Been out of the gun loop and been a while since I’ve been on here. Getting back into it I discovered the Shield EZ today. My mom is almost 60 and has had some health issues. I’ve tried various autos with her in the past and the easiest thing she could rack was a Beretta 92FS I had at the time. Got her a shield 9mm a couple years ago but she still had issues. I pretty much gave up and let her stick to her revolvers. A 637 J frame and SP101 for what it’s worth and there’s nothing wrong with that.

The SP is hefty and recoil isn’t a real big issue but let’s be real, a J Frame isn’t the most pleasant experience especially with hot SD loads. After browsing YouTube today and discovering the Shield EZ now I’m intrigued. It’s a bad time right now to go and try to kick tires. 380 wouldn’t be my first choice but it appears to handle a bit better than the 9mm counter part and slightly easier to rack. I see Federal HST’s Have a 380 load now so I have more faith in the round.

The gal can shoot whatever I hand her as long as I rack it, my glock 17, glock 30, the Shield, 1911 ect. Maybe I’m being optimistic but is this perhaps the saving grace?

My wife would never shoot any of my carry caliber firearms and would only shoot her 22lr pistol. Until she discovered the 380EZ. She is fully able to load, rack and shoot hers without any problems. BTW, we are both older than your mom. If you can, I recommend taking her where you can rent one to see how she likes it, or perhaps the 9mm version. I find most people do better choosing personal items for themselves. Good luck to you and your mom.

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M&PC FS BG Shield+ 642 686+

I love my EZ 9. It's everything that S&W says it is. I don't have the strength I use to and can't reliably rack the slide on my autos. I used a revolver for self defense until I bought the EZ.

Even my girlfriend, who is afraid of guns, can shoot the EZ and can rack the slide.

It shoots real well, at 7 yards I have no problem shooting 3 inch groups or less standing. I was able to find extra magazines for it and made sheaths for them, I carry one loaded ( Cocked and Locked ) and three extras,

I bought my 75 year old daughter a EZ380 and she could load and rack it, that is until she broke her shoulder and arm. She is back to the 5 hole 38Spl. now until they get well.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

I picked up the 9mm for my wife. Shoots great, for me right in the center. Trigger is nice and smooth. Take down is also really easy-the lever is much easier to activate than my original Shield. Of course the slide is super easy to rack. For me, it's loading the magazines that makes this gun. It sees more shooting at the range than my other guns because you pull down very easily on the tabs and drop in the cartridges, as fast as you can scoop up shells and plop them in. No loading helper needed.

Sent from my LGUS997 using Tapatalk

I hesitate to mention this for fear of touching off yet another caliber war but I feel that the .380 ACP suits many people in the context in which it might be used: one-on-one against an assailant, either on the street or an intruder. The EZ is a far easier gun to use, particularly for people lacking upper body strength due to age or infirmity. As I mentioned in another thread, as guns get smaller, the return springs must get stronger to compensate for the lighter slides.

We picked up a .380 Shield EZ last week..
My twin brother has had a stroke & can't work the slide of the 9mm 2.0 Shield or load the magazines, With the 380EZ He has zero problems..
I'll also note that the texture is less aggressive than the 9mm 2.0 Shield but has more bite than the earlier 1.0 Shields, Kind of in between if you will..
It's about a half inch longer too which makes holsters for the normal Shield worthless for the EZ..
Our EZ has no safety lever just the grip safety only..
It too is loaded up with Critical Defense ammo..
Also note that the EZs are hammer fired not striker fired like the other Shields & has a solid one piece trigger..

I appreciate the input, as far as rentals not sure what’s Back open yet.

Good to know, I thought the mags were pretty slick.

Honestly I’ve never shot a 380, never had a desire for one. I guess sometimes you have to pick your battles and this kinda is one of them. Need to watch some videos on the new HST 380 loads and see how they perform. I know people have scoffed at the 380 idea through the years. She mentioned some time back trying a little 380 like a LCP but I don’t think that benefit her. Then I saw the EZ, now I’m kinda getting on board with this.

I seem to remember when the 9mm started to hit our shores in the early 60's and the gun magazines all scoffed at the 9 when it was compared to our 357/41/44 and 45's. Now the nine is all the rage.

I load my 9mm EZ with HST 124gr or Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P.
My M&P 380 is loaded with Precision One 90gr loads.
You might want to look at Ammo Quest 380 final rap up on YouTube.
It’s under best 380 ammo on Google.
Either gun is a great choice!

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!

My wife, 53yo, likes to shoot and shoots pretty well. She loved my G19 but I had to teach her proper technique to rack the slide. Hand over slide, pushing the frame forward. Loading mags was a challenge also.

When the 380EZ came out, I immediately bought one for her and she loves it and really like shooting more. I was so impressed with the 380EZ I have been looking for and found the 9EZ and bought it.

It is ever so slightly stiffer to rack, but she can do it without issue unlike most other 9s.
Hope she doesn't like it more than the 380, but both will do the job.
HST and Hornady 90gr XTPs for the 380 are winners.

