Shield Safety-yes or no

[Jayhawkokie]

I'm getting ready to order a M&P Shield 9, I can get one with or without the safety, would like some input , this will be my EDC when it is broken in. When I carry the Missus Bodyguard or my Bersa I don't engage the safety in the holster but do when they are in the drawer.

 

[OldLawman]

I owned two with the safety. When the safety less version came out, I sold both and replaced with the no-safety version. All three were equipped with Novak sights and the Apex carry kit.
If the safety tab was bigger, I might have considered keeping one. As they were, for me, it is too small for use.

YMMV.

 

[Jayhawkokie]

I'm leaning toward getting the one without the safety.

 

[chiro972b]

I like the safety on when holstering. Clothing could get caught in the trigger housing and cause an accidental discharge. As soon as the gun is safely holstered I simply stick my thumb between the gun and the holster and flip the safety off. The lever is unobtrusive and takes a firm press to activate so it's not going to activate by itself.

 

[timn8er]

I use the safety on my 40 Shield all the time. I practice drawing & sweeping the safety off quite often. I don't have any problems with the dimensions of the lever at all. It's just me, maybe, but I prefer having a safety. Best of luck on your choice!

 

[bmcgilvray]

My .40 has a safety. I don't care one way or the other. Guess it gives more choices to have a safety.

 

[RobzGuns]

You have to ask yourself if you'd feel comfortable with a Glock (or other pistol) which does not come with a safety.
If yes, go for the NTS version.
If no, go for the TS version.

When I got mine in May '12, there was no option. If there was the option, I would have gone for the NTS version.
But... The safety is so unobtrusive, I'm not going to trade/sell my perfectly good Shield (For a Loss) just to switch.

 

[caddy2507]

The safety is small and actually not easy to engage. If you
are comfortable without one (as many pistols do NOT have them
today such as Glocks, for example) -- just ignore it. I certainly
would not sell mine that came safety equipped just to buy one
without that feature.

 

[andrewcdub]

Whichever makes you feel comfortable enough to carry it. Mine has a safety because there was no choice when i got it.

 

[mustangman]

I use the safety on my 40 Shield all the time. I practice drawing & sweeping the safety off quite often. I don't have any problems with the dimensions of the lever at all. It's just me, maybe, but I prefer having a safety. Best of luck on your choice!

+1. Took the words right out of my mouth. Flicking the safety off becomes second nature with practice, and I personally like the little extra peace of mind it gives me. To each his own though.

 

[Wayne24263]

Mine has the safety, if I bought a new one today it would have the safety. I have owned and used 1911's since 1970 so sweeping off a thumb safety is a natural move. If it wasn't I would practice until it was. Getting old and don't change my ways very easily.

 

[PastureOfMuppets]

Why have another thing in the way of using a defensive handgun? Why have another point of possible failure?

There's not a lot of need in modern defensive/duty guns. The full-size M&P has it available because some departments require them on duty guns and some people who have had to use a manual safety most of their lives want them.

I get the clothing thing, but if habit of making sure the safety is on is put into making sure clothing is out of the way...

 

[meganjoe]

I am left-handed and am trying AIWB carry. I wore it all day yesterday and after a while I almost forgot it was there.

I'm using a Blackhawk #5 and am wearing it in a crossdraw position.

I leave the safety on. I can easily flick the safety off with my thumb or index finger before drawing.

If carrying IWB or OWB at my usual 9:00 position I don't use the safety.

I like the AIWB carry because I can actually have my hand on my weapon, ready to draw, and it does not look like I'm reaching for a gun.

Joe

 

[Muss Muggins]

You mean Shield with three safeties or four, the latter including an external, manually operated safety, don't you? Give me the former, all day and twice on Sundays.

 

[papersniper]

I do not feel the requirement for an additional safety on my Shield, or any other striker fired pistol, other than the other safeties on the pistol already. The long, fairly stout trigger pull is another "safety" IMO. I might consider a manual safety on a pistol that is pocket carried without a hoster (!), but that's about it.

