M&P 380 EZ Stovepipe Cure?

yanici

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I have read a lot of quite a few folks having problems with their 380 EZ stovepiping a live round occasionally and most often on the last round in the mag. Most believed that the EZ mag springs might be too weak and causing the problem.

Has anyone heard whether S&W has come up with a fix for this?

I'm interested in the gun but not if the problem still persists.

Thank you.
 
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I believe it was from the mag springs being too strong. I had a few of these early on, but have had none in the last 500 plus rounds using various ammo through my EZ. I may be wrong about the springs, but the problem went away with use...

Edit: I should clarify. The issue I had early on was occasionally (maybe 5 times) the last round in the mag would not load into the chamber. Rather, it would be sitting upright (bullet end up) with the casing caught in the ejection port...as though the round was pushed too far up or up too quickly.
 
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I believe it was from the mag springs being too strong. I had a few of these early on, but have had none in the last 500 plus rounds using various ammo through my EZ. I may be wrong about the springs, but the problem went away with use...

Funny that you should say that. I'd read where some guys actually increased the spring pressure to cure the problem by shimming under the bottom of the spring or under the bottom of the follower to in effect add more tension.
 
This is a wonderful gun with an irritating issue. Last time at the range, mine stovepiped the last round of every magazine (50 rounds WWB). Didn’t matter which of the factory mags I used, both had this issue. I also think it’s a spring issue, too loos, too strong IDK. we are going to the range tomorrow again and I am going to shoot keeping my thumbs completely off the gun. Could be one of my thumbs touches the slide as it recoils back, with those light springs, maybe preventing proper action. If I can’t figure it out, I’m just going to sell it. I have an M&P Shield 9mm that I just love.
 
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I have read a lot of quite a few folks having problems with their 380 EZ stovepiping a live round occasionally and most often on the last round in the mag. Most believed that the EZ mag springs might be too weak and causing the problem.

Has anyone heard whether S&W has come up with a fix for this?

I'm interested in the gun but not if the problem still persists.

Thank you.

Try different brand ammo until you find the one that functions best in the gun... people are so quick to start fidgeting with the mechanics on a firearm when really the solution is so simple. It even states that in the owner's manual..
 
I have 5 magazines, 4 have been used to fire 700-ish rounds. I have one new (unused) magazine and plan to go to the range tomorrow specifically to see if I have any issues with the new mag. Again, the older 4 mags have been fine since my 1st couple of range sessions. I've used a wide variety of ammo and I don't know what causes the problem, but do believe that it's mag follower/spring related. I wouldn't hesitate to contact S&W, if the problem persisted...
 
I'm certainly not going to go out and purchase the EZ if it's super fussy on ammo just so it doesn't kick out live rounds. I already own a Sig P238 which I love but wanted to be able to recommend this gun to a friend that needed a gun that was easy to rack. In all good conscience I can't do that at this time unless the cure is in.
 
M&P 380 EZ stovepipe cure

I would definitely try different brands of ammo that is comfortable with your gun. Most of the firearm manuals suggest using different brands of ammo for your gun to see which one would run smoothly. Another method is taking the spring out of the magazine and give it an attitude adjustment, that is stretching the spring, and reinserting back into the mag. This will keep the rounds tight and close together when the last round exits the mag and into the chamber. Also, you may want to look into the Springfield XDE 9mm with the exposed hammer. It is very light and with a three inch barrel conceals nicely. The slide is very easy to rack and chamber a round. That is my EDC and the gun has never failed me at the range. Just another avenue to pursue for other firearms on the market. Also, because someone recommends a gun doesn't mean it is for you. The gun needs to fit your hand just as a pair of shoes fits your feet. I recommend trying several guns that are available at Firearm dealer with a range to check fit and ease of the firearm. Sometimes, It may take up to 200 rounds to finally break in a gun. Just a few things to think about when looking for a gun.

Nick
 
Ammo brand can certainly make a difference. But it seems to me that the problem you mention generally sorts itself out after a few hundred rounds are fired from these magazines. You could be having a problem that is a combination of both. I never get excited about this kind of problem until it hasn't gone away by around the 500 rounds downrange time. All new guns need firing a good bit for things to settle down and smooth themselves. My wife's copy had similar problems with the last round in the mags but it had disappeared after 300 or so rounds were fired. Go shoot it.
 
Ok, so we went to the range today. In my EZ, I used Blackhills Honeybadger 60 gr and Hornady s American Gunner 100 gr. I also had decided mine might be stove piping the last round due to the slide coming back and my thumb keeping it from cycling back far enough, but then again, why would it just be the last round. So I kept both thumbs off the gun. I shot 50 rounds, no issues whatsoever. Course, if ammo caused the stovepipe issue, the Honeybadger is way too expensive to continue for range practice. We bought the Hornady in a bulk carton, so reasonable enough. Definitely no more 380 WWB. I’m much happier with this gun now!
 
Went to the range today. Shot 50 rounds of Winchester White Box, 100 rounds of Perfecta, and 100 rounds of Magtech. No issues. Used my brand new magazine along with my other four...no difference in performance, though the springs in the new mag seemed stiffer than the others. Of these 3 ammo brand, I prefer the Perfecta. The Magtech was extremely dirty and the WWB was, well, WWB. ;)
 
Well, things had been going pretty well with my EZ until yesterday. I went to the range and fired 200 rounds of Perfecta and a magazine full of Federal Premium HST. Unfortunately, I experienced 8 to ten incidents where my last round didn't chamber and instead was caught in the ejection port pointing straight up. It happened with both types of ammo. (Otherwise, the EZ functioned flawlessly as usual.)

I contacted S&W this morning, described my issue, and asked if there had been any revisions made to the EZ magazine springs. The customer service rep said he was unaware of any changes but offered to send replacement springs to me for all my mags. So, once I receive the new springs, I'll let you know if I notice any differences and any improvement in last round performance.
 
I have well over 1000 rounds through my EZ and have only experienced this issue on the last round in the mag (and not so frequently until yesterday.). I have 5 mags and it seemed to happen with all of them yesterday. Maybe it was my grip, but I'm far from an inexperienced shooter, have a large number of handguns, and make weekly trips to the gun range. We'll see.
 
Seems like if it was a grip issue, the malfunction would occur anytime. Not just on the last round.

Unless yiu get tired and losennthe grip after each shot and limp wristimg by the last round. Or the gun is getting lighter and mightwr after each shot and this the recoil increases slightly each time. But both of those situations seem so insignificant that it is unlikely to be the cause. At least in my opinion.

The fact that some people seem to report the last shot issue reaolving itself over time. Suggests to me that as the springs take a “set”, the problem went away.

Which would lend some credence to the idea that the springs are or may be too strong. As the “set” that takes place by shooing sufficient number of rounds.

When I get a new gun or mag. I presonally leave the slide locked back, and fully load the mags and then leave them sit in the safe, that way for two weeks or so. It seems like this lets both the mag springs, and the RSA spring to take a set. Without having to shoot as many rounds to break in the springs.

I also have never had any problem with hand/finger loading the mags to full capacity. In fact when I bought an additional mag for my shield months later. After leaving the mag sit fully loaded for ancouple weeks, I could not really discern the mag spring difference of the new mag, compared to my other mags with substantial use.

Maybe I have nust been lucky.
 
I've got over 1200 rounds of Remington 95 grain ball thru my EZ during the past year with no problem shooting at the range. I have 6 mags and no issues.
 

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