I have a SA XD 45 my wife got me for my 50th birthday. That was more years ago than I want to admit to. The gun shoots great and I usually carry it when I mow the yard or the trails in my woods, and sometimes shoot it at the range for practice. The rest of the time it is next to me as I type on my computer.
I shot my buddies M&P 45 for comparison a few years ago and I did not like it as well. The M&P is longer in the grip than my XD and does not feel comfortable in my hands compared to my XD. The difference is not a lot, but enough for me to notice and dislike. The rest of the M&P 45 is just like my 9mm M&P, which I really like. It is a nice gun if the grip fits you. Handle and/or shoot one to see how it feels to you. If you can, do the same with the XD 45, just to compare. In 9mm, I prefer the M&P over the XD, but in 45 I prefer the XD. Hope that helps.
i had a 1 0 M&P 45 and loved it I had carried a Sig 220 for years as a duty gun and as good as it was the M&P seemed to shoot softer and better. I liked it so much I bought the 9 (work stuff) so I sold it to buy my Daughter a M&P 9.
I recently added a 2.0 45 back to my safe and its also quitebthe shooter.
So that said there is nothing wrong with either 1.0 or 2 0 M&P 45s
I bought the 9 several years ago and liked it enough that I added the 40 and 45 to my collection. All gen 1's, no issues with any of them. I got rid of my XD40 for the M&P, just felt better in my hand and shot better. No dig on the XD, it was my EDC for several years. I did put the apex trigger kit in all three and that was the only mod I did to any handgun i own. Very happy with the M&P's. Between those and my 1911's nothing else is needed (for me).
I had a M&P 1.0 /.45 and it was a sweet shooter, felt great in my hand with the switchable backstraps, and never once gave me a problem.
The one complaint I had was, I had the thumb safety model, and that giant paddle safety was great to rest your thumb on like a 1911 but it didn't have a very positive detent and could flip on and off way too easy.
I also had the exact same gun in 9mm and it was a great shooter as well but same complaint with the safety.
My M&P45 v1 is awesome. I like the milling of the slide and serrations much better than v2. The Apex trigger makes it a very accurate gun for me, comfortable grip, and a good looking gun!
it doesn’t hold 13 rounds like my G21, but that’s what spare magazines are for. Love mine.
Mine had a weird bit of trigger slap. Never did figure it out, but a 200 round session would give me a bruise. Other than that, I loved it and have considered a 2.0 several times.
I've had one for several years. It's been perfectly reliable so far. And with the different backstraps, it's easy to find the one that's comfortable. One thing I like is the thumb safety is exactly where my thumb expects it to be. It's comfortable to shoot, and the sites are ok. The only thing which I don't like is the trigger, and I REALLY dislike the trigger pull.