This appears to be the follow-on to the 9mm EZ only with a slim double stack like the Shield Plus, and it has the optics cutout as standard. I have considerable arthritis and own a 380 EZ which is very easy to operate and load, while giving more of a full sized grip compared to a LCP. I also have a Walther CCP 9mm which shoots great but it doesn't mitigate the recoil as well as I had hoped and racking is a bit stiff, but has typical Walther ergonomics and just fits in my large hands, though it too is a narrow single stack. Curious if you have fired a CCP and could compare it to the new Equalizer or even the original 9mm EZ. Both you and your wife gave the Equalizer rather medicore reviews, is there something else in this category you might recommend? My original Shield 9mm has been a great gun but is getting more and more difficult to rack these days, and it still has a very stiff slide release even after several thousand rounds.
I also lost my muscle strength in my left arm after chemo and the first gun I bought afterwards was a 380 EZ. I like it , but I’m considering this on for it’s larger capacity. I was able to shoot one at my local range and found it as easy racking and shooting as my 380 EZ. Maybe a little more perceived recoil, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Before chemo I was shooting a 9mm.
I'm almost 71 and went years without a hand gun( 1911 in the 70's). Last year I got the 9ez and loved it. BUT, not enough rounds. Yesterday I shot my new EQUALIZER for the first time. I love the feel and recoil is very manageable. After 200 rnds. I'm still hitting a bit left at 35 yds. I think I'll be able to fix that. In short, I love my new weapon.
The Three Amigos (middle finger, ring finger, pinky) when you anticipate the recoil from the round, some, including me at one time, tend to tense up and squeeze and it will cause low left, or low right shots depending on hand dominance. Or just left or right depending on your specific, unique grip.
Buying an Equalizer for wifey for Christmas. She's new to firearms, and didn't like the Ruger LCP II bought last year because it was too hard to rack. We rented an Equalizer at our local range, and she liked it right off. The grip safety didn't bother her, and since we ordered the manual safety model, she'll feel very comfortable carrying this with one in the chamber. Train with what you carry, and nothing will surprise you. For women, new shooters, or those with less upper-body strength, the S&W Equalizer is a winner.
I carried a 1911 A1 for years so the grip safety is nothing new to me. My wife carries the EZ 380 and loves it. You train with what you carry. This is on the top of my list.
Unlike a 1911 or the XD, the grip safety on the Smiths is long and hinged at the bottom. If you have any half-assed grip on the pistol it will be depressed. My wife shot a couple hundred rounds thru her 9 EZ before she noticed it even had a grip safety. Since they have to take their pants down to pee, women tend to carry in a belly-band that's independent of their pants, and those don't have a hard shell protecting the trigger... so... when holstering/re-holstering you can place your thumb on the back of the slide and the grip safety is not depressed. When carrying, if anything should push into the belly-band and contact the trigger, same thing, the grip safety is not depressed so the pistol cannot fire. I love this feature for my wife.
I just bought this gun, and haven't had it a week yet. I've only run a box of 115 g FMJ through it so far, but I really like the gun. I've only had two boo boos with the grip safety, but it was all me, not the gun. When I grip the gun like I should, the grip safety is not a concern at all. I will probably use the 13 rd mag when I carry the gun, and I'll switch EDC with my Hellcat. No complaints from me on this one.
Jusr recently moved from my EZ 9mm to the Equalizer. My main reason for originally buying the EZ was due to age related hand strength issues. But I never liked the low round capacity of the single stack magazine and lack of an optics mount. So when I saw the equalizer which still has the easy rack system and also has high capacity and an optics ready slide it was a no-brainer for me to choose the Equalizer. I got mine 08/2023. I also liked the fact that S&W currently has a rebate going on where you get the three extra mags. They're said to be 15 round mags so thats a pretty good rebate. I mounted a Viridian RFX11green dot on the Equalizer. Having never used an optic before the RFX 11 was priced right. It installed easily and even though its not an alloy or feature rich optic, it works great.
The original S&W EZ in 9MM was my first handgun and since I wasn't used to anything else, I found it very easy to operate. Even in the very beginning I have never had any issue with the grip safety. If you are holding it with a proper grip, it will shoot. I had other issues from holding it wrong when I was learning to shoot, but not from the grip safety. During the ammo shortage, I was using whatever ammo I could get my hands on and it would run whatever I put into it even when I wasn't sure where the heck it came from.
