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New S&W "Equalizer" 9mm Microcompact

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#21 ·
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.
 
#23 ·
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
 
#24 ·
Carmel Sig said:
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!
Click to expand...
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.
 
#26 ·
eaglefrq said:
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.
Click to expand...
This shoots similarly to the EZ 9, but the capacity is better and the option for an optic makes a big difference.
 
#28 ·
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.
 
#29 ·
hiketheball said:
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.
Click to expand...
I’ve never experienced a FTF in an EZ, with thousands of rounds down range. But, that’s just my experience
 
#30 ·
BigDawg_76 said:
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.
Click to expand...
If the internals are similar to the original EZs, the thumb safety can be removed.
 
#33 ·
ShooterGranny said:
ESPECIALLY not of upside down grip safeties! (I have an EZ in .380. I do not recommend them.)
Click to expand...
Unless they're on the front.....

Image


(technically a cocking mechanism but also serves the same, ultimately)
 
#34 ·
Carmel Sig said:
Never having experienced one…what’s the problem with grip safeties? Seems to be the defining issue for this gun!
Click to expand...
I picked up an EZ Shield .380 for the wife last week and I can say I'm not enthused with the grip safety. It also has a thumb safety so I don't see the need for both. I did a little research on ideas about how to defeat it just to see what's out there. On one of the S&W forums the easy, recommended method is to use a Hogue Grip Sleeve 17040 on it to defeat the safety. They also make a lower profile grip safety but I'm not sure how well that will work. I ordered the 17040 grip sleeve so we'll see if that works.
 
#35 · (Edited)
Sigmund22 said:
I picked up an EZ Shield .380 for the wife last week and I can say I'm not enthused with the grip safety. It also has a thumb safety so I don't see the need for both. I did a little research on ideas about how to defeat it just to see what's out there. On one of the S&W forums the easy, recommended method is to use a Hogue Grip Sleeve 17040 on it to defeat the safety. They also make a lower profile grip safety but I'm not sure how well that will work. I ordered the 17040 grip sleeve so we'll see if that works.
Click to expand...
Please let us know if it works and what, if any, modifications you had to do to it. I've looked at grip sleeves and they all look like they will not work to depress that safety enough for the gun to function. Although there are some beavertail models.

One more thing: Since you bought the gun for your wife, keep in mind that the grip sleeves increase the size of the grip, and Hogue doesn't seem to make any without the finger grooves. For me that is a deal breaker. I had one once a long time ago and that particular gun was SO much nicer to shoot when I removed the thing. I have size medium women's hands.

OH - and remember that when you clean the gun, you have to take off the grip sleeve or you can't properly get the slide back on. The owner's manual is specific about NOT pressing the grip safety when reinstalling the slide! THAT could be a deal breaker, because those Hogue sleeves can be a bear to get on, let alone off again.

A lower profile grip safety would mean you have to grip the gun even tighter!

The EZ is a "love it or hate" it gun. Except for me: I don't hate it but I sure don't love it. It is a fun range gun, period. It also works best if you stand in one place and shoot paper (or steel), but you will still get some stovepipes from the last round of a magazine. Some people have said new magazine springs solve that issue.
 
#36 ·
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.
 
#37 ·
@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.
 
#38 ·
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.
 
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#40 ·
LEEEAGLE said:
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.:cautious:
Click to expand...
Be nice when the FN high powers are out and available.
 
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