Will an EZ help with two issues I am having

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schmidtj

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I'm what you might call a "geezer". I am finding my M&P 9 Full Size harder to rack these days and now a new more troubling issue is it's starting to happen rather frequently. I'm attributing this to "limp wrist" and I think the slide isn't traveling back as much as it should between shots. It's an annoyance during practice shooting but it a real life/death situation it would be very serious. I looked at a M&P Shield EZ and it was definitely easier to rack but would this also help reduce the jams I am seeing due to my strength issues?
I tried shooting a Baretta PX4 Storm my brother let me use and I'm seeing identical issues with jamming. I took a photo which I'll attach just to show what I'm talking about. Since this is happening on multiple guns I'm definitely attributing this situation to me and not the guns.
Any insight appreciated,
J
 

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It's difficult to predict whether an EZ (which one, for one thing? .380? 9? .300 Super Duper?) would help you - it could (because the lighter springs and prospectively better grasp on the gripframe might make life easier). But the only way to know is to try it. So maybe you should endeavor to try one out at a rental place, if there's one around.
But you won't limp-wrist a revolver, guaranteed. Good luck with it, amigo.
 
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Sir, last season I was encountering a similar problem with my competition Glocks and my Sig P320. Having had carpal tunnel surgery only 3 years before, I felt that I was having some type of neuropathy issues. Low and behold, I had a reoccurrance of carpal tunnel syndrome. Hopefully, the surgery that I had at the start of the new year will correct this problem.

Hopefully, your issue can be resolved favorably.
 
I know I sound like a broken record on this subject, but what ammo are you using when getting the malfunctions? Some of the FMJ range ammo is really watered down post COVID. As a result, it makes many guns more sensitive to any limp wristing. That said I am very surprised you are getting malfunctions with the PX4.

For sure an EZ will help with racking. Other easy to rack pistols are the Beretta PX4 and the Grand Power pistols, both of which use actions with rotating barrels.
 
schmidtj said:
I'm attributing this to "limp wrist" and I think the slide isn't traveling back as much as it should between shots. It's an annoyance during practice shooting but it a real life/death situation it would be very serious. I looked at a M&P Shield EZ and it was definitely easier to rack but would this also help reduce the jams I am seeing due to my strength issues?
Click to expand...

It does sound like you are not maintaining enough frame stability for the slide to cycle properly - otherwise known as limp-wristing. The video below shows limp-wristing in slow motion.

The Shield EZ has several design features that make it easy to rack the slide. One feature is a light recoil spring, which also makes it a little easier for the slide to cycle. However, your issue is probably that 9mm has too much recoil for you to control properly.

The 380 EZ has substantially less recoil (3.05 ft-lbs of force) than the 9mm EZ (5.77 ft-lbs of force). In short, controlling the 380 only requires about half as much hand strength as the 9mm.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka556--WF2o"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka556--WF2o[/ame]
 
We geezers need to stick together. The EZ may solve your slide racking issue, but your malfunction issue might very well be due to your "limp wristing" (grip, strength, or stance), or hand and/or arm fatique assuming that the pistol fits your hand to begin with. Can't leave off shoulders and back either.

I've been countering my aging symptoms by using a Luxon hand strengthener and VIVE hand therapy ball kit. A few minutes everyday makes a world of difference.

My shooting routine has changed from bullseye type targets to a 6" paper plate, 3X5 card, 3" Post-it, and a 1.5"X2" neon Post-it attached to the backer board and shot mostly 7 yards.

I take my time working my routine, loading a new mag when I emptied one. It gives me time to review my last shots and continue or change with my planned routine. It also gives my hands and arms a bit of a break, which helps.

One of the guys at our range uses a wrist brace. He says it is more a reminder to lock his wrist than anything else.

Good shooting and stay happy!
 
No matter what you find the issue is, I am confident that you will find the solution. If an range nearby rents, then try an ez out. Let us know what you end up doing.
 
URIT, has a good point about grip strength and hand strength. A simple (and cheap) way to increase your hand and grip strength is to get yourself a couple of tennis balls and just squeeze them repeatedly, one in each hand, while you are watching tv. Do this until you can feel the fatigue in your hands and then rest a while before starting again. You will be surprised at how fast your strength will improve it you keep at it for a few weeks. Tennis balls are easy to find if there is a court nearby. Just check out a few of the trashcans.
 
schmidtj...I'll be 74 in a couple of months. I recently tried out my friend's Shield 380 EZ. Nice pistol. Yesterday Cabela's was having a 10% off sale which included firearms. My local one always gives a 5% veterans discount. Even though I've exhausted my 2025 gun budget it still had some wiggle room. Walked out of the store before noon with the pistol in tow. Upon opening the box the 380's fit & finish was perfect. Off to the range in a day or two.
 
