I have been saving for a year to buy an M&P45 FS to replace my aging S&W 645. Just about every post about the M&P thumb safety indicated that it was mushy and not positive, so I had pretty much decided against a thumb safety.
I went to the local gun shop today to start looking and they had 2 there with thumb safeties, one all black and one two tone. When trying the guns out I found that the thumb safeties on both felt like any 1911 I had ever picked up. They clicked positively on and off safe. Has Smith addressed the issue and now are shipping guns with positively clicking safeties? Are these aberrations? Once they break in will they then become mushy?
I also noticed that the trigger reset was more positive than the M&Ps I have previously handled making me think I may delay purchasing an Apex sear for a while. While the triggers weren’t match quality they were as good as any other brand new pistol I have handled.
Both guns also lacked the magazine disconnect safety as well.
I wouldn’t mind a safety IF it was positive and stayed that way, I have no use for a mushy one.
So what do you guys think are these guns GTG or should I go with the original plan and forgo the thumb safety? The gun shop will hold the gun if I pay in full while I’m waiting for my purchase permit which should come in here shortly (live in NJ).
It’s definitely NOT mushy, and it’s your choice if you want the thumb safety. Since I’m so used to shooting 1911s I went the route of the thumb safety.
I think the safety vs no-safety question is one of personal preference. If you are used to shooting 1911s or other handguns with manual safeties, then go with your training…don’t create a training scar.
Personally, I went with the non-safety version for two reasons. First, my M&P is the first S&W semi-auto of my collection and in the past I’ve CC’d primarily Glocks. Second, I felt the safety made the gun too wide to adequately and comfortably carry in an IWB holster.
The best advice I’ve heard on this site and can give to others is this: Get what you are comfortable with.
Another thing to consider while you are debating is the type of holster. Many companies and good ones at that do not offer a holster that accommodates the thumb safety. You will have to do some cutting away of the material. I run a kydex holster and it was easy to modify but just something else for your to ponder.
It’s totally personal preference, I understand the source of the concept that, if one intends to bounce between the M&P and a 1911, one should get the thumb safety. That makes perfect sense, however…
…from a srictly mechanical and safety standpoint, you have no verifiable need for it unless you work for an agency that insists your duty gun has it. In that case, I think that that’s a matter of lawyers being gunsmiths, and not one of efficacy.
yeah from a pure cost point the plugs are 5 bucks, the thumb safety is more. I’m not sure of the pistols without them needing anything more than the bar but it might be more involved. Either way its super easy to remove and you can always go back.
