380 EZ stovepipe resolution

[Kschreur]

I know this is an older thread, but I had the stovepipe issue. I sanded the follower with 60 grip to knock off the sheen. Have not had an issue since. Over 2500 rounds through it.

My issue today is the main spring on the hammer broke. Anyone else have that issue??

 

[Paul in Nevada]

My issue today is the main spring on the hammer broke. Anyone else have that issue??

That's a new one for me.

 

[gc70]

Did you test the pistol after getting it back from S&W? Did what they did resolve the last round feed issue?

Update: I have had the 380 EZ with the new barrel to the range several times without a single bobble. Today was my final test as my wife went to the range and shot her EZ. She shot the pistol using all four of her magazines and had no problems.

I feel comfortable at this point declaring the problem with my wife's 380 EZ has been fixed.

 

[Oldsalt66]

Update: I have had the 380 EZ with the new barrel to the range several times without a single bobble. Today was my final test as my wife went to the range and shot her EZ. She shot the pistol using all four of her magazines and had no problems.

I feel comfortable at this point declaring the problem with my wife's 380 EZ has been fixed.

Thanks for returning with the resolution of your wife's problem with her EZ .380.

 

[gc70]

My wife's 380 EZ has not had any more feeding problems since its return from the factory with a new barrel, but I would still feel more comfortable with stronger magazine springs, and ...

Wolff now makes +10% magazine springs for the 380 EZ and I have ordered some for my wife's pistol.

 

[gc70]

I finally made it to the range today to test the three mags with Wolff +10% springs.

I was limited on testing time, but put the mags through seven test cycles loading and shooting 2 or 3 rounds for each cycle. There were no feeding problems with any of the mags.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

I finally made it to the range today to test the three mags with Wolff +10% springs.

I was limited on testing time, but put the mags through seven test cycles loading and shooting 2 or 3 rounds for each cycle. There were no feeding problems with any of the mags.

Try an experiment. Leave at least one mag loaded for a few weeks, then try it.

 

[gc70]

Try an experiment. Leave at least one mag loaded for a few weeks, then try it.

No problem! A loaded mag is in the gun at all times in the safe on my wife's side of the bed. And the ammo in the loaded mag is routinely shot to ensure the ready defensive ammo is both fresh and functions reliably in the gun.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

No problem! A loaded mag is in the gun at all times in the safe on my wife's side of the bed. And the ammo in the loaded mag is routinely shot to ensure the ready defensive ammo is both fresh and functions reliably in the gun.

I look forward to your results. I have been threatening to dump this thing for two years now but there is a lot I like about it.

 

[289fia]

I appreciate the effort to get S&W on record about resolving the problem. I'd like to see a side-by-side comparison of old/new barrels.

My guess? No difference. This was a non-answer fix to get rid of this client.

The cartridge has to stand up BEFORE it gets to the feed ramp or barrel in order to stove pipe a live round. I think the diagnosis reached long ago by board members that the cartridge must be leaving the feed lips and pointing up before it can get to the barrel is accurate. This "stand up" propensity must be slowed for the cartridge to point lower and go into the barrel. That it only happens on the last round in a magazine is indicative of a follower problem.

This is a magazine design issue, IMO. I significantly scuffed six new mag followers, polished the inside of the mags, springs and feed lips, and smoothed the sides of the followers. I've not had the problem on my or my daughter's .380 EZ. Both are completely reliable with all six magazines and many different kinds of ammo, including Barnes TAC-XP hollow points.

What is the advantage of SCUFFING the mag followers?

 

[Oldsalt66]

My wife ultimately resolved the reliability problem with her EZ .380 carry pistol by switching to the EZ 9 which has been 100% reliable so far.

 

[NukeRef]

What is the advantage of SCUFFING the mag followers?

The mag follower is slick, very slick, and flat. There is minimal contact between the cylindrical cartridge and the follower. That plus the light spring pressure of the EZ mag when at the top makes it EZ for the last round to exit the feed lips. Scuffing the follower increases the friction on the last round, thus inhibiting its propensity to slide under the feed lips and pop up.

All of the rounds before the last round experience brass-on-brass friction, as well as increased spring pressure under the feed lips holding them in place.

 

[LVSteve]

The mag follower is slick, very slick, and flat. There is minimal contact between the cylindrical cartridge and the follower. That plus the light spring pressure of the EZ mag when at the top makes it EZ for the last round to exit the feed lips. Scuffing the follower increases the friction on the last round, thus inhibiting its propensity to slide under the feed lips and pop up.

All of the rounds before the last round experience brass-on-brass friction, as well as increased spring pressure under the feed lips holding them in place.

Was looking at the mags on the Sig 380s we have and comparing them to the EZ380 mags. The P250 is a double stack gun so the follower is a suitable shape and it has a matt finish. Never had an issue.

The P238 is a single stack like the EZ380 and uses polished metal followers. Thing is the there is a little pimple sticking up about halfway back on the P238 follower. I'm betting that is how they get it to feed reliably. Again, no problems.

One other thing, I use Fiocchi FMJ almost exclusively. I'm wondering if this brand has a smidge more girth than the Remchester fodder.

 

[edl]

This is very timely. I took a female relative to the range who had never shot before. We tried a rental Shield 380 EZ and she liked it. We only fired a box of ammo through it, but it was problem free. I know that this doesn't count for much.

Based on what I have read here I am hesitant to recommend that she buy the shield. So have the problems been corrected with the new guns?

thanks

 

[gc70]

The vast majority of all 380 EZ pistols have apparently worked just fine. But a number of 380 EZs -including my wife's- have had last-round stovepipe problems and the cause has not been definitively identified.

For those unfortunate enough to have pistols with the stovepipe problem, several patches that increase tension on the last round in the magazine have tended to be helpful. "Scuffing" to create a rough surface on the follower helps keep the last round in place. The most successes seem to come from stronger magazine springs and I am impressed by the +10% springs from Wolff.

 

[Golddollar]

I gave myself a Performance Center EZ 380 for my birthday last year. I gave it the most rigorous test available, reloads of unknown origin that were loaded with semi-wadcutter bullets. Every round went through without a hitch.

 

[LCC]

Sg 365-.380. Reliable, accurate, light recoil. And thankfully range ammo has come down to under a quarter a round.

 

[laterider]

Haven't been here in ages but came back to check on the 380 EZ problems. Looks like no real cure but maybe to try the +10 wolf springs. Not great news and mine will stay a practice tool at the range. My only other S&W are older 3rd Gens that are also range tools.
I'd like a 380 polymer carry but no way the 380ez. I'll keep looking a the Ruger Security 380 as next option but for now its a ppk.

 

[RayRoy]

I have two EZs that I shoot 1-3 times a week. Had one magazine that did it and bought the Wolff springs when they came out in March. No problems with either gun or the four magazines since.

 

[Goldstar225]

My wife's 380EZ had the last round stovepipe issue. I took my dremel tool and cut some shallow grooves across the follower. This apparently gave some "traction" to keep the last round from jumping forward under recoil because function has been 100% since I made the mod.

The modification wasn't an original idea on my part but one that I had read about. In my case it worked.