I’m considering a purchase of a compact M&P 45 2.0.
I would appreciate opinions on pros and cons of the thumb safety for it.
I would appreciate opinions on pros and cons of the thumb safety for it.
M&P 45 2.0 - Thumb Safety or No?
- Thread starter zwartepiet
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Personal preference as far as I'm concerned.
Are you used to having thumb safeties on all your pistols?
Personally I prefer no thumb safety because I like having consistency across all platforms.
I was a 1911 guy throughout most of the 90s and when I first tried striker fire pistols IE: (Glock) I started shooting and training with them exclusively and when I wanted to bring a 1911 to a competition at my club my very first draw I didn't click the thumb safety off, squeezed the trigger and there was nothing there.
For me (personal preference once again) I needed to decide what muscle memory I wanted to stick with and use exclusively. I still have a couple 1911's but they are just range and target guns.
You're going to get opinions here for and against but in the end it all comes down to personal preference.
There are some people who can get away with mixing both with no problem, but if my life is going to depend on it one day I like to keep things all the same.
Are you used to having thumb safeties on all your pistols?
Personally I prefer no thumb safety because I like having consistency across all platforms.
I was a 1911 guy throughout most of the 90s and when I first tried striker fire pistols IE: (Glock) I started shooting and training with them exclusively and when I wanted to bring a 1911 to a competition at my club my very first draw I didn't click the thumb safety off, squeezed the trigger and there was nothing there.
For me (personal preference once again) I needed to decide what muscle memory I wanted to stick with and use exclusively. I still have a couple 1911's but they are just range and target guns.
You're going to get opinions here for and against but in the end it all comes down to personal preference.
There are some people who can get away with mixing both with no problem, but if my life is going to depend on it one day I like to keep things all the same.
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Shields do not require a manual safety to be safe. They require the User to have safe habits (not blindly trying to holster their handgun, etc.)
If I had a choice, I'd go with a NTS version, but sadly, every time I've gone to buy a Shield, they only had Thumb Safety models.
When I got my original Shield in April of 2012, there was no NTS option. When I got my Shield+, all they had was the TS model.
I simply choose not to use it. Since the Shield Thumb Safeties are more difficult to engage than they are to Disengage, I've never, in the 11Yrs I've owned mine, the Safety has never inadvertently engaged itself.
If YOU have no preference, go with whichever is available, at a good price.
If I had a choice, I'd go with a NTS version, but sadly, every time I've gone to buy a Shield, they only had Thumb Safety models.
When I got my original Shield in April of 2012, there was no NTS option. When I got my Shield+, all they had was the TS model.
I simply choose not to use it. Since the Shield Thumb Safeties are more difficult to engage than they are to Disengage, I've never, in the 11Yrs I've owned mine, the Safety has never inadvertently engaged itself.
If YOU have no preference, go with whichever is available, at a good price.
I'm an 1911 guy . Had one to CC for 36 years and 7 more as an owner shooter . I do tend to improve the M&P trigger pull so I do buy mine with thumb safeties . I also use a trigger pull style know as sweeping the trigger than is more fitting to a guy thats shots both tuned SA triggers like on a 1911 and a longer striker fire trigger . Understand the M&P is a 98% cocked striker . The pistol I carry 1911 and m&p have short reset 3.5lb triggers or a couple ounce less with time and use .
OP
Thanks for the comments!
I typically carry a Sig P6 (225) with a de-cocker, or a S&W M66.
I shoot 1911’s, Berettas and Sigs at the range, and am inclined to get the thumb safety version of the M&P for mainly the reasons you all pointed out..personal experience/preference.
I typically carry a Sig P6 (225) with a de-cocker, or a S&W M66.
I shoot 1911’s, Berettas and Sigs at the range, and am inclined to get the thumb safety version of the M&P for mainly the reasons you all pointed out..personal experience/preference.
sousana
Member
As said above, it's a personal THANG, for me, I've been shooting the 1911 for nigh onto 50 years, I once tried going to both the Beretta 92 series and the Glock 19, but each and every time I found myself shooting for the thumb safety on the draw, some things are just so ingrained. Now, all 4 of my Shield 45's 2.0 have the thumb safety and I found with very little effort it's an easy adjustment.
Amp
Member
I have carried a P225a1 and like a revolver the first trigger pull is long and heavy compaired to striker fired. So I do prefer a safety on striker carry.
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If you train with it the manual safety should not be an impediment. However, you'll want to check how much (or little) effort it takes to operate it. I have shot a 1.0 version with the safety and I would prefer it take 'more' force to move the lever.
I bought the MA-compliant Shield 45 2.0 with a safety because it was cheaper. I just don't use the safety.
Here’s another way to look at it. If both models are priced about the same, buy the gun with the thumb safety. Later, if you decide you don’t like having the safety, it is easy enough to remove and the little plastic inserts that fit in the frame where the thumb safety passes through it cost practically nothing. If you have to buy the safety parts because you later decide you want a safety model but bought the no safety model instead, the safety parts are much more expensive. FWIW, my own preference is for the safety-model, but from what I see on this forum, I may be in the minority. I agree, in the end, it’s personal preference - yours.
kbm6893
SWCA Member
I have manual safeties on all my M&P’s. I think the Shield one is a hair too small, but it does have a nice positive click. I think the others ones are obnoxiously big, wish they weren’t on both sides, and aren’t as positive a click as I’d like. With all the aftermarket stuff available for guns, I can’t believe nobody has produced a smaller, one sided version. I can buy a Glock bayonet or a striker plate with The Punisher logo but not a safety? Clearly there is a market for them since people buy them over the no safety. I don’t carry my larger M&P’s so it’s not a huge deal, but I’d replace the safeties on all my M&P’s if they were available.
