Dumbo Ears

[9mmjohnny]

Hello All,
I am glad I am not alone in thinking that the safety levers on the compact are huge and cumbersome. I like having a safety on my guns, but this post is not about that preference, it's about replacing the safety. I haven't found any aftermarket solutions to the issue of replacing the huge dumbo eared safety with a smaller one, so I am tossing it out to this forum; If there is an aftermarket safety with a low profile for the M&P Compact, please post a link on this thread. And I thank you in advance for doing so.
Side note: I love my smaller Shield but am hesitant to buy the compact because of those ridiculously large safety levers. I love the way it feels and shoots, but I know that stock safety will not fit my needs.

 

[imcrazy]

It's very uncomfortable to shoot a double stack M&P with safeties IMO... I am comfortable using 1911's with safeties and I ride my right thumb on that lever but, it's not comfortable for me on the M&P series... If you're handy there is no reason you can't pull the safety off the pistol and trim it down to your liking on a bench grinder or maybe toss it in a vice and use a dremel... I just buy my M&P's w/o safeties or remove 'em if I come upon a deal on a gun with 'em...

 

[cmj8591]

I think crazy is on to something. Get yourself a replacement safety then go to work on it with a grinder until you get it where you want it. Put the original safety in the box and then if you ever need to liquidate the gun, you can return it to factory specs. If you order a spray can of Gunkote from Brownell's, you can spray the new safety after grinding and it will look like it came that way. A big safety is an advantage in a self defense situation because you don't have to hunt for it but it does break up the streamlined lines of the gun.

 

[DonD]

I have an alternative issue. I have a nearly new M&P9 2.0 that I really like. I like having a safety.

My two primary carry pistols are Ruger SR9Cs. Their issue is that their safety is too small and I've never seen an aftermarket replacement that is larger and Ruger neither has such an animal, nor knows where I could find one.

So, M&P maybe a bit large but Ruger too small. Don

 

[Real Old Navy]

.

My two primary carry pistols are Ruger SR9Cs. Their issue is that their safety is too small and I've never seen an aftermarket replacement that is larger and Ruger neither has such an animal, nor knows where I could find one.

I did see a You Tube vid of a guy who thought his M&P thumb safety was too small...he used and epoxy to build it up in layers and then shaped it to what he wanted. I like mine just the way it is.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Making safety levers smaller should be easier than making them bigger. I would think that some judicious work with a file , Dremell and or sandpaper should get you started, Then just touch up the finish.

That said, if this is a common complaint, you might contact somebody like Apex Tactical. Randy may already have an upgrade in the works.

 

[hardluk1]

My daughter bought a m&p 40 with thumb safety 4 or 5 years ago . She wanted a lighter trigger like Mom's so I added an apex trigger and parts group and it has a 3lb 10oz trigger pull so the safety's are needed . So 2 weeks ago my daughter wanted to trade for a slightly smaller lighter 9mm she could carry and shoot more so I trade an unwanted glock 19 for the m&p 40 . I filled the safety levers down to reduce the size over all and rounded off the edges so any ride the safety pressure does not eat only finger . I did file both levers down to about the size of 1911 GI safety's . My two hand hold is thumb over thumb with slight down pressure on the safety but with the safety rounded over and reduced in size its comfortable and one hand grip is thumb low more toward the mag release . I shot the first 400 rounds thru this pistol and have another 500 thru it and the thumb safety is no more of an issue than on a 1911 .

My first 3 pistols many years ago with two 1911 's GI full and officers model and a firestar m40 so thumb safetys are normal for me and my wife noted one day I still sweep for a thumb safety even when there is none like my p320c some 40 years later . I've never used a safety as a thumb rest and don't use my thumbs as hand gun support !!

 

[CBStuard]

Grind it until you like it. I have done it to a couple of guns. Using masking tape and being careful which way the sparks fly, I don't even take it off the gun. For me it's lots easier to handle it attached to the gun instead of having that small in my fingers.

 

[imcrazy]

Grind it until you like it. I have done it to a couple of guns. Using masking tape and being careful which way the sparks fly, I don't even take it off the gun. For me it's lots easier to handle it attached to the gun instead of having that small in my fingers.

This is why the good lord invented a bench vise lol..... I'd not be getting that close to my polymer framed pistol with a grinder, sounds like a good way to ruin a frame...

 

[Rastoff]

I have no issue with the thumb safety. I like it.

The thumb safety on an M&P is superfluous anyway. All it does is block trigger movement. If you're following the 4 basic safety rules while handling, or carrying in a proper holster, the thumb safety does nothing for you.

If you don't like it, there are only three choices:
Buy a gun without it.
Remove it.
Grind it to a smaller profile.

All three are easy to do.