I am not a fan of grip safeties

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I am not a fan of grip safeties

ESPECIALLY not of upside down grip safeties! (I have an EZ in .380. I do not recommend them.)

 

Interesting, It has some nice features and included some extras.

However I am not a fan of grip safety's.

 

Never having experienced one…what’s the problem with grip safeties? Seems to be the defining issue for this gun!

 

People are certainly divided on grip safeties.
I think anyone that has an affinity for a 1911 never thinks about it.
I have them on a wide variety of 1911’s, as well as some Springfield polymer pistols.
Other than the rare spring tuning for the proper feel and engagement (1911), I don’t even realize they are there. For me it’s part of the natural order of things in such platforms.
Personal choice.
That feature in itself is what keeps me watching the EZ.

 

Yeah. I was waiting for a post on this release. I’m going to have to do some review research. It seems to be a value at a street price of $499. I was always following the EZ platform but never jumped on one.

 

I don't see anything there to get excited about. But then again I don't get excited about much these days with these new gimmicky polymer Striker fires. The last thing that got my attention was Fabrique National bringing back the High Power.

 

Be nice when the FN high powers are out and available.

 

This is interesting, but I would have to actually handle it first. I handled one EZ model and felt the slide was harder to rack than some of my other guns, although the cutouts could help.

 

Looks interesting. I don't mind grip safeties at all. The grip itself does look sort of primitive and uninviting, but haven't held one, so I don't really know.

 

Looked at one for about 2 minutes,,didn’t like it. To me the grip safety is all wrong. Guess I’m too used to my 1911’s

 

Looks great. The only acceptable safety for a internal hammer fired defensive carry firearm is a grip safety. I know several ladies who love their EZs and the only complaint is how large it is. Looks like a great choice for a new shooter and should help cover all the bases with the 3 included magazines. This will be a home run for Smith.

 

Agreed, like the EZ line this isn't for enthusiasts, it's for casual shooters who want an easy to operate platform to carry. For that, this is perfect. Enthusiasts will gravitate towards the Shield.

10 round mag for carry, 15 round mag at home, throw on a light. This can be a one and done pistol for some folks.

 

if the grip safety is anything like the EZ series, and it appears to be, it does not depress all the way and sticks into the web of your hand. it felt like it would not be comfortable to short for any length of time.

 

I dunno, but I hate the grip safety on my weedeater handle so I doubt I'd care at all for one on a pistol.

 

I have no problem with grip safeties as long as they are ergonomically balanced such as on the 1911. My model 1910 Browning Auto 380 ACP had one, which I believe is a good thing on a striker fire or internal Hammer design. But they need to be incorporated in such a way that does not affect the way you grip or Draw the firearm. Otherwise they are just an uncomfortable hindrance, and possibly antithetical to actual safety.

 

I think there is a reason grip safeties are few and far between just like the K&K P7 with its grip safety?

 

I wouldn't even consider a S&W while they are moving, odds are much greater of having issues that shouldn't happen.

 

Isn't S&W manufacturing staying in place and only the corporate offices are moving?

 

This is interesting. I may have to show this to my wife, she has an EZ9 and she loves it. She has always had a problem with malfunctions and her grouping. I tried to help her with her grip, but I never could because we would both get frustrated. Once she started shooting the EZ9 consistently her groups improved and she stopped having malfunctions.

 

This shoots similarly to the EZ 9, but the capacity is better and the option for an optic makes a big difference.

 

Ah, yep .. let me just break out my EQUALIZER here boys ...

 

Smith isn’t the first to put a catchy name out there. Every Springfield 1911 has a goofy name now.

 

On a defensive gun I would NOT have a grip safety.
I’ve been a competition shooter for about 30 years and most of my competition guns have grip safeties.
It’s one thing to have your gun not fire due to a bad draw at a match, but, to me it’s totally unacceptable on a defensive gun

 

Looks like an interesting new pistol from Smith & Wesson (Equalizer). Features include 10, 13 or 15 rd magazines (ships with one of each, plus a Maglula), EZ rack type slide, optics-ready, 23 oz, Picatinny rail, claims a good trigger. Seems like an upgraded version of the EZ line, in a smaller, higher capacity format - with dimensions smaller than Shield EZ, larger than regular Shield. MSRP $599.

