Why have a thumb safety on an M&P Pistol!

[Houdini1953]

Why would anyone want a thumb safety on an M&P so now bear with me on this? The M&P like the Glock is a striker fired weapon and there is no hammer to strike the firing pin which could possibly fire if the weapon were to be dropped but there is no hammer on an M&P!

While I do have one M&P that does have one just like my old model 59 it also has a mag disconnect the same as my model 59 but I bought it for a good price and don't even use the safety as it is unnecessary.

The only way a striker fired weapon will go off is if the trigger is pulled and with the cantilever or two stage trigger design that M&P has this almost has to be a purposeful act.

I own 5 M&P's 7 if you count the .357SIG barrels I have for my 40c and 40 fullsize and all are always fully loaded at all times even in the safe. I have had a Model 59 since 1982 and the same is true with it and it nor any other weapon has ever gone off without me pulling the trigger. Now I do chamber a round in them all and with the model 59 since it has a hammer I do engage the safety and disengage when ready to fire the weapon, it is natural as I am sure thumb safety is with those that carry the 1911 type weapons.

Can someone come up with a good reason to have a thumb safety on a striker fired weapon, I would sure like to hear it because I can see no logical reason for one in the first place!

 

[Carnage_7]

Because that's what a lot of (gun-dumb) customers want!!!

 

[Houdini1953]

That has to be one of the reasons and also for those that use the 1911's and are so accustomed to it so they figure why not have it and if it makes them feel better then God Bless them but it is not necessary, just like a television on your honeymoon night!

 

[CajunBass]

If you want it and you don't have it, you can't use it.

If you don't want it, and have it, you don't have to use it.

 

[Dave686]

All the people that have shot themselves or someone else with a Glock; ask for it.

 

[Twoboxer]

The only way . . . is if the trigger is pulled and with the (M&P) design . . . this almost has to be a purposeful act.

That's the reason . . . "almost".

 

[Jeb21]

Not "gun dumb". I have been an active handgun shooter for almost 30 years now and a competition shooter for about 10 years. I like the 1911 style thumb safety on the M&P pistol. I use it and it gives me a piece of mind. I do not like the very small thumb safeties on the Ruger SR9 or the M&P Shield. Under stress I would not be able to de activate those little safeties.

 

[MichiganScott]

I suspect that the thumb safety may be a way to gain points in certain states that are unfavorable to handguns and have stringent requirements before the pistol can be sold in those states.

 

[Houdini1953]

I suspect that the thumb safety may be a way to gain points in certain states that are unfavorable to handguns and have stringent requirements before the pistol can be sold in those states.

This is because those states that place weird requirements on guns mag cap and so forth really do not want you to have a gun in the first place and are just placing more hurdles so in Massachusetts (which is where Smith & Wesson is headquarted) you are not allowed to buy a magazine with more than a ten round cap and to make sure of that try to put ten rounds into a ten round Smith&Wesson mag, it ain't gonna happen! So you now go out and buy 10 10 round magazines so you just have to change mags more often and how long does that take?

 

[JJEH]

Not "gun dumb"...[...]... I like the 1911 style thumb safety on the M&P pistol. I use it and it gives me a piece of mind. I do not like the very small thumb safeties on the Ruger SR9 or the M&P Shield. Under stress I would not be able to de activate those little safeties.

+1 on that.

 

[mrhornet]

I really can’t give a good answer as to why I wanted it. I have been taught to always check the safety to make sure it’s on and only take it off when ready to shoot. Guess it’s just been drilled in. The weird thing is I don’t mind a revolver not having one.

 

[HokiePS7]

Why? Lawyers. That's why. I've carried Glocks, HKs, and numerous 1911s. I'm good with the safety. I'm good without. Won't use it on my Shield.

 

[Horace & Daniel]

Lawyers. Nuff said.

 

[kris7047th]

Lawyers. Nuff said.

