M&P thumb safety: why I think it's a excellent safety feature

I carried a Sigma for 4 years and felt a winch to pull the trigger would be more necessary than a safety. My buddy has an M&P and said he wished he got a safety. He's very compentant with hand guns being retired NYPD. I have been carrying a Glock G30 about 8 months now and wifey a G26. She felt very uncomfortable with one in the chamber and I kept thinkin' about "Glock leg" so I put "Siderlocks" on both and all's good. To each their own.
 
gnystrom said:
I disagree. Like it or not, use it or not, the manual safety makes the gun far more safe. You may not be the person in control of that particular firearm at all times.
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If your not in control of your firearm at all times you either need to get more training or get rid of it.
 
catcus-jack said:
If your not in control of your firearm at all times you either need to get more training or get rid of it.
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Now that is some BS. My wife and I share ALL weapons, there is no "mine" and "yours."

Therefore when she takes one, I'm not in control of this particular weapon at this particular time. So I should get rid of it?

Well, at least I can agree on the training part...
 
No you shouldn't get rid of it just make sure she is compentent with it.If not she needs more training.If people quit putting 2-3lb triggers on these pistols they are perfectly safe.S&W must agree or there would be thumb safties on all M&Ps.My wife has her guns and I have mine she is perfectly safe with hers but for her to be comfortable with some of mine she needs more training with them.Which she gets when we hit the backyard range.
 
catcus-jack said:
No you shouldn't get rid of it just make sure she is compentent with it.If not she needs more training.If people quit putting 2-3lb triggers on these pistols they are perfectly safe.S&W must agree or there would be thumb safties on all M&Ps.My wife has her guns and I have mine she is perfectly safe with hers but for her to be comfortable with some of mine she needs more training with them.Which she gets when we hit the backyard range.
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It has nothing to do with what S&W believes is the safest, it has to with them giving their customers the ability to chose which works best for them.

How many police officers get shot with their own guns? It is near sided to think the situation would never arise where you might get your weapon taken away from you by an assailant or assailants. Or to think that you could have enough training to prepare you for all given possibilities.
 
Most well known and acredited tactical schools offer firearm retention classes.Might want to look into them.If you have got yourself into a situation where your attacker has taken your weapon a thumb saftey is not going to keep him from using it like a hammer and beating you to death with it.If you have lost control of your weapon to your attacker be it a firearm,knife,ball bat whatever if you survive the attack count yourself lucky.When you recover get some professional training.Money better spent on training than blasting rounds down range.
Thumb saftey different strokes for different folks.Wonder why Glocks never put a thumb saftey on a pistol?
 
If you count on the safety to make you safe with your gun you might just rely on the safety too much. I count on my brain keeping me safe. The issue over whether one should/must have a manual safety or not is like 9mm vs 45 argument, it will never be ended. Whichever you choose you still need to be smart and think with firearms around...
 
No thumb saftey on my current ccw gun.
MountainGun003.jpg
 
catcus-jack said:
Most well known and acredited tactical schools offer firearm retention classes.Might want to look into them.If you have got yourself into a situation where your attacker has taken your weapon a thumb saftey is not going to keep him from using it like a hammer and beating you to death with it.If you have lost control of your weapon to your attacker be it a firearm,knife,ball bat whatever if you survive the attack count yourself lucky.When you recover get some professional training.Money better spent on training than blasting rounds down range.
Thumb saftey different strokes for different folks.Wonder why Glocks never put a thumb saftey on a pistol?
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I am well aware of all the different training classes available, thanks. If a perp does get a hold of your weapon, the time it takes them to realize a thumb safety is engaged might give you time to recover and strike back. FWIW, I have a thumb safety on my 1911, but specifically chose not to have one on my 40c. I can see the arguement to having one.

Good luck to you...
 
Unless I'm missing something, I'm not sure why holsters aren't brought up more as to how critical their role is in keeping a gun safe. I keep my Shield safety off and tucked away in a Remora holster at all times. The trigger is protected but yet gun ready to go when drawn. Finger off trigger until ready to shoot. On the other hand, if I did not plan on keeping my gun in a holster, then I would definitely feel better with a gun that has an external safety.
 
