M&P Shield, why are there no doubters?

[9mmepiphany]

I personally don't understand the issue with the M&P's thumb safety.

At least if you complained about a slide mounted safety like that on the S&W Gen3 or a Beretta, you'd have some basis for a complaint. With the location of the M&P's thumb safety, a high thumb draw puts your thumb above the location of the safety anyway and the rotation of the gun, at Count 2, will naturally bring your thumb down to wipe the safety off....just like on a 1911

 

[Ankeny]

External safeties on striker fired guns are silly, unless you're running a 2lb Apex kit or something.

I bought a Shield two days ago. Already stippled the grip. Truth be known, I considered the safety a good thing should Apex develop something I just can't live without...For now, it stays in the off/fire position.

 

[beatledog7]

With the location of the M&P's thumb safety, a high thumb draw puts your thumb above the location of the safety anyway and the rotation of the gun, at Count 2, will naturally bring your thumb down to wipe the safety off....

Unless your strong hand is your left.

 

[carbuncle]

I have a PPS, so I really don't see a need for the Shield for me. If I want a small 9mm, I'll probably look at the slightly smaller NANO.

 

[jon_in_wv]

External safeties on striker fired guns are silly, unless you're running a 2lb Apex kit or something.

Please explain how a manual safety makes sense on a hammer fired gun but NOT on a striker fired gun. There has to be some logic to that statement I'm just not getting.

 

[mgmorden]

Please explain how a manual safety makes sense on a hammer fired gun but NOT on a striker fired gun. There has to be some logic to that statement I'm just not getting.

Its not as cut and dry as action type, but for a quick comparison without getting into details striker fired guns USUALLY fall into the "no safety needed" camp.

For me, if both of the following are true:

1. The (first) trigger pull breaks at 5lbs or more.
2. There is a noticeable amount of take-up and/or pre-travel before the break.

Then no safety is needed for safe daily carry (no safety is needed even without those for range or competition use). Whether or not its striker or hammer fired really isn't the point except that unmodified striker-fried guns as a rule of thumb almost always meet both those criteria. Most DA/SA or DAO hammer guns meet them too. A large percentage of SA hammer-fired guns don't meet one or the other of the criteria.

 

[ares338]

I would have already bought one but I am currently disgruntled at the S&W customer support. I have had two Trijicon ampules fall off of the front sight on my M&P 9c. The first one fell off after 150 rounds and they fixed it however it took 2 weeks then after 250 rounds the next one fell off. I talked to a guy who gave me grief because I just wanted to send in the sight and not the whole pistol. He basically insinuated that I was just trying to get a free sight and how did he know that I was the actual owner. I told him I would send a copy of the sales slip and I have registered the gun with S&W.

Anyway I sent just the sight in and it's been a month now. This is unacceptable and I will not buy another pistol, Shield or anything else until they have fulfilled their warranty. I am perplexed by this as I have always thought their customer service to be exemplary. I like the Shield but will not buy just yet if ever. I know that I'm just one small fish in the ocean but I won't be screwed and then ask for another. ��

 

[Canfield]

With the location of the M&P's thumb safety, a high thumb draw puts your thumb above the location of the safety anyway and the rotation of the gun, at Count 2, will naturally bring your thumb down to wipe the safety off....just like on a 1911

Do you find that the safety protrudes enough for this to work reliably?

 

[Wahoo95]

Do you find that the safety protrudes enough for this to work reliably?

No

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Orion8472]

I have decided to be "a beta tester" for the Shield. Should come in this week or next. I WAS one who considered the Sig P938, and asked the question about "buying a new design, specifically the P938". However, since the M&P line is well proven, and since the Shield will be about half the cost of the P938, I am going with it.

As for the safety, I LIKE that it has a manual safety. I had a Kahr CW9 and every time I holstered it, I [slightly] feared of something catching on the trigger and *boom*, unintentionally. It may have been rare, but was possible. I like that the Shield will have a safety just for holstering. After it is in there, I plan on switching it off so it is ready for use. But handling it, specifically when I am making it safe for cleaning, I will switch it on, remove magazine and chambered round, and will do so with just a bit more security.

