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  #51  
Old 01-04-2015, 01:44 PM
dlay dlay is offline
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A cop who has been on the force for 33 years in my home town shot himself thru the leg about three weeks ago. It was a 40 cal glock and he was holstering the pistol. I feel better with a safety, it is easy on and easy off, just a routine that you do.
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  #52  
Old 01-04-2015, 02:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnSW View Post
"It got tangled in my clothing," Counceller said of his weapon. "I was wearing a sweatshirt and a fleece jacket. I felt (the gun) [Glock] go in the holster and I pushed it, but it was tangled in the material which caused it to discharge. The bullet went into my leg and then into the floor."

Ind. police chief accidentally shoots self at gun shop
Same police chief did it again!
Police Chief Accidentally Shoots Himself For The Second Time

I have 2 Shields, both have safeties. My wife doesn't have her permit yet, put I use mine and have no problem flicking off when I draw. Practice,practice,practice.
Chuck
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  #53  
Old 01-04-2015, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by agksimon View Post
Not a bit. I'm a lefty and I don't even notice it. I believe it was installed to make the gun saleable in states that require it. That's why it's so small.
Another lefty here. If you do use the safety, are you able to flick it off with your left hand when you draw? I have actually gotten to the point where I can easily activate a right handed mag release with my left hand. In fact I don't even bother to switch the mag release to the right side. Just wondering if the same approach might be possible with the Shield safety?
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  #54  
Old 01-04-2015, 07:23 PM
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My shield has the safety, I ignore it. However if I were buying a shield today I'd get one WITHOUT the safety.
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  #55  
Old 01-04-2015, 09:58 PM
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Remember Glocks became famous, in part, because they have no safeties. People, CCW, and cops welcome this feature when they are under stress. Less **** to worry about. Just rack and blast away.
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  #56  
Old 01-04-2015, 10:42 PM
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I grew up shooting 1911's. When I shoot a firearm without a safety, my thumb still swipes down looking for it.

My Shield has a safety and it feels like and operates like an old friend. I like having the safety there.

Jeff
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  #57  
Old 01-11-2015, 06:06 PM
RyanJM RyanJM is offline
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I got one with a safety because it was in stock. My Kel Tec PF9 had not safety and I used the belt clip and no holster in the summer and never had a issue. In the winter I usually had my Sig 1911 Untra Compact .45 hammer back with safety on. I do like having the safety sometimes though. If I come home and out my gun on a table I usually put the safety on. Just FYI I live alone and their are never kids in my place so it is safe. My girlfriend is the only one that comes here and she has her own gun so she knows about safe handling.
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  #58  
Old 09-02-2015, 11:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fbcmrjrtykr View Post
One of the reasons I wanted this gun was the presence of the safety. I plan to cc with one in the chamber and I'm not a fan of AD. I'll practice sweeping the safety even knowing it will cost me a few seconds.
I don't like the safety on my personal shield as when you get down to a shooting, you might not remember to take the safety off and then it will be to late. Just practice and keep your finger off the trigger. IMO
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  #59  
Old 03-03-2016, 05:32 PM
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Default M&P Shield safety or no safety

I have two of the Shields and both have a safety. But mine have the safety modified. I have added fiberglass to the button to make it easier to manipulate. You do need to remove it from the receiver to do the job but it is simple. You just build it up and when it cures you form it like you want. I don't know why S&W or somebody hasn't made an aftermarket safety that is usable. The safety is the worst part on the Shield.

Last edited by bootman; 03-03-2016 at 05:34 PM.
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  #60  
Old 03-03-2016, 05:40 PM
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I like the safety. Use it all the time except when pulling the trigger.
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  #61  
Old 03-29-2016, 08:23 PM
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Default S&M Sheild safety

