380 Shield EZ Slide Question

G

GunsNParadise

Member
Joined
May 16, 2018
Messages
51
Reaction score
67
Location
Texas
I am a new member to Smith & Wesson Forum. I am a small older female just getting into the idea of going for my Carry License. Anyway, hubby bought me a 380 Shield EZ after getting me a Kimber Micro 380 that I was having trouble racking the slide. That was 2 years ago and I wasn’t progressing any.
So far I have only dry fired this EZ, we plan on going to the range ASAP. But I find it is so easy to rack the slide, I am locking it back every time I pull it. What am I doing wrong? Or will it snap back as supposed to when a loaded magazine is inserted?
I have watched many YouTube videos and those guys are quickly pulling that EZ slide back and it just snaps forward like intended and they don’t have a mag in the gun.
 
I apologize if I'm wrong here, but do you have the empty magazine inserted? It's designed to engage the slide stop and lock the slide back when empty. Try removing the magazine and racking it again. Alternatively, you could try some snap caps in the magazine.
 
I love my EZ too. No shame is locking the slide every time. Just insert the magazine and push down the slide stop on the side. The slide will go forward and you're ready to go. Enjoy it. It's a Great Gun and a fun shooter.
 
ScottS said:
I apologize if I'm wrong here, but do you have the empty magazine inserted? It's designed to engage the slide stop and lock the slide back when empty. Try removing the magazine and racking it again. Alternatively, you could try some snap caps in the magazine.
Click to expand...

Awww, yes! I took the empty magazine out and it racked back and snapped forward without locking. Thank you so much for your quick answer!
 
You may already know this, but it's generally not considered a good idea to let the slide go forward by itself without a round in the magazine. Cock it, and guide the slide forward under hand control, so you can practice dry firing. You don't have to baby it, just don't let it slam forward.

A few times letting it slam forward shouldn't hurt the gun, it's just not the best way. This being the internet, somebody will shortly chime in how they've slammed their slide 10,000 times a day without any problem. :)

Dry firing itself won't hurt your gun, and is an excellent way to practice.

Another thing I like to do with a new gun, car, etc., is re-read the manual after I've owned it a while since it's hard for me to learn and remember everything in one go.

I like my EZ also, and I think you will find when you go to the range that your new S&W will be much easier to shoot than your Kimber.
 
Bullet Bob said:
You may already know this, but it's generally not considered a good idea to let the slide go forward by itself without a round in the magazine. Cock it, and guide the slide forward under hand control, so you can practice dry firing. You don't have to baby it, just don't let it slam forward.

A few times letting it slam forward shouldn't hurt the gun, it's just not the best way. This being the internet, somebody will shortly chime in how they've slammed their slide 10,000 times a day without any problem. :)

Dry firing itself won't hurt your gun, and is an excellent way to practice.

Another thing I like to do with a new gun, car, etc., is re-read the manual after I've owned it a while since it's hard for me to learn and remember everything in one go.

I like my EZ also, and I think you will find when you go to the range that your new S&W will be much easier to shoot than your Kimber.
Click to expand...
Yes, my hubby told me that. Actually, he doesn’t believe in dry firing himself, says it’s not good for the gun. But I told him “how am I going to learn better”. And he just wasn’t aware of the issue with leaving the empty magazine in when racking the slide. And now, now, I will make sure I don’t let that slide snap forward. Thanks for the
 
Here's a way to meet him half-way: (Although it really doesn't hurt the gun to dry fire on an empty chamber EXCEPT with a .22 rimfire) Use a snap cap. They are cheap, clearly do no harm, and add an extra layer of protection. I never dryfire without one.

(And try this....balance a penny or dime on the top of the slide, when you fire it should stay there. If it bounces 'round and slides off, a bit more practice might be indicated.)
 
Bullet Bob said:
You may already know this, but it's generally not considered a good idea to let the slide go forward by itself without a round in the magazine. Cock it, and guide the slide forward under hand control, so you can practice dry firing. You don't have to baby it, just don't let it slam forward.

