Shield EXTENDED safety

Boswell

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Who in the heck do I need to give my money to so that I can get someone to make one? I like my shield but don't like the tiny safety. I am use to 1911 style safety, so that is what I want. I like the way it is built, I just want it to have a larger safety.

If any one wants to send me one they took out of their gun, so I can work on making a larger one as described by robkarrob, that would be GREAT!

Thanks,
Boswell
 
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Since the only M&P I own is a Shield, I don't know the side-by-side differences in the part, but you could start by contacting the various Aftermarket companies that make extended safeties for the M&P line and asking them.

I believe there MAY be a thread or two where it's been discussed, but the Number of people interested in obtaining a bigger Shield thumb safety may only be in the Single Digits.
 
It would be easy to remove the safety lever, get some metal welded on it, and file/shape it down to how you would want it. I have had my Shield for over 2 years, and have yet to see anyone making such a lever. It would not matter to me, as I prefer the small stock lever, which I find is functional and small enough to not cause any carry comfort issues.

Bob
 
Who in the heck do I need to give my money to so that I can get someone to make one? I like my shield but don't like the tiny safety. I am use to 1911 style safety, so that is what I want. I'm not going to not use it, I just want it to be larger.

Thanks,
Boswell

If you are not going to use it, you want it tiny and difficult to operate so it is less likely to get activated when you don't want it to get activated. That is the kind of thing that could get you killed in a fight.
 
That is what I read the first time, but upon a more careful reading, the OP said he was going to use it. He does want the safety, just with a larger lever.

Bob
 
I, too, would buy an extended thumb safety. I do use the one on my Shield. It's just large enough to where I can flip it off *most* of the time. But that's during dry-fire presentations in the comfort of my home with an unloaded gun. Given some adrenaline and a pumping heart involved, I'd prefer just a little more purchase on that safety switch.
 
Sorry for the confusing wording. I like the gun, just hate the small safety. Would like to have a bigger one. I carry my P238 over the shield because of the safety is to small.

Thanks,
Boswell
 
At first I had issues with swiping off the small lever. Then with much practice, I now apply a lot of inward pressure, with my thumb, while swiping down. It is very natural now, and I have never missed swiping it off. The trick is the inward pressure and lots of practice.

Bob
 
Anyone want to send me theirs that they might have taken off?
 
Anyone wanna sell me or send me one they took off their gun? Really want a bigger safety, if not might trade it for a 938.
 
Larger Safety

I have an M & P 9C. It has a much larger safety than my Shield. The shield has a small safety but it works. It doesn't go on or off accidentally. The 9C safety is large but not much resistance is required to move it from off, to on or vice verse. In my opinion its dangerous because when carried in a holster you will sometimes find it in the off position, and when you are shooting same, the safety will sometime go to the on position preventing additional firing. Yesterday I wrote Smith & Wesson the 4 th letter about this problem, without a resolution. After the first letter they did send me a new safety, and other parts connected with the safety, but replacing them didn't solve the problem. I have tried several new guns in local gun shops but they are all the same. This problem has to be costing S & W law enforcement sales!
 
I use my Shield as a "house" gun. I store it in a secure container, loaded, with the safety on. I would buy a larger safety if one was available.
 
I use the Shield's manual safety only for "off carry" handling and storage. Once it goes into my holster for active CC, I swipe off the safety and treat it like any other DAO striker with trigger safety.
 
Anyone wanna sell me or send me one they took off their gun? Really want a bigger safety, if not might trade it for a 938.
The P938's a great little pistol, but have you actually shot one yet? To me, it's quite a bit snappier than the shield and the safety, while definitely larger, isn't really easier to disengage. [to me anyway].

If the P938 would really suit your needs better, go for it... But if you haven't actually shot it and are going by how nicely it fondles at the counter, you may simply be suffering from 'Grass Is Greener' Syndrome. :)
 
I carry a Shield AIWB and find the factory TS to be relatively nice. It will "grow" on ya ....

