Shield Manual Safety Question

[Sheepdogged]

I have a question for all the Shield owners out there with a manual safety.

I had an original Shield about five years ago without a manual safety, but I recently purchased a Performance Center version that came with one.

I had the same manual safety on my M&P Bodyguard 380, but it didn't do this. On the Bodyguard, the safety was like every other manual safety I am familiar with. It was either on or off. This safety has three distinct positions as you can see in the pictures. The first picture shows the safety all the way off. The second shows the first stage. In other words, it will click into this stage and sound like it was engaged but it won't be. The third picture is what it looks like if you click it a second time. When it's in the second state, it looks almost like it's off.







I sent it in to Smith & Wesson and got it back after three weeks (not bad by some standards, but longer than the typical two-week turnarounds I've experience three other times with S&W.

I had also sent it in for repair because of the trigger. The Performance Center M&P Shield's are supposed to have a "PC Tuned Action". Well, if they by tuned they meant short the reset and have it pull 6.5 to 7 lbs. or more, then I guess it's PC tuned, but the samples they sent to Sootch and others to review come in with the same trigger scale below (and sometime way below) 5 lbs. I mentioned both the safety issue and the heavy trigger to Smith & Wesson and they told me to send it in. After I received it back there as a note that said everything was within spec so no repairs were performed. First, why spend the money to have me ship it too them if they already knew it was within spec?

Second, though the trigger is disappointing, it's not the end of the world and I'd rather have it a little on the heavy side than too light anyway, but I'm not sure how they can rationalize the manual safety operating like this. Does any one else's Shield have a manual safety that works this way with three distinct stages???

I also put Ameriglo sights on it today. The front sight was pressed so tightly I couldn't get it off (which I know is normal). The rear sight came off just fine. I ended up having to bring it to a gunsmith today so I'm not having the best of luck with this pistol so far.

To add insult to injury, the gunsmith accidently marred the rear sight. He looked a little nervous when he showed it to me. I noticed and I don't think he was going to charge me at all, but he performed a service so I insisted on paying. He only charged me $20 bucks and I can touch up the the part that was marred from their sight pusher, but it's just one more thing I've dealt with on this gun. Most gun projects go smoothly for me, but the last two have have been nightmares. Don't even get me started on my Beretta that came with a deformed slide that had holes through the dovetail!

Sorry about the blurry pic of the Ameriglo iDots. My iPhone wasn't cooperating. Just one more thing to add to my day. I also don't know why most of these pictures are sideways. They don't look like that on my Mac.

 

[hyena]

I have a Shield .,45 with the manual safety. It only has two positions. I just tried to get it to do what your middle photo shows. It won't. It's either fully on or off.

 

[Wavygravy]

The safety on my Shield 9 isn't that way. It's either fully on or off. You can hear and feel a click when it goes either way.

 

[Bozz10mm]

Mine won't stay in between. It's either on or off.

 

[swsig]

I have a Shield 9 (1.0), and a Shield 45, both with safeties. Neither has a middle position. They are either on or off, both with a positive tactile snap. I'm surprised S&W ignored your problem, because of the danger involved in believing the safety is on when it is actually off. You may have to send it back using a more strongly worded complaint.

 

[Tsb3]

My shield 9 1.0 is definitely either on or off.

 

[JM4151]

Shield Manuel safety

My shield only has 2 positions, either on or off. Its an early one though. I would call Smiths customer service and ask them if their is a 3 position safety, and if they say no, request a shipping label. If they say yes ask them to explain the operation to you. It really doesn't sound right to me.

 

[shovelhead]

My 1.0 Shield in .40 has two positions, on or off.

 

[RobzGuns]

Mine is one of the earliest Shields and it is definitely either on or off.

My question to you is...
Does the User Guide address this? If it does have 3-positions, it seems that it would mention it there.

 

[Rastoff]

No S&W pistol has a three position safety. If yours definitely has three positions, something is wrong. I'm surprised this wasn't addressed when you sent it in.

 

[M29since14]

It's not normal, IMO. It should be something your gunsmith can easily fix. I know you're having some bad luck right now. Shoot it a couple of weeks and then take it to him to have the safety adjusted. Maybe by then the bad vibes will have passed.

 

[ROB94045]

I have the PC ported Shield 2.0 in .40 SW and you're not entirely alone. I can sort of see what you mean though I would describe it more like the lever first unseats just a bit from the full down position, almost like it has a very slight amount of play in the off position. Then it has a very obvious click into the safe position. That first bit is only the slightest movement and I'd never mistake it for having the safety on. It's possible yours is more pronounced than mine.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

[cmj8591]

That safety is so that Smith can sell those guns in places that require safeties. I don't think I would use it in EDC. It is just too small to be able to manipulate it in stressful conditions, especially if you have gloves or wet hands. I also don't think the extra money for a Performance Center shield is worth it. You are better off buying a regular, off the shelf gun, with the rebate. Invest the savings in an Apex trigger and some good sights and you will have a better performing gun in my opinion.

 

[ROB94045]

That safety is so that Smith can sell those guns in places that require safeties. I don't think I would use it in EDC. It is just too small to be able to manipulate it in stressful conditions, especially if you have gloves or wet hands. I also don't think the extra money for a Performance Center shield is worth it. You are better off buying a regular, off the shelf gun, with the rebate. Invest the savings in an Apex trigger and some good sights and you will have a better performing gun in my opinion.

I'm quite happy with mine. The tritium night sights it came with were there main reason I chose it, not the porting. In fact I like a small manual safety because my primary use for it is as an added measure of safety during reholstering. After the firearm is reholstered, it comes off.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

[Bozz10mm]

I'm glad I opted for the safety on both my Shields. I carry with a round in the chamber and the safety on. I have practiced dry fire draw and fire so many times that it has become automatic to flip the safety off during the draw. Now, even when I practice with a no safety firearm such as my MP 2.0 Compact, I find myself sweeping off the safety even tho it doesn't have one.

 

[murphydog]

It sounds as though it may have a burr on the safety's contact surfaces or something similar.

If the factory balks on a second try at fixing it I would check if the gun fires in the "sort of on safe" lever position and take photos; that night get their attention.

 

[oldiegoldie]

That safety is so that Smith can sell those guns in places that require safeties. I don't think I would use it in EDC. It is just too small to be able to manipulate it in stressful conditions, especially if you have gloves or wet hands. I also don't think the extra money for a Performance Center shield is worth it. You are better off buying a regular, off the shelf gun, with the rebate. Invest the savings in an Apex trigger and some good sights and you will have a better performing gun in my opinion.

the safety on my original Shield was the main reason i traded it.

 

[Seven High]

Is anyone aware of an extended manual safety that could be installed on a
Shield 1.0?

 

[pantannojack]

Safety Good, Trigger Bad

My 45 Shield which S&W has told me numbers in the 2.0 range has a proper safety. I can see how some would not want a safety as I often forget to disengage while range shooting. It must be practiced and learned. S&W said a trigger up grade would do little or no good as of the 2.0 status.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have a Shield .,45 with the manual safety. It only has two positions. I just tried to get it to do what your middle photo shows. It won't. It's either fully on or off.

I have 45 and a 9 Shield with safety.....Only 2 positions on mine. sounds like you are monkeying with it. Trying to make it do something that it doesn't do.