M&P .45 w/ Thumb safety

I am interested in this gun for my next purchase. Having a safety on a gun for me is just one more good thing. The safety is not the reason for this post. I have been doing research on alot of different 45's. I have a 1911 so I am not completly new to this area. I have a plastic gun too, Sigma, great gun, so I'm not new to that either. I personally am not a Glock fan but for the sake of comparison I choose Glock. I looked up "Glock Problems" on Google, Boy, oh boy, I was not prepaired for that many issues. The way people talk Glock is the king. Well it appears they may be good in some cases, the .45 market has a head start. That is not the reason for this thread.
The following is the reason for this thread:
I did the same search with the M&P 45 with the thumb safety and got some isolated problems with the weapon and those I got were issues where the owner knew it all and did not bother to read the manual, even to see if there was something they did not know in there. 99.9% of the people who bothered to write something honest about the gun said it was a great firearm, even the Glock fans said it was a great gun except for one guy that said it was the biggest *** since $ h * *, itself. He also went on to say how awsome Glock was but we all know people like that. All of these message boards, including one from this forum about this gun were older, over 3 years. I would like to here from anyone who has recently purchased one of these, how they like it and how it stacks up with the other pistols in thier collection.

Please don't respond if you don't agree to the Google "Glock Problems" search and say I'm lying, a troll, dumb and what ever else you can think of in that one track mind. Just go do the same search and see for yourself. (I have a one track mind to, but I think about girls)

IMO the M&P safeties are too loose. A flea fart can knock them on or off. They just don't stay in place like the 1911 style.

Greetings 10mm, I was born in Denver. When I was there it was a good place to live. Have not been back since the early 80's. The Mile High buffet was the best brunch in town on Sunday's. How is it now?
Thanks for the "safety" info. I have only one pistol that even has a safety and that's the 1911. All my rifles and SGs have them, some of which not worth a hoot either but they do work for that split second that you sometimes need them.
I was rabbit hunting with a friend, let him use one of my older single shot, SG's and he tripped with the thing loaded. If not for that safety, I would not have the back of my head any longer.

I've owned both (M&Ps with and without safeties, in both .45 and 9mm, and in both FS and Compact .45; I've only owned the 9mm in compact.) Currently, I have a M&P 45c and a M&P9c, and neither have a thumb safety. (I have other handguns, but I'm answering you about the M&P.) I have also owned various models of Glocks...and I don't now because they just don't fit my hand as well as the M&P. I trade a lot, and I've tried a lot of pistols, but I've come back to the M&P models for my carry, and for my wife.

In my experience, the thumb safeties on the M&P models are not as positive to engage/disengage as are those on my 1911s. I'm not bothered by the lack of a safety because while I do find the trigger to be fairly light, it is not a "hair trigger." Plus, I do not put my finger on the trigger until I am ready to fire. I am also very aware of the trigger when holstering, putting it in a pistol rug, or otherwise handling the M&Ps when loaded.

Now, if I was going to pocket carry the M&P, which I won't because it is too big, I would be more concerned...for a pocket gun, I prefer either a pistol with a long DA trigger (like a LC9 or BG380) or a DAO revolver (like a 442 or LCR.)

I think the M&P pistols are safe, reliable, and for me, the best fit in a polymer carry gun. I sure do wish S&W would come out with a small pocket 9mm to compete with the LC9 and others on the market...the BG380 is much better than the LCP (IMO, in terms of trigger, fit, and feel) and I would really like to see if they could develop a 9mm that is a step up from the LC9.

I have an M&P 45 midsize with thumb safety. I absolutely love the gun. I also love the thumb safety! I carried 1911's for years so I like having a thumb safety. Get one. You'll love it!!

If you can't decide to get one or not, I would suggest getting one with it. You can always remove it later if you don't like it.

A safety on an M&P is a liability and just gets in the way. Only good thing about it is how fast you can discard it with only minimal disassembly. Just take it out and leave it out.

If you get it you'll have to keep it depressed all the time, just like you have to on a M1911.

-- Chuck

My most recent acquisition is an M&P 45C without the thumb safety. I don't miss having the safety at all. There is enough take-up in the trigger before it engages that I feel comfortable without it. I already had an XD-45 service model with the thumb safety, but it just seemed to belong on the gun along with the grip safety. The M&P safeties do feel like an afterthought. Just my 2¢.

I have an M&P 45 and M&P 9. Both have thumb a safety. I like the thumb safety, it does not slow down my shots at all.

I come from the 1911 camp so I have no problems with the thumb safety and would not own one without it. Complaints about thumb safeties usually come from those unwilling to train or learn proper use of a thumb safety equipped pistol. If you don't have the desire or time to drill then get the standard gun without.

My M&P mid 45 replaced my Glock 23 for daily carry. When the M&P 45 first came out my department was sent five guns with the thumb safety for evaluation. The thumb safety was floppy loose on all. Cut to several years later and my current personally owned 45 mid. The safety is much more positive and stays on with no problem. I bought my son a full size 9 with a thumb safety. It is positive also so I believe smith addressed the floppy safety problem.

As mentioned before the safety is easily removed if you decide you don't want to train with the gun.

