Just picked it up yesterday, and had to mod it out! LOL! The wife mentioned that she didn't like the fact that there was no red dot to tell when the thumb safety was "off", so I got after it with a tiny dab of strategically located "tactical" paint.
My fully modded Shield 380 EZ
- Thread starter cnj
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Scorpion520AZ
Member
Congrats. I've a hunch the 380EZ is going to be a popular best-seller. Looking forward to your range report, especially your Mrs' impressions.
Jeppo
SWCA Member
Never expected to see a Red Dot on a .380.
Never expected to see a Red Dot on a .380.
I see what you did there.
And I like it.
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Good photos and nice job with the red dot. Although I am easily confused ... 
... I still don't know why they had to put the steel slide insert into what is supposed to be a steel slide. I don't have a 9mm Shield but I don't think they used an insert in them. Maybe it was just easier to do the precision machine-work on the insert, then pin it into the slide. Either way - I hope it is accurate and reliable ...
... I still don't know why they had to put the steel slide insert into what is supposed to be a steel slide. I don't have a 9mm Shield but I don't think they used an insert in them. Maybe it was just easier to do the precision machine-work on the insert, then pin it into the slide. Either way - I hope it is accurate and reliable ...
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Must be cheaper/easier to do the machining.
It reminds me of the barrel assembly of the Walther PPX/Creed, where they attach the Feed Ramp to the breech as a separate piece. Hopefully the S&W assembly stays in place better than the Walther assembly does.
ancient-one
US Veteran
One question, Is the slide easy to rack?
crracer_712
Member
Watched a video and a guy was easily racking the slide with on finger using the front sight (while empty of course, just to demonstrate how easy to rack)
Yes. Very easy.
oldiesradio1560
Member
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I've had mine with no manual safety for the past week and I Love her. Took her to the range last Saturday. Great shooter, Love the grip safety. The recoil of a .22 and just a fun gun to shoot and to carry for the past week. I've been nothing but a revolver guy with Smith .357's since the 70's(66-4",686-4" 2 640s and my current carry is a 640 Pro Series. I've been wanting somebody to come out with an auto that acts like my revolvers. Point and shoot without having to worry about a heavy rack or if the manual safety is on or off. The .380 Shield is exactly what I've been wanting for years. I have Two posts on the .380 Shield within the last week so check out the "Revolver guy is considering a .380 Shield and my "Range Report. Revolver guy buys .380 Shield. If anybody is looking for extra magazines for the .380 Shield EZ Smith isn't putting them out yet as a part. I called. BUT I am Happy to report that ThreeGunNuts.com in Spokane, WA. (Ask for Alan)Has them in stock!! $27.95 & USPS Shipping so it runs just under $33.total. Got mine in 2days and I'm in Florida.
I bought one (no safety) yesterday, and took it to the range today. The guy at the gun store asked me to let him know how it compared to the G42, so I took that along too.
The EZ part is the main reason I bought it. I have arthritis in both thumbs, and on bad days it's hard to rack a pistol. Today was a pretty bad day, and it really was EZ to rack the EZ. S&W advertised it correctly.
The slide felt a little "gritty". Broke it down, cleaned it, and lubed with Slip 2000. Now the slide feels real nice.
How does it compare to the Glock 42? I was very surprised. It fits my hand better, balances better, and shoots better. It has a better trigger, and gets back on target better. The grips are "just right", grippier than the Shield M 1.0, but not as coarse as the M 2.0 is. And it holds 8 rounds instead of 6. It DEFINITELY racks better.
I just realized that I have nothing to say about the grip safety, I didn't even notice it. I would say that's a good thing.
I expected them to be close, but (for me) the EZ blew the G42 out of the water. I stuck with the M 1.0 Shield, but if Smith applies what they learned on the EZ to the M 3.0, I'll upgrade.
The EZ part is the main reason I bought it. I have arthritis in both thumbs, and on bad days it's hard to rack a pistol. Today was a pretty bad day, and it really was EZ to rack the EZ. S&W advertised it correctly.
The slide felt a little "gritty". Broke it down, cleaned it, and lubed with Slip 2000. Now the slide feels real nice.
How does it compare to the Glock 42? I was very surprised. It fits my hand better, balances better, and shoots better. It has a better trigger, and gets back on target better. The grips are "just right", grippier than the Shield M 1.0, but not as coarse as the M 2.0 is. And it holds 8 rounds instead of 6. It DEFINITELY racks better.
I just realized that I have nothing to say about the grip safety, I didn't even notice it. I would say that's a good thing.
I expected them to be close, but (for me) the EZ blew the G42 out of the water. I stuck with the M 1.0 Shield, but if Smith applies what they learned on the EZ to the M 3.0, I'll upgrade.
Indynick
Member
cnj, how did you get the dot so perfectly round? When I use a tooth pick and sight paint, it is never round. Did you use a brush?
Yes. A small pointy hobby paintbrush, and got a small "glob" of paint on the end of the brush, and just dabbed it onto the gun.
Rastoff
US Veteran
What is this insert you speak of? Where does it go? Yes, it's in the slide, but where in the slide?
It's difficult, sir, to find a good image on Mr. Gore's internet because all of the non-video reviews that I have seen have used stock photos. So - this is the best I can do to show the insert. Insert may not be the correct term - but I have an M&P .22 Compact, with a similar feature, and I think S&W refers to it as an insert in that case.
I'm not in any way trying to discredit the pistol - I'm just curious as to why they used the insert. Poster bigwheelzip, I think, has answered the question; it's just cheaper and easier to machine the insert (and then pin it into the slide) versus the required machining operations on the slide itself. I would expound a little on his comment by saying that they would ruin a slide if a CNC error was made making small cuts on the slide itself; whereas they would only have to recycle an insert if the same error was made on just an insert.
And, again, I'm just waiting for them to show up, I'm going to buy one!
Edited to add: Did some more thunkin' on this and, finally, realized that pinning a steel insert into a steel slide isn't new at all. SIG was doing it at least 30 years ago ... with the stamped/folded slide pistols, with pinned steel inserts, such as the P225, P220, etc. The ONLY reason I brought up the subject of aluminum is two early reviewers both commented that the slide appeared to me made of lightweight material.
Added #2: The winky-face in my post, a few posts back, (about the tactical paint eating into the aluminum slide) means that I was joking about the slide being aluminum. As I have mentioned in another thread on the .380 EZ - I stand corrected, I was wrong about the slide being made out of aluminum.
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Won’t that “Tactical” paint eat into the aluminum of the slide ..... ?
The slide isn't aluminum.
Won’t that “Tactical” paint eat into the aluminum of the slide ..... ?
The slide is stainless steel.
