its almost a toss up for me. have not shot either (yet) but they both feel good in the hand. is the HK45 worth the extra loot? been trying to find one with the LEM trigger and real ns but that is proving hard to achieve. apparantly rumour is that both exist but id like to have something ordered by next week. thoughts? feelings?
This is how I see it. Both have great reviews, both have great ergonomics and can be customized for grip size, and both are about the same size.
I would side with the Hk for two reasons.
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Because I know they have been making some of the highest quality handguns for a long time and have proven themselves…while Smith & Wesson is just now getting their act together IMO.
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Because when I go to the range and to gun shows, I see nothing but Glocks, M&P’s, and Springfield XD’s…Those are all fantastic guns, but they just seem to get played out for me and I like having something a little more rare.
Just small reasons but that is why I would chose the Hk…oh yeah, I just think the Hk looks cooler too 
i agree with all points of your assessment. i am antsy to get something though and like i mentioned, trying to find this hk w the LEM trigger is proving quite difficult. i think my brain is telling me to be patient but my trigger finger is mighty itchy…not sure if the MP will give me the warm fuzzy feeling but hoping someone will make a good case
Personally, I wouldn’t let what other people have influence me away from a gun. It doesn’t matter to me whether my gun is common or rare, as long as it works. And the reality is that a more common gun means easier access to spare parts, accessories, etc. as well as a wider variety of holsters and aftermarket goodies.
You can’t really learn much about a gun by holding it at a shop or show. You’ve got to shoot it. Find a rental range or some buddies with the guns you want to try and give each one of them a test drive.
Efficient statement of a position that every knowledgable and competent gun owner and shooter should take…
Even though we ragged on Glock 22’s and 40 cal Glocks in general. If I shoot with someone who knows what they are doing, and says they have 10,000 trouble-free rounds through their pistol, who am I to say they should change???
Who is anyone, really? What works; works! If it sucks, punt the thing in the gutter and move on.
The M&P45 I own has very low rounds, as I shoot 1911’s and my suppressed 9mm’s way more…
I have one firing line session of 20rds on an HK45, and it’s a pretty damn nice pistol. I’m pursuing one, but I really am waiting for the v9 to come out so it will mimic my 1911’s - cocked and locked.
cassiday - I believe you posted in another thread that you own a M&P9c, correct? If that is the case I’d opt for the M&P45 for familiarity reasons. That’s it, that’s the only answer I have for you but in my case that would be enough for me to choose the M&P45 over the HK45 if I was looking for a 45 ACP.
First off if you purchase an HK45 now, you can easily have it changed to LEM later. All you need to do is contact HK customer service and speak to them about getting it changed over to LEM, or any other variant you would like. Ask to speak to Travis (He is their head armorer) and he will explain the details.
Secondly, no one here can tell you which gun is “Better”. That’s a really subjective and personal decision. Personally for me, I shoot the HK45 better than I do the M&P series. Both seem to have great track records as far as durability is concerned. The M&P has had some issues in the past, but current revisions have made these non-existent. No problems are being reported with the HK45 as of yet, (other than a poor finish on the slide release).
I would encourage you to try both out at a range. See which one you shoot like.
That’s a pretty compelling argument and I’m going to have to agree with it. Besides the money you save is worth at least two days of classes with a top-flight shooting instructor.
From my personal experience though I’ve not shot the new HK45, I’ve owned a USP .45 Tactical. I honestly disliked the HK and sold it almost immediately. I’m not a big fan of double-stack .45 but IMO the Tactical shot like a brick. It was perfectly accurate, but otherwise not very shootable. HK engineers tried to engineer a Porsche…and they got a Panzer.
I fondled the new 45 at SHOT this year and I’m not sure I felt much of an improvement though subsequent experience might change that. The slide definitely seems less “over-engineered” and the grip is more comfortable. For the price however it seems hard to justify with such a good quality alternative that’s half as much.
If however you really liked the USP, then don’t listen to a word I said.
Just my $.02
I own and like both guns - I think for the $$ the M&P is hard to beat but knowing how the HK45 has been built and tested there is no doubt it is the most bomb proof hard use .45 on the market now - if I wanted to buy a .45 pistol and be as confident as is possible in our man made world that the gun will go bang when I pull the trigger - regardless of the circumstances - I would buy the HK45
My recommendation would be to try and find one of those indoor ranges that has rental guns and try both if possible - but in the end I think you will be fine with either one
they are, in many ways, the modern replacement to the 1911 that has been touted for so long by so many other designs
be safe
Larry Vickers
Both pistols have their pluses and minuses. I like both too. I have owned several HK pistols (USP 45, Makr 23, USP 40) and used them a lot. They never let me down. The M&P, I feel is a good design. Simple and it is easy to get spare parts.
The M&Ps that I have worked on, yielded great results. Also, on the HK pistols.
I figure, if your pistol goes down for any reason, just use your back gun and continue the fight.
This is absolutely my attitude on any pistol or rifle platform. I always try to stay on the beaten path.
Getting looks at the range for having something unique never enters the equation for me.
HK45 come standard in DA/SA only. LEM refit is available through HK.
Well, I don’t know if they have fixed the “broken striker” problems in current productions, but at one point there was a rash of them. I broke mine on my M&P45 dry firing back in Feb, but they did do a repair with a 2 week turn around. The trigger seems very smooth after the repair and use snap caps from that lessoned learned. The weapon has been flawless since. To their credit, they are aware of the problem.
I have really enjoyed shooting my HK45. It is a fine shooting pistol. I have nothing against the M&P, but I just feel that the HK45, as a refinement of the long serving USP, is a more developed and theoretically trustworthy pistol. Add to that the input of Vickers, Hackathorn and HK, and you have something I am comfortable with.
Frankly, neither gun is as shooter friendly as a 1911, but both are obviously less picky in all other respects. Given that the only reason I can see to own a .45 that isn’t a 1911 is to get something more trustworthy, I see the HK45 as the natural choice for the reason Mr. Vickers cited above: “bombproof.”
This is a question that I was asking myself since I handled (but didn’t shoot) the HK45 at the latest gun show.
When an industry pro chimes in on a thread, with the immense wealth of knowledge and experience that Mr. Vickers has, especially when he’s used both these pistols, I shut the fuck up and listen. Thank you Mr. Vickers for your valuable input.
and helping me to make up my mind.
I own both, and I’m gonna have to say the HK45, hands down. Don’t get me wrong, I love my M&P45, but the HK is just nice to shoot. It feels good in my hands, the choice of back straps is a good choice and the other features that were put in were a great addition/change. In the end you can’t go wrong with either! 
Big_A, any more specifics on why you prefer the HK45? Is it more a subjective thing or objective in terms of accuracy, measured speed, some functionality?
These two pistols seem to be the current cool kids on the block, and I’d have to guess that quite a few people would benefit from your experience shooting the two side by side.
I have both pistols. For me personally, I shoot both well. I really like them both but find I carry the MP 45 more due to size, and I have had it longer. I even made my own kydex holsters for them. I wish that HK had engineered a shorter grip to reduce overall height. The subtle finger grooves are nicer than I thought they would be and help me in controlling the pistol. Here are some pics.
So very true. To lessons learned the hard way:D
If you made those holsters, I have some business for you…they look nice