M&P 380 EZ Stovepipe Cure?

[christak]

I was looking at magazines for the EZ on Ebay.
I came across this in the reviews:
These are Smith and Wesson magazines. Came in their original Smith and Wesson blister pack, and yes you have to remove the spring and stretch it to stop the EZ from standing the last round straight up, just like you have to do with the magazines that came with the EZ. (I never did this with my magazines and I don't have the problem)
Also, I wonder why in all the reviews and posts on the EZ I never see anyone else having this problem.

Did you see post #107 above in this thread?

Regarding stretching springs, I've never done that and I have the problem with 6 of my 7 magazines and I'm waiting for Smith to ship 3 replacement magazines to me. Don't know if you read this whole thread or the others here on this forum, but there are quite a few reports of the issue. I've been working with Smith since January trying to get this issue sorted out. I'm convinced it is a magazine problem. I've changed springs, then changed springs and followers, then returned my gun to Smith, then received a couple of new magazines, and am waiting (since May) for additional new magazines...but I still have the problem. No chance would I buy this gun again...

 

[JNewell]

Interesting - my serial # RCB9xxx was purchased earlier this month (August 2019). Of course there's no telling how long it was sitting on a distributor's shelf. Mine is NTS. I don't know how sales volume for the NTS compares to the TS version.

Look on the label on the box. In the column on the right, the second row from the top contains a 6-digit number, which is the production date in the format MMDDYY.

My wife's EZ with a NDD#### serial number was produced 112118, or November 21, 2018.

Ok, my NCA1xxx NTS model EZ was produced on February 8, 2018.

RCB9xxx was produced on 06-21-19.

 

[Ricrock]

First time out with new Performance Center 380 EZ. Mfg date 07/17/19. Serial number RCU6xxx. My wife had some issues with the stove piping, her instructor (not me) shot the gun and had no issues. I shot the gun and had no issues. We each have large hands. My wife has very small hands and I'm sure was not gripping the pistol firmly. She was not firmly depressing the grip safety, and was limp wristing as well.

She shot my Sig 238 and she had no problems and she reported the grip felt better in her hand. She is now carrying the Sig as her concealed carry weapon. I carry a Sig 938 9mm. We are going to try the EZ again this weekend and I'll report back.

We didn't have any FMJ ammo when we went to the range the first time and were shooting HP defensive rounds.

After the range trip I did notice the grip safety was a bit stiff. So I lubed it and worked it a bunch and it seemed better after that.

I'll run a bunch of ball ammo next time.

Rick

 

[christak]

Three full months to receive my replacement magazines from S&W. I'll head to the range next week to see if they help. Not currently impressed by S&W.

 

[D.L.Quick]

Christak, Do you notice any indication that there is a difference in the construction of the new mags. or springs compared to the original, such as markings or measurements?? Quick

 

[Ricrock]

Went to the range again, I shot about 100 rounds through the gun (Performance Center model), and used the two magazines that came with the pistol. Had absolutely no problems. No jams of any type. I am convinced the problem is not a magazine issue, rather a grip safety issue. My wife didn't even want to shoot the 380 EZ this time, instead ran about 20 rounds through the Sig p-238 again with no issues. The Sig just fits her hand better, and the slide is pretty easy for her to use.

 

[christak]

Christak, Do you notice any indication that there is a difference in the construction of the new mags. or springs compared to the original, such as markings or measurements?? Quick

Quick, the mags appear to be the same. Springs too... I'll check more closely at the range, but I don't think the delay in receiving my mags had anything to do with a redesign...unfortunately!

 

[christak]

Went to the range again, I shot about 100 rounds through the gun (Performance Center model), and used the two magazines that came with the pistol. Had absolutely no problems. No jams of any type. I am convinced the problem is not a magazine issue, rather a grip safety issue. My wife didn't even want to shoot the 380 EZ this time, instead ran about 20 rounds through the Sig p-238 again with no issues. The Sig just fits her hand better, and the slide is pretty easy for her to use.

The last live round stovepipes and last live rounds being completely ejected from the gun are definitely magazine issues, not grip safety issues. Other stovepipe issues occurring on other than the last round may be caused by something else, but the last round issues I'm experiencing are mag related.

 

[gc70]

If any of the 4 magazines for my wife's EZ would mess up consistently, I think I could at least determine whether it had a spring-related issue.

