Revolver guy considering to buy the new M&P .380 Shield EZ

[kenneu]

Someone above mentioned the Sig P938. The P238 is the .380 version. I have a shield 9MM (1.0) and it is quite accurate. In carry it has been replaced though. I'm now carrying a Kimber Micro .380 with the 7 round mag in a desantis pocket holster when it is warm to hot weather. In cooler weather, I'm carrying a springfield EMP 3" 9MM in place of the shield. The extra weight on the EMP makes recoil almost nothing so you can dump a mag and keep tight groups.

I got rid of my ruger LCPII as it is too light and still a bit snappy even with .380. The kimber 380 recoil is MUCH less and is superbly accurate. I carry it condition one with the safety on. I carried it for a week without a round in the chamber to be sure the safety wouldn't click off in my pocket and is hasn't ever done so. I practice at the range with all of my 1911s picking up or pulling from holster and flicking off the safety so that's automatic for me...

Lastly if you look at youtube, ammoquest tested a bunch of .380 ammo in pocket pistols and the little fiocchi xtrema met fbi penetration levels. That's what I carry and I've probably put 200 rounds of it through my little micro and it has never FTF or FTE. I suspect that is because of the longer, pointier nose.

 

[ultratec00]

I owned a BG380 for about 2 months. There are way too many pocket size 9mms out there that are shooter friendly, accurate, and have superior ballistics to a 380. I have a 642 w/ crimson trace grips. Fine firearm but has its limitations. It sits in reserve while my P938 or Micro 9 get all the holster time.

 

[TainoGuns]

Picked up EZ this morning

Picked up an EZ this morning. Took it to the range and ran 100 FMJ rounds thru it. Very easy to operate. Easy to rack. No malfunctions.

A little bigger than the shield which makes it easier to hold and aim. Much less recoil and it was more accurate than my .40 Shield which I traded in.
I will go back next week a fire a few of my carry rounds, WInchester PDX-1.

I will keep my full size .40 for home defense. The EZ will be my carry weapon.

 

[mrmike7189]

Interesting how our experience can be so different. I had trouble with my Bodyguard the very first time I took it to the range with failures to feed. Called S&W, the guy said, "I know what the problem is." Sent me two new mag springs and followers. I replaced them, and the gun has been perfect. I mean, not a single malfunction since then. Hundreds and hundreds of rounds, different brands of ammo...perfect. I still had an original LCP, but I shot the BG so much better (more accurately), and it felt so much better in my hand, and it had a thumb safety, so I sold the LCP.

I know opinions vary on the manual safety, but I like it, and the long trigger pull, since I pocket carry the BG.

Nothing against the LCP. It was an excellent gun. I have no experience with the LCP2, but I'm sure it's excellent as well. I just liked the BG better, and saw no reason to keep both.

I have over 1200 rounds through mine and never a malfunction. Only used USA made quality ammo.Mine is n M&P no laser from 2014.

 

[Rastoff]

It is absolutely inaccurate to say that ANY 380 handgun is likely to "jam".

I didn't say that.

 

[lkabug]

After 1000+ rounds through my Bodyguard 380. I can say I haven't has so much as a hiccup of any kind. However I will say, it does take some range time to become proficient.
Picked up the new Shield 380 EZ today and after 100 rounds I didn't have any issues whatsoever. In fact, out of the box was super accurate and great trigger and as advertised easy to rack, mags easy to load by hand. With the new ammo on the market, I suspect it will be a very effective carry gun.

 

[Ranger17]

I dont own one of these new 380ez models but have to say (on days the hands are pretty sore) that i am a little intrigued by it. I did stumble on a video of someone gel testing 380 ball ammo vs hp, his results showed the hp was nowhere near where it should be for penetration and the ball did well.
I am not familiar with the 380 round at all but would want to do more research to see (if that ez model gets in our collection) what truly would work best.

If i can find the video again I will add it, thought it was by a “military arms channel” but could be wrong there.

 

[cnj]

I didn't say that.

Then I guess I misunderstood this part of your previous post?

"Buying a .380Auto, any .380Auto, will only reinforce your conditioning toward semi-autos "jamming" and being unreliable".

