How do you use safety on shield

[davemercer]

How do you use the safety on your shield eg

1. Just leave it off

2. Put on sometimes as in holstering, administrative handling but carry shield with safety off

3. Put it on and leave it on when carrying and only release when about to fire

For those who carry with safety on how hard and "foolproof" do you find it to release as part of the draw. The safety lever is rather small.

Thanks for any input. I am a new shield owner, who has yet to fire my recent purchase. Presently carry a glock and have carried and used sigs and 1911s.

 

[tpham32]

Definitely off when carrying and on when I feel like it can go off while handling loaded.

 

[johnpem]

Dave,
also new to the shield, carried 1911's and colt mustang (a mini version of the 1911) for many years.

i am stuck as well.
i carry the shield with safety off except when i am reholstering and handling the shield in general. i still try to mentally train myself to go for the safey as soon as i clear the holster, my hope is to not lose the instinct i learned from the 1911 platform since i go back and forth for carry.
yup its hard to find the safety for me on the shield, just not there when i reach for it, hopefully more practice will bring that to me.

i am confident with the gun and comfortable carrying with the safey off but the whole draw part still got me working.

i certainly respect anyone who can instinctively hit the safety off on the shield when drawing, that is used to a 1911 platform.
JP

 

[TailRunner]

Round chambered, safety on all the time. Practice sweeping the safety off with my thumb after drawing from the holster.

 

[Roger S&W]

I don't use it. Ever.

 

[timn8er]

+1 to Tailrunner. I have no problem sweeping the safety off with my thumb during my draw. Otherwise its on ALL the time.

 

[kozmic]

Lady Koz...yes until drawn
Koz...no whenever I carry it

 

[Marshal Tom]

Never use it and forget it is there. Not necessary!

 

[Offshell]

I would throw money so fast at S&W if they put out a shield with no safety. I love everything else about the gun, but I hate that I have to try to get over the paranoia of the safety coming on accidentally. I carry with it off, but I figure I have to still practice swiping it off just in case.

 

[ChiefT]

Leave safety on. Reason I do it that way is because I occasionally carry a 1911. My M&P 40 also has a safety and carry it the same way. Consistency between different gun for me.

 

[CommonCents]

That'd be a tough safety to reliably sweep off when you need to draw. That was one factor for me to opt for the 9C w/ easy to operate thumb safety.

 

[RobzGuns]

Carry with the Safety off.
With mine, it's more difficult to engage the safety than it is to disengage it.
In my Holster, the trigger guard and safety are both covered, so there's nothing that can 'accidentally' engage the safety.

 

[red dragon]

I'm a lefty,safety off.

 

[Irn-Bru]

On when holstering, off when carrying. The safety on the Shield doesn't bother me at all. In reality what are the chances you'll draw your weapon in a life and death situation, and accidentally flip the safety on? Probably more chance of your gun jamming than that happening.

 

[TJHuxley]

#3 Switching the Shield safety becomes as intuitive as using a 1911 safety with practice. Practice. For me, using the safety on is a comfort / peace of mind while carrying and during all associated handling to carry that I will not foresake. I practice drawing and firing fairly often and view such practice also as essential to responsible, safe carrying.

 

[bob98366]

What's a safety?

Seriously, IMHO the real safety is between one's ears. Use it to keep the trigger finger on the frame until the target is acquired and the background is safe. Use a proper holster that completely covers the trigger guard area. Those who cannot draw/holster their pistol without fearing an accidental firing need to practice with an unloaded pistol until proficient. Relying on a mechanical safety without having one's head in the game and being proficient in weapon's handling is a tragedy waiting to happen. Just my thoughts. YMMV.

 

[11e40]

safety on, sweep off on the draw, just like on my 1911.

 

[agksimon]

The safety is small enough to be unobtrusive when drawing and handling, so I don't have to worry about accidently engaging it. When you're in a critical, stressful situation where you have to react very quickly, your fine motor skills go right out the window and you could possibly miss disengaging the safety. Those that think they can train muscle memory to the point that they will ALWAYS disengage the safety, that's a chance I won't take. The consequences of failing to do so at that one time could be disastrous.

 

[InTheWoods]

I always carried 1911s prior to changing to my .40 Shield. Carrying the Shield with the safety on and sweeping it off on the draw is natural for me.

 

[Dirty*Harry]

Safety Off