I bought a Shield years ago when they first came out. You know, the one with the redundant manual safety. I liked the gun, but couldn't get past the safety, so I sold it. Well, last week I had the opportunity to get one minus the safety. And I finally got the time to go to the range today.

I was the only one on the range so I was able to run a few different drills. I started with slow steady shooting just to get used to the trigger. I noticed it is a 6 O'clock shooter, which I really don't like much, but after about 30 rounds, I got used to it. I moved onto some draw and shoot from a holster so I had to just shoot instinctively. Once I felt comfortably with my extension and shooting, I began to shoot double taps. I was very surprised that I could keep all my double taps within two inches of each other or less. Taking it one step further, I began adding movement. About this time a guy showed up to shoot and watched everything I did. My last mag I started at arms reach of the target and quickly backed up shooting all rounds very fast.

Now, I had no failures that were attributed to the pistol. I only has 1 failure to fire, which was a bad primer (cheap ammo). I was very surprised at how much I fell in love with this pistol. I knew it would be a good gun, but I had no idea it would quickly become my new favorite go-to-gun in the hot summer months and pocket carry (I have big pockets). I have been waiting very impatiently for Glock to make the G43, but I think there is a very high probability that I will forego it for the Shield. It feels good in my hand, its the right weight balance to be light and heavy enough that the recoil is rather mild, and it just works.

On a side note, the guy who came out and was watching me commented on how I was not just shooting at a piece of paper, but actually moving, shooting multiple times, assessing after the shot, and incorporating actual contact with my target. It was the first time someone did not look at me with confusion. He had a Glock 42 and wanted the G43, but after seeing my Shield, he was thinking about getting one himself.

And so there it is. Another positive review from Smith and Wesson's entry in the micro single stack 9mm world.

I just purchased mine and am very impressed. I had a really really hard time finding a single bad review on the shield and that plus it was much cheaper than the glock 19 I've been wanting for a while. Glad I made the purchase.

Too bad you couldn't get past the safety. The Shield's always been a great little subcompact.
So... What were you shooting to get you by, these last three Years?

Couldn't get past the safety?

We bought ours without thumb safety to stay consistent with our other no thumb safety M&Ps.
We also love ours.

Nice review, mimics my experience with my Shield 9mm. These really are great little shooters.

I bought my Shield last year (brand new made in 2014 "with" the thumb safety) and I've never thought of the thumb safety as redundant. I always keep a round in the chamber and the safety on. Plus.............I've practiced drawing out of my holster and sweeping the safety down with my thumb as I bring the pistol up enough, that it's second nature to me now.

I actually have issue with the safety as well. That's why I don't carry the shield now.
Being used to my 3913 where you push the safety up to fire, I find myself having to think "Is it on or off"
For me the non safety would be preferred. But for now I am back to a 640 and happy.

The only time an external safety would bug me is if it turned on automatically when you racked the slide.
Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use it.
Or just make sure it's off after it's holstered.

Recognition of the difference between plinking and training.

I purposely got mine with the safety. It is so accurate and has never had any sort of malfunction. It remains my EDC.

Love my Shield too. I had been a "Glock guy" for most of 20 years and I thought the safety was sort of redundant as well, but I've come to appreciate it after a bit. I carry it with the safety off, and the lever is stiff enough I don't really fear it becoming engaged inadvertently. But when not carrying it I take it out of the holster and then appreciate being able to flip on the safety. There are no kids in the house and my wife knows how to handle guns after years married to me, but the safety makes me feel a bit better about the loaded gun on the dresser.

__________________
Jim - M&P Pro 40L/Shield 40

WHile there are a few 'Hear-Say' (third-hand) accounts of the safety activating (or deactivating) during carry, I've only read 1 or 2 First Hand accounts of the Shield's thumb safety inadvertently engaging/disengaging over the last 3yrs and in both accounts, it was due to an Ill-Fitting holster that allowed the pistol to shift around while the wearer was active.

I engage the safety while loading and topping off, then it gets set to 'off' when inserting into the holster. Mine has not inadvertently engaged in the 3yrs I've worn it.

I have had mine (no safety) for two months, and my first impression is it shoots like a much bigger gun. Every sub-compact I have taken to the range including my beloved XDs 9, the first time shooting it at 7 yards leaves a spread about the size of your open hand. Takes several trips to the range before I have targets worth bragging about. Not the Shield. the very first time out with it, I'm shooting a tighter group than my XDs, that I have had for a year - and at center target. Very impressed with it. Plus it is a lot more comfortable in the pocket or IWB than the XDs.

I totally agree! I've tried many different size 9mm pistols over the years and so far, my Shield tops them all. It has less muzzle flip than several of the large frame 9mm's I've had before and doesn't pound my hand like the small pocket sized ones I've had.

Been carrying a Glock 19. When I needed deep concealment, I carried a S&W 642.

Regarding the safety, I don't want to take any chances when my life is on the line. I have never liked a manual safety on my carry guns. I want to fastest draw and shoot possible. And since my larger gun is a Glock, I wanted the closest thing to a Glock shooting platform as was available.

Its also the same reason I remove the locks on my S&W Airweights. The rumors of it preventing a shot while shooting upward, as in if you are on the ground shooting up at an assailant. Why take the chance?