M&P Shield 380 EZ

C0untZer0 said:

Does it use short-recoil operation ?

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Yes; photos clearly show the barrel's chamber area locked in the slide's ejection port.

I think they borrowed a lot from M&P 22 Compact, in the same way Browning used 1911-22 as a base for 1911-380. However, the 22 does not have a grip safety.

I think it has the potential to be a good choice for the first-time or casual gun owner who wants something that is relatively simple to use and has a safety on it. I always thought the Colt Pony with it's DAO trigger would have made for a decent gun for someone new to semi-autos looking for an easy to operate .380 pistol. Will be interesting to see if this new S&W does well in the marketplace.

bannockburn said:

I think it has the potential to be a good choice for the first-time or casual gun owner who wants something that is relatively simple to use and has a safety on it. I always thought the Colt Pony with it's DAO trigger would have made for a decent gun for someone new to semi-autos looking for an easy to operate .380 pistol. Will be interesting to see if this new S&W does well in the marketplace.

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I don't think it is just first time and casual gun owners. One of the things I have found that I don't like about my Colt 380 Government Model and the Kimber Micro 380 is the lack of a grip safety.

I don't mind it as much in my Glock 42, Makarov, and Walther PK380 because of the long trigger pulls, in the case of the Makarov and Walther, for the first shot. I happen to agree that they should have made the grip safety a bit more attractive. On the other hand, in the reviews I read last night it was reported that n one had any trouble with the grip safety working properly.

I agree with Kendahl, that this is clearly not intended to compete with the various sub-compact 380's. The target market is the person looking at the Walther PK380. The dimensions of the two guns are nearly identical, as are the boasted features.

What I find interesting is that, as many of you know, the PK380 is a S&W, and is labeled and Smith & Wesson on the slide. I find it interesting that Smith & Wesson would have two, extremely similar, pistols in that market segment.

I can see two marketing reasons for this, they are, essentially, opposite explanations. The first possibility is that the PK380 may be selling better than a lot think it is, and S&W want to cement their dominance in this market segment. The second possibility may be that the PK380 is selling poorly and S&W may feel that it was due to some stumble in its market introduction and is looking for a "do over" in the segment filled by the PK380. No matter what, it seems odd to have two offerings in, what I saw as a, small market segment.

I had planned to add the Browning 1911-380 to my small collection of 380's. However, I will definitely look closer that this M&P.

Hasaf said:

I don't think it is just first time and casual gun owners. One of the things I have found that I don't like about my Colt 380 Government Model and the Kimber Micro 380 is the lack of a grip safety.

I don't mind it as much in my Glock 42, Makarov, and Walther PK380 because of the long trigger pulls, in the case of the Makarov and Walther, for the first shot. I happen to agree that they should have made the grip safety a bit more attractive. On the other hand, in the reviews I read last night it was reported that n one had any trouble with the grip safety working properly.

I agree with Kendahl, that this is clearly not intended to compete with the various sub-compact 380's. The target market is the person looking at the Walther PK380. The dimensions of the two guns are nearly identical, as are the boasted features.

What I find interesting is that, as many of you know, the PK380 is a S&W, and is labeled and Smith & Wesson on the slide. I find it interesting that Smith & Wesson would have two, extremely similar, pistols in that market segment.

I can see two marketing reasons for this, they are, essentially, opposite explanations. The first possibility is that the PK380 may be selling better than a lot think it is, and S&W want to cement their dominance in this market segment. The second possibility may be that the PK380 is selling poorly and S&W may feel that it was due to some stumble in its market introduction and is looking for a "do over" in the segment filled by the PK380. No matter what, it seems odd to have two offerings in, what I saw as a, small market segment.

I had planned to add the Browning 1911-380 to my small collection of 380's. However, I will definitely look closer that this M&P.

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The PK380 is a Walther with the Walther name on the slide. Smith does make the BG380.

thirdwall said:

The PK380 is a Walther with the Walther name on the slide. Smith does make the BG380.

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It also has Smith & Wesson engraved on the slide. I am at work right now so I can't send you a picture; but it is there. This picture isn't mine; but it shows the Smith and Wesson marks.


The BG380 is a very different pistol, fitting well into the category of compact 380s', while the PK380, and this new offering by S&W are closer to the size of the 380 service pistols. one large difference I notice, other than the grip safety, is that the M&P EZ has a take down lever while the PK380 requires the use of a take down tool (a schrader valve remover).