A few times letting it slam forward shouldn't hurt the gun, it's just not the best way. This being the internet, somebody will shortly chime in how they've slammed their slide 10,000 times a day without any problem. :)
Click to expand...

I'm not gonna chime in as you suggested, but I am curious about why you say it is not considered a good idea to let the slide slam forward without chambering a round . . . ?
 
I am a firm believer in always sling shoting the slide! You don't have to baby the gun, it was built to take it. If you get in a habit of easing the slide forward, You may inadvertently do it when you are trying to chamber a round from a loaded mgazine, which may cause the gun to not go into battery!
 
We took it to the range today. Couldn’t hit the target anywhere but the lower left. Hubby is going to try adjusting the sight as this has been an issue in many of the online reviews. It’s hard for me to say I like the gun when I can’t hit a target any better than that. I don’t have a lot of shooting experience but I have done better than that before. I also (today) fired hubby’s Colt Detective 38 Spl and did much better, a couple of bullseyes at least.
My goal is to get better on the target range before I think about getting a Carry License.
 
GunsNParadise said:
We took it to the range today. Couldn’t hit the target anywhere but the lower left. Hubby is going to try adjusting the sight as this has been an issue in many of the online reviews. It’s hard for me to say I like the gun when I can’t hit a target any better than that. I don’t have a lot of shooting experience but I have done better than that before. I also (today) fired hubby’s Colt Detective 38 Spl and did much better, a couple of bullseyes at least.
My goal is to get better on the target range before I think about getting a Carry License.
Click to expand...

Dry firing will help your aim so much. My Wife and our Daughter overcame the low and to the left problem by dry firing. When you dry fire try to hold the pistol steady so that it doesn't move when the hammer falls. You can do this, my wife is over 70 and shoots her Shield very well, but has problems with the slide. We are looking at the 380EZ.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
Bullet Bob said:
it's generally not considered a good idea to let the slide go forward by itself without a round in the magazine.
Click to expand...

I’ve heard something similar, but never this.

Having a round in the chamber and slamming the slide on it will force the extractor to snap over the rim of the cartridge. That can eventually (maybe after a few hundred times) cause a problem with an extractor. In normal function, the rim slides up from the magazine and slips inside the extractor which moves outward only slightly, if at all.

But letting steel hardened to handle over 40,000 psi pressure close under spring pressure without loading a cartridge from the magazine into the chamber? Not a problem I’ve ever heard of.
 
Last edited:
GunsNParadise said:
We took it to the range today. Couldn’t hit the target anywhere but the lower left. Hubby is going to try adjusting the sight as this has been an issue in many of the online reviews. It’s hard for me to say I like the gun when I can’t hit a target any better than that. I don’t have a lot of shooting experience but I have done better than that before. I also (today) fired hubby’s Colt Detective 38 Spl and did much better, a couple of bullseyes at least.
My goal is to get better on the target range before I think about getting a Carry License.
Click to expand...

A lot of times improving shooting technique will fix problems like shooting low and left. I would suggest getting some professional training for a time to improve your marksmanship. I would in the meantime apply for your license to carry since that can take some time.
 
Low and Left is very typical of user experiences with a new gun that is striker fired. It has to do with pushing the trigger a bit sideways while pressing it backwards -- making the pistol roll to the left a little bit. Low and Left is something you see people mentioning a lot.

Before adjusting the sights, I would get used to the pistol more, and concentrate on a straight back press of the trigger while dry firing and certainly while at the range. Placing the pad of the trigger finger on the trigger, instead of operating the trigger with that first joint of the finger, may help too.

I've done the same thing with striker-fired guns (e.g., shot Low and Left) but the "cure" came with practice and familiarity.

The 380 EZ sounds like a good pistol for a lot of folks, including new users and those with hand-strength problems (for whatever reason) and I can see one in my future. Good luck with yours!
 
