Originally posted by Soulja
Just personal opinion. I have never liked the feel, or the reliability of S&W weapons. I also don't like tha magazine safety thing, if they still even have them. Not being able to fire a round if there is not a magazine loaded. I know the way around it, but I would rather not have to have the trigger half pressed before i change mazines, just in case. I prefer the feel of a glock anyday, and I've never had any of my glocks jam on me, and theres at least 5,000 round through each of them. But it all comes down to what you were trained on, and what you are comfortable with. Its all a matter of personal opinion.
You know, I have never given the magazine disconnect a second thought. It's just not an issue for me. If I am reloading, I am not dropping the mag until the new one is already in my hand and is on its way up to the magazine well. In a speed reload, it's just a blink of an eye. I will grant you, however, that a tactical reload, which is done in a more static situation, is not as fast, but it's still pretty quick. In either case, I am ready to go again with a fresh magazine. I can see being slowed down quite a bit if you fire that one shot, without the magazine, and still having to continue the fight. Now, you have to insert the magazine, (hopefully remember to) cycle the slide (because you can't go to slide lock without the mag), and then re-engage.
Personally, I can't speak to the Glocks, although I have heard rave reviews about them. You also confirm that. In my case, my Smith's have not malfunctioned at all. Again, third generation Smith's have vastly improved over the first two generations. In any event, your last two sentences are gospel. It does come down to your training, and you have to be comfortable with what you shoot. Lastly, it IS all a matter of opinion.
Stay safe.