M&P Shield With and Without Safety

[Hawg Rider]

Personal choice...

The only reason I engage the safety on my PC Shield 9mm is because I mostly carry it in an AIWB (appendix) Cross-Breed holster. I practice my gun handling techniques, but it's still comforting to me to know that I'm taking a little extra precaution to protect the family jewels and my femoral arteries!

 

[Enfuego]

I ignore the safety on my Shield and try to imagine it not there


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[jawman]

I don't like thumb safeties on striker fired pistols. I have 2 Shields, a version 1 and a new M2.0. Neither have a manual thumb safety. I don't want to have to think about flicking the safety off under stress if I need to use the gun. There are many documented cases of people forgetting to flip the safety off under the stress of a gunfight, and when they point their gun and pull the trigger and get don't get a bang, they have a "oh sh*t" moment. It takes a few seconds for them to diagnose the problem, fix it, and get back into the fight. That's a long time, and that's if they didn't already get shot during that delay.
I know Shield owners will say they carry with the safety off and have never had a problem with it engaging on its own, but for me that's not something I trust my life with. Everyone has a personal budget, but for me I'll spend the small amount of extra money on the no thumb safety version. And right now there are amazing deals, I don't see why anyone would get the thumb safety version anyway.
PSA is still running the amazing deal for a 2.0 Shield 9mm no thumb safety for $299 with free shipping. At that price it's damn near impossible to justify getting a with safety version to save money. But to each their own.
My 2.0 Shield 9mm no thumb safety only cost me $270 after the S&W mail in rebate, an absolute steal of a price. And the rebate money came in just a couple of weeks after my rebate submission. Awesome turnaround time.


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[Jessie]

Growing up shooting 1911s has taught my thumb to sweep the safety, whether it has one or not.
But I only leave the safety engaged on a 1911 or HiPower.
With my Shield, it's on to holster it and once holstered, it's off safe.
I believe most AD/ND happen while holstering.

 

[Boogs]

Yes, there is a difference mechanically.

Yes, it can be carried without the safety engaged.

I would say based on your question, and not to be presumptuous, is that you want a lot of trigger time with this pistol, or any pistol, you intend on carrying to potentially defend your life, of the life or your loved one.

Know your tool, and know how to manipulate it quickly and effectively.

Due to the nature of the Shield safety, I would agree it is incredibly unlikely to become engaged/disengaged by accident. That said, I would caution you to train as if it is "on", even if you "leave it off all of the time".

I understand there are varying schools of thought here, and to each their own, the old school types like 1911 guys, revolver guys, or the newest school striker guys, safety striker guys, etc, but if a safety is on your weapon, you should be comfortable manipulating it on/off instinctively, period. The best way to establish that is through repetition-- training.

It is an extra step to train.

A Shield safety can be disengaged from the draw, like most other manual, external safeties, but the last thing you want is to pull out a tool that you immediately require in order to protect your life, and no matter how hard you pull on the trigger, nothing happens.

Seconds count

 

[MASSIVE]

Another 1911 guy, so I actually try to find firearms with a thumb safety (as long as it goes hot *down*). Every single time it comes out of the holster or gets picked up from the nightstand, that safety comes off for a second. Every time. That's a good bunch of times daily and I have what feels like an extra bone on the side of my thumb.

That said (#1) -- As mentioned, the Shield is one of few firearms I've owned with such an unobtrusive safety with such a positive action. I don't ever recall it moving on its own or not being where I expected it to be. Figure at the very least, 15,000 draws and it still feels like new for that matter. If there's one gun out there where you can set it and forget it, it's probably the Shield.

THAT said (#2) -- I still wouldn't trust it to be there. Which is why it's swiped every single time.

So put me in the camp with the others that say if you want it without a safety, get it without a safety.

Or as dwcopple mentioned above - If it's a 1.0, by all means install the Hyve trigger (I have the same - even in the same color) but don't file down the trigger bar - and presto! New (excellent) trigger and a safety that won't engage.

 

[Boogs]

Figure at the very least, 15,000 draws and it still feels like new for that matter

Some people pay for that kind of slide wear