Range test: FTF on 9mm EZ

[SchemaEnigma]

I've mentioned in a couple of other posts that I recently bought a 9mm EZ. I got the "package" deal from S&W that included a small bag and 5 magazines.

My first session at the range with this gun I simply emptied each magazine (40 total rounds). But I had some troubling results with failure to feed.

Here is the ammo I shot:
Federal Am. Eagle 115 Gr FMJ
STV Scorpio 124gr FMJ
Speer Lawman 147 Gr TMJ

The FTF was mostly with the Speer Lawman, and I think one other, but unfortunately, I did not take notes. The Lawman was bad, though... probably about 3 of the 8 failed to feed. I thought it could have been my grip, I suppose, since this was also my first time firing a gun this small.

OTOH, it could also be either the flat front of the Lawman rounds or the slower velocity/energy of that round (mfg say 985 fps, likely out of a 4" barrel, so even less out of the EZ.)

So, this morning, I went to the range with a variety of ammo and a log to keep track. I organized them in order of fps for the first run through.

I also limited the rounds of the defense ammo, the Lawman, and a Sellier & Bellot, since I don't have a lot of any of those, and they all work perfectly fine in my full-size M&P 2.0.

Here are the results, arranged in order of FTF%. Since the forum doesn't keep table formatting, I've attached it as a picture of the Excel table.

I tried concentrating on my grip, and also experimenting with intentional "limp wrist." It didn't seem to make any difference. I used a bore snake to clean the bore and the ramp mid-way.

Surprisingly, the Lawman was perfect this time. Fortunately, so were all of the defense rounds, which gives me some piece of mind.

Also, surprisingly, the performance of the Federal American Eagle was awful.

Any comments?

 

[lkabug]

I use Lawman 124 round nose at the range and Speer Gold Dot for carry.
Never had a problem with either. However my 9EZ does not like Federal in any weight.
Not sure of the difference between them.

 

[LVSteve]

Are those velocities measured in your gun, or what it says on the box? Did you field strip and lube the gun before hitting the range the first time? Shipping preservative makes for lousy lubrication in my experience.

 

[LVSteve]

I use Lawman 124 round nose at the range and Speer Gold Dot for carry.
Never had a problem with either. However my 9EZ does not like Federal in any weight.
Not sure of the difference between them.

Interesting. Is the 9EZ at the lower limit of chamber length, maybe?

 

[SchemaEnigma]

Are those velocities measured in your gun, or what it says on the box? Did you field strip and lube the gun before hitting the range the first time? Shipping preservative makes for lousy lubrication in my experience.

Manufacturer claim. I don't have the equipment to measure it myself. Sorry, I should have made that clear. Obviously, the velocities will be lower out of the short barrel (the most commonly used barrel length by the manufacturers - when they even bother to state it - seems to be 4"). I just used the stated velocity as a way to order the ammo in the test to see if there was any correlation between velocity and FTF.

As to field strip and cleaning, yes, most definitely, of course. I did a full clean and lube before first use (the first 40 rounds) and before this range test.

After the Federal performed so poorly in the first mag & 1/2 I shot of it, I checked the gun, and the ramp was very dirty, so I used a bore snake & Hoppes to clean it before I resumed. This was about half way. The ramp was quite dirty again when I was done. As is my practice, I ran the bore snake/Hoppes a couple of times through the gun at the range while it is still warm before packing up to go home.

I have not done the complete cleaning from this range session yet, though.

 

[SchemaEnigma]

I'm a bit of a data geek, so here is, first, the complete range log showing the order of things, the FTFs, plus some notes.

Second, is a summary of FTF by magazine.

(BTW, I purchased on additional S&W mag for the gun, so I used 6 mag in this test - all S&W factory mags.)

 

[southchatham]

The answer is don't use 147gr bullets in your gun. I would clean it and try 115 gr.

Also check your gun with S&W for recall

"Smith & Wesson has identified two M&P Shield EZ Pistols on which the hammers manufactured by our supplier were cracked."

 

[SchemaEnigma]

The answer is don't use 147gr bullets in your gun. I would clean it and try 115 gr.

Also check your gun with S&W for recall

"Smith & Wesson has identified two M&P Shield EZ Pistols on which the hammers manufactured by our supplier were cracked."

