Shield 9mm with Safety or not?

[Brs1965]

I'm looking to buy a new compact and noticed some have a safety and some do not. I plan to CC this piece and wonder about carrying with a round in the chamber with and without a safety. What is the best arrangements? Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your comments.
Bill S.

 

[Florida J Frame]

It boils down to what you are comfortable with. With proper training it shouldn't make any difference.

 

[Radco]

They say a striker fired pistol does not need a safety because of the way they work.. I got the safety on my 9mm Shield because it makes me feel better, FYI I do not use it but I have the option So if you like a safety get it if you are OK w/o a safety go that route

 

[bigwheelzip]

I disengage mine once holstered.

 

[CoMF]

As long as you practice proper trigger discipline, a Shield sans a manual safety is no less "safe" than its counterpart when carried with a round in the chamber.

From what I've seen, Shields that aren't equipped with one command a slight premium, so you may want to take that into consideration if you're on a budget.

 

[Arik]

I'm against any extra doodads unless absolutely needed....like on the 1911 or the hi power. If a gun is ment to be carried chambered and without an external safety then that's fine.

If it makes you feel better or you don't trust yourself then get the safety otherwise it's not needed

 

[Hhenry]

I agree with the previous posts. It depends on what you're comfortable with. What is you level of comfort? Have you cc'd before? If your unsure, I'd get the safety model and then (again, if you're comfortable) leave it off.

FWIW, the Ruger LC9s Pro has no safety. The implication is a "pro" (qualified-competent) shooter won't need nor use one.

 

[Oyaji]

I bought a Shield with the thumb safety in 9mm when they first came out. I liked the pistol very much and thought it to be a great CCW piece. The one thing that really bothered about it was the tiny little thumb safety.....I was always concerned that I would inadvertently engage the safety and then forget to disengage it during a confrontation. That bugged me a lot and I eventually sold the gun.

Much to my delight a couple years later, S&W offered the Shield sans safety and I immediately purchased that one for my daily carry. No safety.....no worries. It is much like a Glock in that the pistol carried with a round chambered will fire when the trigger is squeezed. Just make sure the pistol is carried in a proper holster and good trigger control is practiced until it becomes a habit.

 

[Ballistic147]

I've got the Shield 9 and 40c, both without the safety. After my wife shot the Shield a few times she really liked it and bought one in February last year with the safety as she felt more comfortable with it. Now that she's had it for a while and learned more about the workings of the gun she carries it with the safety off. One less thing to remember if you ever really need it. In the end the choice is really up to you.

One thing to consider, especially with a carry gun, is the operation of the safety itself. I have large hands with long slim fingers which puts my thumb forward of the safety on the Shield. This combined with the small button on the Shield makes it difficult for me to disengage the safety consistently. I would recommend handling the Shield with safety and see if you can easily operate the safety and then make your decision.

 

[Hhenry]

I would recommend handling the Shield with safety and see if you can easily operate the safety and then make your decision.

Superb advice here!!

 

[Deadbug]

There have been numerous threads on this issue...here's one (with my feelings about the debate):

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...8734-shield-thumb-safety-no-thumb-safety.html

I am very happy that I decided to buy the NTS version of the Shield. I have practiced unloaded safe handling drills including all operations. My finger never goes anywhere inside the trigger guard--ever until I'm up on target. I am 100% confident in operating without a safety and never have to worry if it will go "bang" when I most need it to. My opinion--you'll hear others, I'm sure. As somebody has said...the safety is between my ears.

 

[cardguy]

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[kwh]

When I carry my Shield it is usually in a pouch holster @12:00,deep concealment.I just feel better with the safety. I have small hands and thumbing off safety is not difficult for me.
Pocket, IWB,ankle holsters= Kahr CM9 no safety.

 

[Brs1965]

Thanks so much folks! Love this site!!
Bill S.

 

[kwh]

I carry my Shield in a "pouch" holster at 12:OO. I prefer the safety with that deep concealment configuration. I have small hands and it is not difficult to thumb off the safety.
For Pocket, IWB, & Ankle holster carry I use my Kahr CM9 (no safety).

 

[USAF385]

You can always not use the safety you do have.

Can't use a safety you don't have.

 

[Ranger17]

My compact and full size 9's do not have safeties but i'll add neither are carried. Now I have started looking at adding a Shield but may steer towards one with a safety. I have a permit but dont carry yet but in the back of my head i think i may like a safety on my first carry gun. I know the wife has commented about a safety if she were to ever do more than fire a few mags worth at the range with me.
Speaking only from handling them at the LGS i like how the Shield safety feels and how it is nondescript. Yes it can depend on how i train but i have a hunch my next purchase will have one on it.

 

[3S16]

I carry a Shield. Yup. The safety is there. Don't see any use for it and choose not to use it. If something (finger) gets so far into the trigger guard to crank off a round, there are more issues here than a safety would solve.

 

[CB3]

I wonder how many folks with the Shield safety never use it? I was one, having bought my Shield before it was offered without a safety.

It always bothered me that someday when I needed the pistol to GO it would be STOPPED.

I sold it and bought the version without a safety. Simpler, IMO safer.

 

[Vitoangelo]

My recent two purchases and first ones being new to guns one S/W 45c has no safety, the second purchase recently was a .40 Performance Shield and has a Safety, I witness another gentlemen purchasing a 9mm Performance Shield it also did not have a safety, I was told by the gun shop that all the new Performance Shields come with a Safety due to the lighter pound triger pull of 4lbs? anyone know if this is true?