^^ This ^^ I suspect the only reason that S&W put a safety on the Shield was to cover their butt in case some goof shooting him/herself pulling the gun from a pocket/purse and dummy had a fingered curled over the trigger area. "But it's S&W's fault for not having a safety option" and the heck with gun handling safety rules.

 

[JaPes]

It's not "gun dumb". It's personal preference. If it's not something you want, don't buy the model with it. I applaud S&W for giving the firearms enthusiast a choice.

My M&P 9 doesn't have a frame safety. I'm a Glock owner so it's no big deal to me not having a safety. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot: aware of the foreground, the target, and the background.

My 1911 has a frame safety that I find easy to use, and not intrusive. A reflexive flick of the thumb, and the safety is off. I have a M&P 22 that has a frame safety, and I find it as easy to use and unobtrusive as a 1911's safety.

I agree with Jeb21. John Moses Browning got it right with the thumb safety concept. I don't like those little, hard to activate/deactivate, nub safeties that sit basically flush to the weapon. I also don't like the slide mounted safety system a-la Beretta 90-series.

***EDIT***

The Shield is an odd one. The one I fondled at the LGS had a pretty stout safety. It wasn't easy to engage/disengage it by accident. It took a bit of pressure. I'm not a big fan that style safety. At least S&W made it as unobtrusive as possible. If you don't want to use it, leave it disengaged.

 

[Houdini1953]

It's not "gun dumb". It's personal preference. If it's not something you want, don't buy the model with it. I applaud S&W for giving the firearms enthusiast a choice.

My M&P 9 doesn't have a frame safety. I'm a Glock owner so it's no big deal to me not having a safety. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot: aware of the foreground, the target, and the background.

My 1911 has a frame safety that I find easy to use, and not intrusive. A reflexive flick of the thumb, and the safety is off. I have a M&P 22 that has a frame safety, and I find it as easy to use and unobtrusive as a 1911's safety.

I agree with Jeb21. John Moses Browning got it right with the thumb safety concept. I don't like those little, hard to activate/deactivate, nub safeties that sit basically flush to the weapon. I also don't like the slide mounted safety system a-la Beretta 90-series.

You stated pretty much the idea for a weapon that uses a hammer but the M&P does not have one you could drive nails with it if you want and it would not fire, but the point is that a STRIKER FIRED weapon will only fire if the trigger, that thing within the trigger guard is squeezed and that is the whole point I was trying to make in the original post, which is without squeezing the two stage trigger with your finger in the correct place the M&P cannot fire the firing of this weapon is an act of whoever is holding the weapon to actually pull the trigger!

 

[10mm Sonny]

If I want something, why should I have to explain myself to those who don't want it.

 

[JaPes]

You stated pretty much the idea for a weapon that uses a hammer but the M&P does not have one you could drive nails with it if you want and it would not fire, but the point is that a STRIKER FIRED weapon will only fire if the trigger, that thing within the trigger guard is squeezed and that is the whole point I was trying to make in the original post, which is without squeezing the two stage trigger with your finger in the correct place the M&P cannot fire the firing of this weapon is an act of whoever is holding the weapon to actually pull the trigger!

There is no contesting that point. Safety off or no safety, pull a trigger and you get a bang.

There's a generous amount of trigger area that can be depressed that will deactivate the trigger safety on a M&P. I can put my finger on either side of the trigger, and the trigger safety will disengage.

IMO, this is the one point I give the Glock's safe action trigger. The pad of my finger has to be on the exact center of that trigger, depressing that little lever, for the trigger safety to disengage.

This is something we just won't see eye-to-eye on, and that's a good thing. I think we both agree that the best "safety" is to keep your finger off the trigger until you're 100% ready to shoot, no matter the firearm.

 

[HK-N-THE-HOUSE]

That's the reason . . . "almost".

+1 on that.

 

[HK-N-THE-HOUSE]

If I want something, why should I have to explain myself to those who don't want it.

+1 ON this one also.