smith & wesson

Spend More Time Shooting and Less Time Loading with MagPump Pro

May 16, 2019 by Heath Layman Leave a Comment

The easiest way to load magazines New to the lineup of products from MagPump is the MagPump Pro Series. The MagPump pro is capable of handling large capacity, high-frequency magazine loading for 9mm and AR-15 magazines. The two new magazine loaders are a hybrid of the … [Read more...]

Smith & Wesson has been updating and upgrading their lineup over the last year. The M&P 2.0 series quieted previous complaints about texture and trigger. We showed you the new Shield 2.0 in November. The Bodyguard hadn't been updated and fans of Browning's .380 ACP began to feel left out. Smith & Wesson heard those cries and has released a handgun that seems perfectly modeled for the non-operator types. Winged slide of the 380 Shield EZ The .380 Shield EZ is aptly named. The pistol has been made easy to operate. Starting with the largest concern for new shooters and those with reduced strength is the slide. While styling looks just like the other M&P 2.0 models the rear of the slide has subtle wings to aid in sling-shot style racking. The action follows the standard Browning locking system which is a rare find for the caliber. Thanks to the locking system the recoil spring is soft enough that I was able to rack the gun with a finger! I don't advocate doing that with a loaded gun, but tried it as a test to just how easy the gun is to rack. The external safety is easy to engage or disengage from either side. The grip safety threw the internet into a frenzy, but deactivation is easy and it serves as simple insurance for those who might carry the gun in a purse or bag. Another interesting feature is in the two included magazines. Clearly numbered magazines with thumb assist. The magazines feature a thumb knob like one might find on a .22. While not the most comfortable thing to push on, it does serve to assist in loading. The slide release/lock also feels to be more pronounced than normal. As stated earlier everything about the 380 Shield EZ is easy! The video above provides some more details on the gun. One more fun note: The 380 Shield EZ is hammer-fired! An internal hammer eliminates any of the negatives about hammer-fired guns and still provides that nice and clean break that we all love about the action. No mush from a striker, no risk of lint or filth preventing the hammer from striking. See the video for how Smith & Wesson managed to fit that system into this new design. For those of you who love to look at numbers, the specifications below are directly from the 380 Shield EZ product page. SKU: 11663 Model: M&P® 380 SHIELD™ EZ™ Manual Thumb Safety Caliber: .380 Auto Capacity: 8+1 Barrel Length: 3.675" / 9.3 cm Overall Length: 6.7" Front Sight: White Dot Rear Sight: Adjustable White Dot Action: Internal Hammer Fired Grip: Polymer Weight: 18.5 oz / 524.5g Barrel Material: Stainless Steel - Armornite® Finish Slide Material: Stainless Steel - Armornite® Finish Frame Material: Polymer Purpose: Concealed Carry, Home Protection, Personal Protection

Pistol

Smith & Wesson M&P .380 Shield EZ

April 29, 2019 by Graham Baates Leave a Comment

The .380 Shield EZ is aptly named. The pistol has been made easy to operate. Starting with the largest concern for new shooters and those with reduced strength is the slide. While styling looks just like the other M&P 2.0 models the rear of the slide has subtle wings to … [Read more...]

Pistol

Smith & Wesson Model 340PD Handgun

January 12, 2019 by Loadout Room Guest Authors Leave a Comment

The only thing I trust more than my Glock 19 is this five shot revolver. I grew up shooting my dad’s stainless .357 and I was hooked, so much so I had to get my own. The Smith & Wesson 340 is the ultimate concealed weapon that I would recommend to anyone looking for an easy … [Read more...]

Pistol

Photo of the day: Smith & Wesson M49

October 26, 2018 by Rick Dembroski Leave a Comment

Found this photo In my old files. In 1970 apparently, $100 could get you a Hell of a gun and have money for a meal. It’s one of my prized possessions; my grandfathers old Smith & Wesson. -Rick Dembroski … [Read more...]

Firearms Technology

How Guns Work: Striker Fired Pistols

August 16, 2018 by The Arms Guide Guest Writer Leave a Comment

Due to their lack of protruding hammer, many striker fired pistol designs have flooded the concealed carry market. Manufacturers such as Glock, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory all have popular models of striker fired pistols. But, how does striker fire actually work? To … [Read more...]

Pistol Accessories

MagGuts: The True +1 for your Handgun

July 23, 2018 by Graham Baates Leave a Comment

MagGuts has changed the meaning of "+1" for carry guns. Typically when someone refers to +1 capacity they are referencing an additional round in the chamber. A full magazine is inserted and presto! You've just increased your capacity. Modern single-stacks like the Walther … [Read more...]

Pistol

S&W M&P 2.0 Compact: Fifteen rounds in a Perfect Package

July 9, 2018 by Graham Baates Leave a Comment

After more than a decade Smith & Wesson has released the 2.0 of their M&P line. While most of the differences suggest a 1.5 or 1.7, the most exciting part of the launch is the new compact model. The sub-compact Shield and full-size models were aimed at the brand's … [Read more...]