[zaitcev]

What are the advantages vs a G42?

Based on using Glock 42 with +2 extenders, which are the same capacity and the same size (actually, smaller, even so):

- 380 EZ has a grip safety. It is very useful if one transfers the gun all the time. It's easy to grab G42 in such a way that a finger gets into the guard by accident. The alternative is to keep it in a pocket holster at all times, using the holster as some kind of case.
- It is easy to pinch one's palm with the +2, 380 EZ has a long grip that eliminates painful pinching.
- The rear of the grasp area of slide of 380 EZ has a shape that approximates what Glock 42 feels with Vickers / Tango Down racker. It helps immensely.
- Comfortabe single-action trigger pull is another advantage. Not that Glock 42 is that bad: IMHO it's one of the best triggers on pocket .380s (ever shot Bodyguard or Pico?). But the Smith has a potential to be better.
- Industry-standard rail does not limit you to TRL-6 as on G42.

The 22LR style tabs on the magazine may help loading. I'm not sure it actually works, but it's the case that my wife had to use LuLA on G42 magazines. Not even kidding.

 

[zaitcev]

First off I gotta say, mine would stovepipe once every other mag. These springs are WEAK.

A stovepipe on a pistol like the 380 EZ is typically caused by the speed of the slide being too low at the moment the ejector hits the case. If it were my gun, I would address it by finding where the slide is binding and fixing the root cause, and not by enhancing the assist that the case receives from the bottom where the next round or follower pushes it.

 

[zaitcev]

As for how it will actually fit into the market, I think S&W has it right.

People way overthink this. S&W was selling PK380 for years, until Walther withheld it from them. So, they knew the market potential of this gun first-hand. And, they saw how successfully Browning converted 1911-22 into 1911-380. Someone at S&W added 2 and 2, voila: they converted M&P 22 into .380 and named it "Shield". That's all there was to it. The gun is virtually identical in size and features to PK380 and 1911-380, yet everyone talks as if it's creating a new kind of market.

P.S. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice improvement over the PK380. That one was, how shall we say... somewhat challenged in the quality department. And I love that grip safety.