I've had several M&P pistols over the past few years, including an M&P .45 and an original Shield 9mm. Neither of those had a thumb safety, and I don't have one on my M&P 10mm 2.0 either. I just don't feel that I need them on those pistols. My only M&P with a manual safety is my PC Shield Plus 9mm...and that's only because I tend to carry it Appendix IWB. I do have to practice drawing and flipping the safety on that one, though.
However, I am not averse to manual safeties. I have a S&W 1911 with standard thumb safety; and perhaps my favorite pistol is a SIG Model 226 Legion SAO...which has a 1911-style thumb safety, too. As others have said, it's really up to you to decide based on your skills and preferences. Good luck!
However, I am not averse to manual safeties. I have a S&W 1911 with standard thumb safety; and perhaps my favorite pistol is a SIG Model 226 Legion SAO...which has a 1911-style thumb safety, too. As others have said, it's really up to you to decide based on your skills and preferences. Good luck!
Michaelp57
Member
Either way
On the shield, the safety is so low profile that I dont even notice it's there. On the full size, I have one with and one without the safety. I tend to use the lever as a thumb rest of sorts for my dominant hand(ambi levers so either hand works). On the one without a safety I don't feel like I'm missing anything. Moral of the story is its inconsequential if you carry the gun in a proper holster and use the safety in between your ears.
On the shield, the safety is so low profile that I dont even notice it's there. On the full size, I have one with and one without the safety. I tend to use the lever as a thumb rest of sorts for my dominant hand(ambi levers so either hand works). On the one without a safety I don't feel like I'm missing anything. Moral of the story is its inconsequential if you carry the gun in a proper holster and use the safety in between your ears.
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I prefer one
I always choose a manual safety when I can. It foolproofs the gun when you're not shooting it and isn't a hindrance when you're shooting. In my case, It's a good place to rest my thumb. It's a normal aspect of setting my grip and I don't really ever forget it.
If you have one, you can take it off, and my 9mm 2.0 is provisioned to add one (but not all are.)
I always choose a manual safety when I can. It foolproofs the gun when you're not shooting it and isn't a hindrance when you're shooting. In my case, It's a good place to rest my thumb. It's a normal aspect of setting my grip and I don't really ever forget it.
If you have one, you can take it off, and my 9mm 2.0 is provisioned to add one (but not all are.)
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jaguargolf
Member
I have one of the first run of full size M&P 45's. Mine has the manual thumb safety. It's not the "snick" of a Colt thumb safety, but it has never mis or mal functioned. I believe in manual safeties and have them on almost all of my semiautomatic hand guns.
minconrevo
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For LE use, the majority of semi-auto's purchased in this part of the States will be spec'd as the "NO thumb safety" version. The reason is to know that the pistol will always fire when the trigger is pressed, without additional levers to manipulate. The additional safety in this case is the holster and of course the shooter's training. For personal protection, I'm thinking this is also a good thought process. I will NOT use a DA or striker fired service style pistol with a thumb safety, if it can be avoided.
The M&P is perfectly safe in a trained shooter's hand, out of a quality holster, with out the complications of a thumb safety.
The M&P is perfectly safe in a trained shooter's hand, out of a quality holster, with out the complications of a thumb safety.
BillyMagg
Member
YES
For all the above reasons, I did order my M&P .40 with a thumb safety,, I've been very happy with my decision and with the M&P .40.. now hitting with it, is hit or miss, pun intended! I love the trigger on mine,, but the sights are the problem. I just can't see them. I've got Novaks on my 1911's and love those,, but those 3 dot sights and the shape doesn't help me at all.. I did a double tap on a gallon anti-freeze jug, rinsed out and filled with water, at 50 yards, and hit it both times,,, just lucky I guess,, LOL.
For all the above reasons, I did order my M&P .40 with a thumb safety,, I've been very happy with my decision and with the M&P .40.. now hitting with it, is hit or miss, pun intended! I love the trigger on mine,, but the sights are the problem. I just can't see them. I've got Novaks on my 1911's and love those,, but those 3 dot sights and the shape doesn't help me at all.. I did a double tap on a gallon anti-freeze jug, rinsed out and filled with water, at 50 yards, and hit it both times,,, just lucky I guess,, LOL.
kbm6893
SWCA Member
Before Glock came along, virtually all semi auto pistols had safeties. Nobody saw them as a liability. Millions carried them and lived to tell the tale. I’m not sure how many (if any) lives were lost because somebody forgot to to take the safety off. I am quite sure many more have been saved because of the safety. And the live not lost rarely even makes the news.
Yeah. A trained shooter’s hand. A quality holster. Both sorely lacking in todays world. And if the hand is so trained, then why is the safety an impediment? If a trained hand can be counted on to not touch the trigger when it shouldn’t be touched, then why can’t that trained hand be counted on to disengage the safety?
Farmer17
Member
I love shooting revolvers double action and if a pistol has a long smooth DA only trigger pull like my Kahr or Ruger LCP I'm OK with no thumb safety but short, light trigger pulls make me nervous with no manual safety. That's just me. My M&P 4" 10m/m has about a 4lb factory trigger with almost zero over travel, and it is near perfect for what I want but I definitely have the thumb safety engaged.