Bottom line, . . . I was considering a Walther PPS, but am going with the Shield FOR that extra peace of mind. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Owen]

External safeties on striker fired guns are silly, unless you're running a 2lb Apex kit or something.

Depends on the striker fired gun. Guns like Glocks that are not cocked far enough to fire is the sear fails for some reason are one thing. If the weapon is fully cocked, and has a relatively light trigger pull like, oh, say, a bolt action, then I'd say a manual safety is necessary.

 

[mgmorden]

Guns like Glocks that are not cocked far enough to fire is the sear fails for some reason are one thing. If the weapon is fully cocked, and has a relatively light trigger pull like, oh, say, a bolt action, then I'd say a manual safety is necessary.

Trigger pull weight is another issue entirely, but why would the amount that the gun is cocked matter? The safety is either going to block the trigger or the sear. Regardless of which method is used, if the sear fails the safety isn't catching the hammer or the striker.

A firing pin block safety solves the issue you're describing - not a manual thumb safety.

 

[Cdigman]

At home, my designated personal defense firearm is loaded, but not chambered. I chamber it when I am putting it in a holster, to leave the house. Then, when I get home, I drop the mag, shuck the round from the chamber, top off the magazine, and re-seat it. Personally, I plan to use the safety on mine when loading and unloading the pistol. I'm sure the manual safety is on there, to make sure it can be sold in the California markets...I'd MUCH rather have a manual safety than a mag safety, or a "key lock" built into the gun.

 

[Jim NE]

A gun I'm going to carry for last resort, save-my-life defense has to be stupid simple. I want a round in the chamber and only one switch to make it go bang.

+1......

 

[9mmepiphany]

Do you find that the safety protrudes enough for this to work reliably?

I've only shot one on a static line and didn't have a holster, but it seemed to fall comfortably under my thumb...much better than a SIG P-series SAO.

I've been following Hilton Yam's experience running an M&P9 in competition this season. His feeling is that the thumb safety give him a comfort index during presentation for his transition from the 1911 platform

 

[wombat13]

Unless your strong hand is your left.

Exactly. S&W didn't find it profitable to accommodate LH shooters, so they won't make any profit from me.

 

[moonman16]

My Shield works GREAT, 300 rounds down range so far. 115/124/147 all work fine, absolutely no FTF or problems of any sort. I've had it a week and 3 range sessions already, another scheduled Friday evening. The trigger reset is nice.

 

[LightningMan]

I'm waiting to find a S&W Shield in a .40 S&W, as I have some sub-compact 9mm'ers that are smaller, like my PM9. Not so much when it comes to the .40 S&W, as the smallest .40 I have is my M&P .40c. LM

 

[WRGADog]

I looked at a new shield yesterday

The gun is larger than my Nano and PM9. It is closer in size to the Walther PPS which I also have. So, I saw no reason to purchase the Shield. That said it is a nice gun and fit my hand well, especially with the 8 round mag.

 

[greenlion]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7pmjCWSgJU

Hickok45's Review of the Shield.

 

[Orion8472]

Pretty good review.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Apex Tactical just took their Shield Carry Kit (SCK) out to do some testing...1.5 hours and 1000 rounds of flawless function later

 

[Orion8472]

Stuff like that is an elixir for the soul!

 

[ritepath]

I'll be holding out for a 45 shield...

unless I decide to get a 9 or 40.

It's an M&P what is there to doubt. I love my 9c it's been a beast since I've owned it, my next pistol will be another M&P in 40 or 45 except full sized. Another Conceal carry pistol is down on the list a little bit for now.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I have no problem with the Shield but height and length wise, it's not much better than most subcompact guns. Like the Nano, they plan on releasing it in .40S&W which means it could of been smaller in certain areas then it is. The Shield is the new kid in town and everyone is clamoring for the new slim 9mm like they were for the pocket .380s. Considering there are so many people snapping them up, your better off waiting for them too start flooding the used sections when the next best thing comes out.

I handled a Shield at my LGS and I saw no advantages over my Ultra Carry in 45acp with 7rds and the slim RAASCO grips I have on it. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice gun (minus the trigger) and I like the thumb safety, but it's funny to see every forum bursting with threads about the same gun. We'll see how things go in another year.