Heads up for anyone with a S&W Shield .380!!!
Like any firearm, the function of the M&P®380 Shield™ EZ™ Manual Thumb Safety pistol can be influenced by the type and quality of ammunition used with the pistol. In the case of the M&P 380 Shield EZ Manual Thumb Safety, we have found that in very rare circumstances, ammunition that produces a high level of felt recoil can cause the manual safety to move from the fire to the “safety on” position during firing. Should this occur, you will not be able to fire the next round unless and until the manual safety is reset to the fire position.
Full advisory, HERE. Serial Number lookup, HERE.
As many others have said, NEVER buy a gun in the first year-18 months… Give the manufacturer time to work out all the issues!
Having said that, yes, I’ve bought one in the first year… Sigh… YMMV, etc. etc.
I’ve heard some great and encouraging reports on the EZ series, that lead me to believe that my ability to rack a slide may have just been extended by several more years. How has your experience been?
I can still rack the slide on my Browning Hi-Power and my RIA 1911 with no problem, but my newly acquired Springfield XD-40 sub compact is TOUGH on these old hands. And while I am MOSTLY content with the accumulation I have, the EZ series (if it pans out) WOULD give me the excuse to invite some new items to come live at my house. (“No, sweetie, it’s for MEDICAL reasons, HONEST!”)
My wife has issues with racking the slide on our semi-autos due to a problem with grip-strength, rather than any other weakness.
We fixed that by modifying a rear sight for her favourite 1911 to extend the base to the left beyond the width of the slide.
She can now drape her left index finger over this sight extension, and pull the slide rearwards, without having to squeeze the slide with a level of grip strength that she just doesn’t have any more.
The extension only needs to be the width if a finger, and doesn’t get in the way, usually.
Another good reason to not have a safety on a striker fired pistol. As far as buying new models, I did buy the first CZ P-10C to appear in my area. I had a chance to try a T&E example and really liked it. Mine has been 100% reliable and accurate.
Revolvers, just saying.
I just want time to go shooting with the guns I have (and maybe a new-to-me CZ 70). I’ve not been terrifically thrilled with most of the guns that shoot .380 that I’ve had, and probably wouldn’t buy another one. I like the Makarov round a lot better, and really like my current carry (a CZ 82 that I’ve shot smiley faces with [by accident, but the size of the grouping wasn’t]).
Problem is that if everyone followed that rule, we’d be stuck with only military-issued handguns.
But yeah. I bought a Shield 1.0 9mm, as I figure all of the kinks have been worked out. And yes, it has a safety. I am not comfortable with striker-fired guns that don’t have one.
Aye, somebody has to be first.
All- Thanks for the comments!
Posted from my iPhone.
My S&W M&P .38 Spl was made in 1953 … I figure 54 years of production got all the kinks out.
Hey Old NFO;
Thanks for the Heads up…Hopefully my Shield .40 isn’t part of this.
Stretch- LOL
Bob- You’re welcome!