New Shield 380 EZ... Nope. Junk.

varminter said:
Nothing stupid about researching what the majority out there want rather than what you perceive as what they might like because you happened to like it.

As so many people rightfully point out on this forum a "Grip Safety" does not belong on a gun intended for "EZ" of use particularly when it is a small calibre and is a evey day carry gun which should be simple to use.

Why complicate matters when you are trying to compete with the likes of the fantastic new SIG P365?(I don't like SIG but it is undoubtedly the best gun since the M&P Shield was made).
Don't take my word for\it but let us talk again in 1year from now:)

Given the timing of this launch Smith &Wesson could have seriously capitalised on the launch of this gun had it been a worthy contender and opponent to SIG's P365.

I am now officially and truly ashamed to utter the words "M&P SHIELD" knowing that this horrible 380 hybrid shares the same Shield family title as my iconic M&P Shield 9mm. :mad:
Click to expand...

Well.
Thank you for not understanding my post. It's a shame people can't express an opinion without needing to express some sort of "superiority."
Anyway, let's see:
Seems as though some folks, such as yourself, have decided for some reason that you are "right" about things like grip safeties, etc. Since you apparently don't manufacture firearms, I hope you'll understand that I'll go with S&W's opinion.
Sorry, I don't think the Sig 365 is impressive. I'll keep my first-generation Shield 9 with the stock parts, thank you.
I don't think S&W is worried about a "worthy contender" to the new Sig. Really, I don't.
"Officially and truly ashamed"? Wow. I guess you're entitled to your opinion, but I have to wonder how S&W might feel about you having one of their "iconic" firearms.... Just a thought, of course.
Incidentally, I'm not "defending" this new gun because I like it or want one. I have a .380 or two already and this gun would not suit my needs any better. I simply appreciate that there's a market for it. Again, we'll see how it's received by the folks it's meant for.
 
GerSan69 said:
Well.
Thank you for not understanding my post. It's a shame people can't express an opinion without needing to express some sort of "superiority."
Anyway, let's see:
Seems as though some folks, such as yourself, have decided for some reason that you are "right" about things like grip safeties, etc. Since you apparently don't manufacture firearms, I hope you'll understand that I'll go with S&W's opinion.
Sorry, I don't think the Sig 365 is impressive. I'll keep my first-generation Shield 9 with the stock parts, thank you.
I don't think S&W is worried about a "worthy contender" to the new Sig. Really, I don't.
"Officially and truly ashamed"? Wow. I guess you're entitled to your opinion, but I have to wonder how S&W might feel about you having one of their "iconic" firearms.... Just a thought, of course.
Incidentally, I'm not "defending" this new gun because I like it or want one. I have a .380 or two already and this gun would not suit my needs any better. I simply appreciate that there's a market for it. Again, we'll see how it's received by the folks it's meant for.
Click to expand...
The wife and are newcomers to the world of firearms. My wife only has her carry permit a few months, I have mine about a year.

We're both in our late 50s and disabled.
My wife has little hand strength in her hands, and severe spinal and neck issues. Most times, she is in a wheel chair. Point being, it took months just to get her to try the S&W M&P .22 Compact. She felt comfortable enough to want to use it as a carry gun, but in my mind I wished there something a little stronger, that she could handle.

Then, the EZ was announced. It was like S&W read my mind. She can train in the .22, and carry the EZ.

I've read a lot of the comments and see both sides of the arguement.

All I can say is most of you 2A guys have LOT'S of choices out there, almost countless. We handicapped, don't. Personally, this thing is a godsend (if it does what it says) that is. We can't shoot those beautiful large caliber pistols.

I've recently brought 2 friends to get their permits who are disabled as well. When your disabled, especially those in cronic pain, all you want is not to hurt. The LAST thing we want is to shoot something that causes more pain.

IMHO, there are a lot of disabled and elderly who will find the EZ an answer to a prayer.

I can't wait to order one, if not two.