Re-Cap

I am not really to concerned with the safety. I have looked at the gun a couple of times at the shop. The safety acts much like a 1911 safety and I am okay with it.
I am more interested in the performance of the gun itself. Let me explain this a little further. I own a Sigma 40ve which I purchased in May or June of this year. I bought the gun for the sole reason of Glock owners say it was a pile of you know what. If a $250 gun is being compared to a $600 or $700 gun it has got to be worth checking out, this is also the reason I bought my Hi-Point C9 for $129. I purchased the C9 first. I put thousands of rounds through my C9 and never had a jam, FTF or anything but excellent results and accuracy from it. When I heard about the Sigma I checked it out at the gun shop as well and really liked the feel of the gun in my hand vs. the Glock. I did some research on the gun, just as I am with the M&P 45, and then went ahead with the purchase. After I got it home, cleaned it and took it to the range with nothing but perfect results I made it my mission to try and get the gun to fail. I have done trigger job after trigger job on the Sigma and have fired about 20,000 rounds of the worst ammo I have been able to find thru it and have had zero FT fire. I had one round, 3 or 4 weeks ago explode in the chamber and jam up the gun, after removing the exploded shell from the barrel, fired another 200 rounds perfectly. The Sigma is a great gun with a great warranty, hands down.
I am interested to know if the M&P 45 has the same great constuction and performance as the other S&W. I know the M&P is a more expensive gun and is put together differently and has more features, better trigger, sights etc.
I have only heard of one guy sayng it was not a great gun and I listed him in the opening of this thread. There are a few different designs of the M&P and I like the one with the longer barrel. I am not really looking to conceal the gun. Here in CA getting a CCW license is next to impossible if you are not a LEO. I hunt and fish in the back woods areas and don't need or even want to conceal, there is no need to do so at this time. I carry a Gerber hunting knife with me all the time and it is effective if you know how to handle it.
Back to the M&P:
Can the gun fire just about anything? By this I mean cast, reloads, FMJ, UMC, alluminum casings, HP, wadcuutters etc without jamming up or dammaging the gun? If you put cast bullets through a Glock you are asking to loose a hand and for the gun to go BOOM instead of BANG. Is disassembling and cleaning a major issue in itself like it is trying to clean some carbines? these are the things I would like to hear about.

Thank you again for all of the previous info. Afterall all the info will make the desicion in the end.

I have one and like it very much. More than adequate for "combat accuracy" and very reliable with most ammo. I have some occassion "chokes" on my 200 grain SWC loads but so does my Sig 220.

I grew up with 1911 Colts and am comfortable with the safety. I think it goes a long way in preventing you from "Glocking" your thigh.

But I agree with 10mm and other posters that it doesn't engage/disengage very positively. S&W really needs to adress that issue.

sjmjax said:

I have one and like it very much. More than adequate for "combat accuracy" and very reliable with most ammo. I have some occassion "chokes" on my 200 grain SWC loads but so does my Sig 220.

I grew up with 1911 Colts and am comfortable with the safety. I think it goes a long way in preventing you from "Glocking" your thigh.

But I agree with 10mm and other posters that it doesn't engage/disengage very positively. S&W really needs to adress that issue.

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200 grain huh?, I have never even seen 200 gr much less fired any. The highest I have delt with is 180 gr.
I thought the safety was easy to operate and snapped into to place very nice, much like the 1911. With the guns low profile its basicly in the same spot. This was a new gun though so maybe the issue has already been addressed.
This takedown tool in the grip, Is this a good thing or are you better off with pen or a dental pick? I am only asking cause I have heard it has its problems. Also does the slide operate smoothly, and how is the recoil compared to the 1911?

I have the M&P 9c with the safety. I love the gun, but I'm still on the fence about the thumb safety. Feels awkward to disengage it. And it disengages itself when I rack the slide. I'll probably just remove it soon. It's my first handgun so I wanted a safety when I was shopping, not so much now.

I recently got the M&P40C with the thumb safety and agree it easily disengages, however without putting finger on trigger until clearing the holster and pointing down range I don't see it as a problem. I do like the feature that it will fire without the magazine in place.

You went with a M&P for your first handgun? You are going to have an expensive hobby my friend. My first was a second or third hand revolver. I think maybe a .38 or even a .32 can't remember. Yes, when its your first hand gun its a good idea to have a safety and keep it on for a good while and get real used to it. When you get into 1911's, I did say when, not if, you are going to thank your self you got used to the safety. The ones on 1911's are very natural to use and not to long after you start firing them its second nature to use. Whe you get your first 1911 see about getting the Ruger or the Kimber. they seem to be better made (tighter) than the Colt. I'll catch hell for that comment but it is still IMO.

vector16 said:

You went with a M&P for your first handgun? You are going to have an expensive hobby my friend. My first was a second or third hand revolver. I think maybe a .38 or even a .32 can't remember. Yes, when its your first hand gun its a good idea to have a safety and keep it on for a good while and get real used to it. When you get into 1911's, I did say when, not if, you are going to thank your self you got used to the safety. The ones on 1911's are very natural to use and not to long after you start firing them its second nature to use. Whe you get your first 1911 see about getting the Ruger or the Kimber. they seem to be better made (tighter) than the Colt. I'll catch hell for that comment but it is still IMO.

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I'm sure ill have a 1911 as my next handgun purchase. I've never shot one, but I love the weight and feel of them. I liked the springfield and Kimber 1911s, they were just a bit out of budget for my first purchase. But I also loved my M&P when I first shot it. And it conceals great.

I have 2 Kimber 1911's and in fact have had 3 others. I am very comfortable carrying cocked and locked so the safety on the M&P is a plus.

I plan to test one Friday and if I like it get the .40 for the range. I do plan to continue to carry my Kimbers and may occasionally carry the M&P if I get one.

I like the thumb safety on the M&P too. I also own a few 1911's and find that the pressure required to disengage the safety isn't any greater on the 1911. I suppose this could vary by gun, but I don't see a big difference.

Confession: I like mexican carry. With the thumb safety on the M&P I feel more comfortable.

Out
West