My wife shot her new 9mm EZ yesterday...short range report

[Oldsalt66]

My wife, who's fired almost 4000 rounds through her .380 EZ carry gun had an opportunity to shoot her new 9mm EZ for the first time yesterday and overall, she liked it a lot.

Ammunition: 115 grain FMJ Fiocchi

100 rounds with no malfunction or stoppages of any kind.

Accuracy was surprisingly good for a pistol of its type.

Recoil was soft, and the pistol was almost as easy to manipulate as her .380 EZ with one important distinction, that being that it's impossible to drop the slide using the slide stop lever.

The slide must be dropped by the slingshot method that requires the use of both hands; something she didn't like.

I also fired 50 uneventful rounds through her pistol yesterday and was also impressed with it but I too don't like the fact that the slide stop lever won't drop the slide.

She'll be replacing her .380 EZ carry gun after she runs 100 rounds of 147 grain HST through it, but it appears to be more reliable than the .380 and the magazines appear to be of superior design than those of the EZ .380.

Other owners I know also say the slide must be slingshoted to put the pistol into battery.

There are youtubers who put up videos demonstrating how to Bubba the slide stop to get it to drop the slide, something she won't be doing.

Overall, both she and I believe the 9mm EZ to be a better carry option than the .380 version which is a bit lighter, but the inability to drop the slide with the slide stop lever is a definite deficit.

My wife is an experienced firearms enthusiast.

 

[markmiela]

Good deal. Wish my wife would get into shooting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tew3006]

My wife also has the 9ez and she loves it too. her only complaint is she can't release the slide one handed. She has about 300 rounds through it so far without any issues.

 

[Flyingfool]

The only time on CCW the slide stop is an issue is on a reload. And from what I understand, most defensive situations do not even result in a shot being fired. When shots were fired usually it is under 5 rounds. So the real odds of a reload being necessary is extremely slim. Especially when fortunately, most people will never have to draw their weapon in the first place. Thank God!

Secondly, when reloading two hands are normally already required. So sling shot is not any bid deal.

Thirdly, slingshot works for almost every weapon. Familiar or unfamiliar. So it is fantastic muscle memory to have the slingshot habit method as the fundamental memory to train for.

Missing the small tab of a slide stop/lock that are often small and maybe if a unfamiliar gun is handed to you might miss the Lever is small or slightly different location. And fumbling twice on the stop lever is probably slower than a slingshot method.

My 1.0 shield the slide LOCK will not work with one thumb. No way no how with over 3,000 rounds through it. My 9C out of the box the slide lock will function easily with one thumb.

I have them set up almost identical and carry them alternatively. So I make sure I practice and train only slingshot because it absolutely works 100% of the time on either weapon.

All I know is that every pistol I have used slingshot it works. But not every pistol does the slide stop/lock work with a single thumb. I don't want to mess with what I found works 100% of the time.

YMMV

Just my opinion.

 

[cracker57]

oldsalt66, do you and your wife carry an extra Mag when you are out and about. I know more than a few people who complain about the slide stop/release but they don't carry an extra mag so it for them should be a non issue.

 

[Oldsalt66]

Of course we carry at least one additional magazine, not only for the extra rounds, but in case of a malfunction that is best addressed by a magazine change.

My wife can clear a malfunction like Jerry Miculek.

Being able to drop the slide by manipulation of the slide stop lever is important to us, and I mentioned the matter in case it is also important to others who are considering purchasing an EZ 9.

The slide stop easily drops the slide on her EZ .380, and every other one of the many pistols each of us owns; and we shoot them often.

 

[cracker57]

Glad to hear you carry an extra, and clear malfunctions. I will tell the wife when I am not armed that I am naked today, when I don't grab an extra mag I tell her I am half naked today. these are both rare occasions.

 

[BSA1]

Being able to drop the slide by manipulation of the slide stop lever is important to us, and I mentioned the matter in case it is also important to others who are considering purchasing an EZ 9.

As you say it is a Slide Stop not a Slide RELEASE. Being able to release the slide is a nice plus but the manufacturer doesn't intend it be consistently used that.

I have switched to using the slingshot method after I brought a Taurus TX22 last year. When I use the slide stop when loading the gun the second round almost always fail to feed. Strangely when I slingshot the slide it feds and shoots just fine.

Go figure??? I know it is just a 22 semiauto but training to use the same technique is important to me.

 

[Oldsalt66]

My wife also has the 9ez and she loves it too. her only complaint is she can't release the slide one handed. She has about 300 rounds through it so far without any issues.

