.45 Shield, safety or not
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I prefer a gun like that w/o the external safety, esp for ccw.
Personal choice. It's really up to you.
Lot's of people on here have opinions. Mine is this, the only handguns I have with manual external safeties are my 1911s. My Beretta M9A1 used to have one but I converted it to decocker only. My Shield 9mm has no manual safety.
Another opinion, if you choose safety, don't ignore it, train with it.
Lot's of people on here have opinions. Mine is this, the only handguns I have with manual external safeties are my 1911s. My Beretta M9A1 used to have one but I converted it to decocker only. My Shield 9mm has no manual safety.
Another opinion, if you choose safety, don't ignore it, train with it.
Rastoff
US Veteran
I would get the one without the thumb safety. On the M&P line of guns, the thumb safety is completely superfluous.
If you buy one with a thumb safety, and don't want to use it, remove it.
If you buy one with a thumb safety, and don't want to use it, remove it.
The safe factory design of the striker fired Shield will not allow it to fire unless the trigger is pulled. No optional manual safety is needed unless you absolutely don't trust yourself to handle a gun designed to function safely without a safety. Removing a safety is not as desirable as just buying the gun without it.
Remember also, carrying in a fitted holster that secures the gun while completely protecting the trigger is another "safety". Properly attached to a belt, the gun will not go off in the holster. Drawing and holstering properly are part of the safe handling training of any gun.
Remember also, carrying in a fitted holster that secures the gun while completely protecting the trigger is another "safety". Properly attached to a belt, the gun will not go off in the holster. Drawing and holstering properly are part of the safe handling training of any gun.
joeintexas
US Veteran
I have the Shield 45 with the safety but I do not use the safety, I would have preferred the model without but I got a trade I couldn't refuse. You'll love the Shield no matter what you decide, it's plenty safe with or without the external safety.
This answers the question
What I should have asked is, Does the safety affect the operation of the Shield? You've addressed my concern.
What I should have asked is, Does the safety affect the operation of the Shield? You've addressed my concern.
Nice thing about a Shield safety is that you can disengage it and pretend it is not there. No working around it and never in the way for me. I have a 9 with a safety and a 45 without. No big deal.
edubbie
Member
Like someone said earlier, personal preference. I have the safety model Shield 45 and Shield 9. If I remove from carry, I usually handle with safety on and switch safety off when carrying. There are some that say maybe I will forget but haven't so far so it works for me. My preference. Also, I have not ever had it switch from safe to fire or from fire to safe without my my effort. I am not worried that it will switch to safe while carrying.
dirty & hairy
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I do not own a shield (yet). Do own several M&Ps, none with external safeties. If I were looking at shield, I may consider one with the safety ONLY to be used when holstering IWB. Something about shoving a gun in my pants without an external safety, I just don't do it. The shield's external safety is non-obtrusive IMO. Click it on, insert weapon into holster, click it off, good to go. No safety? It rides on the belt, but that's just me.
I bought the model with the safety, and use it. But that's just my preference. However you view the thumb safety preference thing, it is so small on the Shield that you can leave it off-safe and not be concerned about it engaging. I like having the option available. It's not a hazard if you ALWAYS put the gun in your holster in the same condition - either locked, or off-safe.
It is a matter of personal preference. If you get the safety version, train with it.
If it's just for range use probably not an issue.
If it's just for range use probably not an issue.
ggibson511960
Member
Accidentally??
My 41's safety almost requires pliers. No big deal on a target/range gun, so I just live with it. Mine would take some serious re-contouring of safety lever surfaces to make it user friendly, let alone prone to accidental tripping.
My 41's safety almost requires pliers. No big deal on a target/range gun, so I just live with it. Mine would take some serious re-contouring of safety lever surfaces to make it user friendly, let alone prone to accidental tripping.
scattershot
Member
I prefer a safety. If you don't, you can just ignore it.
I prefer safeties on striker fired guns myself, so I don't buy Glocks. On my lever guns, I prefer the pre-safety models (but I own both). A lever gun has a half cock saftey that I'm comfortable with. Both my Shield 9 & 45 have safeties.
I'm more comfortable that way. Some strikers are pretty darn easy to set off.
I'm more comfortable that way. Some strikers are pretty darn easy to set off.
I have a Shield 9 1.0 and a Shield 45 with 12,600 rounds combined. The safety on each is faired into the grip to reduce snag, and each requires a firm, deliberate action to engage or disengage. In my opinion it would be nearly impossible for the safety to slip on accidentally.
Because I like safeties, each magazine I have ever inserted at the range has been inserted with the safety on, so that moving it to off as I raise to fire has become automatic with me. If you're going to use a safety, you must train this way.
Safety or not, the Shield 45 is a superb concealed carry pistol.
Gene L
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I don't care either way. My 9mm Shield has a safety, I don't use it and don't see any disadvantage of having it or any advantage of not having it. I didn't realize the safety model was cheaper and don't understand why.
My Sig 365 has a safety, too, and I don't use it either.
My Sig 365 has a safety, too, and I don't use it either.
JNewell
Member
In general, I don't like safeties on striker-fired guns. I ordered my 380EZ without the thumb safety, and I removed it from my 2.0 4". However, at the time I purchased my 9mm and .45 Shields, there was no option in this state. Unlike the other two I mentioned, these safeties are designed so that I can't imagine accidentally flipping it 'on' because of your grip or even handling the gun. They're very small, close to the frame, and very stiff. Better without IMHO but on the 9 and .45 Shield not an issue to worry about.
I prefer a semi auto for CC without a safety. If the Sh— hits the fan, it's something that could be accidentally engaged under a stressful situation and could cost you your life. When in uniform, the S&W's we carried didn't have safeties.
Murphy's Law.
You need a quality holster that covers the trigger guard and won't get soft and collapse over time as mentioned above.
I'm going to stir the pot here. For the people on this thread and others. WHY are you holstering and unholstering a loaded gun?? The ONLY time you should draw a loaded weapon is when you (God forbid) have to use it to save (A) or your life!!
Use snap cap to practice draws and re-holstering. At the end of the day, take off the holster with the loaded gun inside it.
Be SAFE and Shoot often!
Murphy's Law.
You need a quality holster that covers the trigger guard and won't get soft and collapse over time as mentioned above.
I'm going to stir the pot here. For the people on this thread and others. WHY are you holstering and unholstering a loaded gun?? The ONLY time you should draw a loaded weapon is when you (God forbid) have to use it to save (A) or your life!!
Use snap cap to practice draws and re-holstering. At the end of the day, take off the holster with the loaded gun inside it.
Be SAFE and Shoot often!
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