*****
Edited to add:

This got me looking. I firmly recall seeing the PK380 on S&W's webpage; but it is no longer there. Going to Walther's webpage I see the PK380 and it has "Walther" on the slide.

image from here

In Walther's about this company I find:

In June of 2012, Arnsberg, Germany based PW Group, owners of shooting sports companies, CARL WALTHER Sportwaffen and UMAREX Sportwaffen, announced the formation of Walther Arms, Inc. to handle all the importation, sales, marketing, distribution, and servicing of Walther products in the United States early in 2012. The transition occurred in two phases in 2013. Previously, Smith & Wesson held responsibility for the distribution of Walther firearms and accessories in the United States. On January 1, 2013, that responsibility was transferred to the newly formed Walther Arms, Inc.

Walther Arms, Inc. will begin operations sharing a corporate campus in Fort Smith, Arkansas with Umarex USA, another company in the PW Group. Adam J. Blalock has been named President & CEO of Walther Arms, Inc. and will also remain as President & CEO of Umarex USA. “We are grateful for the way Smith & Wesson has represented Walther and we look forward to our continued relationship with them”, said Blalock, “We will have a dedicated team focused on meeting the needs of U.S. consumers with high quality, innovative products worthy of the Walther brand. We are very thankful for the many loyal Walther customers and we’re excited for the opportunity to serve them.”

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It looks like S&W lost the PK380 and developed their own product to fill that segment. This indicates that the full size 380 segment is probably selling quite well.

If it is smaller (which it doesn't appear to be) than the Shield 9, my wife will have one as soon as she can get her hands on it. She has a G42 and loves to shoot it, but won't carry it as we have not been 100% with ammo. She is seriously considering LCP2, but as soon as I showed her the presser, she said... 'when can I see one?'.

She shoots the mess out of her M&P9, but is small framed, so is in search of something that shoots better than an LCP, but can be concealed IWB on her frame. Not comfortable with cocked and locked P238, or that would be the winner

Smith & Wesson hasn't had a partnership with Walther for almost 5 years now. This new Shield 380 is slightly larger than a regular Shield. Its almost a half inch longer and a about a quarter inch taller and its .04 thicker at the widest point.

I know of 4 new female shooters that bought sig P238's based on the sole factor that they could manipulate the slide. If the M&P has as easy to operate slide at a price point under the sig then i have no doubt they will sell to that type of consumer.

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^This
And it removes the "scary" cocked and locked look of the P238. But he P238 is only easy to rack because you can split the force by thumb cocking the hammer first and then rack the slide. Not sure how this internal hammer is going to be of any help with clearing malfunctions, dry fire practice, or loading it after dry fire.

Hasaf said:

It looks like S&W lost the PK380 and developed their own product to fill that segment.

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Exactly. And they probably monitored the sales of Browning 1911-380, too. Overall, I think the shooters in general win. I really didn't like the cheapness of PK380 and the paddles were the worst ever (blame Umarex for that one; real Walthers have good paddles).

Jonesy814 said:

This new Shield 380 is slightly larger than a regular Shield.

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Calling the 380 EZ a "Shield" is marketing fraud, similar to Toyota marketing what is essentially Yaris Hybrid as "Prius C". The gun is actually based on the frame of M&P 22 Compact.

zaitcev said:

Calling the 380 EZ a "Shield" is marketing fraud, similar to Toyota marketing what is essentially Yaris Hybrid as "Prius C". The gun is actually based on the frame of M&P 22 Compact.

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How is it fraud? S&W owns the rights to the Shield name and can use it how the see fit. This gun is called a Shield 380 EZ. The addition of 380EZ is clearly meant to differentiate it from the other Shield versions. Dodge makes a Charger. Its not the same car they made in the 60s. Is it fraud to call it a Charger? S&W made a revolver during WW2 that became known as the Victory model .Now they make a semi auto 22 they call the Victory. Is that fraud?
If you bought a gun and were told it was a 9mm Shield .The box said it was a 9mm Shield, and your receipt said it was a 9mm Shield but you got home and found a Shield380EZ in the box .... that might be fraud, but only if you were intentionally misled .They have added 380 EZ to the Shield name so you will know it is a different gun. I have seen no claim by S&W that the gun is exactly like a Shield except in 380. Again, they own the name .They could make a great big 6 inch barreled gun with a triple stack 24 round magazine that weighs 3 pounds and call it the Shield XL if they want and its not fraud

I think this should be a big seller with women looking for a gun. Seems to me that's where the market will be at too.

