Shield CC Safety

[rsmithtesiusa]

Sure this is an elementary question - but someone please explain to me why it is safe to carry a Shield with the safety in fire position?
I carry a CS-9 and understand that carrying it with the hammer "de-cocked" and safety in fire position is safe because the gun is in double action mode. Could dribble it down the street and it wont go off, and the long, heavy double action trigger pull helps prevent an accidental trigger pull. Same with carrying a double action only revolver - long heavy trigger pull.
A buddy just got a Shield 9mm and I got to fire it today. if i understand correctly it is Double Action only and designed to be carried with the safety in the fire position. But the trigger is spectacular, very easy to shoot, much softer and shorter pull than my CS-9 in Double Action mode or a revolver.
How does this work? I know it is "striker fired", which I do not completely understand, probably has something to do with it.
Just trying to educate myself. Thanks for the help.

 

[WSanford]

I picked up a Shield 9 last week and agree the trigger is sweet. I think it depends on how you carry it. I would not "Appendix" without the safety on or with a difficult holster that I for some odd reason had to use. I have a desantis OWB for it that in some cases I would be comfortable carrying with the safety in the fire position. YMMV

 

[CaptRon956]

Me personally I would not carry a Shield with the safety off...

 

[Ruger_Up]

I've carried my Shield for a year now with a round chambered and the safety off. They're designed to be carried that way.
I should also mention I'm a southpaw so the safety is a moot point for me regardless. With a good holster that covers the trigger, there should never been an issue.
I heard a LEO once say, "keep your booger hooker off the bang bang." Made sense to me!

 

[John R]

Me personally I would not carry a Shield with the safety off...

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, the gun will not fire if you keep your finger off the trigger.

 

[BobbyBJr]

I carry my Shield with the safety on, but practice flicking it off every time touch the gun. It's personal preference.


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[Smoke]

Me personally I would not carry a Shield with the safety off...

Me personally I would not carry a Shield with a safety period

 

[Smoke]

I've carried my Shield for a year now with a round chambered and the safety off. They're designed to be carried that way.

Do you have any documentation that the Shield was specifically designed to be carried with the safety off?

I mean if that's the case why put a safety on it in the first place?

 

[Jakpro]

They put the safety on it to sell it in all of the states.

And even then, they had to make a CA and MA version to appease them and pass their additional requirements.

 

[RobzGuns]

Sure this is an elementary question - but someone please explain to me why it is safe to carry a Shield with the safety in fire position?
A buddy just got a Shield 9mm and I got to fire it today. if i understand correctly it is Double Action only and designed to be carried with the safety in the fire position.
How does this work? I know it is "striker fired", which I do not completely understand, probably has something to do with it.
Just trying to educate myself. Thanks for the help.

While many companies selling Striker Fire pistols label them as DAO, a Striker Fire system is nothing like a 'True' (Revolver style Hammer & Firing Pin) DAO. For me, there are Four trigger systems: SA/SAO, DAO, DA/SA and Striker Fire.

Many Companies incorporate a manual thumb safety onto a striker fire system merely to appease some markets. If a manual safety was vital to the safe operation of a striker fire system, S&W would not have added the 'NTS' version of the Shield.

As Rastoff might write: "Here's how an M&P trigger works". It explains the M&P striker fire system (not to be confused with a TRUE DAO trigger system).


This page has some great interactive demonstrations of the differences between a Beretta's Decocking system, a Striker Fire system and a 'True' revolver style DAO.
Handgun Basics-Education-Training

 

[Ruger_Up]

Do you have any documentation that the Shield was specifically designed to be carried with the safety off?



I mean if that's the case why put a safety on it in the first place?

Check about 4 or 5 paragraphs down.


http://www.gunblast.com/SW-Shield.htm

 

[RobzGuns]

I've carried my Shield for a year now with a round chambered and the safety off. They're designed to be carried that way.

Do you have any documentation that the Shield was specifically designed to be carried with the safety off?
I mean if that's the case why put a safety on it in the first place?

Check about 4 or 5 paragraphs down.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Sub-Compact 9x19mm Semi-Auto Pistol

While I do agree that the manual safety was merely an 'add-on' that's not needed in a striker fire pistol, due to the internal striker safety (and trigger safety), the paragraph states nothing about being 'designed to be carried with the safety off'. What it does say is:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]The Shield has an internal striker safety which prevents the weapon from firing unless the trigger is pulled, and there is also a manual safety for right-handed shooters at the upper left side of the frame. In the upper position, the safety blocks the trigger, and pushes downward to the “fire” position.[/FONT]

That's the only mention of a safety that I found. Did I miss it?

