I just picked up a mp 40c to keep I my night stand for personal protection. It's a crimson trace model which I like, but it has no thumb safety! Is there a kit to make it a thumb safety model?? Thanks and sorry if this is a stupid question!

Just curious as to why you would want a thumb safety?

The M&P is a DAO, it is listed with BATF and the sanctioning bodies as "Double action".

That said Your M&P has a long heavy trigger. You are the safety. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you plan to pull it and fire. A safety is one more item you have to become familiar with in the process of going to battery. You don't need it, but if you insist, see if you can make a trade. Or you might be able to send it to S&W for a changeout or retrofit.

The safeties were added to appease the LEA that require an external safety.

Does it have the Internal Locking System? Does yours have the ability to fire with the magazine removed? You DO need to be aware of that feature and it is usually marked as such in print on the frame.

Get comfortable with it. It seems "unsafe" perhaps at first, but the more you practice and become familiar with the operational characteritics of your M&P the more you will come to understand that an external safety is not necessary, except in your head.

It is capable of firing without the clip. I like having the thumb safety so if I put one in the chamber and set it in my night stand drawer I can already have a good grip on the trigger when I grab it, then flip the switch when I'm ready to fire. Just preference in all honesty.

i have a 357 sig fs, and a 45 midsize. Both have the thumb safety which is something i prefer to have. I know that you can remove the thumb safety and plug the holes, but im not sure if you can add the ambi thumb safety to a model that doesnt have it....good question.

I asked the folks at Smith & Wesson the safety question and was told that a safety can be removed, but if the gun came from the factory without a manual safety it can not be added. I asked because I had a .45 with the safety and wanted it gone. It is quite easy to remove and I did it.

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Morality >religion

ColtCup45:

You could do what I did.... I'm a 1911 guy, and kinda missed the thumb safety on my M&P40C. An opportunity to pickup a 9C turned up, and it came with a thumb safety.

I just put the 9C slide (& barrel, etc.) on the top of the 40C frame, and the 40C slide & such on top of the 9C. Poof, thumb safety on the 40C, which I carry around the house, and the 9C is in the safe or range bag.

(I intended to give the 9C to my daughter, but she insists on moving to New York City, so I'm stuck with it.... She really doesn't need the thumb safety in the way anyhow.)

To echo others, the M&P series DO NOT need a thumb safety. I find the one on mine is just a hair too easy to flip off it was on, or vice versa, but being used to a thumb safety anyway, it's a non-issue. The kid would be better off not having to bother - it really adds nothing to the safety of the gun.

(You ought to see me with holsters for the 40C. I normally carry a top-break style for my 1911's, and have the same for the 40C, but once in a while I use a Kydex joke that has no top strap. It's quite good otherwise - I really hate Kydex - but I seem to lose it when not finding the break. Then I put the leather top break back on, and can't get the fool gun out of it for a couple days.... )

I think you could add a thumb safety, BTW. I'm not sure if the sear block is the same or not, but at this time I believe that Brownells is selling only one sear block, as a complete assembly. That should include the Hilary Lock, magazine safety, and thumb safety, maybe.... I didn't take enough time to figure out how the thing interacts with the sear block in mine. About all I do know is that the ejector doesn't fall off when re-assembling the block, and the sear and sear block pins ("axles") are headed pins that only go in one way. It also appears that the Hilary Lock and the thumb safety may be mutually exclusive, but that may not be the case.

You would also have to cut a couple of small square holes in the frame, but that's trivial.

Now I gotta go take the gun apart and....

Regards,

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Stu.

I am not sure, but I believe the CT grips won't fit the M&P with a thumb safety. You can probably get first hand info at the CT forum:

Crimsontrace - Index - Crimson Trace Forums

Lee:

You can.

Cut off most of the right side thumb button flush with the side of the frame. The CT laser will now fit, and not interfere with the thumb safety. While it's an ambi safety, there's almost nothing holding it into the gun, and the thumb buttons don't really do anything. You DO lose the right-hand side button that way, but that appears to be the only choice at this time if you want a CT laser. (I don't have one on any of my M&P's, but CT is the only choice, IMO....)

Regards,

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Stu.

First, kudos to you for taking responsibility for your own protection. However, since you are using a potentially lethal tool for your protection, i.e. .40 cal semi-auto pistol, basic safe gun handling rules/practices must be observed. Even though I am not a NRA certified instructor or LEO, I'm sure if you were to poll those individuals who have been around guns a lot longer than I have, you'll probably find that what you've described would be considered UNSAFE. Which is ironic, considering you want to equip your 40c with a "safety".

