.380EZ thumb safety delete

[Red Ork]

I know this has been asked but it was a long time ago and the answers weren't really sure.

I am considering a .380EZ for a gift for the mother-in-law (spare the jokes) as her Steyr S9 has become too difficult for her to rack and shoot comfortably. Since she is only used to shooting pistols with no thumb safety I would rather she (and her hubby) not have to learn a different manual of arms. for what would be only 1 of 3 pistols in the house.


I know I can buy one with no thumb safety but I am looking at one of the Orchid ones as it is her favorite color. Unfortunately these seem to only come in the w/ thumb safety option.


Skipping the legal arguments, of which I am well aware and dully considered, is it possible to remove the thumb safety from a .380EZ and have a clean look?

I seem to remember seeing a kit for removing the thumb safety from the 9EZ (though I can't find it right now) that included a plug for the hole that would be left. Do these kits exist or am I imagining this, and if so will they also fit a .380?

If there is not a kit or part that I can get to do a clean job of it I will just revert to buying the plain black w/out safety; the color is a nice to have not an essential.

 

[SchemaEnigma]

Assuming there is no kit or a color-matched plug, etc.,...

As to learning a different manual of arms, just leave the safety off.

As to the aesthetics, I guess you/she will have to decide which aesthetic is more important: orchid color with a safety always left off, or black with the "clean look" of no safety.,

 

[Red Ork]

For the next person...

Update just for the sake of the next person searching to do this.

After contacting S&W As of April 2021 they do not make or sell the plugs for the Shield EZ models to fill the hole left by removing the thumb safety. They responded:

Unfortunately, we did not make safety plugs for the MP Shield EZ model. Our safety plugs are for our full size MP's only.
​

 

[Rolex28]

If a shooter learns to pass their right thumb down over the thumb safety each time they grip the pistol having the thumb behind the slide will never be an issue.

 

[jkf3356]

So don't switch on the safety, it's not rocket science. Draw and fire. It doesn't get any easier than that. Keep it in a trigger covering holster.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

I know this may have been covered before.. BUT..
These pistols are hammer fired + have a grip safety..
Would you carry a 1911 with the safety off?
The EZs come both ways though?
You can see the plug you wish for in the one we used to have
My son wants another EZ 380, Liked it better than the Bodyguard

I TOO want one without the safety BUT WHY?

 

[kbm6893]

I don’t know why they make plugs for the other models but not the EZ. If the safety is an issue then I’d go for the black without one rather then buy one based on color.

As for ignoring them, that’s easy enough to do on the Shield, but not as easy in the other M&P’s. All of my M&P’s have safeties, but the ones in the EZ and the others aren’t as “positive” as I’d like. They go off and on a little too easily and their oversize (way too big in my opinion, not to mention being in both sides of the gun) makes bumping them on when not meaning to more likely. If you’re gonna get an M&P with a safety, other than the Shield, you can’t just ignore it, in my opinion.

As for the choice, they’re a great gun for those who have difficulty with slides. My wife easily racks my 9EZ.

 

[Rolex28]

Having spent many hours on ranges while in the Marine Corps, the words.."Lock and load" still ring in my ears...

 

[gwpercle]

I bet your In-Laws can get along just fine with the thumb safety left in place ... they are grown ups and with just a little practice will have it mastered ... it's not like they are too old to learn something new ...
Give us Old Dogs a chance ... We still got a few New Tricks left in us .
Gary ,
Old & Tricky