380EZ extra power mag springs

[Funflyer]

FYI. Tandemkross has a new mag spring for the SW22 Victory that is nearly identical to the 380EZ spring with the added benefit of having 1.5 additional coils. They're so close in size that a TK spring cut down to the exact number of coils as the EZ spring weighs only 1 grain more. Yes I sacrificed one as the pack had three and I only needed two.

These increase tension about one pound on a fully loaded EZ mag and about 10-12 ounces with only one round in.

The only issue I had was a bit of binding when loading the last round in one of the mags. Turned out to be a twist in the spring which caused the last few coils to catch/bind on the bottom of the follower. I increased the chamfer on the bottom inside edge of the follower to correct that and now they're perfect.

Fired 150 rounds total through both mags, while intentionally limp-wristing, and they were 100% reliable. This was with only 2 rounds at a time in the mags so each one had more than 35 chances to fail and didn't. Since I only had one original mag that would stovepipe a last round occasionally (once every 6 to 8 mags), It'd probably be a better test for someone with several problematic mags.

Here's the link to the TK springs.

 

[LVSteve]

Veerrrry interesting! (Schultz voice)

 

[SJK2]

Subscribed.........

 

[EZLen]

Likewise...

 

[Funflyer]

Well it looks like my success with the Tandemkross springs was short lived. Went to the range on Friday, third trip with the new springs, and had 2 last live round stovepipes out of 70 rounds fired. Both were with the same mag that was doing it initially. Checked the spring tension again and it has changed only a few ounces since new.

I did manage to tighten up the groups going from .356" to a .357" sized bullet but it still continues to print 2"-3" left @10 yards even after moving the rear sight .040" right of center.

 

[christak]

Scuff up the top of your follower (to increase friction) where it makes contact with the shell casing and you'll see an improvement in the last round stovepipe issue.

 

[Phenelzine]

EZ Fixed

FYI. Tandemkross has a new mag spring for the SW22 Victory that is nearly identical to the 380EZ spring with the added benefit of having 1.5 additional coils. They're so close in size that a TK spring cut down to the exact number of coils as the EZ spring weighs only 1 grain more.
...
Here's the link to the TK springs.

TL;DR - These springs fixed my 380 EZ. Thank you.

This worked for me. Thank you very much for posting this. 1,100 rounds without a single last-round-stovepipe failure since installing these springs in my magazines. If they start failing again as the springs wear, then I'll add in the sandpaper/scuffed follower modification.

The only remaining malfunction I have is that sometimes the top cartridge in the magazine pops up out of place when reloading with the slide open. It doesn't completely exit the magazine, but ends up sticking up at an angle with only the back of the case still held in place; of course it gets caught in the slide if you try to load it.

I think this happens because the feed lips on the magazine are so thin and short. I've considered trying to tune the feed lips downward a bit with a pair of pliers, but I'm hesitant to mess with that since it's not something I could just undo (like the springs).

For now, I'm just trying to train myself to load the magazine with a slow but firm press-hard-til-it-clicks so that the top cartridge doesn't jump up out of place. Seems to be working great so far. No failures in 400 rounds (which was more than 50 reloads because I didn't completely fill the mags each time). It's a just a bit slower, and I also have to train myself to do two different types of reloads since it still requires a *lot* of force to seat the mag if the slide is closed instead of open.

 

[tjkoko]

Is the TandemKross site still active as I can't seem to access it today????

 

[The Preacher]

Scuff up the top of your follower (to increase friction) where it makes contact with the shell casing and you'll see an improvement in the last round stovepipe issue.

Shouldn't have to scuff anything! Products should work as the manufacturer advertised they would. That is; a fully functional pistol as produced for the public. Especially so a carry firearm used for personal protection.... Period!

 

[Speedo2]

Shouldn't have to scuff anything! Products should work as the manufacturer advertised they would. That is; a fully functional pistol as produced for the public. Especially so a carry firearm used for personal protection.... Period!

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

 

[The Preacher]

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Well, we "got out of the way" because of the EZ "issues" and 'smith lost a sale when my wife was looking for a .380 acp carry pistol. She got a Glock 42 and has had nary an issue. So there's that...

 

[tjkoko]

I'd like to hear more comments from those who've replaced the stock mag spring in the 380 with a TandemKross green spring.

 

[The Mighty S&W]

I find it odd that these guns seem to be so hit or miss in terms of reliability. I’ve got one (non-PC standard model) that has been perfectly reliable. I do have a set of XS Big Dot night sights, a Galloway Precision flat faced trigger, and an Olight PL2 Mini Valkyrie weapon light on mine, but nothing that should help nor hinder reliability. I haven’t fired what I would consider to be a lot of rounds through it, but I have fired a variety of different loads through the gun without any issues.

I did buy a couple of extra magazines for it not long ago, and noticed that the springs on the new magazines appear to be significantly stronger (more difficult to compress) than the ones in the magazines that came with the gun ever were. The difference is significant enough that I initially worried that the new magazines might have been defective but that has proven to not have been the case.

I realize that there are plenty of experienced shooters who have had issues with these pistols, but I still can’t help but wonder if there isn’t either a break in period required with some of these pistols, or perhaps some factor involving the way that the gun is held/gripped by some shooters? I don’t know. I also own an M&P Bodyguard that hasn’t exhibited the light strike problems that so many people seem to report, and previously had a Glock 42 that was also without any reliability issues. I might just be lucky in that regard.

 

[christak]

Shouldn't have to scuff anything! Products should work as the manufacturer advertised they would. That is; a fully functional pistol as produced for the public. Especially so a carry firearm used for personal protection.... Period!

I agree completely. Several of us fought this battle and came up with a solution...no thanks to Smith. But after firing 4300 rounds, sending my gun back to Smith, replacing springs and followers numerous times, getting extra mags, double springing some mags, and finally scuffing my followers trying to sort out the stovepipe issues with my EZ, I dumped it (with full disclosure) and vowed to never purchase another Smith.

For the record, the scuffing works...

 

[tjkoko]

I've ordered some green springs mentioned earlier. If they don't work, then I might try placing a thick shim between the top coil and the follower to see how it works.

 

[D.L.Quick]

OMG Christak, I put the 380 EZ in the safe and just about forgot about it. I guess there are still some coming along and being caught up in it. I check in every once in a while to see if just maybe S&W just might offer a solution. But no such luck. If anyone should have heard, it should be you with all the time and expense you went through. DLQ

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Have been one of the lucky ones who got a 2nd Hand 380EZ with one magazine & have never had a problem YET!
I am going to order a few extra magazines & a package of the Green Springs
Found a M&P 22s case that is going to house this EZ
S&W Should be ashamed of the cardboard boxes they send a lot of handguns out in lately, Mine didn't come with one BTW