I have many female students that have a rough time racking the slide on semi-autos. I have had a couple bring in a Walther PK380 and it does what they need but ever try to put the recoil spring back in that thing. I will take a long look at this new offering from S&W as it looks like they designed this gun especially for those who are physically challenged racking a slide.

This gun has a far greater potential for success than most gun enthusiast realize. Too many gun owners are purchasing "easy to carry yet difficult to shoot" conceal carry handguns; Consequently, shooters are not practicing with these guns as much as they should. This "380ez" appears to be easy to carry AND easy to shoot. Only time will tell how reliable it is.

The gun world needs MORE handguns like this. For too long, the gun world has been dominated by a very vocal minority
that insist that anything less than 9mm is insufficient for personal protection. This extremist view has led to the proliferation
of too many "small for caliber handguns" that shooters cannot shooting well.

The vocal minority is so extreme that they designate guns like the "380ez" as useful only for "women and the elderly".
IN REALITY, MOST MEN DO NOT SHOOT ANY BETTER THAT WOMEN OR THE ELDERLY !
Therefore, MOST MEN could also benefit from having a gun like this.

mooninpisces said:

Therefore, MOST MEN could also benefit from having a gun like this.

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I agree, but it's not like guns in this class were not available previously. The "Walther" PK380 and Browning 1911-380 were mentioned. And of course we have a plethora of big old school blowbacks and their clones. What the 380 EZ brings to the table is the version without the manual safety, and hopefully a better quality than the Umarex managed at the lower price than the Browning.

I showed this to my 21 y.o. daughter, she said "they are listening aren't they".
She liked my Shield 9 but had a heck of a time with the slide.
With the population ageing and all the new woman shooters
I think it will sell.

Just watched an official video by S&W and man, that giant muzzle flip confuses me. I thought that gun was made large on purpose, to be easier to control.



Update: These guys scared me for no reason. Just watched video of Jerry Miculek shooting it and there's no muzzle flip at all.

May just be genius on the part of S&W. We shall see.

Aster watching the JM video, it's quite obvious that this pistol is geared toward those with lower hand strength and recoil sensitivity. It offers .380 performance to many who would otherwise be limited to rimfires. Though no powerhouse, I'd take a .380 every day and twice on Sunday over a .22 for home or self defense.

The only thing I could really see hindering sales is the cost of .380 ammo.

zaitcev said:

Just watched an official video by S&W and man, that giant muzzle flip confuses me. I thought that gun was made large on purpose, to be easier to control.

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The sales video vs JM's shows a night and day difference in recoil. If you ask anyone familiar with guns about a .380, what do they say? It's almost always: "not as powerful as 9mm Luger." So they have to combat that stereotype.
I think its a good product idea and they will probably sell a good amount of them. Especially to women who previous bought a mouse gun in 380 and never shoot it because it recoils too much.


Diagramming the official sales video below. It's everything that S&W wants to communicate about it in 30sec.
Starts
Muzzle flips = it's powerful
Anybody can rack it, Anybody can shoot it,
Easy to carry; even the plain clothes police officer character carries it!
It's professional quality - that's why it's called "military and police!"
Anybody can load the mags (remember the complaints from the doublestack M&P mags!)
Grip safety is overtly visible and makes it safe!
Labeled as perfectly sized - then shows the "everyday woman" both carrying it and keeping it in the nightstand
Then ends with a big recoil - (remember, it's powerful!)
End.

I want to handle one, if its easy as they say, i will get one for my father in law.

My wife won't shoot an automatic because she hates fighting with the slide and hates the snappy recoil.

She might like this one.

I may look at it for my daughter. Her go-to pistol is still the Makarov (The Makarov! . . . It's MY Makarov . . . but I digress). I would like her to use something with more modern ammo.


And yes, I am fine with my 29 year old daughter absconding with my Makarov.

I love the concept of this gun and am planning on buying one tomorrow. I have a wife and 3 daughters that are all small and have a really tough time racking the slide on anything. They also don't like heavy trigger pulls nor do they like the feel of the subcompact 380s on the market.

They want a small gun that isn't too small. They want a slide that is easy to rack. They like an external safety. They don't like the scary look of a cocked hammer. I think they will like it. I will give feedback soon as I get it and get them to the range.