I bought a 9mm Shield a few weeks ago and the safety is so stiff I can't even move it. Any suggestions?
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  #62  
Old 03-29-2016, 11:48 PM
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I like the manual safety. Very easy to use. It's in exactly the right position to flip it with the side of my thumb. Never had a problem going in, or out, of the various holsters I have.
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  #63  
Old 03-30-2016, 09:28 AM
Lead Pipe Lead Pipe is offline
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I bought my shield without a safety and just bought the new M&P Bodyguard without a safety. The best safety you can have is the one between your ears. The cops that shoot themselves usually have been trained with firearms that have safeties and they rely on them to protect negligent gun handling. When they go to a gun like a glock they don't use proper handling safety and have an issue. I don't trust my gross motor skills to turn off a safety when it's fight or flight but I do trust myself to handle a gun with the utmost care if I know when the trigger moves it will go bang no matter what. Don't be lazy.
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  #64  
Old 03-30-2016, 09:38 AM
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I have a Shield with the thumb safety and I use it. You don't have to if you don't want to, but the option is there. When I practice draw and shoot, disengaging the safety is automatic for me.

Last edited by Bozz10mm; 03-30-2016 at 09:40 AM.
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  #65  
Old 05-28-2016, 08:49 PM
Terrior Fan Terrior Fan is offline
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In a high stress situation you lose fine motor skills . Flicking off a safety is a fine motor skill. Training and practice will make it less likely that you fail to flick off the safety. A safety can be accidently left on. Safeties can and do fail . For me I prefer my carry gun to be without a safety
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  #66  
Old 05-29-2016, 09:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lead Pipe View Post
I bought my shield without a safety and just bought the new M&P Bodyguard without a safety. The best safety you can have is the one between your ears. The cops that shoot themselves usually have been trained with firearms that have safeties and they rely on them to protect negligent gun handling. When they go to a gun like a glock they don't use proper handling safety and have an issue. I don't trust my gross motor skills to turn off a safety when it's fight or flight but I do trust myself to handle a gun with the utmost care if I know when the trigger moves it will go bang no matter what. Don't be lazy.
Are you referring to the Bodyguard .380 without a manual safety? I've been wondering when they would offer a model without one since it's like putting a manual safety on a DAO revolver. I don't see it on their website though.

For me the Shield safety doesn't flick on and off as easily as the one on the BG380 and the one on the larger M&Ps are angled to high and aren't wide enough to comfortably rest my thumb on like I do with 1911s. For these reasons I prefer my M&Ps without manual safeties and are not concerned at all. On an M&P they block the trigger from moving backwards, that's it. If you have bad gear or bad habits then a manual safety might be necessary.

Remember that not all manual safeties are created equal and do not work the same across all brands and models. Some make more sense than others which depends on the mechanics of the pistol itself.

Last edited by Nakanokalronin; 05-29-2016 at 09:38 AM.
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  #67  
Old 06-02-2016, 04:03 PM
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Such hate in this thread about safeties, lol. For everyone that's hellbent on sweeping the safety off like your 1911, fine, go for it. But I'd encourage you to recall that not all safeties work in that manner. For people that are used to the Berretta or 3rd gen Smiths manual of arms the safety would be backwards. Frankly, I don't carry those with the safety on anyways. Those safeties are decockers without the spring, but I digress.

