EZ 380 Shooter issue???

[gc70]

This is absolute madness.

Yes, it is crazy when customers have to bump around trying to diagnose problems and find solutions for a major firearms manufacturer.

Unfortunately, I had limited options to test the idea that the magazine spring was not strong enough. I did not have a heavier spring handy and the only other readily available way to increase spring tension was to reduce the space available for spring travel.

The next time there is a gun show near where I live, I will go in search of a heavier magazine spring. I have been tempted to have a nearby spring company make some heavier magazine springs, but my luck would be that the day they were delivered S&W would issue a recall and replace all EZ mag springs for free.

 

[christak]

I have more springs coming from Smith and found/ordered a couple to try from an online vendor. No idea if the springs I ordered will even fit in the tube, but it was worth the $18.50 to me to give them a shot (...since I'm not expecting the new Smith springs to help).

 

[SJK2]

I have more springs coming from Smith and found/ordered a couple to try from an online vendor. No idea if the springs I ordered will even fit in the tube, but it was worth the $18.50 to me to give them a shot (...since I'm not expecting the new Smith springs to help).

how bout a link to the online vendor.??

 

[christak]

how bout a link to the online vendor.??

I'll definitely post it if they look like they are going to work. The springs are "not" for the EZ... My order will supposedly arrive the middle of next week.

 

[Execpro]

Try "Boogs" solution at the range with the mags that fail to lock slide back on last round. If it works, then its a spring problem. JMO
I suggested on another 380 EZ post, that with all the members on this forum that someone could try a spring from another 380- 8 round mag from some other gun manufacturer to see if it resolved this problem If someone does, PLEASE list the gun you got it from!

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!

 

[christak]

I'll definitely post it if they look like they are going to work. The springs are "not" for the EZ... My order will supposedly arrive the middle of next week.

Ok, I ordered the upgraded 10-round variant of the spring for the HiPoint CF380, (Google "HI-POINT-C9-9MM-CF380-MAGAZINE-SPRING-UPGRADE-FOR-8RD-10RD"). Unfortunately, the physical dimensions of the new spring are slightly too large to properly fit and move freely in the EZ magazine tube. The new spring was too long too, but that isn't a problem since I could shorten the spring as needed. I managed to force the new spring into the EZ tube and loaded 7 rounds. The spring doesn't fit well into the bottom of the follower and even shortening the spring didn't allow the 8th round to fit... I could obviously shorten the spring some more, but likely at a loss in the increased spring tension that i was hoping to add. I think the EZ mag would function with the spring, but "this particular spring" isn't the answer...wasted my $18.50. Sorry...

Have not yet received my new springs from Smith. I'll post again when those arrive.

 

[Maddmax]

Small pistols like Shield's and 3 inch 1911's have stiffer springs for a reason. If weaker springs in a small pistol were a good idea, all of them would come with weaker springs.

People choose the EZ because of hand strength issues, so it's no small stretch to think that many issues are limp wrist related.
Couple that with weaker recoil and mag springs and it's no wonder that there are so many threads about issues with the EZ.

Another thing to check. When gripping and shooting where is their thumb(s) gripping, resting ? Is it anywhere close to the slide ? It doesn't take much contact to slow the slide enough to have problems with the EZs.

My wife and I have both 380 & 9 EZs and haven't had any gun issues beyond her having a proper grip.

 

[akoda]

since starting this thread, I have put 150 rounds through ours with no issue, really starting to enjoy it

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Funflyer]

I suggested on another 380 EZ post, that with all the members on this forum that someone could try a spring from another 380- 8 round mag from some other gun manufacturer to see if it resolved this problem If someone does, PLEASE list the gun you got it from!

Springs from my Bersa Thunder 380, and RIA Baby Rock both fit nicely in the 380EZ magazine. The Bersa spring allows for all 8 rounds to load in the EZ mag, however the Baby Rock spring will only allow 7 to fit. I think the Bersa spring might just do the trick as it definitely has a significant pressure increase but not enough to make it too difficult to load. The Baby Rock spring should work as well but will obviously need several coils cut off. Now are they available? A quick search didn't find any available, but they may be had from the importers. The Walther PPK springs may also work as they're for the 7.65 or 9mm. They're a 7 round mag if I recall, but have to be a higher pressure than the cheezee springs.

I also checked the pressure that it takes to move the follower down 1/2" with each spring in the EZ mag, along with measuring the wire diameter of each, and are as follows.

380EZ 18oz (.034" dia)
Bersa 46oz (.039" dia)
Baby Rock 76oz (.043 dia)

 

[sandog]

So let me see if I have this right, the Bersa spring is 3 times the strength of the EZ spring, and the Baby Rock spring is more than 4 times as strong.
So if you have to resort to that much stronger of a spring, the EZ isn't going to be so EZ to load after all.
Can't you just use regular Shield springs if you need a stiffer spring ?

