Interesting - my serial # RCB9xxx was purchased earlier this month (August 2019). Of course there's no telling how long it was sitting on a distributor's shelf. Mine is NTS. I don't know how sales volume for the NTS compares to the TS version.

Mine is NTS as well. I shot a TS version prior to the recall and experienced the safety engaging unexpectedly issue. Never been a big fan of safeties, especially in the case of the EZ since it also has its grip safety. Not sure which version of the EZ sells better.

Look on the label on the box. In the column on the right, the second row from the top contains a 6-digit number, which is the production date in the format MMDDYY.

My wife's EZ with a NDD#### serial number was produced 112118, or November 21, 2018.

Ok, my NCA1xxx NTS model EZ was produced on February 8, 2018.

Reviews: Smith-Wesson-3008882-M-P-Shield-380-ACP-8-Rounds-Capacity-Extra-Magazine | eBay

Just saw this on Ebay in the reviews for the magazine:

These are Smith and Wesson magazines. Came in their original Smith and Wesson blister pack, and yes you have to remove the spring and stretch it to stop the EZ from standing the last round straight up, just like you have to do with the magazines that came with the EZ.

My experience with stretching springs is that you get a short term benefit but the spring is soon worse than it started. Perhaps Wolff will offer +5/+10% mag springs for the 380EZ? Unfortunately I wouldn't hold my breath.

I contacted Wolff and they are aware of the problem. I feel the more people that call them and request stronger springs the sooner they would see a need to make them..........

Wolff Springs:

Phone Numbers - US Only

Orders & Technical Support: 800-545-0077

Fax: 610-359-9496

Main: 610-359-9600

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Steve....

I was looking at magazines for the EZ on Ebay.
I came across this in the reviews:
These are Smith and Wesson magazines. Came in their original Smith and Wesson blister pack, and yes you have to remove the spring and stretch it to stop the EZ from standing the last round straight up, just like you have to do with the magazines that came with the EZ. (I never did this with my magazines and I don't have the problem)
Also, I wonder why in all the reviews and posts on the EZ I never see anyone else having this problem.

I'm just wondering why I don't see this problem with any of the reviews on the Performance Center .380 EZ? Seems like if it was such a big problem it would have come up on them. Maybe I just haven't seen the right one yet?

Check post #45 in the following thread...
380 ez just wondering

Did you see post #107 above in this thread?

Regarding stretching springs, I've never done that and I have the problem with 6 of my 7 magazines and I'm waiting for Smith to ship 3 replacement magazines to me. Don't know if you read this whole thread or the others here on this forum, but there are quite a few reports of the issue. I've been working with Smith since January trying to get this issue sorted out. I'm convinced it is a magazine problem. I've changed springs, then changed springs and followers, then returned my gun to Smith, then received a couple of new magazines, and am waiting (since May) for additional new magazines...but I still have the problem. No chance would I buy this gun again...

RCB9xxx was produced on 06-21-19.

First time out with new Performance Center 380 EZ. Mfg date 07/17/19. Serial number RCU6xxx. My wife had some issues with the stove piping, her instructor (not me) shot the gun and had no issues. I shot the gun and had no issues. We each have large hands. My wife has very small hands and I'm sure was not gripping the pistol firmly. She was not firmly depressing the grip safety, and was limp wristing as well.

She shot my Sig 238 and she had no problems and she reported the grip felt better in her hand. She is now carrying the Sig as her concealed carry weapon. I carry a Sig 938 9mm. We are going to try the EZ again this weekend and I'll report back.

We didn't have any FMJ ammo when we went to the range the first time and were shooting HP defensive rounds.

After the range trip I did notice the grip safety was a bit stiff. So I lubed it and worked it a bunch and it seemed better after that.

I'll run a bunch of ball ammo next time.

Rick

Three full months to receive my replacement magazines from S&W. I'll head to the range next week to see if they help. Not currently impressed by S&W.

Christak, Do you notice any indication that there is a difference in the construction of the new mags. or springs compared to the original, such as markings or measurements?? Quick

Went to the range again, I shot about 100 rounds through the gun (Performance Center model), and used the two magazines that came with the pistol. Had absolutely no problems. No jams of any type. I am convinced the problem is not a magazine issue, rather a grip safety issue. My wife didn't even want to shoot the 380 EZ this time, instead ran about 20 rounds through the Sig p-238 again with no issues. The Sig just fits her hand better, and the slide is pretty easy for her to use.

Quick, the mags appear to be the same. Springs too... I'll check more closely at the range, but I don't think the delay in receiving my mags had anything to do with a redesign...unfortunately!

The last live round stovepipes and last live rounds being completely ejected from the gun are definitely magazine issues, not grip safety issues. Other stovepipe issues occurring on other than the last round may be caused by something else, but the last round issues I'm experiencing are mag related.