Really, you should just do what is comfortable for you. Safety or not, always be sure to carry with the trigger covered, preferably with quality leather or kydex. Also make sure that your holster is clear when reholstering. I had a Shield with a safety, but currently I run one without it. The manual of arms matches my 9c, 9L, and Glock 19. My bodyguard's safety remains off, and hopefully when I get around to sending it back to Smith to get the mag hold open looked at they can replace the safety with a plug. It looks like that's what they are doing on the safetiless version...but you would have thought they would have done a new frame mold.
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  #68  
Old 06-08-2016, 07:30 AM
boomerguy49 boomerguy49 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lead Pipe View Post
I bought my shield without a safety and just bought the new M&P Bodyguard without a safety. The best safety you can have is the one between your ears. The cops that shoot themselves usually have been trained with firearms that have safeties and they rely on them to protect negligent gun handling. When they go to a gun like a glock they don't use proper handling safety and have an issue. I don't trust my gross motor skills to turn off a safety when it's fight or flight but I do trust myself to handle a gun with the utmost care if I know when the trigger moves it will go bang no matter what. Don't be lazy.
I agree! If anyone practices safety, it will be impossible to accidentally discharge a gun. the best safety is the one between the ears. It's the same argument against Blackhawk holsters with the locking mechanism. If you keep your trigger finger ABOVE the trigger guard while inserting and removing the pistol, the trigger can not be fired. Practice, practice, practice!
Or, to make it even simpler, if you order a hot cup of coffee from McDonald's, is it the cup's fault you burn yourself? If the person at the window who serves the hot coffee doesn't get burned, how does the customer get burned? Cheeez!
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  #69  
Old 06-08-2016, 09:23 AM
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I have the no safety model and I carry C3 (unchambered). The likelihood of being ambushed is highly unlikely and I'm comfortable with small amount of time and trade-off of having to rack and chamber a round vs the the greater chance of ND. If my wife has a problem racking the slide (using proper technique), my children won't be able to (not that I leave it accessible to chance it).
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  #70  
Old 08-11-2016, 10:05 PM
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In Kalifornia...we have no choice.
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  #71  
Old 08-11-2016, 10:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ManoGod View Post
I kinda like the safety. Shield is the only one I own that has a safety. I guess the short trigger on the shield makes me feel safe with the safety as all my other handguns have a longer/stiffer trigger pull and no thumb safety. Like they say....just leave dang thing off if it bothers you. The guy I buy some guns thru said it could be removed. Not sure tho.
If it can be removed, DON'T. If you ever have to use it in a self-defense situation some attorney will have a field day portraying you as a reckless maniac.
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  #72  
Old 08-11-2016, 10:49 PM
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The use of a safety is a personal choice; I wouldn't make that choice for anyone but myself, & I expect the same courtesy from anybody else. I prefer a safety. I see on this page a lot of people parroting the same phrases about the "best safety is between your ears". And "In a high stress situation, you may forget to turn the safety off". When I got back into pistols a few years back, the self defense instructors I worked with to get my CCL worked with us individually, of course, & one of the main things was developing a draw that worked for the individual & the type of firearm he or she planned to carry. I learned to make sweeping the safety part of my draw, & have practiced it every since. I'm waiting for my Shield 45 to be delivered, with thumb safety of course!
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  #73  
Old 08-12-2016, 09:29 AM
Tradewind36 Tradewind36 is offline
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I purchased my Shield with a safety a couple years ago, don't know if the no-safety was on the market yet. On my last 2 trips to the range I loaded my Shield, brought it up to fire and both times I pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Forgot to take the safety off. I figure if I can't remember it at the range there's no way I'll remember it in a stressful SD situation. For this reason I no longer use the safety. The Shield is the first handgun I've owned with a safety, just can't retrain myself to remember it so it now stays off.
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  #74  
Old 08-12-2016, 10:18 AM
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I appendix carry and believe in Murphy's Law.
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  #75  
Old 08-12-2016, 10:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradewind36 View Post
I purchased my Shield with a safety a couple years ago, don't know if the no-safety was on the market yet. On my last 2 trips to the range I loaded my Shield, brought it up to fire and both times I pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Forgot to take the safety off. I figure if I can't remember it at the range there's no way I'll remember it in a stressful SD situation. For this reason I no longer use the safety. The Shield is the first handgun I've owned with a safety, just can't retrain myself to remember it so it now stays off.
I carried and trained for many years with a revolver. My old head is not programmed to sweep off a safety on a handgun. I have a 1911 that I have shot quite a bit, and I find that I remember to sweep off the safety most of the time. I even remember to sweep it on most of the time. MOST of the time! So I so not use this gun for my personal protection. I am very fond of striker fired handguns, the Shields and M&P models in particular. Drawing and firing them is very similar to drawing and firing a revolver. Handling and carrying them is little different beyond the different reloading procedure. I have no qualms about carrying these guns fully loaded in a proper holster. I am very careful about re-holstering either type of handgun.

