I'm seriously looking at a M&P9 Shield as another CCW option to my 642 but may have some concerns about the trigger pull. I understand there are no external safeties on this pistol, which is fine with me as long as there is a long trigger pull to compensate as a safety, but it seems the M&P9's trigger is rather light.

My stepdad recently bought an M&P9 Compact without a safety. He became so concerned about it's light trigger he actually took it back and got another one that had the thumb safety. As far as I know, the Shield doesn't have that option, so I'd be stuck with no safeties If I got one.

I hear of people accidentally shooting themselves or someone else because of these things, and it seems it's usually a semi-auto that is the culprit. I know of one forum where a guy posted pictures of his wounds after shooting himself through the buttocks and thigh while holstering his weapon. Not pretty to say the least, and I'm sure he couldn't sit down for about a month. The gun he had was a S&W M&P .40 compact if I recall correctly. I know that some people are just idiots, but it can happen to the best of us.

I have to add that I never actually fired a M&P yet so I'm just going by what I've studied and what my stepdad told me about his experience.

Is this something I need to be concerned about, or did my stepdad just blow things out of proportion?

..........

You must have been looking at some some special edition Shield. Im sure both of mine have a safety switch on the left side of the slide.

It must be different looking or lower profile then the thumb safety of the larger models. When looking closer from S&W's website, I do see something that looks like a safety.

Why do they offer a compact and full size version with no safeties, but not one for the Shield then?

All shields have a low profile safety on the left side. Easy to use and snag free.

I thought this was going to be another "i hate safeties thread."

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MP40 442 SHIELD9 SHIELD40 MP22

A thumb safety is no replacement for the one between your ears.Do not even load it until you get qualified training with it.The antis are getting enough ammo as it is without another accidental shooting.

Unless a new model was released for 2013, all shields have a safety. In fact to my knowledge it is the only M&P semi auto pistol that doesnt have a no safety option. I just looked on the S&W web site, and there are only 6 shields offered. Three of them are 9mm, and 3 of them are .40. A California, a Mass. compliant, and the standard model of each caliber. All of them have a safety. As for the trigger, it is a bit heavier pull than my Ruger SR9c, and fairly short pull, but is by no means a hair trigger. Smith & Wesson lists it as approximately a 6.5lb pull

You should both do some homework. The Shield has an external safety.
The M&PC has internal safeties and many have a mag safety. ( You can holster gun with mag removed if your uncomfortable). Trigger weights vary on these depending on state purchased and /or aftermarket work. You can also change the trigger pull on any M&P anywhere up to 10-12# with a simple trigger return spring change.

All that said, , the 642 is a very good option . Especially for anyone uncomfortable/unfamilure with a semi auto.

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Dave

The holster is the safety. Make sure the trigger is covered and you are ok.

When you draw the weapon leave your finger off the trigger and only place your finger inside the trigger guard when you are ready to shoot the target. When you place the weapon back in the holster make sure your finger is not inside the trigger guard.

I practice pointing my trigger finger down the side of my weapon. I never bend my trigger finger until I am reaching for the trigger.

Practice practice practice proper gun handling.


Russ

Thanks for the info. I was confused because S&W offers their compact and full size models with or without safeties, and the thumb safety on those is obvious compared to the one on the Shield, which is barely noticeable unless you look close. Is this puny little safety easy to disengage rapidly if needed?

A nice long trigger pull is all I want for a safety in a CCW gun.

It would help if S&W's website bothered to state that the Shield has a thumb safety in the product description. It's not like the other models, and hard to see if you don't look close.

Do all M&P Shields have the mag release safety? That is something I don't want. Again, I don't see where S&W mentions this in their product descriptions, but thank you for telling me.

Yes, I'm proud of mine, and don't feel the slightest bit worried of an accidental discharge with it.

Get the Shield, you will not regret it.

As for the safety, it is pretty recessed and has a good "click" to it when engaged/disengaged. And if you don't like safeties on a gun, don't use it. If you prefer safeties, then use it.

I don't see how this safety could inadvertently get switched off/on, like I've heard so many people complaining about.

