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

[Silverlobo]

I just traded in my Shield 9 NTS for one with a TS. My reason was my comfort level when carrying. My primary has always been a Browning Hi Power and I trained on the Beretta while in the service. Not having the safety on the Shield just didn't feel right while I was carrying with one in the chamber and I'm not about relying on having the time to rack the slide in a SD situation. It feels very natural disengaging the safety as I draw and I know my weapon is ready.

 

[wsr]

The m&p is not a DA the striker is cocked its no safer than a series 80 1911 carried cocked and unlocked

 

[Smoke]

When I was researching the Shield I watched a video on YouTube in which the videographer inadvertently engaged the safety on his Shield while he was showing it at different angles and didn’t realize it.
I don’t think that only happens in YouTube videos. A safety is a mechanical device and mechanical devices malfunction .
I’ve had to draw a gun exactly one time in self defense in my life and that one time was enough to convince me that I don’t want to have to add any unnecessary steps (AKA opportunities to screw up) to the process.

It’s your life and your choice. You make the decision and you live with the consequences

Been here before

 

[magicmanmb]

The. M&P .40 full size was purchased as a duty pistol. It has a thumb safety bit magazine safety diconnect from the factory it also came with an Apex trigger kit. I use it in duty weapon matches in an open top holster with minimal retention.

 

[SMMAssociates]

The m&p is not a DA the striker is cocked its no safer than a series 80 1911 carried cocked and unlocked

wsr:

Not quite....

The M&P (and Shield) series have trigger safeties that are a PITA, but that limits the possibility of discharging the weapon by dropping it, or otherwise by something manipulating the trigger.

The trigger needs to be held back to actuate the striker block safety.

The striker block itself helps to prevent a discharge by way of dropping. It's not going to move to far by itself....

I'm a 1911 guy, and Condition One is the way I'm used to going, but in the absence of a thumb safety, a draw that fails to wipe off a non-existent safety ought to generate a whole lot less panic than failing to turn off a real one. So, I practice that way.... (I have a thumb safety on a 9C that I since gave to my daughter. She prefers that.)

My Shield has a thumb safety. It's not likely to get actuated by itself, and fairly easy to clear intentionally. Otherwise, the lock structure is quite similar to the older M&P. Mine has an Apex trigger mod (similar to the older models DCAEK kit) which helped a bit, although the trigger's pretty good out of the box.

Regards,

 

[wsr]

wsr:

Not quite....

The M&P (and Shield) series have trigger safeties that are a PITA, but that limits the possibility of discharging the weapon by dropping it, or otherwise by something manipulating the trigger.

The trigger needs to be held back to actuate the striker block safety.

The striker block itself helps to prevent a discharge by way of dropping. It's not going to move to far by itself....

I'm a 1911 guy, and Condition One is the way I'm used to going, but in the absence of a thumb safety, a draw that fails to wipe off a non-existent safety ought to generate a whole lot less panic than failing to turn off a real one. So, I practice that way.... (I have a thumb safety on a 9C that I since gave to my daughter. She prefers that.)

My Shield has a thumb safety. It's not likely to get actuated by itself, and fairly easy to clear intentionally. Otherwise, the lock structure is quite similar to the older M&P. Mine has an Apex trigger mod (similar to the older models DCAEK kit) which helped a bit, although the trigger's pretty good out of the box.

Regards,

Which is why I said series 80, absent breakage the trigger has to be actuated to the rear somehow on either for the gun to fire...the m&p trigger safety is a drop safety nothing more

 

[ca survivor]

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

after 40+ years with firearms I guess I'm (gun-dumb) too, I won't buy an MP with out the thumb safety, go figure, OR is you that can't figure how to work a safety under stress ?

 

[kilo charlie]

We're not all alike.

 

[jstanfield103]

I Live in a free non restrictive state Good Old Kentucky.
I like the 1911 style safety that my M&P9C has. I am use to the 1911 and the safety is just natural. I also have striker fired pistols without the safety. My Glock 43 for example. I like the M&P9C safety. I use it and I am not Gun Stupid. Or at least my antimeres does not let me think that.

In fact I actually had to order mine so I good get the safety, I bought it off of GunBroker new and there was not that many listed when I bought mine.

 

[bigdaddyrobb]

Because America

 

[Practical]

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!

You really must be a deep thinker.

SOMEONE who makes their living Selling and marketing guns can estimate HOW many people will want it, which jurisdiction might require it and how many people transitioning from guns with a safety would appreciate it.

Remember, S&W knows a LOT more about guns and selling them than YOU do.

