Why have a thumb safety on an M&P Pistol!

[chfields]

I grew up with the 1911 and shoot a CZ 75B SA in competition and love the thumb safety. I don't even have to think about it, its just a natural part of my draw. I thought when I first got the shield that the small safety would be an issue, but it turns out I can flip the safety just as well as my full size pistols. ND's are nearly impossible with a striker fired gun and thumb safety, not so without....

 

[Model63]

I have a 40c without the safety and I recently bought a police trade in 45 with a safety. I am working on being proficient with both. I am the kind of guy that likes to master whatever tool I have, tablesaw or 45, same concept. Frankly I fear the table saw more. Being proficient is the key regardless of which safety you have.

 

[Radco]

I am not Gun Numb and have been around guns since I was born, My father was a LEO. So WHY does wanting a Safety on a Striker fired gun make you DUMB ? You either want one or you do not, that is a personal choice, just like being smug person who thinks they know it all and their opinion is always the right one for everyone! IMO if you want a safety because you fell better get one if you do not want a safety on a striker fired weapon don't get one .Simple no need to insult people who do not agree!
FYI I have a Safety on my Ruger SR9E and my Shield, do not use them , they were on the guns when I got them, but i would buy with the safety BECAUSE I just like the idea of them being there, SO if someone thinks I am dumb that is there opinion and I have been called worse then that lol

 

[Horn]

California

Actually the answer is pretty simple. It's because they are hoping/trying to get military contracts with the M&Ps and that this is a typical demand of most armed forces. As to why they carried this to the Shield...I'm not sure as I don't see any armed forces using the Shield.

I think since California's population is greater than Canada's___
That's a lot of possible gun sales.
I agree that people should have a choice. But, nearly every police agency in the U.S. issued or mandated a 38 special revolver for a hundred years. The safety was and is the double action.
I'm one of those who prefer a double action auto. (Been shot at by
criminals)
Most nation's militaries mandate a manual safety. Most who pack a pistol in the military ___not intended for immediate self defense.
That said___(Anyone who was in the army or marines) I've never got over my admiration of the government model 1911.
Poli Viejo

 

[kstud]

Although this is an relatively old thread, the topic is still very relevant.

To answer the question with various reasons:

1) Because this is America and those that want a manual safety can have one. Don't like the freedom to choose?...move to another country.

2) Manual safety is another layer of protection against ND. Those with kids may want all the safety features they can get.

3) Those that thinks the only needed safety is the one between their ears are delusional. No human being is capable of functioning at 100% mental capacity with awareness and judgement at all times. There are periods of lapse of judgement such as distractions, during waking up from sleep, etc.... In darkness, when one has to grab the firearm for whatever reason, a manual safety can potentially reduces the mishap of a ND.

4) New/inexperience gun owners...enough said.

I have both safety and non-safety and prefer the manual safety more and once it's holstered, safety goes off. The odds of discharging a firearm in self-defense is astronomically low, coupled with the fact that an accidental engagement/malfunction of the safety during an SD/HD, the odds of that happening are immeasurable.

I got a non-safety M&P9 Full Size because the ambidextrous safety is large and gaudy, more prone to unintended engagement/disengagement.

EDIT: Those that throw insults because of differences in gear or choices are ignorant and poor manner.

 

[S. Kelly]

Here's one with an ambi safety

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u491/coutrider8445/IMG_0142_zpsuy46gcfv.jpg

 

[Bonephish]

Why would anyone want a thumb safety on an M&P so now bear with me on this? The M&P like the Glock is a striker fired weapon and there is no hammer to strike the firing pin which could possibly fire if the weapon were to be dropped but there is no hammer on an M&P!

There have been quite a few accidental discharges by cops carrying Glocks. A cop in Indiana recently shot himself with his Glock. They are not safe. I have a M&P 9C without manual safety and will trade somebody sear blocks and parts to convert mine to external safety and theirs to non safety. Any takers out there?

 

[robert1804]

To me, the safety on a striker fired gun IS the trigger. I have two M&P's, a 9mm shield and a mid-sized 45. These ain't target guns, folks.

 

[Zebra War Wagon]

I have the M&P Shield and YES I have a thumb safety. Reason.......when I IWB carry, I don't want to risk an AD/ND. Not that I am careless, but freak things are know to happen.
I do realize if I had to engage the pistol in case of an emergent event, the small safety lever could present some delay, but IMHO, it worth the slight delay for the peace of mind that the safety is ON!

 

[Gearhead36]

As has been mentioned, there have been numerous ND's with striker guns with no external safety. My FS 9 has one. I bought it for IDPA, carrying, and home defense. When it's in my holster, the safety is off. The holster is the safety, but I still use it when holstering. I also use it when it's in the nightstand. I don't want an ND when I'm fumbling around at night after the burglar alarm goes off. I like having the option of using it when I feel it's needed.

