Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ

by
posted on December 9, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
While recent market trends tend to lean towards developing small subcompact handguns chambered for fullsize pistol cartridges, Smith & Wesson took a different approach with its M&P 380 Shield EZ. The M&P 380 Shield EZ is a polymer-frame, semi-automatic compact handgun that, as the name suggests, is chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge. It was designed specifically for ease of use by a wide variety of users while having the added bonus of being small enough for concealed-carry use. 


One of the most prominent features of the M&P 380 Shield EZ is the reduced force needed to manipulate the slide versus other small handguns in the same category. Smith & Wesson reduced the amount of force needed to counteract the main spring, making the slide easier to manipulate for those with less arm strength or with afflictions like arthritis. The result is a slide that requires half the force otherwise needed to manipulate the slide on the M&P Shield chambered in 9 mm.


The M&P 380 Shield EZ uses an internally housed hammer versus a striker-fired system popular on many current production handguns on the market and does not require the trigger to be pulled in order to release the slide during disassembly. A disassembly lever is located on the left side of the polymer frame, which is rotated downwards in order to separate the slide from the frame. The M&P 380 Shield EZ is built off of the M&P Compact 22 frame.


An additional safety feature was added to the design of the M&P 380 Shield EZ with the inclusion of a backstrap grip safety, which pivots inward from the bottom of the grip. In order to pull the trigger and fire, the grip safety must be fully depressed by the user's hand in order for the connector to release the hammer. The small grip size make the controls easy to reach for those with smaller hands and the trigger pull is 4 lbs., 7 ozs.


There is also a Picatinny rail segment on the dust cover for the attachment of accessories and the sight are the standard three-dot style. The M&P 380 Shield EZ is fed by a single stack 8-round magazine that features textured tabs connected to the follower allowing it to be pulled down for easier loading of cartridges. The barrel is 3.52" long and the overall length of the handgun is 6.7" with a weight of 18.5 ozs. without a loaded magazine.

For more information on n the Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ visit smith-wesson.com.     
 

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.   

Latest

Hammerli Arms Force B1 Rifleman Review 1
Hammerli Arms Force B1 Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Hammerli Arms Force B1

The Hammerli Arms Force B1 is one of the most versatile rimfire rifles on the market, providing room for accessories, allowing for a personal stock fit and even offering caliber-interchangeability.

New For 2025: CZ Scorpion 3+ Magpul Edition

CZ-USA has enhanced its Scorpion 3+ pistol-caliber carbine yet again with a slate of factory-installed Magpul components and accessories.

Summer Suppressor Deals On Now

Whether it is a BOGO deal from SIG or free tax stamps from Guns.com and Silencer Central, there's plenty of hearing-safe savings to be had this summer.

Rifleman Report: Defending Freedom For 250 Years

"Anyone who claims not to understand the plain and simple intent of the Second Amendment—especially if that person happens to be a constitutional law professor, Supreme Court justice, congressman, senator or president—is likely hiding nefarious intent: to strip individual liberty from American citizens for the express purpose of making them susceptible to a tyrannical government."

Book Review: 2025 Traveler’s Guide To The Firearms Laws Of The Fifty States

Newly updated for 2025, the 29th edition of the Traveler’s Guide To The Firearm Laws Of The Fifty States is packed with all the need-to-know information for cross-country trekkers seeking to bring their arms along with them and remain legal in all localities.

Springfield Kuna: A PDW For The Masses

Small, yet fierce, the namesake of Springfield Armory’s latest large-format pistol is a revered forest dweller in the land of its Croatian manufacturing partner, HS Produkt. The new Kuna is poised to be just as welcome in America.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.