I agree that regardless of one's preferred method at the range, the ability to drop the slide of a pistol used primarily for self defense into battery with the use of only one hand, is an important feature IMO and I consider the lack of such a feature to be a serious deficit.

The EZ 9mm is the only pistol my wife or I own that won't release the slide by manipulating the slide stop lever if circumstances require it.

Still, she likes it a lot and will be carrying it.

 

[jimmyj]

9m EZ

The current training method in my area is using the "Slingshot" method to drop the slide.
Using the "Slingshot" method gives the slide a little extra power to seat the cartridge.

 

[cracker57]

What works best is the method that the Israelis teach:


- After dropping the empty mag, withdraw the fresh mag from the pouch and hold it in the support hand with the index finger extended straight up the front of the mag body. Ideally the tip of the index finger is touching the tip of the top bullet
- Start the mag into the magwell. The index finger will naturally find the right hand and align with it, so you should be able to start the mag in without removing you eyes from the threat.
- Continue to push the magazine into the well, and let the fingers of the support hand spread away from the mag so that you finish with only the heel of the hand pushing the mag home. Seat the mag firmly.
- Roll the support hand up to take its grip. As you do so, the thumb of the support hand naturally moves to the slide release and drops the slide. The support hand then finishes taking its supporting grip.

I believe this notion that the strong hand thumb should be used to drop the slide comes from the movies. The hero can raise the gun up next to his face so the camera can zoom in for a tight close-up. Then, despite the awkward grip that he must assume to do so, the hero manipulates the slide stop to release the slide for dramatic effect.

The next thing you know, everybody wanted extended slide stops like the arm rest on a Buick so that you didn't have to alter the grip on the gun, but then started the whining about the slide not locking back because their thumb was using it for a rest.

Try the Israeli method. It works.
From what I understand, during mag changes, the most frequent user-caused failure is when the shooter, under pressure and in a hurry, drops the slide before the magazine is full seated. The Krav Maga method - using the weak hand thumb to operate the slide stop after the heel of the hand seats the magazine - totally avoids this problem. The "American" method of using the strong hand thumb to drop the slide, means that in the same rushed and high pressure situation, the functions of the two hands must stay perfectly coordinated.
this was copied and pasted from a different forum and I can not take credit for it just passing it on, it makes sense.

 

[pistolpete10]

I have a 9EZ and it seems to work every time. Slingshot method is prolly the best way on a reload. Always carry a spare mag. You never know what a semi will do. IVe had the bottom fall out of a mag. dump the ammo on the ground. mag. puke the ammo out of the top or in the mag pouch not to mention gun malfunctions.

 

[Waldo]

My wife has only become interested in shooting in the last couple of years. Watching the rioting, looting and general increase in crime has changed her thinking about the necessity of knowing how to use a gun. We are both well into our sixties. I started her with a 4" S&W Model 34. We then tried a Model 49 and a Colt Detective Special. She liked them all but thought she might prefer an automatic. So she shot my Ruger MK I 5' bull barrel . She liked it so I let her shoot a couple of Sigs, a 1911 and a few others. She had trouble with the slides on some of the autos She liked the 320 X5 the best. So I bought her a 9mm EZ Shield. We have taken it to the range numerous times. She has trouble with keeping the grip safety depressed. If she is real careful putting it in her hand and getting a correct grip she can depress it. But even then, it sometimes twists in her hand and she releases the grip safety. She has no confidence in her ability to grip it properly under stress and we have about given up on it. But she can rack the slide with no problem. I have talked to a few people locally and they all say to get her training. But I look at what is available and see classes that require a belt holster. She very seldom wears a belt. Then they say " She should dress around or for the gun". She has no interest in revamping her entire wardrobe. I have not examined every class out there. But most of the ones I looked at require a lot of physical attivity. She has no interest in doing somersaults with a gun or prone shooting. She will probably never have to know how to clear a room With arthritis and back issues, it is very hard for her to kneel and get up.
So I think we may look at a couple of Glocks or a smaller Sig.

