Shield: Thumb Safety Or No Thumb Safety?

ditto1958 · Oct 17, 2015

I've been seriously contemplating getting a Shield in 9mm. The biggest question I have is whether to get it with the thumb safety.

Currently, my primary purpose for the Shield would be to have gun that's enjoyable to shoot. I find the Shield fits me really well, and I like trigger.

It's possible that a Shield could end up being a concealed carry gun for me in the near future. If that happens, I'm unsure about the question of a manual safety. I have read/heard a lot of debate on both sides of the issue. I'm wondering what folks here think about that?

Smooth1 · Oct 17, 2015

Personally I do not like external safeties on defensive hand guns. Simpler the better in a high stress situation Im sure others will disagree with me.

OKFC05 · Oct 17, 2015

There is no engineering or legal requirement to have a manual safety (that only blocks the trigger) on any M&P. It is available as an option for buyers that want them. Ask others whether you should get the option, and we will tell you what WE like, which changes nothing about your preferences. I prefer a defense gun that works like a revolver: draw and press the trigger. What do you prefer?

RobzGuns · Oct 17, 2015

To go TS or NTS is a purely personal thing.
If most/all your pistols have a TS, go with what you're used to.
If none of your other pistols have a TS, get the NTS version.

Before the Shield, none of my other carry pistols had a TS and I would have said "I'll never have a CC pistol with a safety", but when it 1st came out, there was no NTS version.

The thing is... The Shield's TS is unobtrusive and more difficult to engage than it is to disengage, so there's no worries about accidentally engaging it if you simply choose to carry it in the off position (as so many of us do).

Now-a-days, I engage it while topping off to '+1' status, then disengage it when I holster it and leave it off. This has worked for the last 3.5yrs.

epj · Oct 17, 2015

Really doesn't matter. While the TS is unnecessary, there could be some situation in which you might want to use it. Otherwise, just leave it off.

elvisimprsntr · Oct 17, 2015

Although I don't have much time with my new shield, I bought one with the TS. Seems like as long as I train with what I carry (weapon and ammo) I will be conditioned to switch the TS off.

PirateJim · Oct 17, 2015

I agree with RobzGuns. I disengage the safety when the gun is holstered so it's ready to go if needed. The safety lever is small enough and stiff enough it will not be re-engaged by accident. When I'm not carrying the gun, I engage the safety for that added bit of comfort.

Bottom line (from my perspective): You don't need it, but you may well find there are times you like having it. If you choose to carry the gun with the safety engaged, practice with it regularly to make sure you can disengage it under pressure, it doesn't fall under the thumb like a lot of other safety levers do.

hoc9sw · Oct 17, 2015

I've come from almost 50 years of 1911 platforms, so a safety is a part of the drill. If there isn't one, I tend to get a moment of "why can't I move the fool thing", which is a moment lost to the opponent.

So, as others have said, buy what is comfortable for you to handle.

My Shield 9 has one, and I'm fine with it. I own larger handguns that don't have one, but they are range day guns.

Saudade · Oct 17, 2015

As others have said, it's your choice. You'll get arguments for both sides. Been asked before and all the arguments have been posted before.

Choose what you are most comfortable and proficient with.

Having said that I chose a NTS. There are no isses with the TS I'm aware of, I simply prefer none.

Ranger17 · Oct 17, 2015

Both my compact and full size MP's are NTS but neither has been carried yet. I have tossed around the idea of adding a Shield for the sole purpose of carry. That said i am considering a TS version; figure if i find more comfort in having a safety then it has one to use and train with. And if i dont need it i just wont engage it.
Still thinking on it though.....

NCW Ray · Oct 17, 2015

I had been shooting pistols for about 35 years that did not have safeties so rather than train this old dog to operate a safety I opted for the NTS models.

If you do buy one with a thumb safety, whether you use it or not I would encourage you to train using the safety. I'm a firm believer in "Murphy's Law" that being "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

MyDads38 · Oct 17, 2015

My Shield 40 has a TS, my Shield 9 does not. When I carry the 40, the TS is off so as to mimic the 9. Except for my 1911, none of my other pistols have safety's and that's the way I prefer it.

Ballistic147 · Oct 17, 2015

I bought the Shield 9 NTS early this year. I've been shooting the majority of my life and was trained from the start that a manual safety is only a backup to safe gun handling. If you obey the gun safety rules then you already know that your finger never, ever goes inside of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. With that in mind, the design of the Shield will not allow it to go off unless the trigger is pulled.