The descriptions I have seen nearly unanimously report a last- or eighth-round issue. I would either make a spacer or put an empty case between the base plate retainer and the spring so the magazine would only hold seven rounds rather than eight. If the extra spring tension allowed the seventh round to consistently feed properly, the problem would at least be identified.

UPDATE: I checked the 4 mags and selected the one that seemed to have the weakest spring. I cut a 38/357 case to between 7/8" and 15/16" by removing the rim. The remaining tube fits snugly between the bottom of the spring and the base plate retainer and raises the follower so that only seven rounds of ammo can be loaded in the magazine.

We will only use the chosen magazine in my wife's EZ until it stovepipes. Then the tube will be placed in the bottom of the magazine to see if stovepipes are eliminated.

 

[christak]

For what it's worth, there are two SKUs for the EZ magazines. One is 3005548 and the other is 3008882. Seems like almost every vendor is now listing only the 3008882 version. There are a couple of places that still show the 3005548 version. I'm not convinced there is any difference in the two but find it interesting there is a second number. For the record, the replacement mags I received were in a clear plastic bag with 3005548 handwritten on the bag.

 

[gc70]

For what it's worth, there are two SKUs for the EZ magazines. One is 3005548 and the other is 3008882. Seems like almost every vendor is now listing only the 3008882 version. There are a couple of places that still show the 3005548 version. I'm not convinced there is any difference in the two but find it interesting there is a second number. For the record, the replacement mags I received were in a clear plastic bag with 3005548 handwritten on the bag.

My wife bought her EZ in December of 2018. The extra magazines she bought nearly immediately thereafter were in packages marked 3008882.

I also have a spec sheet for the EZ marked "REV013018" that shows the magazine SKU 3008882. An updated spec sheet marked "REV031819" still shows the 3008882 code.

 

[gc70]

I made it to the range today and tested my wife's EZ. My routine was to load two round in the magazine, release the slide, fire the first round and see whether the second round would feed or stovepipe; if the second round fed, I also fired it.

The first two pairs fed and fired fine. The third and fourth pairs both stovepiped on the last round.

After two consecutive stovepipes, I put my spacer (cut-down 38/357 casing described above) in the bottom of the magazine between the spring and base plate retainer.

With the spacer in the magazine, I fed and fired 22 more pairs with no more problems.

On future range trips, I will test my wife's other EZ magazines.

 

[christak]

I also made it to the range today and tested all 8 of my magazines, including the 6 new replacement ones that I recently received from S&W. My other 2 original magazines had new followers and springs inserted (for the 2nd time) for today's testing. So, I tested 300 rounds (150 Blazer Brass and 150 Speer Lawman) through my 8 magazines by loading 3 rounds per mag at a time (every box of 50 loaded 17 mags with only 2 rounds in the 17th mag). This allowed 102 opportunities for failure on the last round, 12 to 13 opportunities per magazine.
I experienced 1 last round stovepipe on one of my 2 original magazines the 1st time it was used today. I had no other issues of any kind with my EZ today. The new magazines all functioned properly. The new magazines (springs and followers) look no different from my original magazines, so I don't know how to explain the improved performance. Wondering if the mags will continue to function properly as they get used in future and the springs wear...

 

[Old Navy]

This is why I don't trust the 380Auto. This error is common and regular. Some claim they haven't had this issue, but I believe they will. I hoppistole it doesn't happen in a self-defense situation.

Having owned three 380's in the past and old Colt from early 30's and a German Walther PPK back in the 80's that I'd wished I had kept and a little Sig that looked like a little Colt. I never had an issue with any of t, and after about year or so on the Colt and not hitting for **** and friend regularly shooting bulls eyes and that was in the 70's and I didn't count rounds but it was enough to know it was reliable, same in the PPK and Sig, no issues and couple friends with 380's w/o problems. One has EZ other I don't remember the brand. So it's not a 380 issue in my book, but that's just me.

Wow before posting I review my post to correct things such wrong words or stuff left out and would you believe mild curse was deleted. Must be automated or very fast human, but I'm not complaining.

 

[Deckard427]

Since the problem seems to be confined to the last round in a magazine, maybe the spring is not the culprit, but the follower, tilting or catching on something as the slide comes forward.

 

[christak]

Since the problem seems to be confined to the last round in a magazine, maybe the spring is not the culprit, but the follower, tilting or catching on something as the slide comes forward.

Hard to say, but I'd guess it's a combination of the spring and follower. Seems like the tension on the last round is not sufficient to reliably keep the round where it needs to be.