 

[Flyingfool]

My wife has only become interested in shooting in the last couple of years. Watching the rioting, looting and general increase in crime has changed her thinking about the necessity of knowing how to use a gun. We are both well into our sixties. I started her with a 4" S&W Model 34. We then tried a Model 49 and a Colt Detective Special. She liked them all but thought she might prefer an automatic. So she shot my Ruger MK I 5' bull barrel . She liked it so I let her shoot a couple of Sigs, a 1911 and a few others. She had trouble with the slides on some of the autos She liked the 320 X5 the best. So I bought her a 9mm EZ Shield. We have taken it to the range numerous times. She has trouble with keeping the grip safety depressed. If she is real careful putting it in her hand and getting a correct grip she can depress it. But even then, it sometimes twists in her hand and she releases the grip safety. She has no confidence in her ability to grip it properly under stress and we have about given up on it. But she can rack the slide with no problem. I have talked to a few people locally and they all say to get her training. But I look at what is available and see classes that require a belt holster. She very seldom wears a belt. Then they say " She should dress around or for the gun". She has no interest in revamping her entire wardrobe. I have not examined every class out there. But most of the ones I looked at require a lot of physical attivity. She has no interest in doing somersaults with a gun or prone shooting. She will probably never have to know how to clear a room With arthritis and back issues, it is very hard for her to kneel and get up.
So I think we may look at a couple of Glocks or a smaller Sig.

May want to look at S&W CSX single action and easy rack like the EZ!

 

[jimmyj]

EZ 9mm

My wife has only become interested in shooting in the last couple of years. Watching the rioting, looting and general increase in crime has changed her thinking about the necessity of knowing how to use a gun. We are both well into our sixties. I started her with a 4" S&W Model 34. We then tried a Model 49 and a Colt Detective Special. She liked them all but thought she might prefer an automatic. So she shot my Ruger MK I 5' bull barrel . She liked it so I let her shoot a couple of Sigs, a 1911 and a few others. She had trouble with the slides on some of the autos She liked the 320 X5 the best. So I bought her a 9mm EZ Shield. We have taken it to the range numerous times. She has trouble with keeping the grip safety depressed. If she is real careful putting it in her hand and getting a correct grip she can depress it. But even then, it sometimes twists in her hand and she releases the grip safety. She has no confidence in her ability to grip it properly under stress and we have about given up on it. But she can rack the slide with no problem. I have talked to a few people locally and they all say to get her training. But I look at what is available and see classes that require a belt holster. She very seldom wears a belt. Then they say " She should dress around or for the gun". She has no interest in revamping her entire wardrobe. I have not examined every class out there. But most of the ones I looked at require a lot of physical attivity. She has no interest in doing somersaults with a gun or prone shooting. She will probably never have to know how to clear a room With arthritis and back issues, it is very hard for her to kneel and get up.
So I think we may look at a couple of Glocks or a smaller Sig.

1. REVOLVER
a. S&W K Frame= RB w/ 3-4" barrel
b. S&W J Frame w/ 3" barrel

 

[star1]

grip safety

My wife has only become interested in shooting in the last couple of years. Watching the rioting, looting and general increase in crime has changed her thinking about the necessity of knowing how to use a gun. We are both well into our sixties. I started her with a 4" S&W Model 34. We then tried a Model 49 and a Colt Detective Special. She liked them all but thought she might prefer an automatic. So she shot my Ruger MK I 5' bull barrel . She liked it so I let her shoot a couple of Sigs, a 1911 and a few others. She had trouble with the slides on some of the autos She liked the 320 X5 the best. So I bought her a 9mm EZ Shield. We have taken it to the range numerous times. She has trouble with keeping the grip safety depressed. If she is real careful putting it in her hand and getting a correct grip she can depress it. But even then, it sometimes twists in her hand and she releases the grip safety. She has no confidence in her ability to grip it properly under stress and we have about given up on it. But she can rack the slide with no problem. I have talked to a few people locally and they all say to get her training. But I look at what is available and see classes that require a belt holster. She very seldom wears a belt. Then they say " She should dress around or for the gun". She has no interest in revamping her entire wardrobe. I have not examined every class out there. But most of the ones I looked at require a lot of physical attivity. She has no interest in doing somersaults with a gun or prone shooting. She will probably never have to know how to clear a room With arthritis and back issues, it is very hard for her to kneel and get up.
So I think we may look at a couple of Glocks or a smaller Sig.

I saw where Hickok45 tested one and put grip tape around the grip as he just wasn't comfortable with it with the size of his hands but liked the gun after doing that. You would need to take the tape off every time you disassemble it for cleaning. I purchased a Shield EZ9mm for the ability to easily rack the slide, I also don't really like the grip safety (thought I would get used to it) and don't like the way the slide stop works, all my other semi-autos (S&W) work like I want them to from the factory. I DO like the trigger, it is smooth and just right.

 

[LVSteve]

I saw where Hickok45 tested one and put grip tape around the grip as he just wasn't comfortable with it with the size of his hands but liked the gun after doing that.

That's just wrong on so many levels..