to come into Israel and I like the gun a lot.
I am going to do a slight hijack here and ask if anyone here has converted either pistol to .460 Roland?
I think a pistol in .460 Roland just might make a fine Afrika ranch gun.