My point is what happens when someone buys one WITH OUT THE MANUAL SAFETY. Throws it in a purse without a proper triggerguard. The gun gets jostled around, "Grip Safety" gets depressed, lipstick gets in the trigger. Kaboom. Think about it. The Grip Safety is the FPB. Maybe I am over thinking this. Murphy is cold blooded, and so are his Laws. If it can go wrong it will.

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk

I think it's a good idea too. At 71 I don't have a problem with any slide but I find when I take folks to the range that are new to shooting that some younger guys 50-60 have a big problem with racking the slide or loading the mags even with a loader. Most end up buying a double action revolver b/c they can load it and cock and fire it with little effort. Really has surprised me how many people and women have trouble with the slide but it is a real obstacle. I know of a lot of folks that bought revolvers for this reason very well may have bought this product. I have a .380 BG I bought for a backup but could not recommend them. Replaced it with a Sig P238 but a lot of people don't like a SAO pistol. Still usually end up caring my J frame for back up.
It if is as easy to use as a .22 it could be a great step up from a rimfire for self defense. Good job S&W!

The problem there is they don't know how to rack a slide. I worked with my wife to no avail. then she watched you tube "how to rack a slide like a woman" and once she listened to how to do it she has NEVER had a problem.

Same scenario could apply to any pistol tossed in a purse, regardless of configuration . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Ijust posted this reply on the other thread about these pistols, not realizing that this one is the most current and active, so I am reposting it here as well.

As an old retired guy suffering from boredom, I spent the last couple of years working part time in a local gun store and shooting range. I waited on a LOT of folks who were not shooters or gun enthusiasts, but were looking for a gun for personal protection and with which they could effectively manipulate the controls and tolerate the recoil.

Many were older. Others had various strength and dexterity issues that limited their choices. Most of this group struggled racking the slides of most any center fire semi autos, and many could not effectively pull the trigger on a double action revolver. Recoil sensitivity was a concern for this group as well.

I would often try to show them every gimmick I had learned over 60 years of shooting that might help with the slide manipulation but sometimes none of those techniques worked for these folks. Sometimes I would try to point them to hammer fired semis, showing them how to pull the hammer back prior to racking the slide to make moving the slide easier. Sometimes that worked. Sometimes not.

The 2 pistols that we had that were the easiest to rack the slide were both Walthers: the PK380, and the 9mm CCP. Interestingly, they were actually approximately the same size. However, the CCPs had some reliability issues, and the PK380's manual of arms is a bit convoluted and unnecessarily complicated.

Based on what I have been reading, I believe this new S&W M&P 380 EZ is aimed squarely at the demographic that I was discussing above. If this new gun is as easy to work as advertised, and as reliable and shootable, then I think S&W will have a winner on their hands. It may not be for everyone, but for folks like those described above, it just may be the cat's pajamas.

Colt

There are generally two types of people who have difficulties racking a pistol's slide:
(1) people who have not been exposed to good techniques to rack a slide, and;
(2) people with infirmities that make it impossible to use more than X force to rack a slide.

I used to be arrogant enough to believe that essentially anyone could rack a slide if they wanted to and were willing to learn a few simple techniques. Then I learned humility the hard way. I injured the ulnar nerve in my arm and lost nearly all grip strength in my left hand; I could not even keep a 32-oz. soft drink cup from slipping out of my hand. While that was disconcerting, I was confident I knew the techniques necessary to operate my pistols when I took my weekly range trip on Saturday.

At the range, I took a solid hold on the slide with my left hand, powered the frame forward with my right hand, and immediately tore the slide out of my left hand's grip. I could apply plenty of force to rack the slide, but I could not hang on to the slide to make that force useful. Luckily, only my left hand was impaired. I could grip the slide with my right hand and push the frame with my left hand (no grip strength needed) to easily rack the slide.

I was lucky that my ulnar nerve healed and the grip strength in my left hand returned in a few weeks. My wife will never regain her former grip strength after surgery on her hands. I learned how wrong I was when I used to think she "wasn't trying" when, in fact, she was physically incapable of racking the slides on most pistols. Subsequently we have searched and found a few pistols that require less force and she has enough grip strength to rack the slides.

The 380EZ is about the last thing I'd ever buy. Why would I pick something that big that's chambered only in 9mm, with a dopey thumb safety and a useless grip safety to boot? I think I'll stick with my Glock 26, with its 10+1 rounds of 9mm, thank you very much.

