Building on the success of the M&P 380EZ, Smith & Wesson is introduced the new M&P9 EZ today.
The new gun blends the easy-racking slide of the original pistol with the more powerful 9mm cartridge. This means that people with reduced hand strength are no longer handicapped by the comparatively low powered .380 ACP.
Features of the new M&P 9EZ include:
a slide that is easy to manipulate
a slide with tapered rear slide serrations
magazines with a loading tab for easier insertion of rounds
reversible magazine release
a one-piece trigger design
In the above video, Julie Golob gives you an introduction to the pistol.
Standard Model
Crimson Trace Model
Caliber
9mm
9mm
Capacity
8+1
8+1
Action
internal, hammer-fired
internal, hammer-fired
Barrel Length
3.675″
3.675″
Overall Length
6.8″
6.8″
Weight
23.2 oz
23.2 oz
Sights
3-dot
3-dot, CT red Laserguard
Grip
integral polymer
integral polymer
Finish
matte black
matte black
MSRP (2022)
$549
$669
Guns will be available with and without a thumb safety. All of the pistols will have a grip safety.
Smith & Wesson is also offering a version of the gun with a Crimson Trace Laserguard that uses a red aiming laser. Lasers can be very useful for people when a traditional sight picture is unavailable. For example, if you are knocked to the ground or are using cover that precludes the alignment of gun and eye.
At this time, Smith & Wesson lists all versions of the M&P 9EZ at the same price: $479. It would seem that there is no additional charge for getting the pistol with the Crimson Trace Laserguard.
Where to Buy the S&W M&P 9EZ Shield
The Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield EZ is an amazing pistol. If you cannot find one locally, I’d recommend using the following affiliate links:
There are a lot of things to like about this pistol. When Smith & Wesson launched the “EZ” line, the company had a clear vision of what they were aiming for. I think they achieved it completely.
I’ve had a chance to shoot and review the 9mm and .380 versions of this gun. Both are excellent shooters that are easy to operate. If you have reduced hand strength, the .380 ACP pistol might be the best. Otherwise, I’d recommend opting for this, the 9mm EZ to optimize your firepower in a defensive encounter.
Smith & Wesson has been buying up smaller companies that complement its own firearms product line. The latest acquisition is laser powerhouse Crimson Trace.
Smith & Wesson released a new generation of its popular semi-automatic .22 LR rifles. The new M&P15-22 Sport II rifles feature a number of small upgrades that I believe make the guns an even better buy that before.
The M&P15-22 is a AR-style rifle chambered for the .22 LR rimfire cartridge. I know people who use them for everything from teaching their kids how to shoot to training to just recreational plinking. I have no doubt that a lot of people use them to put rabbit on the table as well.
M-LOK
For 2016, Smith & Wesson added a new 10″ slim handguard with M-LOK attachment points. The thinness of the handguard is likely to be appreciated by kids and others with small hands. My hands are more of a medium size, and I know that I prefer M-LOK handguards compared to quad-rail systems and the two-piece handguards.
M-LOK is an attachment system that consists of precisely defined holes in the handguard that mate to the “male” potion on the accessory to be attached. The system is very secure and eliminates a lot of wasted weight associated with a quad rail system. The new guns weigh 5 pounds, while the older quad rail rifles were 5.4 pounds – nearly a half pound heavier.
I’ve been very impressed by the M-LOK system when I’ve tried it on other rifles.
New Sights
Another upgrade to the M&P15-22 Sport II is the use of Magpul MBUS sights. These are polymer folding sights that replace the rather ugly adjustable sights that Smith & Wesson was using on the original generation of these guns. While completely functional, the original sights tried to imitate the look of an A2-type front sight tower and carry handle rear sight. Frankly, I thought they looked out of place.
The new MBUS sights are lightweight and work well in my experience. Yes, they are polymer but I have found them to be fairly rugged and more than good enough for anything short of a long term overseas deployment. Since this gun is not intended for that purpose, they should work very well on this rifle.
Standard Models
The standard M&P 15-22 Sport II is finished in all black, comes with a 25 round magazine and retails for $449. Two additional standard models are available in other finishes: one in Kryptek Highlander and the other in Muddy Girl camo. Both of these models carry a suggested retail of $499.