 

[Targets Guy]

On the Shield 9mm the thumb safety prevents the trigger from moving rearward when the thumb safety lever is in the safe position. I see no problem with that and use it all the time.

To me the better question is why would you not want a safety? When I don't want a safety on the Shield 9mm I put the safety lever in the "fire" position.

easy peasy

 

[kannonvaggon]

I'm probably paranoid about the thumb safety on the Shield. I LIKE it. I have it engaged when holstered and any other time except when actually ready to fire the weapon. I have gotten used to having it and that it operates differently from the previous S&W I had which had a decocker type safety which went UP instead of DOWN.... Took me a while to get used to the change but now my brain seems to be in synch with reality....

I use a kydex holster most of the time IWB also since I have a "thing" about leather holsters that might get a little fold and press the trigger on a pistol with no thumb safety. I truly desire not to shoot myself in my own butt .... or anybody else for that matter ....

JMHO

 

[Classic29]

Easy enough for me to answer. When I was looking to purchase an M&P .45 Cabelas had the thumb safety model on sale for, I think, about 80 bucks cheaper than the one without. No brainer. I can always take it off and plug the hole if I desire but since I also have a 1911 it's just muscle memory.

 

[GordonWaite58]

Triggers have been known to be snagged by a twig or branch of a bush in the woods, clothing going into a holster.... I had it happen once. I have carried both types and I found years ago when I carried a colt 1911 that disengaging the saftey as I drew did not alter my response or time on target.

 

[oljames3]

I had two reasons for my choosing the M&P with the thumb safety. Gun dumb or not I carried a Glock CCW for 15 years and had a few instances where the trigger hooked on my shirt and IWB holster when reholstering. Didn't make the gun go off but it made me nervous. Bad gun handling on my part? probably. The other reason is that growing up with the 1911 platform I was always taught to sweep off the safety. I am teaching my daugther the same way, feeling that if she had to use another gun that has a safety in self defense I would rather she is used to swipe it off than fumble looking why it didn't go off. A far fetched senario? Probaby, but I do like that new gun people get used to putting on the safety until they get used to hndling loaded firearms. Is it lawyer induced? probably but I think it is great Smith and Wesson gives you the option to get it either way. Glock doesn't, it's take it or leave it. Besides it is pretty easy to remove the safety down the road if you decide you don'y want it on the gun and Smith will even give you the frame plugs. You can't add it on later if you decide you want it.

I bought my S&W M&P Mod 2.0, 5 inch barrel, with the external safety because S&W did not offer it without an external safety. I'll be removing the external safety as soon as S&W ships me the frame plugs. I, too, like having options.

 

[clarkksv]

Not "gun dumb". I have been an active handgun shooter for almost 30 years now and a competition shooter for about 10 years. I like the 1911 style thumb safety on the M&P pistol. I use it and it gives me a piece of mind. I do not like the very small thumb safeties on the Ruger SR9 or the M&P Shield. Under stress I would not be able to de activate those little safeties.

I love the safety on the Shield (can't speak for SR9). Since the smaller conceal carry guns like the Shield are often not carried in some kind of holster (maybe a belly band), the flatter safety won't catch on clothes. I carry my Shield with one in the chamber and the safety on in my belly band. With a larger conceal carry gun which I can carry somewhere better, I don't care that much (lever is fine). I have much better finger dexterity than most though (I play piano). I've watched other people fumble with their fingers though. That's not me. I'm already fast at taking the safety off and haven't even practiced yet.

I'm not sure if I'll ever buy a gun without a safety. I like to lighten up the trigger and feel much safer doing that if I've got a good thumb safety. Maybe that's just me. Seems like most guns don't have a thumb safety which tells me most people don't want them and/or don't lighten up their trigger.

I wish more guns out there had options for a thumb safety :-(

Consider me a newbie. Only been shooting for a few years but plan to shoot a lot more now.

 

[Sierra117]

IMHO it comes down to what each individual shooter wants and is comfortable with. I personally prefer no safety on my Shield and thats what i have. However someone else may be use to having a safety. FOr me it comes down my training.

I have always trained to carry/shoot with a safety off but it depends on the gun as well. A 1911 yeah I carry with a safety sure. H&K USP 9/45 safety on because thats how I trained but the P2000sk I dont like a saftey. Ihave shot Glocks for years never felt unsafe carrying one. Same with the XD, XDM, XDS, M&P etc.

I guess it comes down to your training and philosophy

 

[Smoke]

This horse ain't gonna get any deader

 

[moonpup]

Since I'm a lefty, my Shield 45 has no safety. If the safety was ambidextrous, I might have reconsidered... maybe [emoji6]


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[s&wchad]

This topic has been more than thoroughly covered.
We're done here.