M & P Shield EZ

kansashunter

I am looking for a different pistol for my wife. She has a xds in 9mm but doesn't like the recoil. She likes my, now hers, Kimber micro 380 but will not carry it with a round in the chamber. I have looked at a revolver for her but I ran across a review of the ez and it fixes some of her issues. She has had trouble working the slide on the Kimber causing a malfunction and the ez has a grip safety which she feels more comfortable with. I know she should change and adapt, maybe you can try that .  Has anyone shot or handled an ez or have an opinion. In my mind I would rather her carry with a round in the chamber with a safety and a grip safety than having to chamber a round. 

Tugar

I have. Nearly bought the 380EZ for myself. Very easy to work the slide even with less that a full hand. You can get it with or without the manual safety. 


https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-380-shield-ez-0

JasonMPD

I bought one for my Mom on mother's day in 2018.  I've had a chance to shoot it quite a bit and I've come to like it for what it is.  It's accurate and has been perfectly reliable with several brands of ball ammo and Federal HST 380.

Magazines are a bit rare to come by.

Gene L

There have been previous reports of them stove piping on the last round...putting a live round straight up, not an empty case.  Hickock45 had this happen, and it's discussed on the S&W forum.  Maybe they've worked out the magazine problems by now.

Michakav

No knowledge regarding that pistol. But, it sounds to me like she needs a small .38 spl revolver.

Gene L

A small S&W revolver is an awful choice for a new shooter.  They kick like hell and discourage shooting because they're painful to shoot.  I wouldn't recommend a J-Frame .38 special to an inexperienced shooter.  Simple, yes....effective, only if you can hold on to it.

kansashunter

Her ex husband thought she needed a revolver and I don't know what one but I am guessing a 357 and she shot it DA, don't know if that was only way it worked or his instruction. I have had a hard time getting her interested in firing one again. It's a work in progress as I have started her on low recoil and single action. For now I am going to have to look elsewhere. 

Tugar

One of the reasons I really love the Ruger Sr22 is that it functions similiar to a normal combat pistol. No recoil and easy enough to work up from that to something that would be more capable of self defense. 

You can get the S&W M&P22 which exactly mirrors the Shield 380EZ, just no grip safety. 

Gila

Just a heads up that S&W has a $50.00 rebate on the EZ right now among other weapons.

Gene L

Before I would buy one, I'd look on the S&W forum. Some likes, some dislikes.  For me, they're a bit large for a .380.

kansashunter

I bought my wife one for her birthday and this weekend we took it out and shot it. The only malfunction was she rode the slide once and I had to remind her to let it go. We ran 150 rounds thru it. She really likes it, it is easy to rachet the slide and the trigger is decent, a little long but lighter than an xd. Recoil is soft. I still wish she would carry a 9mm but she will carry this so that is better than leaving it at home. It shoots to the left but the rear sight is adjustable so I need to do that but I ran out of ammo. She just kept shooting , a good sign she really likes it. I may have to start reloading for 380 now.  

Diver43

Carrying a .380 is much more useful than 10 9mm or .40SWs in the safe.

Gene L

I like the .380 for a small pistol.  I wouldn't want to go to war with it, but as a SD caliber, it's fine.  I've got two of them, older design PPK /PPK/S and they're very accurate, but heavier compared to plastic guns.  Got a .32 PPK as well, which I think is fine as a CCW as well, and is a lot more pleasant to shoot.  The complaint I hear on Walther forums is the .380 is "snappy."  With a blowback pistol, I guess, but I didn't find it so. 

For a while, I had a S&W .380 Bodyguard, which was small and great size for pocket carry.  But the trigger was awfully strong (hammer fired) with a LONG reset, and the grip was so small I had problems pulling the trigger after a few rounds with my trigger finger getting stuck on my firing hand. Before the hammer fell.  So I got rid of it.

Plastic changed everything.  My Sig 365, loaded with 10+1 9mm, , weighs about. the same loaded as my .32 PPK with  7+1.  I guess I'm a Bond, James Bond fan.

bellcat

I would like to try one. My wife struggles to pull the slide on my shield.

kansashunter

bellcat said:

I would like to try one. My wife struggles to pull the slide on my shield.

It is easier, after shooting hers some I got my xds in 45 out and it felt like the slide was 3 times as hard. If you could find one in a shop and they would let her cycle it that would help. I took a chance on this one as I didn't have her with me when I picked it out but I wanted to surprise her and I was pretty sure what she wanted.