If any of the 4 magazines for my wife's EZ would mess up consistently, I think I could at least determine whether it had a spring-related issue.

The descriptions I have seen nearly unanimously report a last- or eighth-round issue. I would either make a spacer or put an empty case between the base plate retainer and the spring so the magazine would only hold seven rounds rather than eight. If the extra spring tension allowed the seventh round to consistently feed properly, the problem would at least be identified.

UPDATE: I checked the 4 mags and selected the one that seemed to have the weakest spring. I cut a 38/357 case to between 7/8" and 15/16" by removing the rim. The remaining tube fits snugly between the bottom of the spring and the base plate retainer and raises the follower so that only seven rounds of ammo can be loaded in the magazine.

We will only use the chosen magazine in my wife's EZ until it stovepipes. Then the tube will be placed in the bottom of the magazine to see if stovepipes are eliminated.

For what it's worth, there are two SKUs for the EZ magazines. One is 3005548 and the other is 3008882. Seems like almost every vendor is now listing only the 3008882 version. There are a couple of places that still show the 3005548 version. I'm not convinced there is any difference in the two but find it interesting there is a second number. For the record, the replacement mags I received were in a clear plastic bag with 3005548 handwritten on the bag.

My wife bought her EZ in December of 2018. The extra magazines she bought nearly immediately thereafter were in packages marked 3008882.

I also have a spec sheet for the EZ marked "REV013018" that shows the magazine SKU 3008882. An updated spec sheet marked "REV031819" still shows the 3008882 code.

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EZ_Specs.jpg (109.8 KB, 56 views)

I made it to the range today and tested my wife's EZ. My routine was to load two round in the magazine, release the slide, fire the first round and see whether the second round would feed or stovepipe; if the second round fed, I also fired it.

The first two pairs fed and fired fine. The third and fourth pairs both stovepiped on the last round.

After two consecutive stovepipes, I put my spacer (cut-down 38/357 casing described above) in the bottom of the magazine between the spring and base plate retainer.

With the spacer in the magazine, I fed and fired 22 more pairs with no more problems.

On future range trips, I will test my wife's other EZ magazines.

I also made it to the range today and tested all 8 of my magazines, including the 6 new replacement ones that I recently received from S&W. My other 2 original magazines had new followers and springs inserted (for the 2nd time) for today's testing. So, I tested 300 rounds (150 Blazer Brass and 150 Speer Lawman) through my 8 magazines by loading 3 rounds per mag at a time (every box of 50 loaded 17 mags with only 2 rounds in the 17th mag). This allowed 102 opportunities for failure on the last round, 12 to 13 opportunities per magazine.
I experienced 1 last round stovepipe on one of my 2 original magazines the 1st time it was used today. I had no other issues of any kind with my EZ today. The new magazines all functioned properly. The new magazines (springs and followers) look no different from my original magazines, so I don't know how to explain the improved performance. Wondering if the mags will continue to function properly as they get used in future and the springs wear...

Having owned three 380's in the past and old Colt from early 30's and a German Walther PPK back in the 80's that I'd wished I had kept and a little Sig that looked like a little Colt. I never had an issue with any of t, and after about year or so on the Colt and not hitting for **** and friend regularly shooting bulls eyes and that was in the 70's and I didn't count rounds but it was enough to know it was reliable, same in the PPK and Sig, no issues and couple friends with 380's w/o problems. One has EZ other I don't remember the brand. So it's not a 380 issue in my book, but that's just me.

Wow before posting I review my post to correct things such wrong words or stuff left out and would you believe mild curse was deleted. Must be automated or very fast human, but I'm not complaining.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Since the problem seems to be confined to the last round in a magazine, maybe the spring is not the culprit, but the follower, tilting or catching on something as the slide comes forward.

Hard to say, but I'd guess it's a combination of the spring and follower. Seems like the tension on the last round is not sufficient to reliably keep the round where it needs to be.

I own a 380 EZ and have yet to get a last round stovepipe, however, I've only had it to the range once and fired 100 rounds of Speer Lawman 95gr.

I removed the slide on the EZ and kept the empty magazine inserted. I also did the same with my M&P Compact 22lr, Sig P365, and Sig P320 to look for differences.

The one observation that stood out right away was the looseness of the EZ magazine within the magwell as compared to the others.

The looseness was from front to back. So loose that it makes me think of a whiplashing effect the magazine is likely subjected to when fired.

This whiplash effect of slamming the magazine forward upon recoil might be contributing to the last round slipping out of a fairly lightly tensioned magazine spring (especially the last round with the least amount of tension applied by the magazine spring).

I rolled up and flattened enough index card paper and slipped it behind the magazine as I inserted it into the magwell. I eventually found just the right thickness of paper to remove a lot of the front to back play of the magazine within the magwell.

