I really like the profile of the thumb safety on the Shield. However, the thumb safety on the FS and compacts I am not crazy about. They stick out too far and always seem to be in the way of manipulating the slide stop lever. I would like to see S&W change the safety lever on all the M&Ps to one that is like the Shield's.

Does anyone feel the same??

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Pete T.

Nope. Why? Because I don't use a thumb safety. No need for one. :-)

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M&P40c/15-22/SD9VE/Mossy500

As a 1911 guy, I love the thumb safety on the M&Ps, save the Shield. I wish I could get a Shield with a standard safety lever.

YES!!! I do not care for the M&P thumb safeties at all but like the one on the Shield a great deal. This from a 1911 guy too.

However, I don't think S&W is going to change the M&P safety again. It would be great if they did!

You guys that like the one on the shield may find out the hard way that you can't move them under stress, hands wet, cold, gloves on etc. I don't have one on my M&P but do on my bg380 ( same one as shield) and I don't use it. If you have a safety you need one that can be easily moved.

One day shooting it was hot and my hands were sweating and I could not get the bg380 safety off, this is on the range with lots of time.

Like your trigger finger.

Actually, I don't have a safety on my full size M&Ps, only on the Shield because thats the only way they come.

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Pete T.

I don't use the thumb safety on my Shield as I'm use to my other centerfire M&Ps not having one. That said though I do like having the option should I for some reason decide to use it. It's so small and unobtrusive I don't mind having one on the Shield.

DARN !!! I wish I would have known all that last April....

Never had that problem with mine,it works all the time just fine and I carry in any & all weather conditions. I have zero problems with any of it's functions glove or not.

I note they have a California Shield with a loaded chamber indicator similar to the Ruger LC9. I wish they would make a "Free Country" Shield with no thumb safety. Thankfully, the one they have is small, out of the way and has a positive click so that if you set it to the fire position and leave it alone, it is not likely to activate.

I have no desire to use the safety on my Shield.
That said, I've found it pretty intuitive to swipe to the off position while "playing" with it.

Not sure how that would play out while under stress.
The safety switch is on the small side.

Having a safety on a striker fired weapon is a joke. I don't like the one on my shield, but it wasn't a deal breaker, I simply don't use it. Had I the option to buy a safety less shield I would have.

The batwings on the other M&Ps is a dealbreaker and wouldn't go near one of those stupid things. It's what stopped me from buying my .45 in FDE.

M&P Shield Manual Safety Removal - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRsxcPfZ8mE

The BG380 safety is nothing like the Shields safety.

I have both and agree 100% that the BG380 safety is useless due to practically needing to turn pistol sideways to get enough thumb leverage to move the safety lever. But the extremely long and hard trigger pull of the BG380 means a safety is not really needed by most.

The Shield safety lever is easily moved with a gentle flick of the thumb.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being easy and best, I would rate the BG380 safety a 2 or a 3, while the Shield would get an 8 out of 10.

When preparing to carry the Shield as a pocket pistol, I like to use the safety during testing phase, training for normal carry with quickest method of draw, while testing various pocket holsters. After everything works out as desired, then safety can be left off. But at least the Shield gives you that option, instead of no safety at all.

Every time I go into a gun shop in my area, and there are about a dozen gun shops around, they never have a Shield in stock. I'd like to check out the safety, but it's pretty hard around here when it never seems to be in stock anywhere.

No desire for a Shield safety on any of the other M&P guns. I ignore it on my two Shields, because it is way too small. I am a 30-year 1911/BHP owner, and have carried it in my LEO career and shot these platforms in competition, so it is not like I don't know how to use their safeties. The Shield's is too small. I wouldn't mind the size safety available on the larger guns available on the Shield. Let me suggest that if you find the regular safety interfering with the slide stop that you would be better off ignoring the slide stop, and simply pull the slide to the rear to disengage it when you reload. That is the technique taught by most top-notch instructors.

I use the safety on my 9c, same manual of arms as 1911s. The safety is not as ergo as the 1911s, though.

I don't have a problem with it interfering with the slide stop as I don't use it except to lock the slide back. I slingshot rather than use the slide stop for reloading. The slide stop is way too stiff. Really can't use it like some do a 1911. I find slingshotting to be more effective anyway, with any gun.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

IMO, if one is under too much stress that they can't easily push down the saftey on a Shield. Then they would also be under too much stress to pull the trigger on it, LMAO

In this case, for anyone who is under too much stress. Do urself a favor and dont even pull out your weapon. it's useless if your under too much stress.

I'm pretty sure he was referring to adrenaline dumps.

We lose fine motor skills under stress (like using a firearm to save our hide). We'll have to resort to gross motor skills.

That's why the slingshot method of operating the slide is preferable (IMO).

For you people who think it is hard to manipulate the thumb safety on a Shield, order some talon grips and cut off a tiny square on the left side (if you are right handed, being the least used portion of the grip) then apply that little square to the safety.

Now you have a high friction tab on your safety that doesn't stick out and interfere with a conceal holster.

Sounds like a reasonable plan to me.

Ultimately, I wish an aftermarket company (are you listening Apex?) would make us a Shield safety that resembles the standard unit on the FS M&Ps.