Posted on 06/26/2019 2:58:09 AM PDT by Windflier
A worthy successor to the classic Colt Hammerless.
Smith & Wesson Shield 380ex fills the vital but oft-neglected category of “guns as personal effects” which also includes cell phones, pocket flashlights, small folding umbrellas and other useful items that anyone can use effectively. This design bucks the trend of fitting more and more powerful cartridges into increasingly small and light weapons in favor of moderate performance allied to high usability.
This approach can be traced back to the Browning-designed Colt Hammerless 1903 model (32ACP) and the later 1908 (380ACP). The two variants were streamlined, thin and (for the time) lightweight at 24oz. In both calibers, recoil was mild, the cocking effort likewise unremarkable, and fixed barrel combined with a crisp trigger gave very good accuracy, so long as the vestigial sights could be seen. This pistol was produced in five variants for over forty years, a testament to the usefulness of the design envelope. Few pistols made since have improved on it in the sum of performance and use comfort. Shield 380ez is one of those few, picking up where Colt left off and achieving a substantial improvement on the already excellent concept.
By going with tilt barrel short recoil and a locked breech, 380ez cuts the overall weights by a quarter to mere 18oz without increasing recoil. The overall length (6.7″) an the barrel length (3.675″) are about the same as the later variants of 1903. 8+1 capacity improves by one over the original. Button magazine release speeds up reloads over the original heel release. Shield has a more prominent grip safety and an option of adding prominent ambi manual thumb safety: it is less streamlined than the original, which makes it bulkier but also easier to engage or disengage. A good firing grip has the strong-hand thumb riding the thumb safety lever.
Three dot sights are better than the 1903 originals, but optional tritium upgrade is much recommended. Another recommended accessory would be a light/laser combo to fit the accessory rail. Depending on the carry method, the manual safety may be unnecessary — I opted out of it on my own 380ez, but my friend has it on hers.
What do you gain by going from a 9mm Luger down to 380ACP? A supremely usable and comfortable weapon that can be useful effectively by everyman. All physical tasks, like racking the slide and controlling the recoil, are easy to perform. I’ve tried running this pistol with two hands, strong hand only, weak hand only, with a deliberately loose grip — no malfunctions. I used a wide variety of common and specialty ammunition, it fed them all. It was designed to work in an emergency even for people who aren’t gunnies, and seems to fulfill that purpose admirably.
The pistol status can be seen and felt with the prominently raised extractor serving as a loaded chamber indicator. Thanks to the short recoil action, extraction is positive but not violent. The pistol has a concealed hammer, just like the M1903/08 pistols.
Introduced with the 1908 Hammerless, 380ACP is no powerhouse at about 60% of the 9mm Luger. Most loads are adequate for either penetration or expansion, seldom for both. In blowback pistols, the more energetic loads are contraindicated due to increased recoil and possible premature breech opening. The locked breech action of 380ez handles the hotter 380 ammunition effortlessly.
I tested a wide variety of loads. Shooting a lot of ammo made me appreciate the easy-load magazine, with the cutaway to depress the follower to facilitate refilling. As you can see from the velocity chart, the difference in energy between loads can be quite considerable.
Continued...
Full range report at the link.
Oleg Volk has been doing wonderful gun photography and pro-2A meme pics for 20+ years. Good guy.
Geez, what guy carries a small folding umbrella and a purse?
Looks interesting.
I think she would be very upset at you calling her a guy - and she is armed
Bkmk
Isn't that called a revolver? .....and you don't have to ever worry about a jam or give up cartridge power....
I have its big brother in 40 cal. Thinking about picking up one of these for my daughter.
My wife has a 22mag revolver and I bought her the .380EZ a year ago. Loves both.
OK
...my wife could not even rack the slide on one of my ssmaller .22 cal pistols; saw some ads for this .380 EZ and decided to try it out at our local gun range.... bought one on the spot after putting a goodly number of rounds through it. It is a perfect gun for her; easy to rack, easy to shoot, relatively low recoil and easy to take apart to clean. Cannot say enough nice things about this gun...!!! MSRP is about $399 but you can find them a lot cheaper than that.....
Less Is More.
Bought a Taurus G2S, replaced the recoil assembly and striker guide with stainless from Lakeline and have a pistol as good or better than that one, but in 9mm. Now, it is a great handgun! Total cost about $245 for everything.
Pics good, article, not so much. How much does it COST?? That is kinda a critical piece of information.
Looking to make my 1st gun purchase. This looks good bkmrk.
The Underwood .380 +P hardcast FP pictured is obviously inspired by the hardcast wadcutters made by Underwood and others in revolver calibers. One would expect it to have good penetration.
Thanks for the heads-up.
.22 is better than nothing, but .380 is better still - I've got to have her test-drive one.
> Pics good, article, not so much. How much does it COST?? That is kinda a critical piece of information.
From the article: ...most variants retail in the low $300s.
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