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

[mgo]

Of course, this is my personal preference, and your thoughts may be different....

I rarely read that people like the thumb safety on the M&P because it enables safer holstering (cannot always see the holster when holstering) there's less chance of clothing or other objects snagging the trigger and firing the gun when holstering. Holster pistol, then snick the safety off. Pistol ready to go. (of course, I always check for that snag anyway before taking safety off!)

My HK USP variant 1 also has this excellent safety feature.
(Since the HK has a external hammer, one can keep the thumb on the hammer spur during holstering, too)

Also, when loading and unloading the pistol, the M&P thumb safety makes that operation less hazardous. (did you know that you CAN chamber/eject a round and load/unload the pistol with the thumb safety ON?) Less risky that way!

 

[Arik]

Ehh...hate those things. But to each their own

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[martyg2020]

The thumb safety is a just one more layer of protection from having a AD. If you are one of those lucky people that do not have kids and or grand kids who like to jump on you, you may not need one. As for me, I have a three-year-old, work with my horses, and ride my motorcycle, so I do agree they are a good thing if that is your liking.

 

[805moparkid]

there is nothing wrong with the safety... its there for the purpose of an Accidental incident where it could discharge. in a perfect world it would not go off unless you were ready... in a perfect world... between shirts, holsters, in and out of the car, there are alot of things that can happen.

must say this is the reason i always like hammers... i always have a +1 with hammer down, and with the extra power firing pin spring it cant bounce and go off, and with a reduced power main/hammer spring its easy to cock one handed...

 

[lamrith]

Of course, this is my personal preference, and your thoughts may be different....

I rarely read that people like the thumb safety on the M&P because it enables safer holstering (cannot always see the holster when holstering) there's less chance of clothing or other objects snagging the trigger and firing the gun when holstering. Holster pistol, then snick the safety off. Pistol ready to go. (of course, I always check for that snag anyway before taking safety off!)

My HK USP variant 1 also has this excellent safety feature.
(Since the HK has a external hammer, one can keep the thumb on the hammer spur during holstering, too)

Also, when loading and unloading the pistol, the M&P thumb safety makes that operation less hazardous. (did you know that you CAN chamber/eject a round and load/unload the pistol with the thumb safety ON?) Less risky that way!

Why bother flicking the safety off when you holster? Keep one in the chamber, safety on. The gun is then no different that the much venerated and loved 1911 in condition one. Practice and train to draw and thumb the safety off as you bring the gun up. If you ever decide to try the 1911 format, then you already have the muscle memory built up!

 

[Shielded]

I like the safety on my Shield. A good design IMO. There if you want it, or out of the way if you don't.

 

[southchatham]

My 9c does not have the safety. I don't like safety's on my self defense guns. Just my opinion not saying it's not good for others.

 

[RussC]

The safety has grown on me.

I train pocket drawing sweeping safety dry fire. (1 1/2 seconds)

I personally believe everyone should get in the habit of sweeping safety everytime you draw.

If you pack with safety off you will hesitate to check if safety is still off when you draw. Why not make it second nature to sweep safety thus eliminating the possibility of hesitating.

Remember he who hesitates dies.

Russ

 

[JJEH]

Mine has a thumb safety and I love it!

 

[FLDan]

I agree, they're an excellent safety feature.

 

[Magster]

I think with kids and grand kids around you a thumb safety makes sense.

 

[Arik]

While in the holster, how would my gun go off while im in/out of car or having kids jumping around? Gun is fully in a holster with just the grip exposed?

No kids here.


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[catcus-jack]

No I really don't think a thumb saftey is needed on any M&P.A good holster and proper gun handling skills will do more to keep you safe than any manual saftey.

 

[Magster]

Pocket holsters do not as a rule, fit as tightly as a belt holster. A small hand reaching into a pocket as kids like to do, could possibly engage a trigger. When I'm around kids with a belt holstered gun, I like at least a level 1 retention if the gun has no thumb safety. You just never know what a child will do when they are near you.

 

[Danno_man]

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.

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[gnystrom]

No I really don't think a thumb saftey is needed on any M&P.A good holster and proper gun handling skills will do more to keep you safe than any manual saftey.

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.

 

[moxie]

Agree with lamreth. Use the safety the same way as with a 1911. It's not quite as ergonomic, but works just as well.

 

[Armed Babysitter]

I'll never own a striker fired auto with one, but if the thumb safety gives you the warm fuzzy's and helps you sleep at night, go for it.

It's merely another training issue to get used to, which for some will be a non issue if they're coming from a platform like the 1911 and are already accustomed to sweeping the safety off on the draw stroke.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I agree that the thumb safety is a good feature for a striker fired pistol that only has a tab/hinged trigger to keep the trigger from moving if anything were to get caught in the trigger guard. No hammer to press down on and the trigger is going to move if it's pulled back by a shirt end, drawstring or holster edge as examples.

I'm used to 1911s and other guns with thumb safeties like a M&P FS, Shield and BG380 for S&W examples. I also shoot thumbs forward and all of my carry guns have thumb safeties so sweeping them off and putting them on when reholstering has been second nature for a long time. Training with a thumb safety transfers easily to those without since all I'll do is sweep air instead.

 

[DustyDawg48]

I'm with the OP and I love mine. In fact I have 3 M&P autos with thumb safties. They don't give me warm and fuzzy feelings or help me sleep at night; at most the give me a nice place to rest my thumb for a good grip, but I like them because there is that added layer of safe that can be easily and quickly ingrained into your draw. I started with a 1911 and the habit of draw/sweep never left even when I switched to Glock. I have my M&Ps now and it was 2nd nature to have the thumb safety off as soon as my pistol clears the holster.

While I've never been in a gunfight or self-defense situation, I've practiced thousands of draws and did countless draws on the clock in competition using my M&P45 (both of them) and my M&P9c and have never failed to flick the safety off. It is like any other skill where you have to train until you've mastered it.

I will easily concede the fact that they aren't 100% necessary but they aren't useless, either. I'm probably adding an M&P22 and eventually a 2nd M&P9 and both will have the TS, I like the idea of it that much.

 

[KyWstJoe]

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.

 

[catcus-jack]

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.

If your not in control of your firearm at all times you either need to get more training or get rid of it.

 

[JJEH]

If your not in control of your firearm at all times you either need to get more training or get rid of it.

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...

 

[catcus-jack]

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.

 

[hkyplr]

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.

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.

 

[catcus-jack]

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?

 

[mewisemajic]

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...

 

[catcus-jack]

No thumb saftey on my current ccw gun.

 

[hkyplr]

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?

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...

 

[highaltitude]

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.