Why are Glocks and M&Ps preferred in training & competition?

You reload? You better. Gonna burn thru a ton of ammo.
Hope you are somewhat OCD too...precision reloading saves lives.

Look at it this way, and its not a popular thing to say...
Somewhere between 25000 & 50000 rounds, chances are your frame rails will likely wear out...
So, frame or entire pistol replacement cost??
M&P generally has the lowest...Glock second lowest...with Glocks you can switch to Timberwolf frame...
This is the advantage of Combat Tupperware...if you burn it up after 5-10 years, you won't cry.
You just replace it with the newest version and Charlie Mike ;)

If you are Sponsored...they replace it. No biggie at all.
But if on your own, YOU foot the bill. Makes a difference, that does...
 
Last I heard... The M&P accuracy thing was corrected a few years ago or more... New barrel and twist rate.
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Between my stock G19 and stock FS M&P9, the Glock wins in the accuracy department. YMMV.
 
Look at it this way, and its not a popular thing to say...
Somewhere between 25000 & 50000 rounds, chances are your frame rails will likely wear out...
So, frame or entire pistol replacement cost??
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Can you point to a case of this happening? I know we have members on here, AK103K I think and maybe others, that have shot more than that and have not replaced the rails on their pistols.
 
Somewhere between 25000 & 50000 rounds, chances are your frame rails will likely wear out...
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Im just over 89,000 on my one 17, and no signs the rails are worn out yet, or even close.
 
I appreciate the comments so far. Yes, I'm fully aware of the arrow and indian phrase. I actually like the quote from Bruce Lee better: "I fear not the man who knows 10,000 kicks, but the man who has practiced a kick 10,000 times." Don't hop on the "Just get used to what you got" bandwagon. I'm not a dweeb off of the street, and at 34 yrs old have more range time and training that your 99% of your broken in infantry men, or average metro swat officer.

As I mentioned, now that I'm training regularly with Tier 1 operators, current and recently former S.F. types, my training is improving exponentially. Although I'm not there yet, my original question centered around what a few have touched on. At a certain point, is my weapon system going to be holding me back? And, having an open mind, once I realize it is, what platform is recommended/preferred by those who are training/competing in a similar situation as myself? It seems about split down the middle at this point from those I train with to those who are commenting on here.

Oh, and yes...I DO reload. HAha....a lot. But I find myself training so regularly that sometimes my "production" falls behind, in which case I turn to manufacturers who produce reloaded ammo a little bit cheaper than what I can find for new factory stuff. I've used Lakeshore Ammo, Western Ammo, and Freedom Munitions. It's all gravy, I don't discriminate!
 
I can only speak for myself and why I like Glocks so much. The muzzle flip is minimal, the recoil is quite light, the trigger pull is consistent, the reset is tactile, and the platform has aftermarket support out the rear. The pistols are easy to shoot well for me and can be tweaked extremely easily. They're also exceptionally simple to maintain, even if you like to detail strip your own pistols to get the firearm back to squeaky clean all over, in and out.

This said, I love a lot of other platforms as well, but it's hard to argue with outstanding simplicity. I'm not as big a fan of the M&P due to the less tactile trigger (although it is good and the APEX is seriously nice and crisp) and less aggressive grip (I'm not a fan of grip modifications) but I still consider it a top tier alternative.
 
So I've gotten into quite a bit of tactical training lately, drawing from concealment, dynamic movement, etc... A current Navy Seal that I train with (uses an M&P) as well as a former member of Marine recon (uses a glock) keep telling me that eventually as I train and compete (I'm new to IDPA and USPSA) that I will switch over to the dark side and get an M&P or a Glock.

I currently use a Beretta PX4 storm and sold my 2nd gen G17 to get the PX4 as I was more accurate with it. However, now that I'm training with tier 1 operators, I find that the way I train has changed drastically. For example, I'm doing a lot of point shooting within 1 to yards, and my the way I acquire target alignment is different. I always loved the glock, but didn't prefer the 6 oclock sights, but now that I train, shall we say, correctly, do I need to go back to a Glock or *gasp* an M&P? Are they THAT much better at dynamic training and shooting than my Px4?

I could use some input from some guys who compete or regularly train tactical methods...what pistol do you use? Thanks in advance fellas.
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Not certain what you are worried about. If you can handle the DA/SA transition your Beretta is fine. Glocks and M&Ps are just the Ford/GM's of the firearm arena.

Also, beware people saying they are operators, Seals, etc. Unless you have some bonafides, odds are, they weren't.
 
My opinion only, but Glocks and M&Ps are most popular in runNgun (certainly not target) training and competition for a good number of reasons. First, they're pretty simple designs and are known for their reliability. Depending on the gun, they can be used in multiple divisions in different competitions (e.g. IDPA, USPSA, GSSF, etc), and for those required to carry in their day job, they might just be what they're issued or required to carry anyway.

The manual of arms is also as simple as it gets, and being striker-fired, all trigger pulls are the same. They both handle recoil well, they're both easy to tune, and plenty is known about tuning them, and in many cases, tuning (and repairs) can be done yourself. On top of all this, there's a vast array of aftermarket parts and accessories available for both.

In sum, then, they're the small block Chevy V8 of the gun world. There are arguably "better", more sophisticated and/or sexy choices out there, but if you're serious about running them hard & to their limit against others doing the same, the Glock, M&P and small block Chevy is a never an unwise first choice.
 
I don't pick my guns based on what someone else uses. They may not be built like I am.

I tried the Glock. It just doesn't point for me. If I take my time I can hit with it. But when I speed up, it just doesn't point. Its not the gun, its me. I choose a gun that fits and points naturally.

That gives an advantage in speed shooting like USPSA matches.

Actually, I shoot revolvers better. But as to autos, he Colt 1911s work best, followed by the Beretta 92 FS.

Guns are like everything else, one size doesn't fit all.
 
It depends on your application.
If your tier 1 buds are going to take you along to terminate some tangoes, then the pistol will probably be a secondary weapon and your confidence and familiarity with the PX4 will be a factor if you have to go to it.
Likewise if you are new to action pistol competition, confidence and familiarity are worth more than the possible advantage of a uniform trigger action.

You can always change guns later when you get so good that a fraction of a second saved in the crunch tick matters to your match standings.
 
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