I can pitch or catch with respect to a manual safety on the Shield and M&P models. I personally just don't use it at all on my guns equipped with the safety. I have never had my safety move positions without a deliberate effort to change it's position. I just simply ignore the safety unless I have some reason to use it. That is a very seldom occurrence for me. The safety does not negatively affect the guns in any way for me. I don't mind having it present, and I would not mind it if my guns didn't have it. I think it is much ado about nothing. It's good to have a choice, especially when with or without is good to go!
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  #76  
Old 08-12-2016, 12:16 PM
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I have a 9 with safety and 45 without.
After many years carrying revolver and third generation autos, I just can not remember to move the safety down on the M&P.
So I wish the 9 didn't have the option.
For me, it comes down to what you are used to.
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  #77  
Old 08-12-2016, 05:26 PM
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It all comes down to what you have trained for. Forgetting to disengage a manual safety is a training failure - period.

Manual safety manipulation is no different than other aspects of running your weapon; acquiring a proper grip, making a clean presentation, gaining proper trigger finger placement, etc.

We act as if this manual safety operation is some kind of left field outlier that is so difficult to overcome, especially when the chips are down.

If ya don't train for it you'll screw it up. There was a day when you had no choice but to train with a manual safety and guess what? We all remembered to disengage it before we fired our weapons even in the heat of battle.

The option of a manual safety on an M&P pistol is a personal one - there's no right or wrong. Just train with what you carry.
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  #78  
Old 08-12-2016, 05:49 PM
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You're correct about the training, all my years of handgun training has been without a manual safety. Now I have one with the manual safety and it has been difficult retraining myself. I've decided to stick with what I know and leave the safety off so I can operate all my handguns the same way. I don't feel any less safe.

Guess this old dog can't be taught new tricks.

I
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Old 08-12-2016, 05:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Holmes375 View Post
The option of a manual safety on an M&P pistol is a personal one - there's no right or wrong. Just train with what you carry.
^^^Yes. As I wrote earlier, a manual safety is important to me and my method of carry. I installed a thumb safety in my M&P 9C because the Apex FSS trigger is about 4 lb. and feels like a 1911. I also carry a Sig P938 cocked & locked.

So I'm happy to have the .45 Shield with thumb safety and use it religiously every day now.
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Old 08-12-2016, 09:15 PM
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I think a fellow (or gal) ought to use whichever platform lets them sleep at night and the one they have the most confidence in. I still carry my revolvers. I've had several decades of training with them. I like some of the advantages of the semi autos, especially the ones that draw and fire with the same exact steps I took for all those revolver years. I'm too old and do not have the time nor the desire to retrain myself to another system where I have to remember which platform is in my holster. Yes, training is very important, but so is the "keep it simple, stupid" axiom, especially when operating under severe stress during which time your brain is very likely to revert to whatever method has been solidly programmed within it. For me, that's a weapon that does not require swiping off a manual safety, which in my mind is redundant on these weapons. I have also trained most of my life to keep my booger hook off the trigger until I intend to fire. That's what makes 'em go off, you know?
Nothing is fool proof and anything can happen. But what is most likely to happen is what is firmly programmed in the computer. I am loathe to try to start a new operating system for the times my life depends on it most.

As I said before, the manual safety on most striker fired weapons can be used or not without fear of that weapon just going "OFF" on it's on. My manual safeties have not and ever moved from "on" or "off" unless I have purposely moved it. So I don't mind if my Shields or my M&P's have it installed or not. I will happily buy either way, and happily use either platform. I just choose to leave the manual safety off all the time, unless for some heretofore unknown reason I should decide to use it, after which I pray I will remember to move it to the "off" position again. I DO NOT say anyone else should do as I do. I just do not see why this topic generates such discussion. If you want a manual safety, please get one and use it in good health and happiness. If you think for some obscure reason that having a manual safety in place will make your weapon less safe or less efficient, then please don't get one!

There is surely room for all of us on either side of the question Ain't it grand that we have the choice? I'll happily let you chose your extra safety if you'll give me the room to chose none or not to use the ones I have! Thanks for listening.
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Old 08-13-2016, 06:40 AM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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I personally am glad I have the safety on my .45. That a big bullet pointing at my junk.
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Old 08-13-2016, 11:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SwflG17Guy View Post
I personally am glad I have the safety on my .45. That a big bullet pointing at my junk.
If I chose to carry my guns in a holster that points at my junk, I'd probably feel just like you do, Sir! I try very, very hard not to ever point my guns at my junk! I also chose to carry in a manner and place where my guns don't point at anybody else's junk unless I'm holding my gun in my hand and intentionally point it at someone else's junk!

