I'm in the market for a new high-cap 9mm. Pretty much narrowed it down to either a 5903/5904/915 or a Sig P228/229.

It seems to me that 3rd gen S&W's are the 'safest' semi autos out there - mag safe, decocker/double action, plus manual safety.

Other than the absence of a manual safety on the decocker Sigs, does anyone know how the other differences/similarities between the Sig and S&W safety mechanisms?

Both have firing pin safeties to prevent a discharge if they're dropped. Otherwise there is the magazine safety in the Smiths to prevent firing if someone removes the mag but forgets to clear the chamber. Also, the manual safety on a Smith can remain engaged while the slide is cycled to load/unload the chamber. With the SIG you still need to be extra-careful to keep your finger clear of the trigger when chambering a round (yes I know you're supposed to do it regardless, but we're talking about which is more idiot-proof).

This is why I now use a 3rd gen Smith for my home defense firearm. By leaving the safety engaged I can safely load or unload it inside the house and and feel more confident that a momentary brain fart isn't going to result in perforated bedsheets and soiled underwear.

I bet Glocks really give you the heeby geebies.

Ok, but can you actually shoot your S&W? I find the safety imposible to use with a normal firing grip. Hence I don't own saftey/decoker Smiths or Berettas.

dsk, thanks for the input. I hadn't even thought about whether they both had firing pin blocks. John3200, I knew an snarky 'safety' comment was inevitable.

I feel perfectly safe carrying my Kahr on a daily basis and would feel no different about a Glock. For this particular gun, I specifically wanted a double/single action w/ decocker. As for the manual safety, if it is there, and can be used if warranted.

However as dsk pointed out, there is the firing pin block. So from what I gather, carrying a decocked (with manual safety disengaged) 3rd Gen S&W semi auto is pretty much the same as carrying a decocked Sig P228 in terms of having a 'gun at the ready'. Correct?

My brother's department carried 4566TSW and 4513TSW for 10 years, they all carried decocked, round in the chamber. After I acquired my 4513TSW my brother and several other Gen III owners here suggested this was the way to carry also.

My biggest hurdle with the 4513 was the double action / long pull 1st shot. Otherwise it is my EDC and within arm's reach at night.

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

For myself, I do noticably better with Smith 3rd gen 9mm's than with the P226/9mm. No one has been able to fix it; just seems to be how those pistols do in my hands. One reason I like to have shot a pistol or that design before I buy one.

Mas Ayoob has written several times on one way to flick the S&W slide safety off while drawing - it works for me.

FWIW.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

S&W 3rd Gens are nice, don't get me wrong but my dream gun is a Sig P229, 40cal. I think it's probably one of the nicer guns on the market today. I got to shoot a buddy's Sig P228 many years ago and fell in love with it but never could afford one. Now they don't make the P228 anymore but you can get a P229. Check out Mark at Summit Gun Broker, he normally has some CPO's and Used Sigs in stock for a pretty good price.

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S&W M642-2,
ATI 1911a1, 4.25"

Did they carried decocked w/ safety on or safety off?

The double action trigger on a Sig is 10.5 lbs. and on both of my Sigs they actually measure right at 10.5 lbs. Personally, with that trigger I think they are as safe to carry as a double action revolver. This means that if I ever have a need to defend myself I don't have to remember to flip off a safety, all I have to do is draw, aim, and pull the trigger. Just like using a revolver.

Personally I think the double action Smiths are overloaded with safeties. If you obey the rules of gun handling you don't need a magazine disconnect. It you carry with the pistol decocked what's the point of a manual safety? Final hit against the Smiths is that parts are becoming difficult to find.

Sum it up and I would recomend the P229. As it happens I have a P229 and I can say from experience that it's a very good handgun.

Ya know you can carry a Smith with the safety off, right? Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Yes you can... Until you go to fire and somehow the safety got engaged.

Rather then carry with the safety/decocker disengaged just find one that is a decocker only. Either slide mounted or frame mounted.

I have several S&W 3rd GENs and a 39-2 (and hope to find another 39-2). I really like these pistols. That said, I also have a P-229 (40 cal/E2 grip) and a P-6 (9MM). I prefer the grip ergonomics and feel of the SIG - at least so far. The only S&W in my small collection that come close are my 3906 and 39-2. Granted, owning a bunch of SIGs is an expensive proposition. But, as stated, the CPO program, and purchasing an older LE weapon can get you into these guns at a reasonable price.

IMHO, I think the 3rd Gen models are the safest there ever was or will be. I never thought too highly of the mag safety but, I can see where it could and probably has saved some LEO's life somewhere down the line. If my 4506 wasn't so big and heavy for carry, that would be my first choice. I sure wouldn't carry a Glock with one in the pipe like the 4506. I don't won't to even remotely give it a chance to drill me in the leg or foot. That is the most unsafe pistol there is...again, IMHO.

Another great thing about the S&W magazine safety is that if you want to leave the gun somewhere like in the car or at home, you can disable it by simply removing the magazine. You do not have to keep removing and reinserting a round in the chamber (which causes the bullet to sink into the case). Alot of folks disable this feature, thinking that it is likely to get them killed because if the mag falls out in a gunfight they will not be able to fire the gun. I think the safety value of the feature outweighs this 'risk'.

I own both Sigs and 3rd Gen Smiths. Both are great guns, both are safe guns. Buy whatever you shoot the best. You can basically buy 2 3rd Gens for a P228. The Sig probably is a little nicer, maybe, but not that much, I'd buy 2 59/69's. JMO.

There are arguments both for and against having a manual safety on a handgun that don't need to be reiterated here. Let's just agree that it's a good thing the lawyers haven't made the choice for us. But personally I like having the option on my pistols. I'm not as enamored of the mag safety, but I can live with it.

Decocker only. There is a built-in safety similar to the M&P, prevents the striker from hitting the primer if the gun is dropped. (Don't know the terminology.)

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

When I had to replace stolen firearms, the second handgun I purchased was a SIG P229. I still have it and like it. But, had I done some more research and not been in such a hurry, I think I would have first purchased my 5906 and probably would not have bought the 229. Not that the 229 is a bad gun, but because the 5906 works very well for me.