 

[three5seven]

I own a 380 EZ and have yet to get a last round stovepipe, however, I've only had it to the range once and fired 100 rounds of Speer Lawman 95gr.

I removed the slide on the EZ and kept the empty magazine inserted. I also did the same with my M&P Compact 22lr, Sig P365, and Sig P320 to look for differences.

The one observation that stood out right away was the looseness of the EZ magazine within the magwell as compared to the others.

The looseness was from front to back. So loose that it makes me think of a whiplashing effect the magazine is likely subjected to when fired.

This whiplash effect of slamming the magazine forward upon recoil might be contributing to the last round slipping out of a fairly lightly tensioned magazine spring (especially the last round with the least amount of tension applied by the magazine spring).

I rolled up and flattened enough index card paper and slipped it behind the magazine as I inserted it into the magwell. I eventually found just the right thickness of paper to remove a lot of the front to back play of the magazine within the magwell.

This paper spacer pushes the magazine to its forward most range in the magwell and reduces the whiplash effect on what was a loose fit magazine.

I tested cycling/function with 380 snap caps and had no issues.

I will be keeping this makeshift paper "spacer" in my range bag to test if/when I run into the last live-round stovepipe issue.

 

[christak]

I own a 380 EZ and have yet to get a last round stovepipe, however, I've only had it to the range once and fired 100 rounds of Speer Lawman 95gr.

I removed the slide on the EZ and kept the empty magazine inserted. I also did the same with my M&P Compact 22lr, Sig P365, and Sig P320 to look for differences.

The one observation that stood out right away was the looseness of the EZ magazine within the magwell as compared to the others.

The looseness was from front to back. So loose that it makes me think of a whiplashing effect the magazine is likely subjected to when fired.

This whiplash effect of slamming the magazine forward upon recoil might be contributing to the last round slipping out of a fairly lightly tensioned magazine spring (especially the last round with the least amount of tension applied by the magazine spring).

I rolled up and flattened enough index card paper and slipped it behind the magazine as I inserted it into the magwell. I eventually found just the right thickness of paper to remove a lot of the front to back play of the magazine within the magwell.

This paper spacer pushes the magazine to its forward most range in the magwell and reduces the whiplash effect on what was a loose fit magazine.

I tested cycling/function with 380 snap caps and had no issues.

I will be keeping this makeshift paper "spacer" in my range bag to test if/when I run into the last live-round stovepipe issue.

Very interesting! Your theory makes a lot of sense to me, having lived through the pain of the stovepipe issue first hand...

Edit: Just checked the mag fit with my slide removed. It's very loose as you mentioned. The mag moves more than 1/16th of an inch front to back and less than that side to side. With the slide in place and locked back, there doesn't seem to be any noticeable movement of the mag. Hard to know what happens with the mag when the gun is firing, but my guess is there is some movement in there. Not sure why only the last round would be a problem though, unless the weaker spring tension just can't hold the round at that point.

 

[Old Navy]

Very interesting! Your theory makes a lot of sense to me, having lived through the pain of the stovepipe issue first hand...

Edit: Just checked the mag fit with my slide removed. It's very loose as you mentioned. The mag moves more than 1/16th of an inch front to back and less than that side to side. With the slide in place and locked back, there doesn't seem to be any noticeable movement of the mag. Hard to know what happens with the mag when the gun is firing, but my guess is there is some movement in there. Not sure why only the last round would be a problem though, unless the weaker spring tension just can't hold the round at that point.

Thought about doing the same thing.

 

[three5seven]

Very interesting! Your theory makes a lot of sense to me, having lived through the pain of the stovepipe issue first hand...

Edit: Just checked the mag fit with my slide removed. It's very loose as you mentioned. The mag moves more than 1/16th of an inch front to back and less than that side to side. With the slide in place and locked back, there doesn't seem to be any noticeable movement of the mag. Hard to know what happens with the mag when the gun is firing, but my guess is there is some movement in there. Not sure why only the last round would be a problem though, unless the weaker spring tension just can't hold the round at that point.

If you are not seeing as much front to back movement in the magazine with the slide locked back versus the slide removed, then it might be that the EMPTY magazine is being stabilized by the slide release mechanism pressing against the thumb stud of the EMPTY magazine. This pressure/contact between the slide stop and the magazine thumb stud only occurs when the magazine is empty (this how the EZ slide locks back on empty).

See if you can test the front to back movement of the magazine with at least one snap cap in the magazine with the slide locked open.