It's easy and natural for me to disengage the TS... and if it was bigger it might not be as comfortable AND might get disengaged inadvertently while carrying IWB. Not sure on that... but so far I myself wouldn't change the TS on the Shield. I know it's "hot button" for some folks .
 
I have had the gun since end of april 2012 and still hate the safety. I don't CCW it much because of this, I almost always carry my P238 instead. I would like to carry the shield more just don't because I don't like the safety or lack there of. Its a good gun and shoots great just don't like the crappy safety.
 
I know this is heresy, but if you want a bigger safety look at the new Ruger LC9-S. I had the older one. Safety has a little shelf so it has a bit more to grab on to. New ones have a much better trigger, the huge loaded chamber indicator is gone, and the gun is slightly smaller and lighter than the Shield, so it's better to carry. It has a mag disconnect and the gun being on safe blocks the action of the slide so it can't be cycled. Just like a 1911. I used to carry that LC9 no problem in a pocket holster and rest my hand on it and flick the safety off with ease
 
The new striker fired Ruger LC9s does not have near as good of trigger pull, as the Shield's. The new LC9s has a much better trigger pull than the original LC9, but it is still not as good as the Shield's. I would not switch just for an easier to swipe off manual safety.

Those that don't want the safety, it can be eliminated. Search YouTube for M&P Shield safety removal.

Bob
 
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The new striker fired Ruger LC9s does not have near as good of trigger pull, as the Shield's. The new LC9s has a much better trigger pull than the original LC9, but it is still not as good as the Shield's. I would not switch just for an easier to swipe off manual safety.

Those that don't want the safety, it can be eliminated. Search YouTube for M&P Shield safety removal.

Bob

I owned a Shield. Trigger pull was nice. Not as smooth a a S&W revolver, but nice. The LC9 I had had a much longer trigger pull, but at 15 yards, I hit a paper plate every time. Now, the Shield might still have the LC9-S beat, I don't know because I haven't sampled an LC9-S. What I do know is the LC9-S is smaller and lighter, has a safety that is much easier to manipulate and activated with a nice positive click, has a mag disconnect, a loaded chamber indicator, and I like how the safety locks the slide. It's why I love the S&W 3rd gens. I like the mag disconnect and manual safety.

I am sure I will own an LC9-S one day soon. Better trigger on a Shield? Maybe. But I can guarentee I will still shred the target with the LC9-S. Everything has pros and cons. The LC9-S has more pros than cons for me.
 
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It is like how do you like your steak cooked? We all have different opinions about what we want in a gun, and I am not arguing with your opinion, except that I have not found a revolver with a better trigger pull than a striker fired handgun. I have a Shield 40 and a LC9. For accuracy shooting, taking slow accurate aiming, I shoot both equally well. But for fast shooting the Shield's trigger allows me much faster on target shots. The LC9s length is 1/8 inch shorter and 1/8 inch shorter in height, and the LC9s weighs 3 ounces less, but the trigger pull and reset is longer on the LC9s.

You like the bigger safety lever and how it locks the slide, LCI indicator, and magazine safety. No problem with those from me, but many gun owners would not want any of those on their guns. I like the that the Shield allows me to unload the gun with the safety locked on. But if you use the LC9 for self defense, with the mag safety, it makes for an unsafe carry gun. I am retired LEO and have seen many instances of magazines being partially dropped, without the officer being aware of it. If that would happen to your LC9 with the magazine safety, should you need to get off a fast SD shot, you would pull the gun, point/aim and pull the trigger. The trigger would not move, as the magazine safety prevented the trigger from moving because the mag partially dropped out. How long does it take you to realize this, push the magazine fully in, and start all over again? That can be the difference between life and death.