 

[GeoJelly]

Looks pretty good to me - Thanks Scorpion520 for posting the video. I'm surprised that it appears to have an aluminum slide. It does have a much larger steel (I assume) breech block thingy pinned into the slide just like the M&P 22. Hopefully there won't be any slide peening from the the slide lock as I couldn't see a steel reinforcement pin embedded in the slide. An engineer I am not - but I think the whole thing about easy-racking is a double-edged sword. Sure, the slide is easy to rack, but does that also mean that there's more potential for the slide to fail to close ... especially after it's had a 100 rounds or so thru it? There's a lot less recoil spring pressure on the .380EZ and (hopefully I am wrong!) it could lead to problems - especially since the slide is so lightweight and thus doesn't have much inertia. Just sayin' ... Its definitely on my want list now - I've just got to wait a few months for the usual teething problems to be sorted out.

Edited to add: S&W website notwithstanding - I'm going to stick to my assertion that the slide is aluminum. Reason I say this is why would S&W pin an insert into a steel slide?? Screen grab taken at 11:05 in the video above - reviewer says a steel breech insert is pinned into the lightweight slide. He adds that he doesn't know what the slide is made out of but it's "lightweight material". Aluminum or not - I'm still going to get one once the tax man finishes with me ...

I don't know why S&W would pin a steel breech insert into a steel slide - but magnets don't lie! I was wrong, the slide is NOT aluminum.

 

[Teasip]

How much did you get in trade for the Shield out of curiosity?

 

[gc70]

I'm surprised that it appears to have an aluminum slide.

From the Smith & Wesson website:

Slide Material: Stainless Steel - Armornite® Finish

 

[fdw]

Buying a .380Auto, any .380Auto, will only reinforce your conditioning toward semi-autos "jamming" and being unreliable. It has been my experience that the .380Auto is the most likely to malfunction.

There may be a perfectly functioning gun chambered in .380Auto, but I haven't seen or heard of one.

My Ruger LCP Custom has never malfunctioned (700+ rounds) Now I do only run ball ammo through it and am very comfortable carrying it.

I do have some BB +p flat nose hardcast I just received and will let you know how that goes.

 

[Dave Lively]

Edited to add: S&W website notwithstanding - I'm going to stick to my assertion that the slide is aluminum. Reason I say this is why would S&W pin an insert into a steel slide??

Given the gun is larger but lighter than a Shield you could be right. It wouldn't be the first time someone copied a web page for a different gun and missed something when they were modifying it for a new gun.

We need someone with both a 380EZ and a magnet to know for sure.

 

[Jim1392]

Given the gun is larger but lighter than a Shield you could be right. It wouldn't be the first time someone copied a web page for a different gun and missed something when they were modifying it for a new gun.

We need someone with both a 380EZ and a magnet to know for sure.

I also just looked at the S & W web site and it does say Slide Material: Stainless Steel - Armornite® Finish. But it would be nice like you said if someone checked it.

 

[Scorpion520AZ]

Mister Golob: Luckiest husband alive.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DjLBfe8Iqwk[/ame]

 

[cnj]

I have one on the way. Won't likely see it till mid to late this coming week, though. I'll be happy to take a magnet to the slide, and report back.

 

[lkabug]

I did the magnet test, the slide on the Shield 380 EZ is stainless steel, with Armornite as noted .

 

[Execpro]

380 ez

As mentioned above,guns to new for judgements.

You can get 380 loads up to 300ft/lbs. Do some research on Google on different ammo manufactures.

Knock down power is an illusion at best. Yes,if you hit someone with a 41,44 or 357mag 180gr hunting load you stand a good chance that the bad guy won’t be to functional after a solid hit( yes there are other calibers that can do it also),but there is NEVER any guarantees. Stats have shown this to be true. That is why we train to shoot to stop until the aggression stops.

Just read the owners manual and it says NOT to use +P ammo! You can still get 250ft/lbs from non +P rounds.

Whatever you decide,enjoy and Stay Safe!

 

[bnolsen]

You might want to re-think a .380 if you are wanting knock down power.

No pistol has "knock down power". They punch holes, some bigger than others. The 380 may be marginal with respect to getting both penetration & expansion on a hollow point. Since the 380ez isn't a mouse gun the extra barrel length should get you more fps to help with expansion and should have better overall feeding reliability as well.

While the 380ez doesn't particularly float my boat, it *is* filling a market niche of a modren non mouse gun 380 that is locked breech. I suspect we're going to see similar offerings with these features in market very soon. Also note this might actually be a good non 22lr kid's gun as well.

I would still prefer a 9mm *if* circumstances allow you to.

 

[KSDeputy]

I will not own a striker fired pistol. I was trained on .45acp DA/SA, external hammer, decocker. That is what I own and carry. I have several, bought new. Each generation comes up with their own well liked firearm, just as their music.