Revolver guy considering to buy the new M&P .380 Shield EZ

[rangemeister]

Someone above mentioned the Sig P938. The P238 is the .380 version. I have a shield 9MM (1.0) and it is quite accurate. In carry it has been replaced though. I'm now carrying a Kimber Micro .380 with the 7 round mag in a desantis pocket holster when it is warm to hot weather. In cooler weather, I'm carrying a springfield EMP 3" 9MM in place of the shield. The extra weight on the EMP makes recoil almost nothing so you can dump a mag and keep tight groups.

I got rid of my ruger LCPII as it is too light and still a bit snappy even with .380. The kimber 380 recoil is MUCH less and is superbly accurate. I carry it condition one with the safety on.

Ditto myself. Except I changed out the Kimber for the 2nd version of the 380 Smith BG (bye Solo)for summer and the SA EMP for colder months. I recently got a Smith 380 EZ Shield and it fired 90 rds of mixed ammo perfect. NO recoil, almost like a 22 really. Trying to find a way to get it into my wifes carry procedures, but size is proving to be a problem. Great little gun though. It is about 1/2 longer than the shield.

As far as power and reliability of the 380acp, I use Corbon PowrBall in winter and Federal HST in the summer, more clothes dictate the need for more penetration. I have three 380's and while still waiting on this latest gun's reliability, the other two are fabulous and I can take and get 9 rounds into a pretty tight hole with my Browning 380. Follow on shots and accuracy are very important and 9 in the cake hole rapid fire would more than do the trick. Worthy of note, some 380's pistols do not like truncated ammo!

 

[LVSteve]

....I use Hornady PowrBall in winter ....

I thought that stuff was made by Corbon?

 

[rangemeister]

I thought that stuff was made by Corbon?

Fixed.....

 

[smoothshooter]

I've been a revolver guy since the 70's with various stainless steel .357 magnums. My current daily carry is a 640 Pro Series that I love. I was conditioned from the 70's that
automatics jammed and were unreliable. I was in my LGS today and looked at the new .380 M&P Shield EZ. Nice feel in my hand and it racked super easy. So I guess what I am asking is how reliable is the 2.0 Shield in .380 and is 1000 fps and 200 ft lbs enough knock down power for concealed carry?

No handguns have " knockdown power ".
But nobody likes getting shot with anything, and ANY gun is a whole lot better than NO gun, so get what feels good.

 

[smoothshooter]

Haven't tried one yet, but my only concern is that the selling point about the slide racking easily may actually be a liability, of sorts.

That same weak recoil spring that makes the gun so easy to load MAY NOT have enough force to chamber rounds consistently unless ammo with the perfect-for-that-gun magazines and bullet shape are used, particularly in cold weather when mechanical things sometimes operate sluggishly.

Perhaps Apex is already working on coming up with an aftermarket spring for this gun, with a little more force to it.

 

[smoothshooter]

I owned a BG380 for about 2 months. There are way too many pocket size 9mms out there that are shooter friendly, accurate, and have superior ballistics to a 380. I have a 642 w/ crimson trace grips. Fine firearm but has its limitations. It sits in reserve while my P938 or Micro 9 get all the holster time.

I am not aware of any 9mm that is as small as my .380 Bodyguard in a pocket holster.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have one on the way. Won't likely see it till mid to late this coming week, though. I'll be happy to take a magnet to the slide, and report back.

Be aware some stainless alloys won't stick to a magnet.

 

[jnichols2]

The 380 Shield EZ does stick to a magnet, at least mine does.

 

[gc70]

Haven't tried one yet, but my only concern is that the selling point about the slide racking easily may actually be a liability, of sorts.

That same weak recoil spring that makes the gun so easy to load MAY NOT have enough force to chamber rounds consistently unless ammo with the perfect-for-that-gun magazines and bullet shape are used, particularly in cold weather when mechanical things sometimes operate sluggishly.

Perhaps Apex is already working on coming up with an aftermarket spring for this gun, with a little more force to it.

Maybe ... maybe ... maybe the moon will fall and bump you in the noggin.

The engineers at S&W have some experience assuring that recoil springs are adequate to do their job.

 

[jnichols2]

I didn't get that smoothshooter was saying he didn't like the EZ, but rather exspressing a concern.

Here's the best answer I have. I read somewhere the EZ was designed to go into battery with a weaker spring, so I tried to test it.

Most of my guns will go into battery if I pull the slide back an inch, so I tried that. It turned out the EZ would click into battery if I pulled the slide back as little as 1/8". I wasn't sure the barrel fully unlocked, so I tried 1/4". It definitely unlocked at 1/4", and locked right back up into battery when released. Not very scientific, but it makes me feel better about the question.

 

[shakiesam]

Just FYI, Midwayusa has them (380 Shield EZ Magazines) in stock for 24.99. Just ordered 3 plus a couple for my M2.0 C 9mm

Thanks. Ordered a few.

 

[mrmike7189]

nope

I am not aware of any 9mm that is as small as my .380 Bodyguard in a pocket holster.

The closest I've found is the Kahr PM9 and that is a pricey gun. I will keep my Bodyguard 380 and my Shield 9mm. The 2 of them cost the same as one PM9.....$600!

 

[jnichols2]

Also, the Ruger LCP II is almost identical in size to the Bodyguard. However; the triggers are quite different.

 

[Fred Ward]

I am a big bore fan. 50 years of firing heavy magnums has caused hearing loss and contributed to arthritis in both hands. A couple of weeks ago I was required to rack my beretta against the edge of a counter because I simply could not load the gun any other way. I bought an EZ yesterday. I will admit there are many better rounds for self defense, but on days when I cannot use them, I now have a gun I can carry. Like they always used to say, it ain't much but it beats a buck knife.