I'm looking at a full size 40. I've handled the MP and XD. Both feel good. The XD feels a bit better but the only thing im not sure I like is having to engage the grip safety to work the slide. Anybody have any suggestions?
You should shoot both of them first before deciding.
I don't like grip safeties, and if I had an XD I'd have to tape it down or put a slip on Hogue grip to hold it down. If you were ever in a defensive situation where you had to hold the slide forward to keep it in battery with one hand the XD wouldn't work, because you can't engage the grip safety. That might not be an issue for you though.
What?
How exactly do you fire a gun? Me, one hand is wrapped around the grips, with my index finger on the trigger. It's almost impossible to fire properly without depressing the safety. How would you squeeze the trigger without your palm behind the grips? Would the recoil blow the gun out of you hand?
And what's it matter where your other hand is? And I'm struggling to understand how you would need to hold the slide in battery?
One more thing, Did Springfield change something on the XDm that requires operation of the safety to unlock the slide? My XD requires the safety to be depressed to pull the trigger only. The slide is not connected to the safety.
EDIT: I read both manuals and they state the grip safety must be depressed to operate the slide. Well, I stand corrected. But, thinking about it, my XD45 has a really stiff spring and I don't think I could safely operate the slide without a firm grip on the grip.
To the OP: Buy what feels good and don't worry about the safeties.
Think self-defense, bad guy is on top of you and you're only option is to push the gun into him. You'll have to hold the slide in battery. And with an XD, you won't be able to pull the trigger.
It's a very very unlikely scenario. But if I ever happen to find myself in that scenario, I'd like to have gear that will function when I need it.
I'll use a knife in that situation and keep training with my gun for more practical and likely scenarios.
I suppose I could come up with a scenario where the BG grabs my gun at an odd angle and attempts to fire on me, but can't because he's not depressing the safety, thus saving my life.