One of the reasons I love SW, like my Glocks it will shoot anything and lots or rounds before I need to clean it. Price is important but you need to trust the gun. 👍
My daughter who has limited experience loves it. Easy for her to manipulate and the thin grips work for her small hands. The question does it hit Mark it hit the mark or miss the mark? I think it hits the mark it was aimed at which is different that the typical, experienced male shooter. Props for S&W reaching past the traditional gun buyer which is why it’s called the Equalizer. Gives ppl like my daughter an equal chance to survive.
AHA! Teya's brilliant comment about things flopping over the grip safety while appendix carrying AWAKENED ME! I have a big belly roll of flab and never considered this idea before, since this is the first grip safety pistol that interested me. Thank you Teya!..............................elsullo
Thank you for doing this review. The challenge with fully loading the 15 round magazine has nothing to do with the Mag Uplula. Once the magazine spring is “broken in” then getting all rounds loaded will be a breeze.
... I bought one not long after they came out, me and a good friend test fired it, both of us really like it. Being able to use magazines that already exist is a definite plus in my book. As far as the grip safety, in my opinion, ether you love it or hate it. I put it akin to the old K&K P7 " squeeze cocker" pistol - some loved it as well as some hated it. Mine is definitely a keeper ...
Very, very well done. Interested in this for my wife as she gets older. I like so many newer higher capacity micro guns. But this offering with EZ properties is attractive. Thanks
Had a friend buy an S&W EZ a year ago. It’s a good starter gun for her and I feel like the Equalizer is the next evolution of that. The EZ is a pleasant gun to shoot. I imagine this is much the same. Glad to see S&W innovating and moving things forward.
My wife has a shield plus and I tested out the Equalizer. Think I will get the Equalizer for myself. But I have an HKP30 and its a bit hard to conceal. Equalizer is a pretty good gun
I have always wanted something with an easy-rack slide, but was hesitant to buy the EZ due to the relatively low capacity. This might be exactly what I'm looking for, even if it is a bit large for carry in the warmer months. Thank you for doing this review.
My wife has one and loves it. She and I both shoot it well. She likes how easy it is to rack. I am thinking of changing to if from my Canik MC9 for my EDC so that if she would need to use it then it would be familiar to her. These are great guns.
Great laid back review. The slide lock and 15th round look like they'll soften up with use. Really hope they put out the 380 version of this sooner than later. Keltec P15 looks interesting, hoping you do a review of it.
I have two M&P 380 EZ pistols. What I have noticed is that the this Smith and Wesson pistols are somewhat lose in their tolerances. I have some arthritis in my hands and these pistols are very easy for me to use. They don't shoot as tightly as say my Beretta 92FS, but they will do six inches all the time at 7 to 10 yds with various types of ammo and beyond that I as a civilian am looking to disengage so I am guess that the tolerances on this gun are not very tight which makes the slide easy to rack. In the manual for my 380 EZs they say that the sight picture should be the front sight covering the impact point. just an observation, I had to get use to that since the military taught me a six o'clock hold.
Ive had an Equalizer for about a year now. I also have a shield, shield plus and lcp. I find myself utilizing the Equalizer 80 percent of the time, the lcp 15% and the shields 5%. I like the safeties for AIWB, the longer barrel and the ability to rack the slide on my leg/belly or anything I can press it against. Not as easy to conceal due to the slingshot bosses and ambidextrous safety.
I examined one in the gun store 2 days ago and the grip safety is an issue for me ,the ‘webbed ‘ area between my thumb and trigger finger just didn’t always engage the grip safety. I never had that problem with 1911s or old S&W revolvers
Fantastic video 😊. They also offer a version with a manual safety. Was researching this pistol, definitely like the appearance of it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and review. Happy Thanksgiving too you both.
I have an Equalizer and really like it. It has not become my EDC because I also really like my Sig P365s but it's a close race between them. I have to concur with Tia, it's a good gun but not special. That works for me - all it has to do is work when and if I ever need it to work.
I'm going to take exception with your "beautiful day" claim. It's clearly much too cold to be beautiful 😂 (I grew up in DFW Texas and spent all my AF assignments in Deserts 😆)
Just to put this out there I have one and the mag release works just fine. Out of the box it was a little stiff but after I cleaned and lubed as per the smith and Wessons guidelines in the handbook I haven’t had a problem.
Thanks for your thorough review. I too was hesitant to learn the Mag Lula loader that my wife loved until I hit my 72nd birthday. They really work good. Lot's of guys will buy the Equalizer because of the name. The market will actually be folks with lots of guns and extra money. Thanks again.
I just picked on up last week, it is a shooter, no complaints. Absolutely love the trigger. After shooting the FN Reflex and this pistol, I don't know if I'll ever buy another striker fired gun again.🤷♂
Same thing happened to my shield plus 13 rounder, I could only get 12 no matter what. I finally used a mag loader and really pushed it down and finally got it. After that you can get the 13th round in no problem. My guess is it’s the same with this mag
I had the same issue, you just have to get it fully loaded and leave it like that for a while. After that its completely fine and I can hand load them.
