Learning to use a safety

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:25 am

I have decided I need to train myself to flip off a safety when presenting my M&P Shield. I really don't believe in safeties but as long as I have one I need to be trained to use it as I know when that emergency comes the damn thing will magically be on.

They say if you practice something 21 times a day for 21 days you will have achieved muscle memory. That's 441 flips of the safety and 441 times of drawing the gun from my Fobus holster which is 441 occurrences of the Melonite rubbing against the side of the holster. Any thoughts on the impact to the weapon and holster that may/will cause? Also feel free to offer up any insight on training to use a safety.

Post by **DDgunslinger** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:37 am

Your weapon will be fine, just makes sure to focus on all points of the draw, engaging the safety and etc... fundamentals are key. You don't want to get sloppy and create bad habits... Also take a few pistol courses, that is where you will really get the training you need/want.... learning how to engage/disengage the safety is just a very small part of of a much larger picture.

Post by **guncrank1** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:00 pm

No don't do that you will put your eye out

You will not wear the Melinotite is S&W version of Tenfier, which a heat treatment.
You would have to sand that off and then go .016 deep or more.
The finish is plain old bluing
So what if that wears big deal
Unless you are so retinitive that your will hurt your baby!
Ugh you need a safe queen not a carry gun

:llama:

What you will do is break in your gun and holster, a good thing

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:05 pm

guncrank1 wrote:No don't do that you will put your eye out

You will not wear the Melinotite is S&W version of Tenfier, which a heat treatment.
You would have to sand that off and then go .016 deep or more.
The finish is plain old bluing
So what if that wears big deal
Unless you are so retinitive that your will hurt your baby!
Ugh you need a safe queen not a carry gun

What you will do is break in your gun and holster, a good thing

I don't recall saying I was worried about my baby being marred. I simple asked what impact to the weapon I might expect. LOL

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:56 pm

DDgunslinger wrote:engaging the safety and etc

learning how to engage/disengage the safety is just a very small part of of a much larger picture.

Part of my dilemma is I don't want to learn to engage the safety ( maybe I have to ). I don't want a safety. I wasn't given a choice. I just feel that I need to be trained to disengauge it as Murphy's Law dictates it will somehow be on.

I agree wholeheartedly with your second statement. This thread/question is just specifically related to the safety aspect of my firearm.

Post by **guncrank1** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:03 pm

KYgundude wrote:
guncrank1 wrote:No don't do that you will put your eye out

You will not wear the Melinotite is S&W version of Tenfier, which a heat treatment.
You would have to sand that off and then go .016 deep or more.
The finish is plain old bluing
So what if that wears big deal
Unless you are so retinitive that your will hurt your baby!
Ugh you need a safe queen not a carry gun

What you will do is break in your gun and holster, a good thing
I don't recall saying I was worried about my baby being marred. I simple asked what impact to the weapon I might expect. LOL

None

Post by **guncrank1** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:05 pm

KYgundude wrote:
DDgunslinger wrote:engaging the safety and etc

learning how to engage/disengage the safety is just a very small part of of a much larger picture.
Part of my dilemma is I don't want to learn to engage the safety ( maybe I have to ). I don't want a safety. I wasn't given a choice. I just feel that I need to be trained to disengauge it as Murphy's Law dictates it will somehow be on.

I agree wholeheartedly with your second statement. This thread/question is just specifically related to the safety aspect of my firearm.

I know in other olden days , safeties where pinned so they could not be put on.
Like pinning the grip safety on a 1911

Post by **DDgunslinger** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:20 pm

KYgundude wrote:
DDgunslinger wrote:engaging the safety and etc

learning how to engage/disengage the safety is just a very small part of of a much larger picture.
Part of my dilemma is I don't want to learn to engage the safety ( maybe I have to ). I don't want a safety. I wasn't given a choice. I just feel that I need to be trained to disengauge it as Murphy's Law dictates it will somehow be on.

I agree wholeheartedly with your second statement. This thread/question is just specifically related to the safety aspect of my firearm.

Then you you should have gone with a different pistol. Safety manipulation is an important skill to have with any weapon, especially if it is your EDC. If you aren't comfortable with manipulating a safety you may want to choose a different weapon.

Post by **325MOUTguru** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:48 pm

I'll give ya about $3.50 for it.

If you don't want the safety, pin it like Cranky suggested.
That's probably what I'd do.

Also at the end of this both the holster and the weapon would be fine.

Post by **86 slo-vo** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:58 pm

You can pull the safety out completely just like the other m&p's.

