Question about Performance Center Shield Pluses with thumb safeties

lrrifleman · Dec 25, 2024

Greetings!

I have a Shield Plus PC 4", which doesn't have a thumb safety, and I love it. I am contemplating getting a 3.1" PC as a backup carry pistol, but I'd really prefer that it doesn't have a thumb safety. Sadly, all 3.1" PC pistols currently have a thumb safety.

After having participated in a force on force class at the Sig Academy, I learned that in a self-defense situation, stuff happens in a heart beat. In the scenario that is most memorable, the threat appeared, I drew, and fired 2 rounds. Total time for the scenario was about 3 seconds. If I had to fumble with a thumb safety in order to disengage it, I could have been severely injured or dead.

My question is, on the PC variants of the Shield Plus, how difficult is it to either engage or disengage the thumb safety?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

CajunBass · Dec 25, 2024

Well, I've owed a Shield with a safety in the past, and just purchased another one that is a 2.0 PC model. It too has the safety. Frankly I've never bothered with it. I just leave it off and don't think about it again.

lrrifleman · Dec 25, 2024

Caj, thanks for that. My concern, is whether the safety mechanism is "loose" enough to engage as the pistol is either holstered or drawn. After my experience in the shoot house at the Sig Academy, I've actually rethought my opinions about not only the thumb safety, but also optics. I'm at the point where I can be quite happy with a stock pistol that is clean of optics and lights!

CajunBass · Dec 25, 2024

The ones I've had take a bit of pressure to put "on", but swipe off easily. I have to get my thumb "under" the safety to push it "up" into the on position. I can just brush it with my thumb like you would a 1911 to take it "off." I think it would be pretty hard (or REALLY bad luck") to engague it accidently.

Beju · Dec 25, 2024

You could buy a non-manual safety stripped sear housing block for about $15 and transfer most of your parts, or a complete one for $20-50, depending on where you buy.

You'd want to swap your PC sear over if you did the latter, however.

Execpro · Dec 25, 2024

There is a thread on this forum in the segment (M&P pistols) that covers/discusses the use of safeties in great detail and with videos.
Go to SEARCH and look for it.
The overall thought of having a safety on a handgun and using it is about 50/50.
There are good pros and cons to use and not to use one.
I carry a S&W 9mm EZ with a safety that is always off when I carry in a Vedder Kydex holster.
When in uniform I started with revolvers. Pull trigger and gun goes bang. When we went to pistols, no safeties, pull trigger and gun goes bang.
The 9mm never leaves the holster except when removing for cleaning or if God forbid, has to be used to protect my life or someone else’s.
The gun and holster come out as one unit and if gun is taken out while carrying, the holster comes off my belt, gun re-inserted and as one unit goes back on my belt.
The only reason my gun has a safety is there were non available
Without one.

Hawg Rider · Dec 26, 2024

I've had a PC M&P Shield Plus 9mm for a few years now. I did choose to go with the thumb safety because I occasionally carry AIWB and felt a little more at ease with an engaged safety. Although the safety lever is quite small it is not too difficult to engage/disengage and with practice becomes second nature. I did decide to install a larger aftermarket safety lever on my Shield Plus a few months ago, and I really like it. It's much more like a mini 1911 style thumb safety lever, and very well made ([email protected]), $70. It's a pretty easy DIY job to replace the safety lever.

Motorsporting · Dec 26, 2024

I have a safety on one of my Shields. It is very positive, and has never been bumped off/on while in the holster. However, it is a small and not necessarily user-friendly safety. The larger safeties on full-size MPs (like 1911s) is much preferred.

FWIW, I've carried, trained, and competed with "thumb safeties" for years. It will not "slow you down," if you train enough. Could you fumble it, of course. You could also fumble your draw, grip, forget your sights exist, get injured, trip, ...

CoryIsMyName · Jan 7, 2025

The only time I've ever actuated mine was once when I was having some trigger issues, and I remember it needing a conscious effort to engage it. I've heard from other owners that it stays pretty stiff if you don't use it regularly. I've had it for about a year and have never had an issue with it accidentally engaging during training. I honestly never even think about it.

song dog · Jan 10, 2025

On my 2nd Shield with a safety; shooting 1911's for years, safeties are second nature. I carry the Shield in Kydex both inside/outside waist band, on the draw my thumb knuckle pushes the safety off, has never failed me shooting steel plates @ events. Practice makes perfect muscle memory, it works for me so maybe you too.

Question about Performance Center Shield Pluses with thumb safeties

lrrifleman

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CajunBass

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Beju

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Motorsporting

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