With all due respect and IMHO, your "need" for a (thumb) safety equipped pistol, IN LIEU OF your admitted, personal preference to "have a good grip on the trigger when I grab it" is baffling and alarming to me. As DAdams posted previously, I believe you should reconsider, if not, entirely change your thinking and habits as it relates to the safe handling your weapon. Then go to the range or dry fire, and practice/repeat them often.

Just my (hopefully, un-preachy) 2 cents.

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MotorCityGun

"I can already have a good grip on the trigger when I grab it, then flip the switch when I'm ready to fire. Just preference in all honesty".

You did that with a prior "cocked and locked" handgun?

That habit, if indeed that is the way you deal with a handgun is a recipe for disaster.

Even golfers have to sometimes change/abandon old habits to improve their game you definitely need to do so.

BTW, if you are keeping your handgun in a bedside piece of furniture, keep it in a holster, until you need it.

Rant Off.

Thank you for all of your input! It's all very helpful and appreciated! I can understand everyones opinion of having your "finger on the trigger". I do agree with most of the statements!! I took it to the range yesterday and must say I LOVE shooting this gun!!! Although I think the crimson trace is going to come off. I don't see any advantage to it. By the time I locate the red dot I could have already looked down the sights and fired a round. I really like the little flick recoil it has to it. My buddy is stuck on 9mm's and I even got him to do a good group! After shooting, holstering and drawing about 30 times I can see why a thumb safety isn't needed. Like the rules go, keep your finger off the trigger till your ready to shoot. May be one rule I will have to practice a little more. Overall very nice gun to shoot; smooth, accurate and easy to handle!! Again, thanks for everyones input, it is greatly appreciated.

Glad to hear you like the 40c. Also find you comments on the CT interesting. I have a couple of revolvers with CTs and find I can point shoot faster with or w/o the laser (having trained with it), but prefer to have it operable. Maybe because they are snubs, although one has a nice set of XS medium dot night sights.

At any rate, I just ordered a 40c and debated the CT and opted not to order them despite my positive experiences with them.

I did order it with night sights though, and may add a rail laser in the future. My rationale is getting a laser and perhaps light combo I can move around from one item to another.

Did you try some of what you think might be your carry round, ie some JHP of some ilk? I read an article on .40 JHP recently and Hornady Tap 155, SGD 165 and PMC Starfire all three got very good ratings. I have purchased all three to run through the C.

My full sized magazines (2) and the X-Grip arrived yesterday (to be used around the house, adding capacity). Now all I need is the M&P.

No, I haven't gotten to use what I would like to carry with. Simple federal 165 gr. I've been holding off on buying a bunch of rounds until I go to the range atleast another time or two. Just to make sure I'm going to keep the gun. I really do like it though so I think it's going to be a keeper. I'm really used to a 1911 so this is a tad different. I love how the casings all ended up right behind me in a pile, my 1911 I would be dodging them. I guess my problem with the CT is wanting to look down the sights to find it. Have a lot of adjusting to do if I want to be accurate at all with the red dot.

The main advantage of using any laser is to focus on your target, not the gun. These videos may be useful to you.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Laser Grips Video | Crimson Trace Laser Grips

My intent is not to (overly) promote CTC grip, but I think you should seriously reconsider before you take them off your SD weapon or get rid of them.

Even though CTC (themselves) calls their product "laser sights", they are not sights in the traditional or practical sense of the word. Basically, it's a laser light/pointer meant to acquire the target quicker/easier than when using iron sights. Yes, it takes practice and getting used to in order to (as DAdams said) initially focus on the target versus first sighting down the weapon. Other advantages of a laser equipped weapon:
- the ability to keep both eyes open during target acquisition.
- a quick, visual confirmation of where your weapon is aimed (assuming it is "zeroed in").
- deterrence to the BG(s) to further escalate. I don't believe this one, but others have indicated this as a potential advantage.
- more accurate under high stress conditions (which CTC claims). As many have previously stated, including LEO's who post on this forum, when/if the need for your SD weapon arises, it will most likely be under less than ideal circumstances or range-like conditions. I believe a laser equipped weapon will provide a distinct advantage, not disadvantage, during stressful situations.

p.s. Believe or not, DAdams and I are not the same person

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MotorCityGun