Nice shooting, both of you, on different ammo and being new to the gun. It was very reliable at least. I'm hoping to shoot it at my indoor range before making my own decision.
Enjoyed the Star Trek reference 😁. Looks like a nice gun. I was looking at the M&P Shield EZ in 9mm but may take a closer look at the Equalizer. Thanks for the video and keep shooting 😊.
Just got,my 380,EZ it is the nicest recoil I have shot. The grip safety not a problem for me, I want low recoil putting shots back on target if this has lower recoil the the shield I am in for a purchase.
@ 21:30 - I never use a slide LOCK as a slide release, especially with an empty chamber, i.e. with an empty magazine or no magazine, and no one should. The slide lock is really stiff, because it's not a slide release. If one continues to use the slide lock in that manner, one will prematurely wear the slide lock tab that secures in the slide notch. Stripping a round out of the magazine and into the chamber puts a little drag on the slide and slows it down. Without that drag it will slam harder into battery which, over time, may prematurely wear the locking surfaces in the action (ruclips.net/user/shortsQNNoOW3QIUw). I own an Equalizer, and I would rate it much more favorably in all aspects over most semi-auto pistols that I either own or have shot. And I would take an Equalizer over any Glock 9mm any day.
Just picked one up glad it's 9mm for the prices of ammo today. Only fired 100 rounds so far but the pistol fires great! Thank for the video I always watch videos like this before I purchase a gun.
I was excited for it because of the hammer fired aspect and the looks, but none of the reviews i have seen really gave a ringing endorsment....so I think I will wait a bit and see if things change down the road.
Reading this a year later, having just rented one, and loved it, we’ve watched a few more videos, and note the well earned general high regard this gun is held in, virtually across the board. We are planning one more rental next week, and expect exceptional groupings like last time. We’re probably buying one. I find it nearly as easy to run as my Shield 380, and I like the additional mag capacity.
*Grip Safety:* This is a nice feature, especially for women. Since they have to take their pants down to pee, women tend to carry in a belly-band that's independent of their pants, and those don't have a hard shell protecting the trigger... so... when holstering/re-holstering you can place your thumb on the back of the slide and the grip safety is not depressed. When carrying, if anything should push into the belly-band and contact the trigger, same thing, the grip safety is not depressed so the pistol cannot fire. I love this feature for my wife (her EDC is a 9 EZ). Unlike a 1911 or the XD, the grip safety on the Smiths is long and hinged at the bottom. If you have any half-assed grip on the pistol it will be depressed. My wife shot a couple hundred rounds thru her EZ before she noticed it even had a grip safety. The slide release worked on both of our M&Ps right out of the box. I see a lot of reviews where it doesn't or it takes time to break-in/free-up, but we haven't had that issue. The one on the right side of the gun, however, requires super-hero strength to release.
I was in the market for the Shield Plus. I was all but decided to get one...but then they dropped the Equalizer. I'm not a huge fan of safeties, but I'd rather have a grip safety than a thumb safety. The higher mag capacity, new slide serrations, and the smooth slide are actually tempting for me even though I have no issues racking any 9 mm handgun. What do you think of the recoil of the Equalizer vs the Shield Plus?
I have the S&W Equalizer, much better than the EZ, I use it for qualification and like it a lot better than my glock 19, and a bit easier to rack than my Shield Plus, which also shoots well. I carry G9 defense ammo in it and have had no issues with any of the ball target ammo I have tried in it. It is my favorite of all the pistols I own.
My biggest issue with these guns and the Springfield XD series is I’m not a fan of grip safeties on a defensive gun. Under stress you can pull your gun and not get the perfect grip on it to fire it. To me it’s just one more thing to go wrong. That’s just my opinion though. Great video again 👊🇺🇸
To test that theory I've attended courses with a grip-safety gun (Springfield XDm) and to me your concern seems to be valid only if someone doesn't train or have solid shooting fundamentals. I did, however, experience a failure with the Springfield when a roll pin snapped and prevented the grip safety from working. The gun still functioned, but the grip safety was no longer a safety.
This looks like a decent pistol but I'm no fan of the grip safety on polymer carry guns. I guess I'm too old school for my own good, but to me the only pistol that should have a grip safety is a model 1911. I like the cross compatible magazines though, now I can pick up a 15 round mag for my Shield Plus. I would not trade my Shield Plus for one of these or a CSX. No grip safety or manual safety to worry about, just draw and shoot......like it should be with a carry pistol. For some, this would be a nice first gun for carry use and home defense, it just doesn't appeal to me personally. Thanks for the nice review!