However, I can understand why some do want a manual safety, and that's find as long as they practice always using the safety...putting it both ON and OFF. I didn't get a Shield until I could get one without the safety....I was afraid it would go to the SAFE position inadvertently and I could not fire it when I needed it.....and in my stress I would forget to push the safety to OFF. I own other SD pistols which do not have a safety and I think it's important to be consistent. That's the same reason I didn't get a DA/SA pistol, although there are several available that would make wonderful EDC pistols....I want the consistency. Someone with one EDC pistol has different needs/wants than someone like me who owns several SD pistols.

 

[KEN L]

I see no problem with the manual safety. The way I look at it is, if you need it you got it. If you don't, then don't use it. I never use mine, but it's there if I decide I need it for some reason. When I bought my first Shield, that's how they came. If I were buying for the first time today, I would most likely opt for the no safety version. But, that's just me, cause I never use it anyway.

 

[JohnSW]

It would be totally embarrassing if you drew your gun in response to a bad guy, and in the heat of the moment, you forgot that the safety was on.

On the other hand, it would be totally embarrassing to have a negligent discharge, that could have been prevented with a safety.

Pick your peril.

 

[Shriner37]

I prefer the thumb safety mostly for holstering purposes. You just have to train yourself to flip the safety off as part of moving into the ready position.

I have had one issue with the Shield's thumb safety though. I've been using a Crossbreed Supertuck holster that is fit for my 9c with the Shield until I can get the right one. The 9c being a bit wider, the Shield rides slightly looser in the holster, and a couple of times the thumb safety has disengaged in the process of holstering the pistol. If you do use the safety, expecting it to be engaged when it isn't is a big potential problem.

 

[Redlegvzv]

I like the safety on when holstering. Clothing could get caught in the trigger housing and cause an accidental discharge. As soon as the gun is safely holstered I simply stick my thumb between the gun and the holster and flip the safety off. The lever is unobtrusive and takes a firm press to activate so it's not going to activate by itself.

Absolutely. This is not combat, people. The first responsibility of a civilian carrying concealed is to avoid negligent discharges. The safety is an essential part of that. The idea that a civilian who is carrying needs to be able to present and shoot so fast that the tiny increment of time to operate the safety is an issue is simply illogical. I'll point out that in the US Army even in security situations we carried our .45s with the safety on. I did it in situations where the need to quickly present and shoot was always an immediate possibility.

If you worry about being able to operate the safety under stress I submit that you are insufficiently well trained to operate a lethal handgun under stress.

Your first duty as a CCW licensee is to avoid accidental discharges. Carrying a semi-auto without safety on (if you are carrying with a chambered round) is in my opinion highly unwise.

 

[emory]

The Shield is lightweight and thin enough that it could be called a borderline pocket gun. Sometimes pocket guns ride outside a holster.

Personally, I always carry mine in a holster and I have to recommend you do the same.

At the same time, I understand the utility of having a pistol that hangs out with your wallet, pen knife, and car keys. The reality is that true pocket guns like the BG380 and LCP sometimes go from the kitchen counter to the jacket pocket, to the glovebox, to the pants pocket, to the tackle box, and back. In my opinion, the Shield is a little big for this role, but if you ever intend to use it that way it would be totally irresponsible to do so without a manual safety engaged.

I sure wouldn't want my wife tossing one in her handbag with no safety. I've seen how much **** she keeps in there and I can just imagine an ink pen or lip balm getting inside the trigger guard.

The thumb safety on the Shield is firm enough that it is not going to actuate itself. Try one out at your LGS if you don't believe me. Also, the habit of sweeping the thumb safety off is a good one to develop. If anything slows you down in a self defense situation, it will be your own failure to recognize the threat or hesitation to respond to it, not the thumb safety.

Again, I choose not to carry without a holster, but I support your right to decide for yourself and to do so responsibly. If you think you might ever want to pocket carry, then the thumb safety is a must.