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-Sundown

I hear of people negligently shooting themselves or someone else because they were mishandling those things, and it is always the person that is the culprit.

Fixed it for you.

The shield will fire with the magazine removed as long as there is a round in the chamber

True... but semis are more prone to human error then other types. That is a fact, and none of that is of any consolation to the person after they've been shot with one.

How is a gun prone to human error?

The fault still lies with the human.

The truth of the matter is that there are FAR too many gun owners who don't have a clue on how to safely handle a weapon. I've left shooting ranges and gunstores too many times when some unsafe idiot shows up. And for those people, a semi auto is more likely to be the instrument of a negligent discharge. Even experienced people have ND's. I have a Shield and practice drawing it several dozen times a night. It has become automatic to sweep the safety off as I draw. The safety is there. I use it. I wish it had a mag disconnect, too.

The California Compliant Shield has a magazine disconnect.-Dick

I have to disagree the holster is not a saftey.

If you are concerned that you may do something foolish and accidentally shoot yourself or another, I'd suggest that you take up video games.

Nothing is fool proof. I hit my thumb once with a hammer. I continue to use one.

Catcus

A properly fitted holster will cover the trigger. Try pulling the trigger while the weapon is holstered.

I am confident you will be unsuccessful if the entire trigger is covered and you are using a high quality holster like my Desantis or a leather Galco, but still make sure the weapon is empty before you try my experiment.

Uncle Mike's low end holster will void my experiment. I own one and they are garbage.

Russ

P.S. Look at my avatar picture. That is my Desantis pocket holster. Try as I might pressing down firmly and sliding my finger accross where the trigger is located holstered I can not make contact with the trigger. That is a safety.

I can bump up againt objects, and I will know with confidence my trigger is not going to catch and accidently discharge. I believe a lot of holster accidents occur when a person does not practice safe trigger control. You never place your finger inside the trigger guard when drawing or re-holstering the weapon. Practice those skills and you are good to go in my book.

What is nuts is my flimsy Uncle Mike's Holster was $10 and my Desantis pocket holster was just $11 more at $21. Why anyone would cut corners like I did when buying a holster is just plain dumb.

If you are that concerned get the MA compliant model. It comes with a min 10lbs trigger and trust me you could never accidentally discharge that weapon.

Shields come with an external safety. If you feel the trigger is a little light use the safety.

Russ

I wish the fs had a low profile safety option, I keep flipping it on when I get a high grip...

Agreed I really like the flush safety on the Shield. I practice drawing my Shield and sweeping the safety. I can see with the safety design and positive click you could leave the safety in the fire position and forget about it.


Russ

Safety on or off when carrying. Not carried mine yet. Carry a Sig 239 with out a safety or a 1911 in condition one. With the 1911 my thumb goes to the safety after I draw it. Don't know if I'll remember the safety on the shield. Guess I just need to practice with it.

A holster is not a safety.I don't care if you can pull the trigger or not.Again I repeat a holster is NOT a safety.

The regular Shield does not have a magazine safety. That's why they have that annoying writing on the "eject" side of the slide "CAUTION-CAPABLE OF FIRING WITH MAGAZINE REMOVED" in gold lettering. I have to agree with Russ, though. With a professional holster and proper trigger discipline, that Shield is not going off except when you want it to and have taken the proper steps in sequence. It should not be a source of anxiety to you by any means.

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Bob
NRA, MSI, SAF Member

I was lucky enough to purchase the Shield 3 weeks ago. I had to drive 140 miles to pick it up but it was well worth the trip. This will be carried most of the time. It does have a thumb safety for those who feel better using one. The gun will fire without a magazine and that I like, especially good if you need to fire in the middle of a magazine change. It eats every type of ammo I have fed it, is accurate, easy to carry and is a great gun. I used to carry a Star Firestar .45, and that too is a great gun that I still own and was concealable. I still have a S&W 686 that is so accurate it still amazes me. Love the Shield though for daily use and deep concealment. Always partial to any Smith. Hope this helps in your decision.

Gun safety rule #2
Keep your finger off the trigger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until the sights are on target and you are ready to shoot.

Should be number 1.

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MP40 442 SHIELD9 SHIELD40 MP22