gc70
Member
Yes; photos clearly show the barrel's chamber area locked in the slide's ejection port.Does it use short-recoil operation ?
Yes; photos clearly show the barrel's chamber area locked in the slide's ejection port.Does it use short-recoil operation ?
I think it has the potential to be a good choice for the first-time or casual gun owner who wants something that is relatively simple to use and has a safety on it. I always thought the Colt Pony with it's DAO trigger would have made for a decent gun for someone new to semi-autos looking for an easy to operate .380 pistol. Will be interesting to see if this new S&W does well in the marketplace.
I don't think it is just first time and casual gun owners. One of the things I have found that I don't like about my Colt 380 Government Model and the Kimber Micro 380 is the lack of a grip safety.
I don't mind it as much in my Glock 42, Makarov, and Walther PK380 because of the long trigger pulls, in the case of the Makarov and Walther, for the first shot. I happen to agree that they should have made the grip safety a bit more attractive. On the other hand, in the reviews I read last night it was reported that n one had any trouble with the grip safety working properly.
I agree with Kendahl, that this is clearly not intended to compete with the various sub-compact 380's. The target market is the person looking at the Walther PK380. The dimensions of the two guns are nearly identical, as are the boasted features.
What I find interesting is that, as many of you know, the PK380 is a S&W, and is labeled and Smith & Wesson on the slide. I find it interesting that Smith & Wesson would have two, extremely similar, pistols in that market segment.
I can see two marketing reasons for this, they are, essentially, opposite explanations. The first possibility is that the PK380 may be selling better than a lot think it is, and S&W want to cement their dominance in this market segment. The second possibility may be that the PK380 is selling poorly and S&W may feel that it was due to some stumble in its market introduction and is looking for a "do over" in the segment filled by the PK380. No matter what, it seems odd to have two offerings in, what I saw as a, small market segment.
I had planned to add the Browning 1911-380 to my small collection of 380's. However, I will definitely look closer that this M&P.
The PK380 is a Walther with the Walther name on the slide. Smith does make the BG380.
In June of 2012, Arnsberg, Germany based PW Group, owners of shooting sports companies, CARL WALTHER Sportwaffen and UMAREX Sportwaffen, announced the formation of Walther Arms, Inc. to handle all the importation, sales, marketing, distribution, and servicing of Walther products in the United States early in 2012. The transition occurred in two phases in 2013. Previously, Smith & Wesson held responsibility for the distribution of Walther firearms and accessories in the United States. On January 1, 2013, that responsibility was transferred to the newly formed Walther Arms, Inc.
Walther Arms, Inc. will begin operations sharing a corporate campus in Fort Smith, Arkansas with Umarex USA, another company in the PW Group. Adam J. Blalock has been named President & CEO of Walther Arms, Inc. and will also remain as President & CEO of Umarex USA. “We are grateful for the way Smith & Wesson has represented Walther and we look forward to our continued relationship with them”, said Blalock, “We will have a dedicated team focused on meeting the needs of U.S. consumers with high quality, innovative products worthy of the Walther brand. We are very thankful for the many loyal Walther customers and we’re excited for the opportunity to serve them.”
^ThisI know of 4 new female shooters that bought sig P238's based on the sole factor that they could manipulate the slide. If the M&P has as easy to operate slide at a price point under the sig then i have no doubt they will sell to that type of consumer.
Exactly. And they probably monitored the sales of Browning 1911-380, too. Overall, I think the shooters in general win. I really didn't like the cheapness of PK380 and the paddles were the worst ever (blame Umarex for that one; real Walthers have good paddles).It looks like S&W lost the PK380 and developed their own product to fill that segment.
Calling the 380 EZ a "Shield" is marketing fraud, similar to Toyota marketing what is essentially Yaris Hybrid as "Prius C". The gun is actually based on the frame of M&P 22 Compact.This new Shield 380 is slightly larger than a regular Shield.
How is it fraud? S&W owns the rights to the Shield name and can use it how the see fit. This gun is called a Shield 380 EZ. The addition of 380EZ is clearly meant to differentiate it from the other Shield versions. Dodge makes a Charger. Its not the same car they made in the 60s. Is it fraud to call it a Charger? S&W made a revolver during WW2 that became known as the Victory model .Now they make a semi auto 22 they call the Victory. Is that fraud?Calling the 380 EZ a "Shield" is marketing fraud, similar to Toyota marketing what is essentially Yaris Hybrid as "Prius C". The gun is actually based on the frame of M&P 22 Compact.
Therefore, MOST MEN could also benefit from having a gun like this.
Just watched an official video by S&W and man, that giant muzzle flip confuses me. I thought that gun was made large on purpose, to be easier to control.