I do not like a thumb safety on my carry guns. Glock 23 and Kahr PM9. I do have one on on my nightstand gun which is my M&P 45 FS. Just something about it laying there with the trigger uncovered while I am not conscious or if I'm startled awake and reach for it in haste.
 
I got used to revolvers and Glocks with no manual safeties. My M&P 45 came without one. A thumb safety won't necessarily prevent an AD. I've learned that from hardcore 1911 shooters. If a shooter has the chance to attend one of the good handgun schools, they will learn that holstering is performed one-handed with the finger off the trigger. If you've got a jacket with a draw string, use the support hand to ensure that nothing is in the way of the pistol back to its holster. Just make sure that you don't cross the muzzle over your support hand. I've heard that the M&Ps with manual safeties are great 1911 starter pistols. I can't disagree with that assessment. I would not equate a thumb safety to child gun safety. Educate your kids on the range one-on-one about firearms safety and the dangers of curiosity. Keep your pistol in a safe place where a kid can't access when its not on your person. Always be aware where your pistol is. How you store it is our busniess based on the risks you have to consider. If you're confortable with a manual safety on your pistol, that is fine. If you're not thats fine. Regardless of the firearm, remember the these rules:

1. TREAT ALL FIREARMS AS IF THEY ARE LOADED ALL OF THE TIME!

2. NEVER POINT A FIREARM IN THE DIRECTION OF ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO DESTROY!. AND A BULLET SURE WILL DO IT.

3. KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER AND OUTSIDE OF THE TRIGGER GUARD UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE UP ON TARGET, AND YOU ARE PREPARED TO FIRE!
 
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Danno_man said:
I traded a friend my M&P for his (which had a thumb safety), because I'm a 1911 shooter and don't mind the thumb safety.

Mine was stock with a 10-8 rear sight and his was stippled, 10-8 rear sight, Dawson front, and Apex internals. :)

I did just buy a $2300 gun from him at the same time too, so the trade was just a bonus.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
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I was thinking about posting my M&Pc .357 sig with 40 cal and a 9mm barrel to trade for M&Pc with a thumb safety. My first pistol was 1911 and just seem to being wanting to go back to it. Might just need to train more to get away from the thumb safety.
 
See, threads like this drive me nuts. I'm waiting for an M&P40 to get back in stock at my favorite on-line retailer, and was all set on the 209300 no safety model, but now this thread has me rethinking it again.
 
RockBottom said:
See, threads like this drive me nuts. I'm waiting for an M&P40 to get back in stock at my favorite on-line retailer, and was all set on the 209300 no safety model, but now this thread has me rethinking it again.
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Just get what you're used to. Post #19 are my reasons and thumbing a safety is second nature. Weather you're used to and train that way then get one with, if not get it without.
 
Nakanokalronin said:
Just get what you're used to. Post #19 are my reasons and thumbing a safety is second nature. Weather you're used to and train that way then get one with, if not get it without.
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See, that's great advice..., except this is my first gun, so I'm really not used to either model. :)
 
This discussion on safety vs no safety is interesting. I wonder how many of you have had to draw their gun. I don't carry, so I have a different perspective. I have never felt that I needed to carry, even when I lived in NYC during the 70s. I view safeties as a protection for others. If you injure yourself, well that is the breaks of the game, but if someone else is injured because you don't use a safety or secure your weapon, well that in my opinion is criminal. If you own a firearm you have an obligation to others. If you carry, your obligations are even greater. What scares me is that someone with little or no experience can get a CC permit by taking a three hour class. There are a lot of stupid people out there with guns, we all see it every day.
 
All points are valid for the safety. I own 3 different handguns which are a 629 revolver with no safety and Sig 229R SA/DA with no safety so I leave the safety off on my Shield 9. If my kids were still home the guns would have to be locked up or have a safety with the safety on when left out. But hey that is just me.
 
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