From a reader:
"I enjoyed this article. Thank you for the suggestions. What would you suggest for EDC (every day carry)?"
GLOCK 19
Sig P320
Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0
Each of these is 15+1. Each of these is well proven, very reliable, and more accurate than most shooters. This author has one of each and does not hesitate to take a class with them, or loan them to students in classes. They simply work.
Also, for those that want a smaller gun:
GLOCK 43
Sig P365
Smith & Wesson Shield.
Avoid:
- Avoid .380 and "mouse gun" calibers (.22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP).
- Avoid the S&W "Shield E-Z" - it is NOT "EZ."
- Avoid 1911 models for self defense carry.
- Avoid arming women with revolvers - they are neither more reliable, nor easier to shoot.
- Avoid falling into the 9mm vs .40 vs .45 debate. They are all pistol calibers.
I'm curious- can you talk a little more about the M&P EZ model and why you'd avoid it?
ReplyDeleteI don't have one and have been not a hater but kind of leery of them. Whatever they did to the mechanism to make it "EZ" seemed kind of gimmicky to me and this gimmick impression was strengthened by some kind of recall they had on it not long after it came out. Are there yet more reasons to steer away?
You said "gimmick" and that's precisely it. And this, not only from myself, but several other firearms instructors I know. The Shield EZ tends to have malfunctions. Lots of them.
DeleteSome malfunctions are shooter induced because the shooter does not have the hand strength to keep the rear grip safety depressed. Some malfunctions are simply because the spring is lighter and a spring that is not correctly calibrated can lead to malfunctions.
And the rest - well, I don't know why they happen - just that they do.
And here is the gimmick - the lighter spring is there to make the slide easier to rack. Yet, it does not do so to any appreciable amount. Maybe a pound or two of difference, at most. If someone cannot manipulate a G19 slide, then they will not be able to manipulate an EZ slide.
People who have poor mechanics have trouble racking slides. People who learn good mechanics can manipulate slides. It is that easy. Pun intended.
Never owned the EZ but someone usually did for a few years of time at every training class I went to. And guess who was always struggling with malfunctions. Never asked details since my job was to learn the material but it informed me enough to stay away.
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