The first thing I did with my SD LC9, was disconnect the magazine safety. If my magazine ever partially drops out, at least it would fire one shot, as opposed to none. I argue the sense of a magazine safety on a gun, which is only required in a few states, including highly populated California. Is someone leaving their gun loaded with a round in the chamber, without the magazine, and letting it lay around where someone may get to it? Common gun safety states the gun will be fully unloaded and locked up. Not only unloaded but locked with proper safety device, if it is not in a secure location (safe). There is never an instance of the magazine safety eliminating a possible incident, that proper gun safety would not have also eliminated that incident. The rule is treat every gun as loaded, until positive double checking proves the gun is unloaded and safe to handle.

Bob
 
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I owned a Shield. Trigger pull was nice. Not as smooth a a S&W revolver, but nice. The LC9 I had had a much longer trigger pull, but at 15 yards, I hit a paper plate every time. Now, the Shield might still have the LC9-S beat, I don't know because I haven't sampled an LC9-S. What I do know is the LC9-S is smaller and lighter, has a safety that is much easier to manipulate and activated with a nice positive click, has a mag disconnect, a loaded chamber indicator, and I like how the safety locks the slide. It's why I love the S&W 3rd gens. I like the mag disconnect and manual safety.

I am sure I will own an LC9-S one day soon. Better trigger on a Shield? Maybe. But I can guarentee I will still shred the target with the LC9-S. Everything has pros and cons. The LC9-S has more pros than cons for me.
I don't really think the Shield trigger is so great with the heavy pull & long over travel after the break. The Shield thumb safety gets a D- for piss poor design and manufacture. The old CZ-82, 83 has a pyramid shape safety that doesn't hang up on things, yet is easy and positive to manipulate. The Ruger SR9c has this safety and it is great. The S&W design engineers also put a horrible thumb safety on their M&P which protrudes too much and is way too easy to flip on and off. Just seems to be incompetence of the design folks. I also agree that the old LC9 is over all a very satisfactory small protection pistol, at least as good as the Shield. I think they are both good and I am having fun working with both of them.
 
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I have an M & P 9C. It has a much larger safety than my Shield. The shield has a small safety but it works. It doesn't go on or off accidentally. The 9C safety is large but not much resistance is required to move it from off, to on or vice verse. In my opinion its dangerous because when carried in a holster you will sometimes find it in the off position, and when you are shooting same, the safety will sometime go to the on position preventing additional firing. Yesterday I wrote Smith & Wesson the 4 th letter about this problem, without a resolution. After the first letter they did send me a new safety, and other parts connected with the safety, but replacing them didn't solve the problem. I have tried several new guns in local gun shops but they are all the same. This problem has to be costing S & W law enforcement sales!
Excellent observation! It should cost them sales, it is sheer incompetence on the design and management staff of S&W!
 
At first I had issues with swiping off the small lever. Then with much practice, I now apply a lot of inward pressure, with my thumb, while swiping down. It is very natural now, and I have never missed swiping it off. The trick is the inward pressure and lots of practice.

Bob
I like this approach of adapting to the pistol. This is so far the best fix I have seen. It works even if the thumb is not perfectly located.
 
I was wondering. With some fitting, filing here or there, wouldn't the TS of the MP9C fit the Shield?
 
The new striker fired Ruger LC9s does not have near as good of trigger pull, as the Shield's. The new LC9s has a much better trigger pull than the original LC9, but it is still not as good as the Shield's. I would not switch just for an easier to swipe off manual safety.

Those that don't want the safety, it can be eliminated. Search YouTube for M&P Shield safety removal.

Bob

I'll completely agree with the LC9s trigger. Tried 2 different ones in the local LGS, last Wednesday. Both were nearly the same. A good 1/8 inch of do-nothing take-up. A little bit of creep. Not much but it is there. Not "breaking glass". Pull weight was OK. A lot of over-travel. The reset was really long. All the way back to where the take-up ended. If the LC9s is better than the LC9, then the latter must be just terrible.
I've tried the Shield thumb safety. Yea, its small. I've become used to the big boat paddle safety on my H&K USP. The Shield will take some getting used to.
 
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