 

[Wishoot]

Been carrying a Shield fully loaded for about a year. One in the pipe ready to go. Safety off. It hasn't magically discharged by itself.

 

[rsmithtesiusa]

I understand that it is all about keeping your finger off the trigger. I am comfortable carrying my CS-9 as described because it would take a significant effort to fire unintentionally - like shirt getting caught on trigger as holstering etc. The trigger feels so good (light and short pull) on the shield that, in my feeble little brain, it would be more likely to have an unintended firing due to something impacting/catching on trigger. Is my interpretation correct, or is there some other design function to make this less likely?
I am hoping there is, because if I could feel comfortable carrying it with safety in Fire position, I just might get me one.
Also, from the video it looks like there is a "block" of some kind on the striker to keep it from firing in the event of being jarred ( like dropping it etc.). Is that assumption correct?
In my mind the most important safety factor with a CC gun is avoiding unintended firing - and the the 2 ways that can happen is impact and accidental trigger pull.
Thanks again for all the wisdom.


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[recurve]

I just simply got one without a safety. Works for me.

 

[smithman 10]

Shield safety

IF I ever buy a Shield it will have a safety and IF I carry it the safety will ALWAYS be engaged!

We know we should keep the trigger finger off the trigger until ready to fire and the safety is between our ears, BUT:

There are more negligent discharges with striker fired handguns than other types. There is a reason for that - the "brain safety" often fails to work.

Solution? Carry with the safety engaged and train to the point where swiping it off on the draw becomes automatic. 1911 owners don't seem to have any problem doing that, so why should Shield owners have a problem? IF they train hard enough to do it.

 

[wepiii]

While I do agree that the manual safety was merely an 'add-on' that's not needed in a striker fire pistol, due to the internal striker safety (and trigger safety), the paragraph states nothing about being 'designed to be carried with the safety off'. What it does say is:

That's the only mention of a safety that I found. Did I miss it?

Doesn't the fact that Smith also offers a Shield without a safety kinda prove that it was designed to be carried with the safety off? If not, then how would you recommend carrying this gun?

 

[RobzGuns]

Doesn't the fact that Smith also offers a Shield without a safety kinda prove that it was designed to be carried with the safety off? If not, then how would you recommend carrying this gun?

I agree... Striker fire pistols do not need a safety. Had a NTS version been available 3Yrs ago when I got mine, I would have gotten it.
You seem to have missed my point.
Ruger_Up referred to an article that supposedly stated that the Shield was designed to be carried with the safety 'Off'. I simply stated that I saw no such statement in that article.

 

[Jaysq]

I understand that it is all about keeping your finger off the trigger. I am comfortable carrying my CS-9 as described because it would take a significant effort to fire unintentionally - like shirt getting caught on trigger as holstering etc. The trigger feels so good (light and short pull) on the shield that, in my feeble little brain, it would be more likely to have an unintended firing due to something impacting/catching on trigger. Is my interpretation correct, or is there some other design function to make this less likely?
I am hoping there is, because if I could feel comfortable carrying it with safety in Fire position, I just might get me one.
Also, from the video it looks like there is a "block" of some kind on the striker to keep it from firing in the event of being jarred ( like dropping it etc.). Is that assumption correct?
In my mind the most important safety factor with a CC gun is avoiding unintended firing - and the the 2 ways that can happen is impact and accidental trigger pull.
Thanks again for all the wisdom.


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The first thing you would want to do it get a holster made for the Shield that completely covers the trigger. I put my safety on when holstering and after it is securely in the holster, I switch it off. No chance of a discharge then. The gun will not fire if dropped.

 

[wepiii]

I agree... Striker fire pistols do not need a safety. Had a NTS version been available 3Yrs ago when I got mine, I would have gotten it.
You seem to have missed my point.
Ruger_Up referred to an article that supposedly stated that the Shield was designed to be carried with the safety 'Off'. I simply stated that I saw no such statement in that article.

I gotcha, sorry about that. I misunderstood what you were saying. And I agree, I wish the NTS model had been available when I bought mine. If I didn't already have an apex kit and night sights installed I would sell it and buy the NTS model. That being said, I do find it nice to sometimes engage the safety when holstering. Knock on wood, but I have yet to find my safety engaged on its own, but I still practice swiping it just in case.