I'm not picking on you, Sir! I'm just reporting my own choices.
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Old 08-13-2016, 12:27 PM
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No worries!
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Old 08-13-2016, 03:23 PM
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Default Safety

Safety or not, on or off, you should 'look the pistol into the holster'.
This should be part of our training/practice.
Let's be safe out there.
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Old 08-13-2016, 04:19 PM
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Default Shield safety

The tragic story about the Idaho mother is one we use in everyone of the concealed carry classes my business partner and I teach, the point being to caution folks about off-body carry and the need to be in control of one's weapon ALL the time.

But I do wonder if the Shield in question had had a safety, which the story does not say, it might have made a difference.

IF I ever own a Shield, it WILL have a safety and it WILL be used 100%.
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Old 08-13-2016, 05:08 PM
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Default Not so fast

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Originally Posted by boomerguy49 View Post
I agree! If anyone practices safety, it will be impossible to accidentally discharge a gun. the best safety is the one between the ears. It's the same argument against Blackhawk holsters with the locking mechanism. If you keep your trigger finger ABOVE the trigger guard while inserting and removing the pistol, the trigger can not be fired. Practice, practice, practice!
Or, to make it even simpler, if you order a hot cup of coffee from McDonald's, is it the cup's fault you burn yourself? If the person at the window who serves the hot coffee doesn't get burned, how does the customer get burned? Cheeez!
As I mentioned in my previous post in this thread, I favor a safety on the Shield. And as for the assertion that it will be impossible to accidentally discharge a gun if one practices safety, I will just mention that in the concealed carry classes that I teach, we always ask if anyone present has ever had an unintentional, accidental, negligent, (whichever you prefer) discharge.

Normally about half of the class will raise their hand. And that includes many folks who have had a lifetime of experience handling weapons. Guess they didn't practice enough!

My point is that there is always the possibility of making a mistake, no matter how much you practice or train.

Ask around and see what folks tell you when pressed on the accidental discharge question. You may be surprised.
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Old 08-13-2016, 07:26 PM
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"Normally about half of the class will raise their hand. And that includes many folks who have had a lifetime of experience handling weapons. Guess they didn't practice enough!"

I have found in my own experience that one of the things we must guard against at all times is described by the axiom, "Familiarity breeds contempt!" Not that we hold safety in contempt, but it's really easy to become a bit complacent and do things without giving them our entire attention, which is always a requirement for being safe as we can all the time. Have you ever driven a stretch of highway and realize that you did not consciously see anything along the way? I sure have, and it scares me to death. And I'm a guy who spent years sorting out and filing reports on thousands of vehicle crashes. No one should pay more attention while driving than I, based on what I've seen firsthand. It's really a challenge to be fully alert and aware and paying full attention to the task at hand ALL the time! As they say, safety is job one with everything we do. I know to do better than I do at times, and that scares me more than about anything!
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Old 08-21-2016, 01:09 AM
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I recently purchased the shield with a safety. My logic: utilize safety when holstering and unholstering. Once holstered, safety is off. Normal (casual/daily) unholstering, safety is engaged prior to.
Train with blue gun (3 draws) morning and night w/o safety being "swept" or disengaged. So when I'm holstered, it's hot and in the highly unlikely event I ever need to draw, I'm ready.
In summary - in all normal instances the safety is on when the weapon is out of the holster and off once safely holstered.
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Old 10-02-2017, 03:46 AM
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Exclamation A Few seconds later and the fight (yours) may be over

