S&W Equalizer

[armytc]

I bought a S&W Equalizer with Thumb Safety about a year ago. I thought having a pistol that is optics ready would be great. To date, I haven't fired it. I'm having second thoughts about the pistol. I'm not crazy about the grip safety.
Can anyone give me an honest evaluation. Should I hold or fold?

 

[TJm15.38]

I've handled and fired one that my friend has. I also helped him mount a Holosun optic on the slide. I was not getting good vibes about the gun. It shot OK at the range, but the grip safety is awful and a bear to deal with during disassembly/reassembly. The sights were OK but I much prefer a three dot Glock night sight like I have on three of my guns or the Novak three-dot sights on my 1911.

 

[murphydog]

If you shoot it and it works well, why not keep it? But shoot it.

 

[TJm15.38]

If you shoot it and it works well, why not keep it? But shoot it.

Yeah; how do you know if you like or dislike it unless you get to the range and see for yourself?

 

[armytc]

I ordered the Equalizer from my LGS. I didn't have the opportunity to really hold the pistol prior to purchase. Since it was new on the block when I bought it, there wasn't much info out there. My initial impression was that the grip safety wasn't that of a 1911 that I have. I own a number of S&W pistols, but it seems as though the Shield versions have issues. I may try it and give it a chance. Or somebody will get a good deal on an unfired Equalizer.

 

[Zimmer76]

Me, I literally never notice the grip safety when shooting, and it’s comforting to have when holstering. It’s not all tricky to activate. It would be an exaggeration to say breathing on it is sufficient, but not all that much of an exaggeration.

 

[Heinz]

John Browning designed a couple of pistols with grip safeties. They seem to work OK

 

[gun1]

Personally I like the grip safety. That is one main reason I bought an Equalislzer. I also have the Shield 380 EZ, also with a grip safety (neither, and the majority of my pistols have a thumb safety). The Equalizer has the added bonus of a soft racking slide - it is way easier to rack than any other 9mm I own. Fof those two reasons I prefer the Equalizer. To each their own.

 

[GaryS]

IIRC, the grip safety on these guns is to make hand cycling the slide easier. I've shot mine a couple of times and like it, but don't like the thumb safety as it works opposite of the 3rd Gens I carry. I removed it once, but the plugs S&W sent to fill the gap in the frame didn't fit at all, so I restored it to original configuration.

I might look at removing the thumb safety again after I take it back to the range.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I’ve owned mine for 2 years, put about 2000 rounds through the gun so far WITHOUT 1 malfunction. I put a Holosun 507 on it, and upgraded the grip safety. It has become my favorite S&W handgun, replacing my Shield Plus. It’s hammered fired, which is a plus, and it’s super easy to rack the slide. Another plus is it fits all of my Shield holsters and magazines. It’s my now EDC gun.

 

[Njlarry]

Hi gun1. Would like to hear your thoughts on shooting the EZ 380 vs the Equalizer.