Hi all -

I finally got a M&P9 today and it has the mag "safety".
I read an earlier thread on removing the disconnector & spring and replacing with a cut-down compression spring to disable it.

I'm wondering if either replacing the disconnector & spring w/a simple tube spacer (aluminum, maybe?), or cutting off the arm, leaving the pivot and spring as a spacer, would also work?

If I understand correctly, what's needed in the end is to simply keep the sear disconnector in place, right?

Tnx.

(edit re: cutting the arm - won't work - would leave it permanently disconnected!)

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Terry

Never mind -
rethinking, I've decided, for my civilian SD carry, that the pros of it outweigh the only con I can think of, not being able to fire during a possible tactical reload.

Even then, the time involved in finishing the reload so as to shoot again seems maybe less than the time to finish the reload w/the slide forward, chamber empty, and racking to rechamber.

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Terry

There is a drop in part from Speed Shooter Specialties that will do what you desire... $4 though.

Product Display

Agreed there are pluses and minuses to the mag disconnect. I think it is a personal preference at some point if you would rather have the mag-disco or not for a defensive firearm.

There are "pluses" to a magazine disconnect? Gotta admit I can't think of even one.

-- Chuck

Aside from the "safety" issue, many LEO's use a "drop the mag" in a physical fight for the gun situation, the render inop.

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Gerry

I'm with Chuck. I made sure my 40c didn't have this feature.

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Romans 8:37

Another option is a 1911 magazine release spring, but you'd have to cut it to the correct length. If you have one laying around it's just the time to cut it. Or you can get it from midway or Brownell's.

Wolff Mag Release Spring 1911 Factory Power

$3.29 and cut yourself or $4.00 for the proper length from SSS. I'd buy precut, They are tough little springs and I had a heck of a time cutting mine.

Without this option, it would be an off-roster gun in Republic of Kalifornia. So it is a plus for some of us...

Any cons I didn't think of?

p.s.:
I posted this thread before reading this one, which enumerates several possible "pro" situations.
Pros & Cons of Disconnecting Magazine Safety?

Then I made my decision.

regards,

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Terry

The cure for a failure to fire is the same for a weapon with or without a magazine disconnect: tap, rack, ready.

The gent who won the man-on-man contest would have done so even with a mag disconnect. His mag dropped halfway out from the recoil of the fired shot.

Finally, searchs of legal databases on suits resulting from injury/death caused by magazine disconnects have produced no hits. On the other hand, there's a substantial number of authenticated cases where the presence of the device save lives.

I don't shoot all that many matches, but I've never run into a RO who can hear the lack of "click" when I stroke the trigger of my M&P.

Just thinking about this, you could remove the mag safety lever and replace it with a little bitty washer, in order to keep using the existing springs & such.... Or chop enough out of the lever to make it a washer ....

The idea of dropping a magazine when somebody's about to steal your gun is good, but one of those "sure, like you'll have time" things. I wouldn't count on it.

About the only plus I can think of is when you have small children. If you pop the magazine, as a nightstand gun, the kids won't be able to lock it back in, and the safety will keep the round in the pipe from being discharged. 'Course, you still have to remember to stuff that magazine back in solidly before you drop it on the floor, but....

Regards,

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Stu.

I took mine off and replaced the spring with a ball point pen spring. Works like a charm....

I'll admit, coming from a 1911 background, if I'd had the option, I would've gone w/no mag safety (which is why I posted the original question), but I got a good deal on my M&P used, and it is what it is.
Even so, having considered the issue, I've decided I don't have a prob with it.

This isn't a challenge of any sort, so please don't get defensive anyone, but for those of you who won't have one on your guns, I'm curious, as I may be missing good reasons:

What specific problems or possiblilties led you to make you decision?

Thanks.

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Terry

I took mine off for reasons I posted on another thread, but to sum it up, when I decide I want the gun to go bang, I don't want some piece of tin in my way making the gun inoperative.

Maybe I accidently bumped the mag release and the BG is almost on top of me. Maybe the mag catch failed. Maybe I am in a struggle for the gun and the BG hit the mag release.

For the same exact reasons plus a few extras that people don't want a thumb safety on their gun.

If you have a pre-2011 pistol and are concerned about the "dead trigger issue" just get a new sear block without the mag safety and you've killed two birds with one stone.

How about the most useful situation.

I don't have to leave a mag in the gun when I dry fire it. Just a tad more of peace of mind.
I never need to ask "is that mag empty?"

Bob

One of the common failures I observe at training courses is guys going to the line with either no magazine in the pistol or with an unseated magazine. Tap, rack and roll cures both, of course (after you insert a magazine) but you at least get one shot if there's no magazine disconnect.

Folks who maintain the benefit of dropping the magazine so a bad guy can't use the pistol against them may be some of the same guys who don't wear seatbelts 'cuz they heard of someone who survived a bad accident only because he was thrown clear. Yeah, it could happen.

-- Chuck

I have modified both of mine that had the magazine safety with the springs from SSS. Work perfectly. No one can ever know what is going to happen, ever......So mag safety, no mag safety...Make the gun work for you. Train with it and learn it and either way will not be a problem. I don't happen to like any safeties but know some very fast and deadly people with 1911's and the such......