7:07 I was hoping for another Star Trek reference to Walter Koenig (actor who played Pavel Chekov on Star Trek) when she pulled out the Koenig ammo...oh well, there's always next time :) Thanks for the review.
I was unable to adjust my rear sight. Even removing the set screw, the rear sight must be epoxied in place. Tried to hit it with a jewelers hammer, no move!
Re mags capacity: it’s a common thing w Shield Plus mags from the factory that you cannot load them full. If you buy spare OEM mags, they work fine. Also, slide release issue is with the shape of the Follower in the mags. You should be able to do it with a round in the mag but not on empty mag. I was listening w/o watching so I’m not sure if you tried slide release on an empty mag or a loaded mag.
Amazing Job Graham on the spinning target. I think this is the first time I've seen you flip it twice. How does this shoot compared to the Shield Plus?
We don't have a Shield Plus to compare against, but I have shot one at an event. I would consider the Equalizer softer-shooting and more controllable, but most importantly the trigger is predictable unlike Shield triggers which seem to slip sometimes.
@Graham Baates Thanks, and it appears a Shield Plus review is needed? There are a lot of people considering the Shield Plus and need your and Teya's review.
I guess this is basically a Shield EZ plus? I love the OG Shield and the plus. I also have my daughter starting out on a Shield .380 EZ with lighter loads. All great guns. Personally I don’t see enough here to make me change my EDC over from a Glock 43x, however I don’t see enough in just about everything else that’s out there as well.
Your from the PNW, I'm guessing your in Oregon....Sorry to hear about your new magazine ban, that will be in affect pretty soon. I live in WA state but from Oregon...my sympathy to all Oregonians. Washingtonians fully understand your pain....
Funny you mentioned the ejection..... that was the first thing I noticed with Teyas shots..... my XDS and G3C almost..... bag casings for me. But I'm only two and a half minutes in.... apologies for the interruption.....
We may have to move. 114 is completely illegal and unconstitutional, but that doesn't stop politicians who hate America from wanting to disarm the populace.
The sights on the gun need to be adjustable. After a few hundred rounds an making grip adjustments I was still shooting left. Put a holoson dot on it an what a hugh difference. The gun is a pleasure to shoot accurately an easily
@@GBGuns I'm curious what the comparison to the 380ez is. How much of a difference is it? My wife has the 380ez and she wants something with more rounds but with a similar ease of use as the 380.
@@nimbly1693 There's no published plan for the permits, no funding, even the State Police are at a loss. The whole measure was a miss and threatens a slippery slope of civil rights denial.
I rented one and loved the way it shot. I would like other perspectives. What gun shoots better? What gun has a better trigger? What would your recommend for general use including range, carry, and defense?
It's overall not a bad gun. Asking about the trigger can be a slippery slope as we all have different preferences and skill levels. A lot of folks like something short and crisp. I enjoy such a trigger on the range and it certainly makes it easier to shoot well, but would not and do not carry something with a light and short trigger. I think the Equalizer could serve well as a general-purpose gun (carry, range, etc). It's nothing magical, but not a bad gun either.
I'm considering this or the Sig 365 Macro. I don't understand how you figured it is too difficult to get that 15th round into the mag. I've been watching a lot of review videos on the Equalizer but no one else has mentioned this issue, and I try to screen my videos to avoid so-called "unbiased" reviews that are obviously from reviewers that are supported by manufacturers. I believe you are being honest and fair in your reviews.Have you reviewed the Sig 365 Macro and how does it compare to the Equalizer?
@Graham Baates Is 30 super carry going to stick around? Since the original EZ and shield plus are in 30SC and this new gun wasn’t launched with 30SC shows this Caliber isn’t easy to transition too. DOA
It makes sense to launch in the world's most popular ha dgun cartridge first, the. Roll out others later. Teya and I got to try 30SC at an event and it certainly makes small guns more pleasant to shoot. I don't know if demand will keep that load alive.
What area do you shoot? Coast range? I hunt and shoot in the trask area. Glad we have some gun RUclipsrs in Oregon. Since you are in Oregon and are laws are about to suck can you do a review on the mag blocks to see if they actually work?
