This discussion has come about at a fortuitous time for me. I am debating - with myself - as to whether I should buy the S&W M&P9 full size with or without the thumb safety. In the store, it's do-able, but the placement of the safety is not really very ergonomic for me. Maybe it is for someone else.
I've posted this elsewhere, but this seems like a great opportunity to put my thinking in front of experienced people for their insight and reactions. Here it is:
For something over twenty-five years, I hunted North American Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse in the woods and thickets of Vermont. My over/under had a safety on the tang - very convenient and, for me, very ergonomic. After a time, it was all part of one movement - when a bird flushed, I'd raise the gun [built to fit me like a glove], slide off the safety, mount the gun, and BAM! In the woods and thickets, I thought that the safety performed an important function - branches could snag the trigger when I least expected it, and there were those unannounced slip-and-fall affairs - those woods gave plenty of opportunity for that! Old barbed wire covered with leaves, pot holes fill in with leaves, and the famous slippery slope. I learned instinctively how to manage those falls and was always very pleased that the safety was engaged. And at all those times, the gun was not in or protected by any sort of holster.
Now for the pistol. As I've said, that thumb safety - however I might practice with it, the placement of the safety makes life difficult. But the circumstances also are different! The pistol is either (a) in the holster where it isn't about to do anything bad or (b) in my hand when the law allows me to draw and shoot. No safety is needed for actually shooting, obviously, and no safety is need when the gun is holstered. Under these circumstances, what are the physical circumstances in which the thumb safety would perform - COULD perform - a very desirable service?
In addition, I am an older guy just short of seventy years. The gun would be carried in a form fitting holster, most times IWB and either tucked or covered by the shirt. Yes, I'll like to practice - but hey! I'm not a cop and I don't play one on TV! When my life or the life of an innocent person is in jeopardy, I'm gonna be one huge bag of adrenalin! All I want to do is rip the gun out and shoot the threat!
So, those are my thoughts. May I have your reactions and insight with regard to them?