I teach a lot of folks doing CCW and Well Armed Woman classes. We have often suggested a .9mm Shield, a Sig 365 or a Springfield Hellcat and in addition, the .380 Shield EZ and the .9mm Shield EZ for people to consider when shopping. The EZ has a wider grip from front to rear which effects the length to the trigger for those with short fingers and should be considered when looking. Consider the .9mm prior to the .380 for the additional terminal ballistics over the .380 but if the person can not rack the slide, the .380 is the better choice. Also nothing wrong with .38 or .357 revolver instead. Easy to load, easy to check if loaded. It it doesn't go bang, pull the trigger again.

If you have a Rural King close by I saw they had them on sale in the RK Guns sight and I think they ship to the stores free but not sure. Might be better prices local or close as it is always better to buy from the local guy if possible.

Timely thread. My gf - a "non gun" person - is thinking of having a gun at home (and will get the proper training!) and I've been thinking of a Model 10 or possibly a 9mm semi- auto. She doesn't have any particular strength issues (yet) but racking the slide can be a bit of an issue for some folks, so the Shield might be an option, although it's not for carry so the 3" barrel isn't important. Also loading a single-stack mag will be easier than a DS and won't require a loader.

Glockman: if your mom likes revolvers and shoots well with them, then why not just load them with standard velocity .38 Special ammo and call it good? I’m 64 yrs. old and a disabled veteran with medical issues. Arthritis has robbed my hands and wrists of lots of strength and dexterity. I rarely carry a semiautomatic pistol anymore because I have trouble racking the slide and clearing malfunctions. My EDC is pictured below: a Model 38-0 and a Model 638-1. Both wear CT LG-405 grips and I load them with standard velocity 158gr. .38 Special ammo.

BTW, I’ve known lots of older people who load theirs.38 Specials with 148gr. wadcutters. That round was designed to be a target round, but they’re also a very good self defense round.

Good luck,

Dave

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I bought a snub nose revolver for my Wife as well & a pretty aqua Hogue grip which She just loves.. Taurus 85CH
The .380 EZ Shield was bought for my youngest son who is also left handed so I swapped the magazine release over to the RH side.. See Photo..
As I said above my brother who had a stroke can work the EZ Shield 2.0 with ease where the other 2.0 Shield 9mm he can not..
I racked the slide for him & He keeps it under his mattress in a holster. I need to find him a 9mm EZ I'd guess??

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If she likes the J Frame there are good loads that aren't "HOT", and with rubber grips (which are cheap) its not bad at all. It doesn't sound like shes going to be shooting for fun, so if that works I'd go with that.
Not that theres anything wrong with getting a new gun

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Stick with the Revolver. Unless a person has a desire and is willing to get some what proficient with a semi-auto handgun IMHO a revolver is the way to go.

Point....pull trigger...bang.

No safety levers, slide stops, mag releases, decocking levers...on and on. Stuff you need to have a real interest in learning to do well if you have a semi.

38 special or a 357mag.

Easy-Pezzy.

Point...pull trigger... bang

Only my opinion but if considering a std Shield model, I found those mags tougher to load vs my full size MP. Same for racking, i can still handle the full size with my hand issues but not my Shield.
I did pick up an EZ in 9mm and the racking is just fine. And those mags are easy like loading my 22lr mags. So definitely a big difference between various Shield models.

Never heard of rural king, thanks though.

I hear ya, I’ve thought about trying to find another Model 10 or get a 64 for home use. Thanks for the heads up on the wadcutters.

Thanks, I did put a set of Hogue bantams on her 637.

Consider HST Micro 380 versus HST Micro 38 Special +P.

The 380 has 233 ft/lb of energy at the muzzle and 214 at 25 yards.
The 38 has 229 ft/lb of energy at the muzzle and 217 at 25 yards.

^^This and I won't say all 380's, but the Shield 380EZ is much easier for recoil sensitive people like my wife than anything but steel framed 38's and a better/easier trigger.

A 442/642 can be brutal to shoot with +Ps

I shot my 9EZ yesterday for the first time and it too is soft recoiling. Amazing really what S&W did with these pistols being easy to rack and soft recoiling for caliber.

Sorry- I should have been more specific; I was thinking of the EZ model for sure. She won't know until she's had a chance to handle one, along with whatever other options may be on the table.

I see Skagit Arms in Burlington WA is a S&W dealer and that's just a short drive down I-5 from Bellingham. She's a mad keen gardener as well, and Christianson's Nursey is in Mt. Vernon so it might make for a day trip I'd be more than happy to go with her but the COVID-19 thing is working against us as I live north of 49 in British Columbia so she can't even get up here to handle the guns I have and get a little no-pressure introduction to the "evil" things.

Thanks for all the input, I think she’s gonna go with the 380 version sooner than later.

You won't even believe how easy to shoot & load that 380 EZ is..
I noticed that it has two locking lugs instead of one like the other Shield..
Still can't figure out how they where able to get the recoil spring so light weight & it still functions? Shoots like a 22lr..

S&W M&P Shield 2.0 .380 EZ

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I am sure your mom is gonna love the M&P .380 EZ . I am 58 and have issues starting with one of my hands and I can rack this very easily. This gun has a nice balance and grip feel to it too.