Quote:
Originally Posted by fbcmrjrtykr View Post
One of the reasons I wanted this gun was the presence of the safety. I plan to cc with one in the chamber and I'm not a fan of AD. I'll practice sweeping the safety even knowing it will cost me a few seconds.
If it is going to take you a few seconds to sweep a safety, you need some more practice.
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Old 10-02-2017, 01:06 PM
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I hate safeties on a self defense gun. My current carry guns are a Glock 19, M&P compact and a Shield. My Shield has a safety but I never use it. The safety version was the only one I can find so that's why I bought it. If I can find another one for the same price without a safety, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
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Old 10-02-2017, 03:19 PM
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I have a shield with the thumb safety as well. Never bothered me. Mostly I just leave it off. Thing is its so small and is quite stiff that I have never worried about it accidentally engaging. In any case if I wanted to use it i can disengage it with a little more effort with my shooting hand, but it takes my other hand to re-engaging it because of its stiffness.

On the other hand I have an m&p 9c with a thumb safety I would never trust. It is larger and can be engaged/disengaged way too easily, just by brushing it against anything. I like the idea of having a safety but I would much rather have the shields safety on the compact or none at all.
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Old 10-02-2017, 04:09 PM
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All 3 of my S&W's have safety's. I had the option to get with out but for me when i store them unloaded with a trigger lock i like the safety as just another way to neuter it so to say..lol

Quote:
Originally Posted by RLee View Post
Aside from the obvious, is there a difference between the Shield with a manual safety and the new Shield without?

I've heard people that are excited for the new Shield without the safety b/c they don't like a gun with a manual safety. Couldn't a person just not use the manual safety???

What's the difference?


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Old 10-03-2017, 12:40 AM
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.

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Old 10-03-2017, 01:36 AM
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As a lefty there's NO good reason for me to buy one with a safety because it's impossible to reach left handed. I don't own any handguns with a safety.

As others have stated. Practice, practice, practice and Finger off the trigger.
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Old 10-03-2017, 08:47 AM
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I'm young enough that I've pretty much always had a 1911 style safy on my pistols. Always usd safeties on rifles and shotguns as well. I'm training my kids on a ruger 22/45 mk III to always keep that safety engaged no matter what.

For a short while more than 10 years ago I used to iwb carry a glock about 5 oclock in a holster with enclosed loops and had to sometimetimes stow the pistol in my car. I got my tshirt stuck in the trigger once struggling with reholstering in the car. Didn't go off but I had enough of that. Carrying in front of the hip now makes reholstering a bit easier, but its dirt simple to buy a good weapon with a manual safety.

Last edited by bnolsen; 10-04-2017 at 12:32 PM.
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Old 10-03-2017, 12:15 PM
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It's also dirt simple not to reholster while sitting in a vehicle but clearing your holster is just as simple.
If you think nobody has never had an ND with a gun that has a safety then your fooling yourself.
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Old 10-03-2017, 12:38 PM
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Statistics are statistics. Of course people have ND sometimes with weapons with safeties, however statistically the number is dramatically lower if you do have a safety as long as its operated properly. Having a clip on holster or easy to remove holster helps a lot too as most holsters are part of the safety system as well.

Last edited by bnolsen; 10-03-2017 at 12:39 PM.
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Old 10-03-2017, 12:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradewind36 View Post
You're correct about the training, all my years of handgun training has been without a manual safety. Now I have one with the manual safety and it has been difficult retraining myself. I've decided to stick with what I know and leave the safety off so I can operate all my handguns the same way. I don't feel any less safe.

Guess this old dog can't be taught new tricks.

I
If your gun has a safety then don't just ignore it, use it, use it every time, or completely remove it from the gun!

Ignoring it can REALLY bite you in an emergency situation.

If you don't continually train to swipe the safety off every time then one day you will draw that gun & it won't fire when the trigger is pulled as the safety could get inadvertently pushed to on.
It won't even cross your mind to take the safety off in a stressful situation as you haven't trained yourself to do that. (by the time you figure it out you probably won't need a functional gun by then)

I suppose the good part is that your next of kin will inherit a gun with a working safety.
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Old 10-03-2017, 01:44 PM
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Enough.................................. This thread has been going on since June of 2014. Please let it die.
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Old 10-04-2017, 10:44 AM
SwflG17Guy SwflG17Guy is offline
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But we havent figured out who is right yet!!
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