GLOCK vs XD

[BamBam-31]

The bore height issue needs to be the angle and radius from the center of where the webbing of the shooting hand meets the back strap to the chamber of the barrel. You could then convert that into a circular force vector, and factor in mass to get the momentum vector that has to be overcome. The pictures of guns from the front showing a difference in bore height over the guide rod is a physics 101 fail when talking about recoil.

Actually, we have an assumption fail (like the one I made above ). The picture was meant to show the difference between the bottoms of each respective frame and the height of each bore in relation. I never said anything about guide rods.

[tacticalcity]

If you really want a Glock, you can train yourself to get used to the grip angle. My wife loves her G34 and G26, and doesn't care for my XD. I love my XD Tactical and M&P Compact, but don't care for Glock ergonomics. The point is, again, find what works for you.

Of the three main tupperware guns being discussed here (XD, Glock, M&P), you're not making a serious mistake picking one over the other if you are chosing the one that you shoot the best.

They are all on my top 10 handgun list. Probably even top 5. So I am not arguing with you there.

The only reason I feel the argument is important, and worth having over and over again rather is that very few people get a chance to truly figure out what really works best for them. Budgetary concerns, lack of training, the normal range rules, stores not allowing dry fire, and on and on make it hard to put each gun through the paces before you buy.

I'd just like to see more people actually measuring the gun on how it actually performs for them than how it felt in their hand at the gun store.

You hear again and again, get the one that feels best in your hand. I took that advice at first and purchased a Beretta 96. It was a bear to learn on. Switching to a Glock made a night and day difference. So for me, the fit in the hand end all be all way of deciding to get a gun is bad advice. Take everything into account, and then choose. If it ends up being the one that fit best in your hand, so be it. You made an educated choice. Good for you. My decision to start off with a Beretta, was definately not an educated choice.

[inbox485]

Actually, we have an assumption fail (like the one I made above ). The picture was meant to show the difference between the bottoms of each respective frame and the height of each bore in relation. I never said anything about guide rods.

I know. Most vs threads eventually bring up bore height and use a picture virtually identical to that to try and say that the distance from the bottom of the frame to the bore axis is somehow a critical metric. I was just pointing out that if the picture was about bore height, it would not be physically relevant.

[rbaker5150]

Stupid video. It never gave me the answer!!

That is some funny stuff. For me, I have a Glock. Why? The internet told me so.

[tacticalcity]

Actually, we have an assumption fail (like the one I made above ). The picture was meant to show the difference between the bottoms of each respective frame and the height of each bore in relation. I never said anything about guide rods.

I had a conceptual error of what the actual problem is. For which I apologize. The guy who posted the video clarified it for me and offered a much better explanation of it, though it is still a tad vague and some math geeks might be able to a better job explaining it with charts or something. I admitted I needed more information to better understand what was going on there, and thus my main complaint about the XD was the trigger reset length. Which is not horrible, but twice that of the Glocks. Never the less, there is a design issue in addition to the trigger rest. It might not matter to you, but it something that should at the very least be looked at and considered. If after you have considered it, it falls into the who cares category so be it. Your choice was an informed one.

The core of my argument is that there is a lot more to choosing a gun than the hand fit test. Thus the constant back and forth about which is better does serve a purpose. It educates people about the various firearms, gets them thinking about how those differences might effect them...and with any luck encourages them to take some professional firearms courses so they can put all of our arguments to the test first hand and as a result become safer, more skilled firearms owners.

For those of us who have already weighed all the options, and have some training and continue to get more, this is just a chance share the opinions we have formed and lessons we have learned with the guys just now looking at buying their first handgun.

I have nothing personally invested in which firearm you chose. I just want to raise the level of debate...and level of advice.

[inbox485]

A picture with some common reference points annotated: