Spacers! What spacers. I was repeatedly told by S&W customer service that there were no spacers available for the M&P 45 for the thumb safety I removed to accommodate the Crimson Trace laser I installed.
How do I get spacers?
I think we have some in our shop.
C4
Looks like I’m in for another wallet-lightening trip to your toy store.
I just called S&W and asked…I guess I got lucky and got somone who knew what I was talking about…I paid for them and they sent them right out… They went right in…
I called S&W earlier today to see if I could get a set to see how it works out for me without the TS and when I asked the guy about getting one from them he told me they don’t “Do that”, and when they do, its for 1 side only(which kinda confused me) because of liability reasons. Then I told him that a “buddy of mine” told me about how they got a set of spacers when they called a while back. He then told me to hold so that he could ask someone about it. When he came back he said that he found a set of spacers lying around and that he was gonna send it to me free of charge, but that he was right the first time when he said they didn’t send those out because they don’t condone removing the TS , as he says it changes the S/N the weapon is supposed to have. It was my impression that S&W made this particular handgun the way they did so that you had the option to remove the TS if desired. I mean am I wrong?
It does not suprise me that S&W doesn’t want you to modify the weapon.
This is where a S&W LE Dealer/Armorer comes into the picture. 
C4
You know that’s pretty funny, that’s the exact video i saw when I first started carrying a handgun that made me change my pistol grip.
Well I just get the impression that whether you get a spacer from them or not depends on who happens to pick up the phone at customer service when you call. There’s HowardCohodas that said S&W told him that there were no spacers available for the M&P 45. Then there’s ralph that says they did send him one, but charged him for it. I myself had called when I first bought the weapon(about 3 months ago) to inquire about it and was told that they didn’t make a spacer and that if I took the TS off I would basically just have to live with 2 holes on my gun. And then the gentleman that I talked to today told me that they were not supposed to provide spacers but that he would send one to me free of charge(essencially doing me a solid). I mean WTF chuck. I am glad that I got one though.
It isn’t a part or an option they advertise. So you will find that someone know about it and others won’t know a single thing.
Every single CS agent you deal with at ANY firearms manufacturer is going to be different in their knowledge, attitude and helpfulness.
C4
Got cha. Making the switch won’t void the warranty or anything though, will it?
I’m sure your problem would go away without having to change your preferred grip if you just 86’d the thumb safety.
86? What do you mean?
If S&W is sending people plugs, has anyone had luck getting a safety and sear housing for their M&P 45? I have a non-safety model with plugs and cut-outs that I’d really like to convert, but S&W was no help.
86ing something refers to nixing something.
“You want a hamburger with the onion 86ed?”
I was unable to secure spacers from S&W CS myself, but I only gave it two shots and having holes in the frame doesn’t bother me much.
I’m guessing, but I don’t think it would, In my case I’ve already voided the warranty(technically) by installing Apex parts…I know that should I have to send it in they will remove the Apex parts and NOT return them… fortunately for me, I don’t live far from G&R…
Haha. Got it. Never heard that one before.
That video made me change my pistol grip.
I’ve never regretted it. It vastly improved how I shoot, I’d say I went from a terrible shot very inconsistent, to decent.
I’m not as fast as I’d like to be on follow ups, I don’t shoot as accurately consistently as I’d like, etc. (Who ever thinks they’re fast enough or shoots well enough, honestly?) But all of those just mean I need to get more rounds down range, and more time with the gun.
I called S&W earlier today to see if I could get a set to see how it works out for me without the TS and when I asked the guy about getting one from them he told me they don’t “Do that”, and when they do, its for 1 side only(which kinda confused me) because of liability reasons. Then I told him that a “buddy of mine” told me about how they got a set of spacers when they called a while back. He then told me to hold so that he could ask someone about it. When he came back he said that he found a set of spacers lying around and that he was gonna send it to me free of charge, but that he was right the first time when he said they didn’t send those out because they don’t condone removing the TS , as he says it changes the S/N the weapon is supposed to have. It was my impression that S&W made this particular handgun the way they did so that you had the option to remove the TS if desired. I mean am I wrong?
So I don’t work in the gun business, I work in the Computer Business, but I get the feeling the Warranties are the same.
What this more or less told you, is yes they have spacers, and according to Grant (I trust him, I don’t think the guy gives bad advice, I may not agree with every single word he says, but he’s definitely informed on what he’s talking about.) they don’t advocate them being changed.
That being said, they probably don’t want it out that you can modify the pistol, because they don’t want average joe changing the pistol.
Because they may break it, or they may induce some unforeseen issue, usually modifying the way a gun works will void your warranty, as they didn’t design the gun to operate in said configuration, how could they possibly warrant that it’d work?
I mean kind of like some computer manufacturers get all bent out of shape if you break the seal on the case to access the inside of it, but, realistically, it’s negligent not to vacuum it out or get the dust out once or twice a year, as they insulate the components to build more heat.
But there is a bit of a loop hole that I think takes it out of that context of modification, it’s an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part, so, they designed it, you could install it yourself, or if you really wanted to CYA, you could have an S&W certified armor install it, and just keep the bill of sale as record in case you run into issue.
Also, what you need to know is very important by what he told you above. According to your Serial Number this model has Thumb Safeties, meaning, if you ever have to send this in for warranty work, it may be a good idea to put the thumb safety back on the gun, as they may not service it, simply saying “This has been modified, we won’t repair any of the rest of the gun, as we don’t know what else the end user has modified.” I don’t think gun manufacturers are that finicky, but you never know.
Again that’s a lot of maybes and worst case scenarios. I really think if you get a S&W Armor to install it, you’ll CYA from any kind of liability from them when using the parts they designed in their gun.
As a side note, personally I like thumb safeties, but, I can understand it’s not for everyone.
The technique feels unnatural at first, I teach it to new shooters, and I notice their support hand creeps steadily lower and lower to the base of the gun, but I’ll tell you, the amount of control it promotes is great. I shoot .45 ACP pretty much exclusively, and I feel completely comfortable handling it and firing it from that height.
Hope this was helpful.
Actually, they sent me two…one for each side of the frame,as they don’t interchange
yeah my bad. I meant a set. I was kinda in a hurry when I typed that. I was at work.