But that's okay. S&W isn't making this pistol for me.

New shooters want these features. They want a gun that's easier to rack and softer-shooting (and the racking-grip-thingy on the rear of the slide is simply brilliant). New shooters like manual safeties, and they really like grip safeties. Are they the sorts of things I'd pick? No, but they give a new CCWer confidence.

And that's what this is: an answer for what a lot of people ask for. It's designed to be a first carry gun, or an only gun, or a *******-I'm-getting-old gun.

Because 9mm recoils a lot more than .380, and requires a stronger recoil spring than .380. Your perception of .380 ACP being "snappy" is entirely based on shooting it out of very small, very light pistols. This isn't one of them--think of it as 9mm Lite.

If you're going to be a gun enthusiast, then there's not a lot of reason to select a big .380 over a mid-size 9mm. That's okay, see above. A neophyte is going to see a much bigger difference.

I think new shooters in general. I see a lot of guys in otherwise good shape who have developed bad slide-racking habits (riding the slide, sweeping the line on their support side, etc) by virtue of quiet suffering. It doesn't just take grip strength or technique, it takes confidence in manipulation. New shooters do not have it yet. I've worked with a lot of people who really just had to be shown that some energetic manipulation wasn't going to hurt their gun.

In fact, that's really one of the things I'm proudest of S&W for doing. They're not marketing this as the M&P For Ladies, or offering it in your choice of black, lavender, purple glitter, or pink.

No, dude, you're just sexist.

I still say that most folk who complain about .380 being snappy have never tried that caliber in a locked breech gun. It makes a HUGE difference. To my perception, a Ruger LCP (locked breech) is less snappy than a Beretta 84/85 (blowback). My wife's Sig P250SC in 380 is a locked breech pistol and is essentially recoiless.

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Release the Kraken

100% agree! It is a night and day difference.

This is just what I was looking for, for my wife...and why I bought both a Sig 250 and Walther PK 380 (both locked breech with easy to rack slides). And I had a little shootout between my Sig 230, the 250 and Walther and the 230 is going to go...I shoot the others much better.

Where was this last year when I was shopping? And I'll probably be shopping again....I have no problem ditching the Walther....but I like the Sig and I'll keep that one...and got it in .22 (simple slide and mag change on this modular gun) so she could train in .22 and then move up to 380 and to 9mm if she wants....it's a tri-fecta that takes full advantage of Sig's design.

I'll be keeping my Shield 2.0 for pocket carry....and my 6906 and Walther P99ASc for IWB.

I'll have to agree with the locked breech vs. blowback argument. I shot my neighbor's LCP once, and expected it to be a beast - I was surprised that it seemed to recoil no more than my much larger P232. I didn't know it was a locked breech design, so that explains it.
So, for everyone's benefit, let's make a list of locked breech .380's - take the list I've started and simply add to it.


Locked breech .380's:
1) Ruger LCP
2)

Locked breech .380's:

Beretta Pico

Browning 1911-380

Colt Government/Mustang/Pony
--- SIG P238
--- Kimber Micro
--- Springfield 911

Glock 42

Kahr P380

Kel-Tec P3AT
--- Ruger LCP

Rohrbaugh R380
--- Remington RM380

Ruger LC380

S&W Bodyguard 380
S&W Shield 380 EZ

SCCY CPX-3

SIG P250

Taurus Curve
Taurus PT-138 Millennium Pro
Taurus PT-638
Taurus PT-708 Slim
Taurus PT-738 TCP
Taurus Spectrum

Walther PK380

Adding to the list of locked breech 380s:
Taurus PT138
Taurus PT638
Taurus PT738
Taurus Spectrum
Taurus Curve

I expect a bunch of women to be carrying these around in purses. It might be a good idea to have an active safety on board to keep it from firing when the car keys get in the trigger guard.
Again, don't buy one. Don't look at one. And don't talk about one, or anything else that makes you lose your mind so easily. But there is possibly a bigger market for this gun than a 4 1/2 pound .500 Magnum.

I have a Crossbreed purse system with a kydex holster for my shield it mounts to a velcro panel that works great . I am sure if popular enough they make one for shield 380 .

An interesting comparison video:

Geoff
Who is interested.