Not sure it's unique enough to end up in my safe, but it seems a nice upgrade vs S&W's current offerings, and as I get older, more easy-rack options is a good thing. Will be interested in any Forum members' experiences with it!

It's nicer/better pistol than the original EZ 9. A little thicker grip and larger capacity. It brings into the current state of carry firearms.
It's still the same (mediocre) trigger as the EZ 9. The Performance Center model has a better trigger but, IMO, the bronze color makes the pistol less desirable to own or use.
EZ 9 had problems with the trigger/firing mechanism and I haven't heard if that issue was resolved. A FTF in a self-defense situation (or any) is not my desire. I met a couple who both had EZ 9s and both their EZ 9s had this intermittent, firing problem. (I have heard of others.)
It is hammer fired. That's a plus in today's controversy about the P320.
It comes with a Mag UpLula loader since the mags lost the load-assist-button on the single stack mags.
It does continue the EZ styling and looks a little more substantial and better.

That's my take on a visible inspection and comparison with the original EZ 9.

 

I’ve never experienced a FTF in an EZ, with thousands of rounds down range. But, that’s just my experience

 

I purchased an EX 380 Performance Center for the Wife when they 1st came out along with the EZ 9. Loves it so much that I too picked up a 9 for myself. She likes them and so do I, but she prefers her G42 and G43 more while I flock to my Sig XL and 43X MOS more. I liked the easiness of the racking, but was not a fan of 8 rounds especially in that size of pistol. Now that the Equalizer came out I have been wanting to get one, just want to wait and see when the FDE color will come out. As far as the grip safety is concerned it is not a problem for me or my wife. What is an issue though for me was her 9mm has the thumb safety which I do not like. I tend to pops those when shooting and it throws me off. So this Equalizer that I pick up when I decide to will definitely not have the thumb safety.

 

If the internals are similar to the original EZs, the thumb safety can be removed.

 

I’m waiting for my local gun store/range to get one in and put it up as a range rental. Not thinking about it for me but for my wife who has a hard time racking the slide on my P365. Have her try it out herself and see if she likes it.

 

I would strongly recommend against using grip sleeves etc. to defeat a grip safety on anything for any purpose. Better off choosing a different gun that doesn't have one. Be it for liability purposes or otherwise.

 

@ShooterGranny @MoRivera This is just a range pistol for the wife to punch holes in paper. I originally bought her a Walther CCP M2 which I thought was a nice shooting pistol but she didn't like it. I should have listened last year when she said she wanted the EZ Shield. There is a good video on how to get the sleeve on the pistol and it doesn't look difficult. It may not even need the sleeve but I was placing an order with Hogue anyway so I added it to the order. One thing I won't do with a carry pistol is any modification because of possible liability especially here in Maryland.

 

@ShooterGranny @MoRivera This is just a range pistol for the wife to punch holes in paper. I originally bought her a Walther CCP M2 which I thought was a nice shooting pistol but she didn't like it. I should have listened last year when she said she wanted the EZ Shield. There is a good video on how to get the sleeve on the pistol and it doesn't look difficult. ...

Keep in mind the need to remove that grip sleeve when you put the slide back on after field strip cleaning the gun.

 

Even as a range pistol or anything, I wouldn't do anything to bypass a designed mechanical safety measure in a way it wasn't intended. Although I know some pin their 1911 grip safeties for their own reasons, so just be fully aware of the risks and possible responsibility if something goes wrong. It may have notation got do with it, but you could still have to answer for it. Also..for a range gun only, a larger/full handgun may be a better choice for shootability than a compact or especially a subcompact.

 

For anyone wanting to grab one of these, this looks like a nice price.

S&W Equalizer Micro-compact 9mm 3.675" 10,13,15 Rnd Mags - $435 (add filler + code: NOV65) Brownells $435.00

 

They got a couple of these in at my LGS. Sold one first day. I got handed the other one today. Very easy to rack the slide. Good feeling grip. I am completely uninterested so I didn't test the trigger. I will say this, it seemed like it would be fairly easy to not completely depress the grip safety.