I see guys that have lots of issues with their EZ, and then other threads where guys have put several hundred rounds through their new EZ and report no issues at all. ????

 

[Funflyer]

So let me see if I have this right, the Bersa spring is 3 times the strength of the EZ spring, and the Baby Rock spring is more than 4 times as strong.
So if you have to resort to that much stronger of a spring, the EZ isn't going to be so EZ to load after all.
Can't you just use regular Shield springs if you need a stiffer spring ?

I see guys that have lots of issues with their EZ, and then other threads where guys have put several hundred rounds through their new EZ and report no issues at all. ????

Nobody said a spring has to be used "as is". I'm sure that someone with the ability, and not afraid to experiment, can cut a coil or two off of an "overly strong" spring to achieve reliable function while maintaining ease of loading. For the rest I'd suggest you keep sending your pistols in to S&W until they correct the issue, and also add 911 on your phone's speed dial in the mean time.

 

[christak]

Personally I don't really care if the EZ is easy to load (I have two Maglula loaders for that issue)...if the gun is not reliable, it's of little value to me... I'd buy these new springs in a heartbeat if they would fix the issue that Smith apparently can't or won't.

 

[S&WIowegan]

My perspective

I recently came into an S&W 9mm EZ which a friend sold me at a bargain price because he hated it so much. He said the gun printed low left consistently(trigger pull problem) and stove-piped frequently(limp wrist). He tried to trade it off and the dealer wouldn't do it, sooo my door bell rang and I knew he was going to sell it to me. I paid $300. even for a lightly used gun.

I had a pretty good idea what the problems were: poor holding strength, limp wrist, improper sight alignment and trigger pull. He doesn't take well to corrective comments since he can out-shoot me if his gun runs.

I went to an indoor range with an assortment of factory 9mm ammo ranging from 115gr to 147gr. Once I learned what sight alignment shot POA at about 8 yds that problem was solved. My friend uses a cup and saucer hold he learned 40 yrs ago as a deputy sheriff and I hold hard two-hand isosceles which solved stove pipes. The only feeding problems were with Federal 147gr TMJ which is pretty mild and failed to feed the second round. I believe this is caused by mild ammo coupled with pressure on the slide from a full mag. After clearing that second round the rest of the mag fed correctly.

YMMV! I'm only diagnosing the problems with this gun, certain ammo and two guys' shooting style.

 

[christak]

...
Have not yet received my new springs from Smith. I'll post again when those arrive.

The new springs from Smith arrived. They are no different from what Smith sent to me last time or the time before that...same weak springs with the yellow paint on the first few coils. Very disappointing that there have been no improvements made to the springs after this long. Truly difficult to understand why it's so hard for Smith to provide a fix for this issue.

 

[christak]

Ok, here is my latest idea regarding a potential fix for the magazine issue (until I can find a new, stronger spring to fit the EZ)... I have "double-springed" 4 of my EZ magazines with the weak S&W springs. In other words, I have interlaced two Smith springs in each of the magazines. Capacity of the magazines has been reduced to 7 rounds because of the extra spring taking up room when compressed, but the tension on the follower has increased nicely, especially on the last round. I'll give the magazines a try at the range next week... Certainly this is a bandaid fix, but I'm hopeful this might actually help minimize/eliminate the last live round stovepipe/ejection issue...We'll see.

 

[D.L.Quick]

Christak, Please take notice of how much wider the lips on mags. of the 380 are in comparison to 9mm mags. The EZ 380s ride higher in the mags. than 9mms. do. The 380 EZ also has a shorter area to contain a round in the top of the mag. I am awaiting the results of your double spring trick. Good luck! Quick

 

[gc70]

Ok, here is my latest idea regarding a potential fix for the magazine issue (until I can find a new, stronger spring to fit the EZ)... I have "double-springed" 4 of my EZ magazines with the weak S&W springs. In other words, I have interlaced two Smith springs in each of the magazines. Capacity of the magazines has been reduced to 7 rounds because of the extra spring taking up room when compressed, but the tension on the follower has increased nicely, especially on the last round. I'll give the magazines a try at the range next week... Certainly this is a bandaid fix, but I'm hopeful this might actually help minimize/eliminate the last live round stovepipe/ejection issue...We'll see.

I had doubled spring recently, but did not get beyond my workbench. The doubled springs were incredibly strong and seemed to substantially resist feeding snapcaps, resulting in failures to return to battery.

 

[LVSteve]

Truly difficult to understand why it's so hard for Smith to provide a fix for this issue.

Probably because the real fix involves redesigning the magazine bodies to resemble the 9 EZ items. That's expensive.

 

[christak]

Fyi, for results of my range testing see this post...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/140683634-post40.html

Results were very encouraging!