Hello everybody. I have been carrying a Smith and Wesson 649, a 2 inch stainless .38 special revolver with stag grips and a pocket holster that came from a former policeman's estate. It is very nice and I am very comfortable and confident with it but since this is only a 5 shot revolver, I have been looking for something with more capacity for some time. I read the review of the Smith and Wesson Shield EZ 9mm in the feb. 2020 issue of guns and ammo and I was impressed. With an available thumb safety, this seemed to be the perfect pocket carry pistol. I rented one at my local gun range and, for me, the pistol turned out not to be a good pocket carry pistol. First of all, it is too big for pocket carry since it sticks out and is very noticeable. Secondly, it is too light for 9mm with a very strong recoil. It recoiled more than my Colt Stainless 1911 in .45 acp that I shot at the same outing. I will admit that the article in Guns and Ammo did mention the strong recoil but I thought I would try it anyway. I had no malfunctions of any kind but I have ruled out this pistol. I guess I will stay with my 649.

I have a 1st generation Shield 9MM and like it, though I don't pocket carry it. It's accurate, reliable, and doesn't seem to be excessive recoil - to me. Racking the slide can be tough though and I see why they came out with the EZ version.

I'm with KWIndy, I have fun shooting my 1.0, but it's hard for me to CCW it.....when I first got it, I also thought the recoil was more than I expected...My first experience with a 9mm....still like it

Thanks for taking the time to write your review, pasote. I'll be sticking with my model 3953 for EDC and gladly carry the extra 2.5 ounces.

I looked for a long time for a POCKET CARRY-sized pistol that was extra safe and decided upon a DA/SA 3rd Gen S&W CS9 9mm 7+1 that has a safety-decocker. TercGen on this forum made me a set of thinner grips to replace the thick rubber Hogues. In a Nemisis or Mika pocket holster it works for me in top pocket of cargo pants.

Shields are wonderful guns. I bought one in 9 for my son and I have one in .45. That being said THEY ARE NOT POCKET CARRY AUTOS no matter what anyone says-they are small but still better suited for IWB carry. Don't believe me...put one in your pocket. Then put a J frame in your pocket.

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Forum consigliere

I've been shooting an EZ9 a bit to evaluate it for primary belt carry. I am not an auto fan but low upper body strength from a recent stem cell transplant and old shoulder damage has me trying a variety of options. I have not reached a conclusion yet. My J frames or LCRs will never go away as a BUG but I am wondering if there is a better primary option than my revolvers. Slide manual operation is an issue on my other autos.
I have seen too much to trust an auto completely without a revolver BUG.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

An elder friend of mine recently purchased a 380 EZ for he and his Wife as a HD gun. Primarily because she could rack the slide and reach the controls comfortably, and the tabs on the magazines made loading easier. (I showed them my UPLULA loader tool that's even easier).
He asked me to join them at the range today and try it myself. Although I personally prefer 9mm or 45; I must say that shooting the pistol was exactly as advertised: EZ!
And for them a better alternative vs. a 22, or something with slide or controls they couldn't operate effectively, or a revolver DA trigger she couldn't pull with her arthritis or hit the broad side of a barn.
With little practice or experience she was placing rounds center mass at 5-7 yards with the 380 EZ. One could argue the 9mm EZ would be better for SD, but for them in FL where there isn't 3 layers of clothing; perhaps the 380 EZ with a little less recoil is best.
Whether 9EZ or 380EZ; I think S&W got this one right!

Yes, that is why I carry my J frame 649! Thank You! Ray

Still likin that 642-442 for pocket myself.

Any Shield is a wonderful firearm. I used my first Generation Shield 9 for a weekend of Pistol Craft 1 at Valor Ridge with one cleaning and no concerns whatsoever.

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5906tsw,MP15,Shield9/45,39-2

The Shield EZ was never marketed as a pocket gun. Even looking at a picture of one you can clearly see that. Even the original Shield is hardly a pocket gun. I bought the 9EZ and think it’s great. Like a lighter 3913. I find the recoil lighter than my original Shield and it’s nowhere near the recoil of a .45.

If you’re looking for a pocket auto with more capacity and a safety, either get a M&P Bodyguard .380 or if you want 9MM, get a Ruger EC9S or the Sig 365 with the safety. My Ruger LC9S has been 100% reliable.

My son-in-law has the 365 and it is nice; however, I like the inherent safety of the snub nose revolver S&W 649. I have read too many reports of accidental discharges with striker fired pistols even among experienced gun owners. I am staying with my J frame .38 special 2 inch snubbie S&W 649.

OK, the Shield is too big for a pocket but If you place a micro striker-fired pistol like the SIG P365 into a Kydex pocket holster and then put them as one into your pocket; the hard Kydex completely covers the trigger guard. No way it's going off without drawing from retention.The Kydex pocket holsters from Alabama or Vedder have a thumb tab that helps release from retention and they draw out nicely IMHO if you keep your booger finger off the bang switch.
After shooting the pistol; There's no hurry so I simply remove the pocket holster with my support hand while keeping the pistol in strong hand pointed in a safe direction and then carefully re-holster before replacing them in my pocket. YMMV but pocket carry of striker can be safely done with or without a safety. JMO

I've had a 380EZ that I used for IWB and it was fine, but I always wanted a 9mm with the EZ format, so the move up was easy for me once the gun came out this year. My wife likes the 380, so that will be hers and I will use the EZ9 when I carry and want a smaller gun. I got a nice IWB for it at Tulster and even got it in red so as to not confuse with the 380 which is almost identical. I'm happy with the racking, loading and accuracy of the gun. If I want bigger I have an H&K 45C or real big, my S&W 1911E. That's really not as bad as you would think going IWB using the NRA padded holster that I bought on a clearance sale two years ago. It's just so heavy that it's not practical for that purpose.

And the recoil is nothing compared to my Sig P938 9mm which I finally traded in after two years of different headaches.

Lots of happy Shield owners will attest they are well-designed belt/shoulder-holster carry guns. But no, they're not snubbies or pocket autos. And there's no doubt that a compact polymer 9mm WILL produce a stronger felt recoil than a metal-framed .45 1911. My wife complains about that every time we go to the range.

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Southern Comfort
Retired USAF