 

[Mountain Walker]

I think that the thumb safety on the Shield is a particularly good idea. This is a gun that will be carried for years and likely never used. The operator is far more at risk from handling error than not being able to deploy it instantly in an emergency. Besides, with some careful training, good muscle memory can be developed to present and fire the Shield safely and in a very good speed. Big secret to that small little thumb safety is to press the thumb hard into the slide while working the safety.

For those who want to use the Glock, there is a very good technique to ensure 100% safety re-holstering in blind areas. Use a "clip on" IWB holster and when re-holstering, remove the holster from the belt. Then holster the Glock into the holster in front of you. Now take that IWB holster with Glock inside of it as a unit and replace the holster/gun unit into your waist band. Takes very little extra time, but offers complete control and safety. This will of course work with any striker weapon that does not have an external safety, like the non-safety M&P.

These are only my thoughts on the matter of external safeties. I am always open to other ideas to consider, so please do chime in if you have a good idea that has worked for you. I really liked some of the past posts stating that different people have different preferences.

 

[Horn]

California and Not Understanding

When the M&P came out with the manual safety it may have been to get sales in California. (Large population) and most of the prospective buyers not understanding the DAO trigger is a safety.
For over a hundred years LE officers from local to federal carried revolvers that had no manual safeties.
For serious SD situations that happen in a few seconds pointing and pulling the trigger is all there is.
Glock is one of the examples in that there aren't any manual safeties.
Many folks want to change a designed for SD situations pistol and want it to be their range pistol, so start making changes. I've carried for sixty years. The first 24 LE. No manual safeties during that time.
G'luck and stay safe.
PoliViejo

 

[Mcwsky09]

This subject is reaching the heights of AR vs AK and caliber wars. S&W offered thumb safeties on M&P's because some police departments, (the original target audience), required them, same-same mag safeties. Don't understand the controversy. It's like choosing between a car with buckets and a floor shift, or the same one with a split bench and column shift. Whatever floats your boat.

I think the key point here is not that one is better than the other universally but rather that each has pros and cons - but more importantly that each individual should be aware of the pros and cons of each and choose (and train) based on that awareness.

 

[5Wire]

Maybe I missed it but if you have a Shield, aside from "guns are always to be considered loaded," how is it possible to know there is or is not a round in the chamber?

I know, I know, there's a "loaded chamber indicator" either a tiny hole to visually check or a protruding ramp for tactile confirmation. Mine has the little hole. If it's dark it doesn't work.

Aside from racking the slide enough to see if the bullet fairy left one ready to go, how does one know? Safeties definitely have their place.

 

[cardguy]

It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[rsrocket1]

DATED 04-23-2012, 04:16 PM
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!

DATED 4/10/2016, 06:50 PM
You really must be a deep thinker.

SOMEONE who makes their living Selling and marketing guns can estimate HOW many people will want it, which jurisdiction might require it and how many people transitioning from guns with a safety would appreciate it.

Remember, S&W knows a LOT more about guns and selling them than YOU do.

Can SOMEONE come up with a good reason to answer a question posted FOUR YEARS AGO?

 

[Smoke]

For those who want to use the Glock, there is a very good technique to ensure 100% safety re-holstering in blind areas. Use a "clip on" IWB holster and when re-holstering, remove the holster from the belt. Then holster the Glock into the holster in front of you. Now take that IWB holster with Glock inside of it as a unit and replace the holster/gun unit into your waist band. Takes very little extra time, but offers complete control and safety. This will of course work with any striker weapon that does not have an external safety, like the non-safety M&P.

Let us know how this works when you try it with the police rolling up on you

 

[B/STOCK]

Maybe I missed it but if you have a Shield, aside from "guns are always to be considered loaded," how is it possible to know there is or is not a round in the chamber?

I know, I know, there's a "loaded chamber indicator" either a tiny hole to visually check or a protruding ramp for tactile confirmation. Mine has the little hole. If it's dark it doesn't work.

Aside from racking the slide enough to see if the bullet fairy left one ready to go, how does one know? Safeties definitely have their place.

If it's your EDC there should be one in the tube. Unless more that one person has access to the firearm in my situation it's 100% that there is one in the chamber. Also, I carry IWB and put the safety on when blind re holstering and flip it off when it's back in place.

 

[B/STOCK]

Another thought. I believe the MA state police wanted a M&P .45 as a duty weapon but had a safety requirement. So the M&P .45 now can be had with a safety. Good for the consumer too. I used to have a 1911 on each nightstand but now a M&P .45s. It safety is easy like a 1911. Ambi too.