Sorry for the rant!



Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
 
Shield 380 EZ Release

I went to my local gun shop today inquiring about release date
I was told they had 6 on order but wasn't sure when they would
get them
I got on list when they arrive for one
 
The thumb safety being an option is great. The grip safety is only a complaint in my book only in the fact it eliminated and adjustable or customized backstral capability.

A rubber sleeve around the grip would render the grip safety moot with little or no added bulk.

So it seems all this consternation and "hate" over this gun is pointless.

My mom in her 70's, wife and daughters all have chosen a revolver because they could not operate and rack reliably any carry sized guns. (At least when they were looking/buying) And they hated the super small 380's like the LCP.

Had the EZ been out back then, it probably would have been the first thing they would have been drawn to at least as a finalist for buying.

My mother has a very old S&W 32 s&W long that was her fathers carry gun. My wife chose a S&W 642 and my daughter the LCR.

My petite sister in law chose a glock 26 as she shot her soms glock 19 but didnt want the bulk of the 19. BTW she cannot really rack or load the G26. But compared to the limited rounds of her previous LCR, she now figures she wont need to reload.

I have a female co-worker who gave up her Sp101 to get a Browning 380 in 1911 style. 3/4 size 1911 in 380 acp as it was so soft shooting.

Bottom line. I think women and anyone who wants a soft shooting easy racking/loading gun will be thrilled and waiting in line to buy one.
 
Here's a datapoint for the discussion, from the just-released ATF 2016 Annual Report on firearm production in the US, that shows how popular the .380 Auto caliber is becoming:

Pistols produced in the US (by type)

.22: 447,315

.25: 13,141

.32: 10,175

.380: 1,130,459

9mm: 2,281,450

Over 9mm up to .50: 837,535

Total: 4,720,075

S&W produces many models in every major caliber, but before the 380 Shield EZ, really had only one .380 Auto model - the Bodyguard. This is an important part of the market, and S&W now has another pistol to offer the public.

Source: U.S. manufactured the most guns ever in 2016
 
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S&W Rover said:
Here's a datapoint for the discussion, from the just-released ATF 2016 Annual Report on firearm production in the US, that shows how popular the .380 Auto caliber is becoming:

Pistols produced in the US (by type)

.22: 447,315

.25: 13,141

.32: 10,175

.380: 1,130,459

9mm: 2,281,450

Over 9mm up to .50: 837,535

Total: 4,720,075

S&W produces many models in every major caliber, but before the 380 Shield EZ, really had only one .380 Auto model - the Bodyguard. This is an important part of the market, and S&W now has another pistol to offer the public.

Source: U.S. manufactured the most guns ever in 2016
Click to expand...
That's good info. The .380 continues to be a viable self defense round for almost any non-military or non-LEO citizen. Anyone that doesn't believe it is needs to have their manhood measured and simply accept the pathetic results.
 
I like it because it's new and my wife & I have arthritis & tendonitis and we're old. Somedays it's not worth the effort to take out any semi-autos to shoot, so I take my revolvers. I'm just wondering.....does anyone who complains about the grip safety shoot 1911's? I have four 1911's and everyone one of them has a grip safety.
 
I have rarely seen so many "nabobs of negativity" since the days of Spiro Agnew (not really, just kidding).

Seriously though, one of the bigger local gun shop owners was telling me that a surprisingly large part of his business is first time gun buyers who are not "gun people." He sells a huge number of .22 semi autos to these people, because they actually will shoot them, as opposed to the "real calibers."

He was lamenting that the local sheriff changed the requirements for our unrestricted CCW course to require center fire calibers (I don't think he minded selling them additional guns). Now he can sell them this pistol and kill two birds with one stone.

There are a lot of semi informed people out there, who are afraid to carry any pistol that doesn't have multiple safeties, absolutely refuse to carry any striker fired pistol - "it might go off!"