Thanks, but the worst performer was 115gr Federal.

My gun was verified by the dealer as not being in the recall before I was able to buy it.

 

[MrToast]

I had to polish the feed lips on the magazines to stop failure to feeds on my M&P shield ez 9mm.

 

[kbm6893]

Only ammo I’ve ever fired in my EZ are my 124 grain FMJ reloads. Never a malfunction.

 

[Mario777]

The answer is don't use 147gr bullets in your gun. I would clean it and try 115 gr.

Also check your gun with S&W for recall

"Smith & Wesson has identified two M&P Shield EZ Pistols on which the hammers manufactured by our supplier were cracked."

My EZ shoots 147gr CCI Blazer just fine. I have both the original EZ and the PC version and they both FTF with Federal Am. Eagle 115 gr all the time

 

[SchemaEnigma]

A follow-up to this.

I put another nearly 200 rounds through the EZ9. The first time I had too many variables going on to narrow down the problem area. I started out thinking it as ammo, then perhaps how dirty the gun was. So, this time I only used one brand of ammo (Winchester Target, 155 Gr FMJ) and used all 6 magazines in order, going through 4 complete cycles (192 rounds) without cleaning the gun.

Here are the results:

Overall: 192 rounds with 23 failure to feed for a FTF of 12%.

There was no correlation with how dirty the feed ramp was (1st picture below is the feed ramp after I disassembled the gun for cleaning).

There was a strong correlation with FTF and the magazine used, and also with the first several rounds out the the problem magazines.

• All of the mags are S&W factory mags.
• Two magazines were flawless from beginning to end. The other four were not.
• All of the FTFs were within the first 4 rounds of the 8 round load.
• In all cases rounds that failed to feed were "stuck" on the feed ramp - cleared by smacking the bottom of the magazine.

The 2nd picture below is the data by magazine.

I conclude that the gun is not the problem. The problem is in magazines #4 and #5, with a lesser problem with mags #3 and #6.

I am presently using mags #1 and #2 for my EDC, so at this point I may just relegate the other 4 to range use only and see if they "wear in" at all.

Or, I may get ambitious enough to try smoothing / polishing the feed lips of the problem mags.

 

[ChillyDog]

I would try polishing the feed ramp, it doesn't take much work. And it can't do anything but help. I do that to all my pistols.

 

[LVSteve]

Winchester White box (WWB) 115gr? Weak sauce stuff that barely cycles in many guns.



If the mags that are giving you trouble are letting the top round sit up a little high, this will cause drag on the slide under recoil. If the ammo is underpowered like WWB, the drag can be enough to prevent the slide going back far enough to pick up the nest round and FTFs follow.

 

[SchemaEnigma]

I had to polish the feed lips on the magazines to stop failure to feeds on my M&P shield ez 9mm.

How did you polish them? That is, what did you use to polish them?

I'd like to do another test next week.

 

[SchemaEnigma]

I would try polishing the feed ramp, it doesn't take much work. And it can't do anything but help. I do that to all my pistols.

What did you use?

I have some Mother's mag polish and also some Metal Glo.

 

[AzShooter]

I bought GunMagWarehouse magazines and all of mine are running 100% after 500 rounds so far. I only shoot FMJ Round Nose Remingtons and haven't tried anything else yet but reading your post I know what to stay away form.

Thank you for all your hard work and telling your story.

 

[SchemaEnigma]

I bought GunMagWarehouse magazines and all of mine are running 100% after 500 rounds so far. I only shoot FMJ Round Nose Remingtons and haven't tried anything else yet but reading your post I know what to stay away form.

Thank you for all your hard work and telling your story.

Thanks.

Did you buy S&W factory mags?

 

[SchemaEnigma]

I had to polish the feed lips on the magazines to stop failure to feeds on my M&P shield ez 9mm.

How did you polish them? That is, what did you use to polish them?

I'd like to do another test next week.

Does anyone have any help on what to use & how to polish the feed lips on these EZ9 mags?

 

[OKFC05]

Does anyone have any help on what to use & how to polish the feed lips on these EZ9 mags?

I take all new mags apart, smooth lips with a medium stone, spray all parts with CRC Silicone, wipe all parts with cotton cloth, and reassemble. I never assume a new mag is good to go, and I have found a few that were pretty rough.