This paper spacer pushes the magazine to its forward most range in the magwell and reduces the whiplash effect on what was a loose fit magazine.

I tested cycling/function with 380 snap caps and had no issues.

I will be keeping this makeshift paper "spacer" in my range bag to test if/when I run into the last live-round stovepipe issue.

Very interesting! Your theory makes a lot of sense to me, having lived through the pain of the stovepipe issue first hand...

Edit: Just checked the mag fit with my slide removed. It's very loose as you mentioned. The mag moves more than 1/16th of an inch front to back and less than that side to side. With the slide in place and locked back, there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable movement of the mag. Hard to know what happens with the mag when the gun is firing, but my guess is there is some movement in there. Not sure why only the last round would be a problem though, unless the weaker spring tension just can't hold the round at that point.

Thought about doing the same thing.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

If you are not seeing as much front to back movement in the magazine with the slide locked back versus the slide removed, then it might be that the EMPTY magazine is being stabilized by the slide release mechanism pressing against the thumb stud of the EMPTY magazine. This pressure/contact between the slide stop and the magazine thumb stud only occurs when the magazine is empty (this how the EZ slide locks back on empty).

See if you can test the front to back movement of the magazine with at least one snap cap in the magazine with the slide locked open.

christak,

I believe you are seeing a more stable magazine with the slide in place and locked back because you are testing with an empty magazine.

The mechanism on the EZ that causes a slide lock on empty is the thumb stud on an empty magazine. The empty magazine is likely stabilized by the downward pressure from the slide lock lever.

See if you can test this again with the slide installed and at least one snap cap installed in the magazine. Lock the slide back and see if you get the same excessive front to back play (whiplash) in the magazine with that one snap cap still in the magazine.

You are absolutely correct! I put a round in the mag and inserted it with the slide locked back and the mag moves all over the place...mainly front to back, but also side to side a bit. Never realized this was going on...very sloppy fit! I think you are on to something!

I checked the magazine play of a couple of other .380 pistols. My Remington RM380 has more front-to-back movement than the EZ and my double-stack SIG P250 has much more side-to-side movement.

Could be a combination of excessive movement and the weaker (EZ) mag spring... Who knows?!

Not scientific, but can you load ONE round in each of your differing “makes” of 380 magazines and press down on those rounds?

How does the required pressure to depress that ONE round feel in comparison to each other?

Slightly more scientific... load one round in each magazine and press them nose down on a digital food scale to see how much required pressure in lbs/oz to get quarter inch of movement of the bullet nose into the mag WITHOUT bottoming out any part of the top of the magazine on the digital food scale.

What are those values?

My best guess is a combination of too much front to back play of the magazine coupled with “too EZ” magazine spring pressure.

Smith and Wesson was out to make a huge marketing point in the ease of use for the EZ.

Marketing likely pressed engineers to push the lower limit of magazine spring pressure.

Checked the wife's, as yet unfired EZ, and the fore & aft, and sideways compared to my Dan Wesson's Guardian I used as a CCW before getting sick and they do not wiggle. However it would be like comparing apples and oranges as guardian and DW's in general are high end guns.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Sloppy mags are a function of the American fascination with drop free magazines which are only really relevant in competition IMHO.

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Release the Kraken

Please keep us informed as to the outcome when your gun is returned. I just started a new thread on this issue today, as a result of my range session. Smith needs to devote some R&D time to this issue, or it will hurt sales, as the word gets out.

I sent my gun in back in April..."Nothing wrong with the gun"...according to them and they sent new magazines...didn't fix the problem. The magazine springs and the sloppy fit in the mag well are the problem in my opinion, but Smith has done nothing to address the issue. Very disappointing. When the springs wear, the issue gets worse.

Unfortunately, I went ahead and bought a new EZ 380 Shield yesterday. In my state, I have to wait 10-days to pick it up.


I've read, re-read, and re-re-read every thread/post on this subject with disappointment. I'm wondering if I should call my LGS tomorrow and see if I can cancel the deal ?


Anyways, in poking around on the Internet, I did come across this post which has a very interesting theory.



I'm wondering if anyone else has heard/seen this theory, and/or tried it ? Seems like a pretty simple mod to try.


Here it is:



Karen L: (from: 'thetruthaboutguns')


I experienced the stovepiping, or more often ejection of the final, unfired round in both of my mags, with the slide ending up forward in battery, not locked open. Rather than suspecting magazine springs being too weak, I suspected that the last round slides more readily on the slippery surface of the plastic follower than all of the previous rounds sliding on the round below them. As an experiment, I installed some self adhesive grip tape to the top surface of the plastic follower. It solved the problem, at least so far. This occurred with new mags and with a friends new gun as well.

mokeman...check out this thread. Scuffing the follower will fix the stovepipe issue. New .380 EZ Issues

We have 2 .380 Ez's. One performance center and one standard. We sent each one back to Smith for stovepiping on last round and got new mag springs. Smith also, at my request sent us a few extra springs as I had extra mags, but haven't used them yet. Haven't seen the issue after the spring change. A few hundred rounds on each since.