My older brother bought a Shield last year for his wife. She is a small woman in her early 70s without noticeable arthritis in her hands. She could not reliably rack it and when she could it took several time consuming tries. She gave it a good try in both live fire and dry snapping for over a week, but in the end she just didn't like it. It was not the gun for her no matter how good it may be other people.

He traded it for a well cared for ,very smooth Colt revolver with a short barrel. It works perfectly for her. She can load it, shoot it accurately and unload it with ease. For her, it is far superior to the 9mm Shield. If she had gotten the new 380 EZ her experience may have been a more positive one.

I don't understand people who see a gun (or car or anything else) only in their own, often narrow, mindset. We are all different with different abilities, physical makeup and different likes and dislikes.

This new 380 EZ is not for me. Twenty years down the road I may be in such a physical condition that it may be the right choice. But, right this very year there are people who will like this gun because, like my sister-in-law, they can't rack a Shield or anything like it.

We should be celebrating the amazing number of handgun choices available to the American shooter in the year 2018. We should not ragging on any new choices which become available. They may not be OUR choices, but they may be exactly perfect for some other, especially older or weaker shooters. Choices are good.

I wish much success for this new Shield 380 EZ. May it live long and prosper.

I may have to check this out for my wife. She needs an easy to rack firearm with little recoil. I balk at her carrying a .22LR pistol. This would fit the bill nicely.

Joe

My wife amd I will be checking them out later this spring primarily for her. She also has racking issues due to arthritis. She has a BodyGuard 380 for carry, but the larger size of the new Shield 380 would likey be a great addition for her as a home defense gun.

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NRA Life Member, Patron

Not a gun for me but a smart move on Smith's part. There's a potential large market for this gun with baby boomers getting to the age were strength is fading an woman being a bigger and bigger demographic of the industry.

I've been a revolver guy since the 70s. All .357 magnums. M66 4", 686 4", 640, 640-3 and my current concealed carry a 640 Pro Series. I never had an auto until I saw and purchased my .380 M&P Shield EZ yesterday. The .380 Shield EZ isn't Junk. Period. I have two posts up on it. Yesterday's post titled "Revolver guy considering a .380 M&P Shield EZ and today's post when I took her to the range and I wrote a full range report. Please read both of my posts then you may have more insight on the EZ.

As you read, on Friday I purchased the .380 Shield EZ and I took it to the range on Saturday and I love her. Since this my first automatic I've ever owned,(only owned .357 magnum revolvers since the 70's) I don't understand the misinformation I've read in previous posts about the grip safety. People are talking about if the grip accidentally is depressed the gun will fire in a purse etc. Isn't there a trigger that has to be pulled before any gun fires and the grip safety suppressed at the same time for the gun to fire? I purchased the model without the manual safety. I like the grip and pull the trigger concept just like the .357s I've owned. In a self defense situation I want to pull, shoot and stop the threat just like my revolvers.

Just returned from the range, where I shot my brother's .380 EZ. Yes, the slide is quite easy to rack....feels mostly like my 22 Compact. The grip safety is unobtrusive.....Didn't notice it at first. Shooting it, there is barely any more recoil than the .22lr version. No, it's not a gun for me, but I definitely see a market for it. The trigger is quite light, and crisp....and...NO hinge :-)

I only shot it at 8 yards but it was all in the bullseye, so at least at those distances it is accurate. (A real pleasant change from shooting his PK380 which was anything but accurate.)

All in all, I think they have a particular audience for this pistol, and it meets the needs of someone who is recoil sensitive and/or unable to rack 'normal' pistols.

The purpose of the grip safety is to prevent you from pulling the trigger unless you first depress the grip safety.

What people are saying is the grip safety can be easily depressed in a purse, then there is no safety to prevent something else from pulling the trigger.

I agree that purses and pistols don't mix well.

Not trying to split hairs, but in this gun the grip safety also deactivates the firing pin block. This is an important feature because it allows to not have the hinged or tabbed trigger. It also takes that mechanical function of deactivating the firing pin block out of the trigger manipulation which in theory should make the trigger action smoother and lighter.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Which means, if i am not mistaken (and maybe i am), if you tape, glue, or do anything to eliminate the grip safety you have effectively eliminated the drop safety of the gun. Please correct me if my thinking is incorrect.

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Left the NRA. Joined the GOA.

Handled one this past Saturday and really like it. Will pick one up in a few weeks after all the beta testers have commented. I would like to see night sights as part of the package.