My wife who really hasn't done much shooting until the last year purchased the Shield with thumb safety because she felt it would be safer. She got her CCW back in March and has since taken a couple defensive handgun training courses. This has taken her shooting skills to a whole new level and she now carries her Shield with the safety off.

As others have said, it's really personal preference and in the end only you can make that decision. The Shield is definitely an excellent carry gun. It's lightweight and small but shoots like a much larger gun.

Retiredguns · Oct 17, 2015

I just bought my Wife a NTS Shield 9mm. While she has shot many times with me, and is pretty proficient, I don't want her to even think about an extra step in a self defense situation. It was only $340 too! I am going to swap out the mag springs and followers with mag guts so she can have 10 rds.

I carry an XDs .45, but will be borrowing her Shield from time to time.

miniSQ · Oct 17, 2015

I bought mine used and it came with a safety, so i didn't get the choice. I leave it on most of the time, but if i wanted to i guess it could always be turned off and mimic having no safety.

V0OBWxZS16 · Oct 17, 2015

Only get the TS version if you will carry it safety on. If you are not willing to do so then get the NTS version. The number of people who say they carry a TS version with the safety off is just bizarre.

The Shield was my first pistol without a thumb safety. I used to think that a thumb safeties were a required feature, but all future purchases will be no thumb safety if available. All of my pistols with thumb safeties are still carried safety on.

Horn · Oct 17, 2015

Kidding Yourself

elvisimprsntr said:
Although I don't have much time with my new shield, I bought one with the TS. Seems like as long as I train with what I carry (weapon and ammo) I will be conditioned to switch the TS off.

When you're in a very stressful situation___"I'm about to be killed"__ (Been there) all you'll be doing is pointing and pulling the trigger. If it won't pull..........
The decision is yours to make. The one poster mentioned how the manual safety is on the Shield. That's true but, simply not having one on a SD pistol stops the decisions making.
If you're just going to fire if for fun, get the one with the manual safety. You'll feel good.
For dedicated SD___ trigger only.
G'luck and welcome to shooting.

Win · Oct 17, 2015

I got the non safety and regret it. If you slide the gun in the front pants pocket with a loaded chamber, you have a round waiting to go off pointed at you. You reach in the pocket in a hurry and pull the gun out and the trigger gets pulled before you clear your pants...boom, you just shot yourself. And if you think it can't happen, check out Youtube for the number of times cops have shot themselves with a Glock coming out of a holster. I prefer a safety.

bedbugbilly · Oct 17, 2015

I think it's more of a "personal thing". In my situation, I only have two semi-autos - a SR9 and a 9mm Shield. I'm older and have always been a "revolver" person - my usual CCW is a Smith Model 36 snub. I have carried the SR9 and I bought the Shield for both range and CCW. I can easily sweep the safety off with my thumb on the Shield. However, for CCW, I just will be using it with the safety off. The safety, at least on mine, is stiff enough that it has to be put on "on purpose". Yes, it could always accidentally get hit I suppose and some could use that as an argument against having one. But . . . I don't see that as an issue. If I had a weapon that the safety was so loose of slippery on that it didn't take an effort to put it on, thenI wouldn't be carrying it. And . . I have absolutely no complaints on my Shield at all . . functions perfectly with my reloads/lead cast and is a fun little gun to shoot.

ditto1958 · Oct 17, 2015

Win said:
I got the non safety and regret it. If you slide the gun in the front pants pocket with a loaded chamber, you have a round waiting to go off pointed at you. You reach in the pocket in a hurry and pull the gun out and the trigger gets pulled before you clear your pants...boom, you just shot yourself. And if you think it can't happen, check out Youtube for the number of times cops have shot themselves with a Glock coming out of a holster. I prefer a safety.

Well, I'm really taking my time about the whole concealed carry thing. Frankly, I really have to admit that I'm just not sure I'm ready for that responsibility. I think I really share some of the concerns you raise.

I think I've come to conclude, however, that if I do decide to get a ccw permit, the best route for me would be to carry a revolver, such as a 642, or an LCR. Those things have such long heavy triggers that it seems highly unlikely that I would ever shoot it by accident.

Shield: Thumb Safety Or No Thumb Safety?

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads