I just received a new magazine from S&W for my 380 EZ. I had the last round stovepipe issue with this gun several months ago and S&W's first response was to send new springs and followers, which did not solve the problem. They finally ended up replacing the gun, which greatly improved the issue, but did not totally eliminate it. I decided to accept the occasional failure and keep the gun.
I received the new magazine and immediately noticed that the spring was MUCH stiffer than the replacement springs that they had sent to me. I compared the springs and the new one is much longer. (see the attached photo). Does anyone know if they have changed the springs again in an attempt to eliminate the stovepipe issues? I plan to contact them to see if they will send me new springs for my other two magazines.

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Both springs in your photo have 12 coils.

The length difference is normal because the springs wear very quickly. The springs have been changed at least once months ago, the "new" springs have yellow paint on the first few coils. The old ones had no paint. That said that didn't fix the issue.

The new springs that we have been getting very shortly take a set and arrive at the same length as the first ones. The stove pipes even occur on a new mag. and spring set I received. S&W either cannot figure out the problem or they have and find it too expensive to follow up and do a general recall to correct it. Quick

I initially thought of getting one for the wife even though I don’t really consider it much of a caliber for self defense. I’ve seen enough problems with the ez to deter me from ever getting one. RG why would you keep it, it’s unreliable for self defense and certainly not a gun to use for target practice. I’d go for a refund unless you get lucky and get one that works, although myself I’d never be able to trust one.

Thank you guys for this info. I was getting ready to buy my wife an EZ for Christmas since the present rebate makes the price attractive, but am not interested in a pistol that has continuing stovepipe problems.

I've read probably Every post on the 380EZ since I brought mine when it first came out in February 2018. Since then I've shot 3,000+ Remington UMC FMJ rounds. I have 8 magazines that I rotate at the range and carry. I have have Only Two Rounds (2) that stovepipe to date! My EZ IS my Daily Carry, the Only semi automatic I have ever owned after owning .357 magnum revolvers since the 70's. I have the no thumb safety model so I don't know if the thumb safety models have anything to do with the problem but I won't give up mine. More rounds and lower recoil on the target equals better stopping power.

In my opinion the stovepipe scandal is equilivent to the Sig P365 striker problems. They are few and far between and as a RSO I see dozens of EZ's as well as my own with no issues after many firings. Not saying it can't happen but life is dangerous. Test your gun, decide for yourself but neither my EZ, or either of my 2 P365's, will be benched because of fear of malfunction.
Given the inherent problems with ALL semi auto handguns, time would be well spent learning how to, and then practicing, clearing all potential malfunctions.
6:22 well worth watching over and over.

My 380 Bodyguard has weak magazine springs as well. I have a couple spare mag springs in my parts kit along with a couple recoil springs. I have not had any malfunctions, but it is something I noticed. Compared to the S&W Shields and other M&P's in 9.40.45 , the 380 pistols from S&W seem to have weak springs in general. Something to watch in the future?

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

Galloway Precision has 10% increase magazine springs for the Body Guard. i've used them with no problems.

Looking forward to seeing if these new magazine springs are the longterm solution.

In the meantime, could you weigh both old and new springs with a digital scale and post those values?

Interested to know if the new springs are not only longer but also a heavier gauge.

Sorry, I don't have digital scale. I went to the range yesterday and tested with my original two magazines and the new one. I shot full mags with each one. I had a last round stovepipe with one of the original mags. I then shot 24 rounds, loaded two at a time in the failed magazine with no more failures. This was using Blazer Brass.

Just weighed the springs on an RCBS powder scale---- Spring out of newly received mag.,41.2 gr. Extra springs sent separately 41.2gr. Orig. springs that came in the EZ,41.2gr. All of my springs even those first ones have all had yellow paint. Still waiting. Quick

I spoke with Smith and Wesson last week and they are sending me new springs. I will post length and weight comparisons once they arrive.

I'm not hopeful though seeing as your weight measurements are the same for both the original springs and the new springs.

Unless of course spring tension (rate?) and spring weight have no correlation... could be same weight but higher tension (rate) just due to different in material and temper?? not an engineer, no clue :-|

The original springs and the ones painted in yellow are so weak that conventional plus 10% power springs from the likes of Wolffe Springs would still NOT be enough added tension in my opinion.

I'm experiencing the exact same problem with my Shield .45. The gun's been back to S&W for a feed ramp polish and tune and it didn't fix the issue. I was just looking at purchasing new + 5lb mag springs from Wolff and then found this thread. I'll save my money for the time being and give S&W another shot at fixing the problem. Good luck

Why did S&W make the springs so light? Does everything on this gun need to be EZ? The magazines have the little thumb levers to help load the mags. Make the spring heavier already! There is clearly an issue with the stove piping. It happened to Hickock45 twice in one video. Saw it happen to another YouTube reviewer while shooting 100 rounds. These are both gun guys. I’m thinking of getting one and the current rebate is attractive. I only have an M&P Bodyguard and it’s been reliable but it’s no range gun so I admit it doesn’t have a ton of rounds through it. .380 ammo is too expensive so I reload for it and it would be nice to have a more range friendly .380 to shoot.

But there’s clearly an issue and S&W knows it, so stop the denial and admit it already.

Your Shield 45 stove-pipes the last round?

Yes indeed. Not 100% of the time, but enough to be a problem.

I went to the range today and did some more testing of my 380 EZ magazines. I loaded each of them with two rounds and shot them. Two of the magazines had no failures. The third stovepiped on the last round. I load two rounds in the failed magazine and it failed 3 times in a row. I went back to the other two magazine and loaded two rounds in each for a total of 15 attempts per magazine with no failures.
Time to call S&W AGAIN and request another replacement magazine.
It sure would be nice if they would get their ***** together!

Could limp wristing or ammo choice be a possible cause of these problems in some cases?

I got an email from S&W today. They are sending a replacement magazine.
I was testing with CCI Blazer Brass ammo. I have seen more failures with other cheap bulk ammo.
This is clearly a problem with the one magazine, but I do think that there are still issues with the gun that makes minor differences in magazines cause failures. The magazine springs seam to compress and lose strength very quickly. I think they need to provide higher quality springs.
Limp wristing could be a factor for some people but I am sure that is not the case for me.

Something I noticed about the 380EZ is that the magazines fit into the grip more sloppy (fore-aft play)than any of my other pistols.

A while ago I remember reading about the Kimber Solo problems they were having with feed, ejection, stove-piping, etc. and all were magazine related according to the users. One guy mentioned the sloppy fit of the magazines and what he did to correct all his problems. He simply glued a shim to the back of each mag and that supposedly did the trick. This was a last ditch effort he tried, after Kimber did what S&W is doing now by replacing mags, springs and followers.

I only had one live round eject out of 200 rounds but if it ever starts to get worse I wouldn't hesitate to try a shim. It would be easy to try by just cutting a piece of cardboard to fit snug in there. It could be used to troubleshoot both the front or back side of the mag. Might be worth a shot.

I agree that this is likely a large part of the problem coupled with the weaker springs. My EZ has roughly 3600 rounds through it and I have experienced the issue from very early on...Smith doesn't have the real answer to this problem or isn't willing to admit there is a problem.

I stretched the spring on the failing magazine and went to the range to do further testing. I shot 50 rounds of Blazer Brass, loaded two at a time, for a total of 25 attempts. There were NO failures. This is clearly a magazine spring issue. I think these springs are just too weak and they appear to compress much quicker than they should. They are too EZ! S&W needs to offer some heavier duty springs, perhaps in a six pack. Whatever they have done to the yellow painted springs is not enough.

I am eager to check out the 9mm EZ that was just released.

Maybe Wolff will come out with extra power mag springs if the demand is there.

CSI, I agree with you about the spring issue but don't believe I want to be twice burnt by getting a 9mm EZ. Waiting for the problems to come rolling in. My old shield is still my best shooter and carry gun. Should have saved a good bit of money by just sticking with it and not suckering in on "New Ideas". Quick

After almost 2 years and 3500+ rounds of using the original mags that came with my Shield 9 2.0, I still have to use an Uplula loader to get the last round in. I'd rather have that problem than weak mag springs causing stovepipes.
If stronger mag springs would solve the EZ problem, why hasn't S&W fixed it?

I just watched a review of the 9mm EZ by Jerry Miculek. He talks about an indent in the back of the magazine that prevents the cartridge from moving forward due to recoil. This sounds like the S&W fix for the stovepipe issues with the 380 EZ. Let's hope that they replace these failing magazines with the new design.

Dammit, Jerry!! You mention the feature but keep waving your hands and don't give us a still close up.

So, I had to go get one from elsewhere.

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Release the Kraken

I made the mistake of going to Cabela's to check out the 9mm EZ. Cabela's was asking $449.99. Sportsman's Warehouse listed it for $429.99 and did not have it in stock. Cabela's agreed to price match it so, off course, I couldn't resist.
The 9mm is almost as easy to rack as the 380. The display model was a little easier to rack than the gun that I bought. The display model was only out for 2 days, so I doubt that it had been racked enough for it to be significantly loosened up. I asked the sales rep if they clean and lube the display models and he said they usually do. I cleaned and lubed the gun when I got home and it is quite a bit easier and smoother to rack, like the display model. I expect it to get even easier after I put a few hundred rounds through it.
The magazine springs are quite a bit stiffer than the 380 magazine. It is still easy to load. With the modified design and better springs, I doubt that the 9mm will have the same stovepipe issues.
I will be going to the range tomorrow to see how it shoots.

Will a 9mm spring fit in a 380 magazine?

No. The 9mm spring is a little wider and won't fit in the 380 follower.

Other than the follower not working, will a 9mm spring fit in a 380 mag tube?

Will a 9mm mag fit in a 380's magwell?

The 9mm spring will go into the mag tube but is pretty tight.
Th 9mm mag will not fit into the 380 mag well.

I took the new 9mm EZ to the range today. It has a bit more recoil than the 380 but it isn't a big deal. My experience with the two guns is very similar. I would choose the 9mm over the 380 because of the ammo ballistics and cost. I shot 50 rounds of Federal UMC and 50 rounds of CCI Blazer Brass. I had NO failures. I plan to test a couple of different defensive rounds to be sure there are no problems.
Both guns were shooting about 2 inches to the left at 30 feet from the factory. I was very careful with my grip and trigger control and my groups were pretty tight so I do not believe it was my problem. I adjusted both of them and they are now both on target. The adjustment is a bit tedious. You have to loosen the allen screw a lot to be able to move it and then it is too loose and is difficult to dial it in and hold it in place while tightening. I made a mental note of the position of the screw and then made my best guess how far to move it, held it in place and tightened the screw. It was dead on after one adjustment.

I tested the 9mm with some Hornady and Federal defensive ammo with no failures. This looks like a keeper!

Here’s the both sides of the ez9 mags.

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Alright!!! S&W now have your 380EZ mag. maker stamp out a few thousand 380 mags of the same configuration and let us trade in. Looks as though the top round on the 9 is being contained by the groove and the indentation on the opposite side not allowing it to flip forward until the slide has passed over it. Looks like a good idea. Still waiting, Quick

I've only had 1 last live-round eject out of 200, and wasn't going to worry about it, but I'm going to call and make S&W actually do something about it. If they have to start spending more $$$ on sending followers and springs maybe they'll decide sooner than later to incorporate the 9EZ design into the 380 mags.

I put another 100 rounds of Blazer Brass through the 9mm EZ with no failures! I put a Crimson Trace CMR-206 green laser on it and got it dialed in today. The last time I went to the range, I let my cousin shoot it. She is into Cowboy Action Shooting but does not have much experience with semi-autos. She really enjoyed it. We went to the range together today and Santa gave her a 9mm EZ! She is a happy camper. I would not be surprised if she has a laser on it the next time I see her. I also let her and her husband shoot my Ruger 10/22 and Ruger SR-22. They had fun with them too. The price of 22 ammo is so much cheaper and the low recoil and noise makes shooting those guns so much fun. I have a 3X9 Nikon scope on the 10/22. We were all able to get around <3 inch groups and 25 yards.

I put another 100 rounds of Blazer Brass through the 380 EZ to fine tune the sights. I loaded 4 magazines with 2 rounds each and had last round stovepipes twice. The springs felt noticeably weaker when pulling down the follower with the tabs, for the failed magazines. I stretched the springs and tested again with another 25 attempts with no failures. These springs just don't maintain their strength. I have stretched the springs on all four magazines and they seem to work for a few weeks and then fail again.
S&W has to fix this by modifying the 380 EZ magazines like they did with the 9mm EZ magazines!
I put another 100 rounds through my 9mm EZ to fine tune its iron and laser sights. Once again, there were NO failures. I am able to get 3-4 inch groups at 21 and 30 feet. For some reason, I am not able to shoot the 380 EZ as accurately. That doesn't make any sense to me, since they are basically the same gun. My grip and trigger control should be essentially the same. I was using the same brand and type of ammo in both guns. They are both thoroughly cleaned and lubed after every shooting session.

I put another 150 rounds through the 9mm EZ today. There were NO malfunctions. I was testing my sight picture and accuracy at 9,15,21,30,45 and 75 feet. I am getting a feel for the required holds for different distances. I love this gun!
Now that I have put over 300 rounds through this gun, I compared the ease of racking the slide with the 380 EZ. They are VERY close now. I had my wife rack the 9mm and she was able to do it with no problems and didn't even notice that it was a different gun.

I’m sorry I haven’t read every post, but do the new 380 EZ pistols have the same magazine issues that were so prevalent initially?

Yes, as far as I know.they may have upgraded mag springs though. I bought 380 EZ when they first came out, and had a couple last rd stove pipes, did not think much about at the time beings it was brand new. That was before all the hoop-la came out about others experiencing last round stove pipes. Since that time, thinking back I can not remember it ever happening again. When the weather warms I will test mine out more, right now I have confidence in the gun, no worries at all.

Smith should bite the bullet and issue a redesigned magazine for all the 380EZs they have sold.

Gotta go, all my pigs are fed and anxious to fly.

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Release the Kraken

I shot 10 full mags of Blazer Brass today and had two last round stovepipes. Not impressed!

I also continue to have trouble getting this gun sighted in and having the rear sight stay in position. I was shooting from a foam rest to help eliminate user error. I get it dialed, tighten the set screw very tight and then it shifts after shooting several rounds. When I check, the set screw is still very tight and I cannot move the rear sight without loosening the screw. I completely remove the sight and inspected the slide and sight and I don't see any problems. I wiped everything with a clean rag and put it back together. I have a laser on the gun and I am able to shoot accurately using the laser. I dialed the iron sights to match the laser and am able to shoot accurately with the iron sights. Then, after a couple of magazines, the point of aim shifts, relative to the laser and the POI shifts. Since the screw is staying tight, I doubt that Loctite on the threads will help. Do you think that a little Loctite between the sight and the slide would help? It appears that the sight is shifting due to recoil. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

I saw another post where I guy was saying that the front sight on his EZ will rotate a small amount. I checked mine and he is right. You can easily shift it quite a bit. I estimate that it could easily change the POI by 1-2 inches at 15 feet. It is held in place by a clip so it can't be tightened. perhaps it could be held with some Loctite.

I'd suggest using a dab of Ultra Grey RTV instead of Loctite. The RTV is solid enough to keep the sight from moving, yet flexible enough to absorb the recoil shock.

I had two employees at the range tell me that "The EZ is a defensive gun" and that "I am expecting too much from it" when I was discussing my concerns about the inconsistency, inaccuracy and problems maintaining zero with this gun. I get that this is not a competition gun and that I can't expect it to be as accurate as a gun that is designed for that purpose, but I don't think it is unreasonable to expect it to maintain a reasonable level of consistency between visits to the range. I shouldn't have to re-zero it every time I shoot it.

Opinions?

Some range workers would be in dangerously over their heads as kindergarten playground monitors. Other ranger workers are knowledgeable and experienced with firearms. Too bad you encountered the former rather than the latter.