Here are two seemingly conflictimg statements:
1. The Shield 380 EZ doesn't seem to be exactly my cup of tea.
2. I will probably wind up buying one.

In my early 70s, I have arthritis in both thumbs. When it gets bad, I don't have a lot of pinching strength between my thumb and index finger.

On most days, I still manage with all my semi autos. But on bad days, it's really hard to rack some of them. Racking technique helps a lot, but there are limits.

On the days I need both hands to pick up a half gallon milk (because my thumb just won't handle the weight), my Sig P227 is a real chore. Father Time told me a day will come when I'll be glad to have a gun like the EZ around. I believe him.

They put a rail on the 380 but not the other 2.0 Shields, really?

I wonder if there is a marketing thing going on here. For some reason S&W don't want to associate .380 caliber with the M&P range, but they did want a rail on the new gun.

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Release the Kraken

This was kind of my thought as well, but I don't think S&W is crazy.

They seem to use each rendition of the M&P as a platform to try something new. Notice that the Shield 45 came out with a more aggressive grip texture before any other M&P had it. I'm sure due to positive reviews, they added that same texture to the 2.0 line.

The .380EZ has some nice features. I like the tapered slide at the back. This should make it easier to rack without catching on stuff. I would like to see that added to the rest of the M&Ps.

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Freedom isn't free.

Picked up and handled my first .380EZ. Felt and looked much like the MP-22 compact. It sure racks nice, I'll give it that.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

People say that about the .380Auto guns a lot. It's true because the recoil spring is so light.

The real question is, how does it shoot?

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Freedom isn't free.

Rastoff, Please read my post on my Range Report Revolver guy on the .380 M&P Shield EZ. It should answers a lot of your questions.

Since it's a longer barrel than the shield 9, I assume they put the rail under there since there is sufficient room. The pistol is .6" longer than the shield 9.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Forgot to mention I ordered one..... Have one coming with no safety. Was gonna wait to see how others got along with them, but as with the Shield 9, I couldn't wait. And I love my Shield 9.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

There's a market, or there probably wouldn't be the gun.
I don't care for a single shot shotgun, but there's a lot of them floating around too.
If it doesn't apply to you, it just doesn't apply.

Has anyone that is running them down actually handled and shot one?

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

ancient-one, I've had my .380 M&P Shield EZ
for a week now and I took her to the range last Saturday as well as concealed carrI'd her for the last week. The .380 Shield EZ is a Great Gun!!! I have two posts on her "Revolver guy wants to buy .380 Shield EZ. And "Range Report Revolver guy brought the .380 Shield EZ. Read and enjoy.

If and when S&W submits this this for approval, and Cal DOJ puts it on the roster, will be getting one for the wife. She's had 2 surgeries on her right hand, so slide racking isn't all that easy for her. Taught her the push/pull method, but it's still a bit of a struggle.

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Peace was my Profession

Sorry to enlighten you, but this will NEVER be on the list. In fact, no new handgun will EVER be added.

You see, CA requires that any new gun added to the list has to have microstamping technology. Since this technology is not used by ANY manufacturer, no pistol can be added. In fact, S&W told CA in no uncertain terms that they will not make any attempt to add this "feature" to any of their pistols.

So, don't bother waiting, it's not coming.

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Freedom isn't free.

Seems like a good idea for some, and not intended for everyone. My wife has has much difficulty with most semi-autos and is double whammied by being recoil sensitive. I will be looking for one of these and reading posted range reports.

Perhaps nobody asked for one before,

But they will certainly be asking for them now.
Lots of them.

You need to move.

Why refer to a gun as " her "?
What's wrong with " it "?

Not real crazy about the grip safety myself.
Since the slide spring is so light, I wonder if there will be feeding issues with anything but " perfect " ammo?

Ordered one from my LGS after fondling one that had already been sold. Can't wait. This discussion can continue ad-nauseam; Smith and Wesson has nailed it for us seniors.

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John

Will you miss the fireball from the Tokarev in your avatar?

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Release the Kraken

I had ordered mine from grabagun. When I went to find one, my main online sources were all out, so I signed up for email notification upon new inventory. Frangible sent the email. I checked it, there were two in stock when I checked. Bought it, then it showed one. An hour later it showed out of stock. Mine should arrive at my ffl probably tomorrow or Wednesday, already got tracking info.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Gotta love the fireball and the big BOOM from the Tok Fun range gun

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John