Smith & Wesson sought to fill a market gap within its lineup of handguns with the 2018 introduction of the M&P380 Shield EZ pistol. The gun is built on the M&P22 Compact polymer frame and contains a slide fitted with a 3.52” barrel chambered for .380 ACP. The pistol is recoil operated and, in following the theme of “EZ”-to-operate, engineers incorporated a lightened recoil spring, flared cocking tabs and an eight-round magazine that, by way of loading wings attached to its follower, is much easier to load. The compact-size pistol weighs just over 18 ozs., and is well-suited for home defense or daily carry. To learn more, check out our NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by Mark Keefe.