When you factor in the people that actually NEED the features of this pistol, you have to admit S&W hit a home run with this one
 
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Right now, the only thing I don't care for is the inability to use a second strike feature like I had on my BG380. If a round does not fire, I would have to cycle the slide manually before I could fire again? (SA).
 
GrumpyFatman said:
It was like S&W read my mind. She can train in the .22, and carry the EZ......
I've read a lot of the comments and see both sides of the arguement......
IMHO, there are a lot of disabled and elderly who will find the EZ an answer to a prayer......
I can't wait to order one, if not two.
Sorry for the rant!
Click to expand...

Thank you. I appreciate your comments.
The features on this new gun are geared toward making it easy to use and easy to go from safe to firing condition. Folks that have difficulty with grasping a slide will hopefully find that the "wings" at the rear make it easier to pull back. The button on the magazine to retract the follower will help loading. And the grip safety will allow a person whose thumbs aren't agile enough to flip off a safety lever to still have a safety feature, if for nothing else than their own peace of mind.
Good luck, I hope this gun meets your needs and expectations and I hope you'll come back and give a range report.
 
It looks huge! I was hoping it would be similar in size to the LCP 2. It would have been awesome if they would have made a mini Shield in 380.
 
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GerSan69 said:
Thank you. I appreciate your comments.
The features on this new gun are geared toward making it easy to use and easy to go from safe to firing condition. Folks that have difficulty with grasping a slide will hopefully find that the "wings" at the rear make it easier to pull back. The button on the magazine to retract the follower will help loading. And the grip safety will allow a person whose thumbs aren't agile enough to flip off a safety lever to still have a safety feature, if for nothing else than their own peace of mind.
Good luck, I hope this gun meets your needs and expectations and I hope you'll come back and give a range report.
Click to expand...
I truly appreciate the response! ESPECIALLY from those like yourself, who have extensive experience and so much more knowledge than I. Thank you!

If the grip is similiar to the M&P .22 Compact, it's a done deal. Hopefully these will be shipping soon!!!

Tony



Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
 
Will41 said:
It looks huge! I was hoping it would be similar in size to the LCP 2. It would have been awesome if they would have made a mini Shield in 380.
Click to expand...

Ummm, they sort of already do. It is called the Body guard 380!

Again the market was not for super deep cover comceal. And most people shoot the super small guns so poorly they do not gain confidence and do not carry them, or trade them in. Also the super small guns are snappy and again especially newbies to shooting are put off and not comfortable with them.

If you want an LCP2 then go buy one!

My brother will be happy to sell you his as it has been back to Ruger twice and still is not reliable. Although this seems to be that exception not the rule. But he cannot trust it to carry.

My experience with gun classes are the highest malfunction rates have been with 1911 derivatives and small 380 subcompacts.
 
Just because a gun is chambered in .380 doesn't mean it is "supposed" to be the size of a Post-It note. Some people don't like the recoil of the small .380s. Size remedies that. Size also make it easier to handle and manipulate.
 
Bamabred said:
Just because a gun is chambered in .380 doesn't mean it is "supposed" to be the size of a Post-It note. Some people don't like the recoil of the small .380s. Size remedies that. Size also make it easier to handle and manipulate.
Click to expand...

The Glock 25 is a full size Glock pistol in .380 ACP available only in Europe due to that goofy European caliber prohibition. I wish I could buy one here . . .
 
I really cant see why anyone would get one of these in a .380 that is bigger physically than the 9mm. My 59yr old wife with Fibro and arthritis racks her 9mm Shield NO PROBLEM!! Much better round and a smaller gun than the .380 Shield.
 
kgpcr said:
I really cant see why anyone would get one of these in a .380 that is bigger physically than the 9mm. My 59yr old wife with Fibro and arthritis racks her 9mm Shield NO PROBLEM!! Much better round and a smaller gun than the .380 Shield.
Click to expand...

Quite a number of reasons for S&W's new pistol are listed in the 139 posts before yours.
 
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