Standard Model Specifications
SKU
10208
10211
10212
Caliber
.22 LR
.22 LR
.22 LR
Magazine Capacity
25 rounds
25 rounds
25 rounds
# of Included Magazines
1
1
1
Barrel Length
16.5″
16.5″
16.5″
Overall Length
30.7″-33.75″
30.7″-33.75″
30.7″-33.75″
Weight
5 lbs
5 lbs
5 lbs
Action
semi-auto, blowback
semi-auto, blowback
semi-auto, blowback
Stock
6-position, adjustable length
6-position, adjustable length
6-position, adjustable length
Sights
Magpul MBUS
Magpul MBUS
Magpul MBUS
Finish
black
Kryptek Highlander
Muddy Girl Camo
MSRP
$449
$499
$499
Smith & Wesson has not forgotten about its customers in states where politicians have restricted the kinds of guns law abiding citizens may own. A basic 10-round compliant model will sell for $449.
Additionally, another model meeting the neuter standards of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey can be had for the same price. The state compliant model has a fixed stock, 10-round magazine and removes the muzzle device.
Restricted Model Specifications
SKU
10206
10207
Caliber
.22 LR
.22 LR
Magazine Capacity
10
10
# of Included Magazines
1
1
Barrel Length
16.5″
16.5″
Overall Length
30.7″-33.75″
33.75″
Weight
5 lbs
5 lbs
Action
semi-auto, blowback
semi-auto, blowback
Stock
6-position, adjustable length
6-position, adjustable length
Sights
Magpul MBUS
Magpul MBUS
Finish
black
black
MSRP
$449
$499
Performance Center Models
Not to be left out, the Performance Center is also adding two models to the line up. The first features a longer barrel that has been threaded, a VLTOR adjustable stock, a Hogue pistol grip and a two-stage match trigger. The barrel and chamber are considered match grade. This model retails for $709
The second Performance Center model is a state compliant model for residents living in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. The stock is fixed and the barrel is not threaded. It has the same suggested retail price.
Performance Center Specifications
SKU
10205
11507
Caliber
.22 LR
.22 LR
Magazine Capacity
10
10
# of Included Magazines
1
1
Barrel Length
18″ threaded
18″ threaded
Overall Length
32.5″-37.25″
37.25″
Weight
5.6 lbs
5 lbs
Action
semi-auto, blowback
semi-auto, blowback
Stock
VLTOR adjustable
VLTOR fixed
Sights
Magpul MBUS
Magpul MBUS
Finish
black
black
MSRP
$709
$709
These new rifles were announced on the heels of the new SW22 Victory rimfire pistols. Those new guns look to be a quality successor to the Model 22-A line of pistols. I don’t have any insight into Smith & Wesson’s internal dynamics, but it seems the company is making a real investment in the sport shooting market after several years of spending a lot of their resources on their law enforcement/self-defense offerings.
Several months after the new 15-22 Sport models rolled out, Smith & Wesson added a pair of MOE SL models to the line. Both of these guns add additional Magpul furniture to the package:
MOE SL pistol grip
MOE SL butt stock
M-LOK rail covers
One gun will be all black, while the second will have all of the furniture and magazines in a flat dark earth (FDE) finish. Both guns will retail for $499. For my money, these are a great deal.
Days ahead of the 2016 SHOT Show, Smith & Wesson announced the return of an affordably-priced, dedicated .22 LR handgun to its line-up: the SW22 Victory. The new gun represents the first sub-$1k .22 LR platform pistol from the company since the Model 22A was discontinued.
As regular shooters will note, Smith & Wesson does make other .22 LR pistols and rifles. With the exception of the Model 41, these guns are essentially centerfire designs that have been reworked for the rimfire cartridge. The new SW22 Victory is truly a dedicated platform.
Smith & Wesson discontinued the Model 22A line from its catalog, and has no public plans to reintroduce it at a later date.
Last year rumors began to circulate that Smith & Wesson was dropping the rimfire pistol from the company’s line up, but the gun remained on its site and in its catalog. I have since been able to confirm with a company spokesperson that the gun is now officially history.