Last edited:
I am going to take all the advice here to practice dry firing, started today actually. I can already see after dry firing quite a few times, you really start to pay close attention to the “little” details of firing, such as using the finger pad vs the first index joint. I am also in the process of scheduling a Basic Handgun Course with Cabela’s. The last part of the course is shooting the LTC test and if you score good enough to qualify, you are given a certificate and then only need to take the written test. For me, that may be premature, but I figure I would be shooting under less stress in this course training than just shooting in the LTC class in the standard way, i.e., taking the written then going into the shooting test. Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to comment.
 
GunsNParadise said:
I am going to take all the advice here to practice dry firing, started today actually. I can already see after dry firing quite a few times, you really start to pay close attention to the “little” details of firing, such as using the finger pad vs the first index joint. I am also in the process of scheduling a Basic Handgun Course with Cabela’s. The last part of the course is shooting the LTC test and if you score good enough to qualify, you are given a certificate and then only need to take the written test. For me, that may be premature, but I figure I would be shooting under less stress in this course training than just shooting in the LTC class in the standard way, i.e., taking the written then going into the shooting test. Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to comment.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are on the right track. S&W Rover gave you some good advice and in fact is exactly what I would have suggested had he not beat me to it.
 
Just wanted to update and thank all responders again. I took a private lesson from a Texas LTC licensed instructer yesterday and qualified for the range portion of my LTC. All I need to do now is take the classroom training and written test which is scheduled for this Sunday. I shot so much better after just a week of dry firing the EZ and training my eyes for both eyes open firing. All of my 50 rounds were in the 8 section of the target or better (3 yard shots all in the 10 section). Love this EZ gun now! Plan on lots more practice.
 
Last edited:
S&W Rover said:
Low and Left is very typical of user experiences with a new gun that is striker fired. It has to do with pushing the trigger a bit sideways while pressing it backwards -- making the pistol roll to the left a little bit. Low and Left is something you see people mentioning a lot.

Before adjusting the sights, I would get used to the pistol more, and concentrate on a straight back press of the trigger while dry firing and certainly while at the range. Placing the pad of the trigger finger on the trigger, instead of operating the trigger with that first joint of the finger, may help too.

I've done the same thing with striker-fired guns (e.g., shot Low and Left) but the "cure" came with practice and familiarity.

The 380 EZ sounds like a good pistol for a lot of folks, including new users and those with hand-strength problems (for whatever reason) and I can see one in my future. Good luck with yours!
Click to expand...

The 380 EZ is internal hammer fired.
 
CB3 said:
I’ve heard something similar, but never this.

Having a round in the chamber and slamming the slide on it will force the extractor to snap over the rim of the cartridge. That can eventually (maybe after a few hundred times) cause a problem with an extractor. In normal function, the rim slides up from the magazine and slips inside the extractor which moves outward only slightly, if at all.

But letting steel hardened to handle over 40,000 psi pressure close under spring pressure without loading a cartridge from the magazine into the chamber? Not a problem I’ve ever heard of.
Click to expand...
I will be the first to tell you I am not a firearms expert so I have a couple questions regarding this topic. First of all how did that round in the chamber you refer to get there unless it was manually loaded? when you retract a slide it will extract a round or empty casing from the chamber. The chamber then will be empty to accept the next round from the magazine when the slide is released. Second question....how is sling-shotting or releasing the slide with the slide release lever any different than the operation of the slide during the firing-extraction-reloading sequence of the pistol ? Either way the slides forward movement is a result of the recoil spring returning the slide to the "in battery" position.

No insult meant to any of the posters and their opinions...as I said I am no expert, but I was trained in firearms during my career in the Navy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
380 EZ Recall?
Replies
2
Views
242
MikeNV
M
S
M&P EZ 380
Replies
5
Views
616
CajunBass
CajunBass
J
Shield MP380 EZ Perf Center Slide Fit Issue?
Replies
6
Views
434
Johnrick
J
Quicksteel57
M&P shield EZ
Replies
3
Views
626
agksimon
agksimon
M
M&P9 Shield EZ slide stop button too short
Replies
0
Views
207
MDillon
M

Latest posts

Back
Top