Range Day: Gen 4 Glock 17 vs M&P 9

GA Firing Line

Shemp

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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...

g17vmp9.jpeg

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
g17vmp91.jpeg

M&P 9
g17vmp92.jpeg

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
g17vmp93.jpeg

M&P 9 ( ignore the far left shot...)
g17vmp94.jpeg

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.

PC MP9.jpeg
 

freedom

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Do you feel the RMR had any effect? Are you still sold on it? From your targets, it looks like it performed well on the quick firing, but not as good on the slower, accurate fire.

Any trigger mods on either?

You seem to pulling almost everything left, don't blame the Glock for that.
 

Dinky Dau

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Looks like you need more support from your none trigger hand..Less pressure of the trigger hand. May solve the shooting left of center.
 
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Hayata

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Good test, nice write-up!

Three gold stars!
 
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Gunsite Grad

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"When you donate to Goodwill you help put people to work"
 

Shemp

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Do you feel the RMR had any effect? Are you still sold on it? From your targets, it looks like it performed well on the quick firing, but not as good on the slower, accurate fire.

Any trigger mods on either?

You seem to pulling almost everything left, don't blame the Glock for that.

I took the RMR off for the "test". I think the suppressor height sights on the M&P suit me more; it just seemed like I didn't have to put much thought into getting a good sight picture with them.

No trigger mods to either.

I did pull everythign left, but it was far more so with the Glock than the M&P
 

Shemp

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Looks like you need more support from your none trigger hand..Less pressure of the trigger hand. May solve the shooting left of center.

It's something I continually struggle with. I need to practice more in general...I will sometimes go 2 months without firing a gun...
 

freedom

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I took the RMR off for the "test". I think the suppressor height sights on the M&P suit me more; it just seemed like I didn't have to put much thought into getting a good sight picture with them.

No trigger mods to either.

I did pull everythign left, but it was far more so with the Glock than the M&P

Stock sights on the Glock? I can deal with stock triggers, but I have to replace the sights, and I really dislike both three dot, but even that's better than Glocks weird rear sight.
 
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Shemp

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Stock sights on the Glock? I can deal with stock triggers, but I have to replace the sights, and I really dislike both three dot, but even that's better than Glocks weird rear sight.

Both guns bone stock from the factory
 

Dinky Dau

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It's something I continually struggle with. I need to practice more in general...I will sometimes go 2 months without firing a gun...
Maybe we can get together some time, and work on that..In the Mean time You and yours have a very Merry Christmas!
 
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EugenFJR

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Nice, I'm glad you had a chance to do a side by side comparison. I need to change the sights, and add a RMR to the G17. How far away were the targets when you were shooting?
 

Shemp

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Nice, I'm glad you had a chance to do a side by side comparison. I need to change the sights, and add a RMR to the G17. How far away were the targets when you were shooting?

I do most of my shooting between 7 and 15 yds. I think I did all the "testing" at 15
 
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boss_hawg

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I tend to pull the same way due to tightening of my fingers on my right hand as I pull the trigger. I basically have to grip the pistol as tight as possible to keep it from happening.

I can't remember the last time I shot handguns...semi-auto rifles are just too much fun!
 

Cudruln

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I knew you put the glock first in the title cause that's the only time it would be there.