Took mine out.

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:28 pm

DDgunslinger wrote:If you aren't comfortable with manipulating a safety you may want to choose a different weapon.

Of course I'm not comfortable with manipulating a safety. If I was, I would not have made a post about learning to use a safety. LOL

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:29 pm

86 slo-vo wrote:You can pull the safety out completely just like the other m&p's.

Took mine out.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1339275508.713522.jpg

A safety is an optional item on an M&P 9c. According to S&W it's not removable on an M&P Shield.

Post by **nemo** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:16 pm

KYgundude wrote:
A safety is an optional item on an M&P 9c. According to S&W it's not removable on an M&P Shield.

Incorrect, you can remove the safety on the shield. Just remove the lever and reinstall the sear block (leaving a hole in frame). Another way is to bend the blocking bar out of the way so it will not engage the trigger bar. The best solution is to train with what you have and become proficient in its use.

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:35 pm

Thanks Nemo. I thought I read it was a required part of the firearm. Either way, I intend to learn it.

Post by **DDgunslinger** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:32 pm

KYgundude wrote:
DDgunslinger wrote:If you aren't comfortable with manipulating a safety you may want to choose a different weapon.
Of course I'm not comfortable with manipulating a safety. If I was, I would not have made a post about learning to use a safety. LOL

No $hit Sherlock, then you shouldn't have bought a weapon with an external safety on it. That's why when people ask me if I think a 1911 is a good beginners pistol, I say hell no. It takes practice, knowledge, and skill to run a 1911 smoothly, effectively and accurately. It is not a pistol for a novice... anyway good luck dude, just pin the safety or remove if completely.

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:06 pm

DDgunslinger wrote:
KYgundude wrote:
DDgunslinger wrote:If you aren't comfortable with manipulating a safety you may want to choose a different weapon.
Of course I'm not comfortable with manipulating a safety. If I was, I would not have made a post about learning to use a safety. LOL
No $hit Sherlock, then you shouldn't have bought a weapon with an external safety on it. That's why when people ask me if I think a 1911 is a good beginners pistol, I say hell no. It takes practice, knowledge, and skill to run a 1911 smoothly, effectively and accurately. It is not a pistol for a novice... anyway good luck dude, just pin the safety or remove if completely.

One can't learn to use something until they own it.

Post by **Dave1965** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:11 pm

I respectfully disagree. I have owned a colt govt model since I was 17. I love it. Can't get enough it.

Post by **KYgundude** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:20 pm

Dave1965 wrote:I respectfully disagree. I have owned a colt govt model since I was 17. I love it. Can't get enough it.

Which part do you disagree with Dave?

Post by **Winner** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:47 pm

If you removed a safety and were involved in a shooting,wouldn't the opposing lawyer have a field day?

Post by **Tyler** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:45 am

Winner wrote:If you removed a safety and were involved in a shooting,wouldn't the opposing lawyer have a field day?

Why?

Post by **Toddinlou** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:06 am

If you doubt that lawyers or prosecutors may try to make a big deal over something like this imagine if this were the case in the Zimmerman/Martin case. Right or wrong it may happen. Likely no, but it may happen.

Post by **Niceguy** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:12 am

The only Sheild

Post by **Winner** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:14 am

Tyler wrote:
Winner wrote:If you removed a safety and were involved in a shooting,wouldn't the opposing lawyer have a field day?
Why?

Because they look for anything to discredit you and make you look like the one that was in the wrong.Have you read any of the Ayoob Files?They tell about how prosecuters twist things around to make the defendant look guilty and Massad Ayoob is there as a firearms expert to explain things to the jury such as firearms, ammo and law enforcement procedures and training.The Ayoob Files are magazine articles where he tells about actual court cases and the outcomes.You can find his blog and other articles at http://backwoodshome.com/ .

Post by **Niceguy** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:20 am

The only Shield I have had a chance to mess with is Nemo's and the safety was insanely stiff! Is yours that hard to engage/disengage? If they are all that stiff I don't know that I could ever get where I felt safe using it in an emergency situation.

Post by **KYgundude** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:50 am

niceguyr6 wrote:The only Shield I have had a chance to mess with is Nemo's and the safety was insanely stiff! Is yours that hard to engage/disengage? If they are all that stiff I don't know that I could ever get where I felt safe using it in an emergency situation.

Its quite stiff to activate but easy to deactivate. I could ignore it and never turn iot on which is what I've done but I began to think if it were on for some weird reason it could create huge issues so better to learn to use it then assume its not engaged.

Kentucky Armory Club