THANK you !!!!!


... I just wish that post of yours was here, at the bottom of THIS thread.


But that's Ok, - the information is here none the less.


So I guess I don't have to try to cancel this deal. I paid for the gun, and on the 10-day wait (near Seattle).


So I'm assuming that this fix has been working for you, and that you like the gun now, and/or would still recommend it, yes ?

I bought one for my wife right after New Years and haven’t had 1 issue. Don’t tell anyone, I really like shooting it.

Scuffing the follower has worked for me, but my whole ordeal has left a bad taste in my mouth. Smith has done nothing to fix the issue. Providing new springs is all they do...and that is a temporary "band-aid" fix.

I like the idea of the gun, an easy to rack and soft shooting handgun. I bought it thinking my wife might enjoy it. I don't think that I could "recommend" the gun and I wouldn't buy it again, knowing what I know now. But, given that the scuffing fix works, I think you'll do ok with your EZ purchase.

You have to understand that I was frustrated with my EZ and actively working with Smith and the others here for well over a year searching for a fix before we finally stumbled onto this fix. Smith really dropped the ball and I don't appreciate it.

Doubtful that S&W fixed the problem because the forum would light up if they did. This is a sad situation that a manufacturer of 'quality' weapons let this pistol out the door, and then hasn't fixed the problem. Reminds me of the Remington pistol that escaped the factory with a problem. I've waited about a year on the fix, guess I'll sell this unreliable pistol and buy one that is reliable. Like a Ruger maybe.

I’m a complete novice still working on things (low left shots) but here’s my experience if it helps:

Have ser # RDV5XXX with manual safety, 400 Blazer Brass rnds through it, not one issue. Cleaned it before ever used it.

My range buddy (ok...also my trainer) who is very experienced buys one based on performance of mine, intended for a lady in his life. On his, the damn thing has the problem right away, happening over two trips..

I’ve never hit the safety by accident but I think he did however as stated in this thread previously, how could that only affect 2nd to last round?

Hindsight, wish I would have not been such a wus and gotten a 9mm right off the bat which I do have now, could have saved my old buddy the grief but I’d certainly like to hear of a fix so he can have his lady confidently carry it and if I ever do carry I’d like to trust mine.

I'm a new owner of this firearm and was really enjoying shooting it until it stovepiped. I read others refer to the grip, and have heard this before on other forums but I'm certain thats not the issue here; I'm used to sending 200-500 rounds down range with .45 semi-autos and my EDC is a Sig .45 Nightmare that I shoot regularly.

So back to the M&P 380 EZ, when it jammed around the 2nd or 3rd time, I ejected the magazine and it had 2 rounds stuck in the magazine and the spring was still compressed about 2 rounds lower. I tapped the magazine on the bench and it sprung back up. I emptied the 2 remaining rounds and then using my fingers, rapidly compressed the spring multiple times (about 20) and then reloaded. That seemed to work fine for about 16 rounds then it stovepiped again. I'm using PMC and Federal, 90g FMJ ammo that works flawlessly in my Sig P238 so this appears to be a magazine issue (in my humble opinion).

From what I saw, it looked like the something was catching on the inside of the magazine that could possibly smooth out over time or just needs some "TLC" to work out the rough spots. I don't know (yet).

This is my first S&W Semi Auto, handgun and looking online, I do see that the M&P Shield EZ 9mm has some after market magazines with varying degrees of compression. I'm seeing +5 and +10 (unsure what that implies) however, this one website was out of stock on the 9mm and didn't have any .380ACP at all.

All that said, I am curious now as to whether the Mag Springs were a little too "EZ" or if there is a manufacturing QC issue within the magazine itself.

More to come - I opened a case with S&W on this and will report back what I find. I'll also share what I find once I KD the mag's and inspect them.

Have a blessed day!

Range Trip Last week came with failures to lock open on last round & loose rounds getting stuck straight up on last shot etc.. Totally Unacceptable..

My Cure was to sell the 380 EZ at a Profit to a local gun shop for $350.
We Paid $279 a few months back..
My Twin Brother now has my 9mm 2.0 Shield so I went & bought a Lonely 40 S&W HK USP Compact Stainless for $579 that sat unwanted because it was a 40, They have another blued one that I should snag for my other hand, Besides I have six magazines for it + ammo.. We'll see about that??

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

First time at gun range since getting back from S&W for stovepipe issues, all six magazines followers were scuffing up . Shot 150 round of different ammo no issues . Hope this help