My wife's father decided he wants to pick up shooting as a hobby and assigned me the task of finding him what he needs. Note, the last time he shot was in basic training in 1959.
He also has hand/wrist atrophy, which I found out about after we went shooting, for which he's having surgery soon.

We tried a few...
.22 was the only one he could comfortably rack and shoot but he insisted he's not shooting a bb gun.
He held a M60 (38 revolver) but said it was too heavy. He also couldn't practically cock it and couldn't handle the DA trigger (without cocking it).
He racked and shot the Shield EZ380 but said it felt like it was going to jump out of his hand. Smaller, lighter 380 do tend to be "snappy" compared to larger 9mms.

I suspect the Shield EZ 9mm will also be too small/light to comfortably shoot.
My next option to try is a .22 Magnum. Though I'm not sure how easy they are to rack. Plus they tend to have feed issues. Though not frequently, it only takes one at the wrong time ya know...


Congrats on making it through long enough for this to be a problem! I hope to do the same one day.
 
My wife has hand/wrist issues....

...but she shoots the .380 Shield EZ and my 9mm Shield EZ just fine. Sometimes it seems she has trouble squeezing the grip safety enough, but I THINK that is just technique. It ain't that hard. I couldn't tell you if it will help your limp-wrist issues, but the .380 is not built for +P and I use standard loads in the 9mm anyway even though it is permissable (possible accelerated wear)
So what I'm thinking is that there may be a low-recoil ammo that would help with your 'flip' issues. I can say that both models are much easier to rack. Besides having lighter springs, they have 'ears' on the side of the slide to help with the grip.

I can't seem to teach my wife how to rack a pistol with low hand strength. Hold against the right side of your stomach, reach over and grab the slide from the top with your left hand. PUSH the pistol with your right hand holding the slide in one place.

Update: I see Hornady has a Critical Defense "Lite" for low recoil. I'm not sure about its effectiveness.

Note: Shield pistols are small and light, so they MAY not help with your limp wrist problem. Be nice if you could try one. If you come to SC I can take you to the range to try both of mine.
 
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I have strength issues and neuropathy. One of he secret to most ez rack guns (like the new FN) is that they're actually hammer fired.
However, poly guns and 9mm SD ammo can be snappy. One of the guns i didnt struggle with at my weakest, was a 9mm commander 1911 with the alloy frame.
Springfield 911 (micro compact 1911 variant), and the Ruger LCP Max.
A DaSa semi auto or revolver might work too.
I've been around a lot of disabled folks. The key is willingness. If you want to, we as a collective can almost always find a way. Just be safe and practice. My friend with cp thumbs the hammer, then racks the slide. Gun held chest high, push the frame forward using the shoulder and bicep, like throwing a punch. Very firmly and with speed.. Support hand just holds the slide.
 
I have a shooting client that has severe arthritis issues in her hands. She operates and shoots a Shield EZ .380 quite easily, and hasn't had any malfunctions at all. The grip safety operates fairly effortlessly. Gun is reasonably accurate as well.

If you want more power than .380, I have the .30 SC model and it does have somewhat less recoil than the 9mm model.

I would avoid any of the gaudy performance center type models with the aluminium grip safety. The safety has hard edges that dig into the shooting hand and is very uncomfortable. Most people I have seen purchased them, ended up sending it back to S&W to have the standard polymer grip safety installed.
 
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When I borrowed my friend's EZ 380 to try out I used Freedom Munitions 100 grain rounds. If anyone is having ammo related issues I'd recommend their ammo. It's offered in new or remanufactured for around $12 - $13 for a box of 50. The EZ shot these beautifully.
 
2023 was not good year. I had 3 episodes of health problems. They landed me in the Hospital. When I was released from the Hospital
I discovered that i could not rack the slide on my 1911 Pistols. So I purchased A pair of grip strengthen devise. I can after 2 weeks of using them. Tell that I am getting Stonger. They might help you.
 
Both the 380 and 9 mm ez are great and ez guns to use and highly recommend both of them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Take a look at the Handi-Racker device?
And I concur with the opinion that you must not give in to the weakness. The Handi-Racker will get you by till you no longer need it.
I have a new to me Glock 42 that is very finnicky about how I hold it when shooting White Box FMC's. There is a feel to the grasp. It took me about four trips to the range. SD loads always work fine.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFP2wEfIoJc&t=8s[/ame]

Kind Regards!
BrianD
 
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I played with a Shield EZ 380 at the gun shop and the slide was ridiculously easy to rack. However my M&P 2.0 full-sized slide is super easy to rack as well. Easier than say the Glock or SIG. That said all of the S&W actions seem super smooth and nice in my opinion.

A female co-worker of mine tried different pistols based on my recommendation and she ended up saying the Shield EZ 380 was the easiest to shoot and use. The 9mm were too snappy for her.
 
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