I have to wonder if a Talon Grips overlay would help with the accuracy. My own personal experience says that it very well could. While trigger control has, can and does lead to varied group size, I've found that even experienced shooters may miss that the grip size and texture might be just a little small. I suggest this because I've seen many of your videos and seen how well both of you shoot. Anecdote: I have a SD40VE and was having the problem of shooting low and left. After replacing the factory trigger with a (what I believe to be) very good trigger and spring kit to reduce trigger pull weight I was still suffering this problem...unless I really concentrated on grip and squeeze to the point of almost shaking. After adding the Talon Grip textured rubber overlay, this problem has magically vanished. I'm not saying that Talon Grips are the fix for every accuracy problem. I'm saying that the shooter may need to spend time at the range and carefully evaluate what is going on.
Thank you, When we printed that poorly I was sure it would bring on the trash-talkers, but we show it like it is and always have. Some guns just work better for us than others. This is one that didn't want to print nicely.
A secret spot I've used for 7 years, but now they've blocked it off with boulders despite it being public land. NOT COOL. We pay our taxes and have an Off-Highway Vehicle decal to drive on public land.
The last time I shot out at the "Memaloose" rock pit way East of Estacada, about three years ago, as I drove out that rough road home I encountered an incoming CONVOY of six or seven low riding new and expensive sport cars full of young Asian men with long hair combed way up high-and-back. At that hour the pit was still full of Western Rednecks, so I am glad that I never learned how it went out there. I do not know ANY shooting spots in Oregon that are "clean and safe!".............................elsullo
@@elsullo2 Just looking to go somewhere that is somewhat safe and outdoors. Just stick to the range. Or I can just walk around Portland and hand my firearms to criminals and say. Thank you wheeler for all you DONT do. Thank you all for getting back be safe out there.
How does the trigger compare to Shield Plus? Plus has take up, solid wall, no creep, clean break, no over travel, small reset. Does the Equalizer compare? Thanks!
@mikec8123 take a look at our 9mm range ammo guide and look for stuff with lower muzzle energy. Even just 115gr can vary by 30%+ from brand to brand. The article is at GBGunsDepot.com
@@GBGuns Oh I saw it alright! I just need to find someone I can buy it from. It's a little steep price wise, like the newest Steyr pistols are, but I'm still buying it either way. Those are sweet ass deals on the G.Power's too!
It's u , not the gun. I make weapons as a .machinist. 99.9% of the time, it is the user. Equalizer, like the EZ, is made for older people with weak hand strength and first-time gun owners..
Press release and pricing: manage.wix.com/dashboard/eb7b0e76-d184-4628-a36d-de1aed7deae8/blog/posts?tab=published&lang=en
This appears to be the follow-on to the 9mm EZ only with a slim double stack like the Shield Plus, and it has the optics cutout as standard. I have considerable arthritis and own a 380 EZ which is very easy to operate and load, while giving more of a full sized grip compared to a LCP. I also have a Walther CCP 9mm which shoots great but it doesn't mitigate the recoil as well as I had hoped and racking is a bit stiff, but has typical Walther ergonomics and just fits in my large hands, though it too is a narrow single stack. Curious if you have fired a CCP and could compare it to the new Equalizer or even the original 9mm EZ. Both you and your wife gave the Equalizer rather medicore reviews, is there something else in this category you might recommend? My original Shield 9mm has been a great gun but is getting more and more difficult to rack these days, and it still has a very stiff slide release even after several thousand rounds.
I think both of you need to to learn to shoot better before you judge this gun.
You must be new to the channel. Welcome
I lost my strength to cancer treatments. I picked up an Equilizer last Sunday and have done some range time. It works for me.
I also lost my muscle strength in my left arm after chemo and the first gun I bought afterwards was a 380 EZ. I like it , but I’m considering this on for it’s larger capacity. I was able to shoot one at my local range and found it as easy racking and shooting as my 380 EZ. Maybe a little more perceived recoil, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Before chemo I was shooting a 9mm.
God bless both of you. Hope your doing well. Glad to read your comments. Thank you for sharing 🙏
I'm almost 71 and went years without a hand gun( 1911 in the 70's). Last year I got the 9ez and loved it. BUT, not enough rounds. Yesterday I shot my new EQUALIZER for the first time. I love the feel and recoil is very manageable. After 200 rnds. I'm still hitting a bit left at 35 yds. I think I'll be able to fix that. In short, I love my new weapon.
The Three Amigos (middle finger, ring finger, pinky) when you anticipate the recoil from the round, some, including me at one time, tend to tense up and squeeze and it will cause low left, or low right shots depending on hand dominance. Or just left or right depending on your specific, unique grip.
Buying an Equalizer for wifey for Christmas. She's new to firearms, and didn't like the Ruger LCP II bought last year because it was too hard to rack. We rented an Equalizer at our local range, and she liked it right off. The grip safety didn't bother her, and since we ordered the manual safety model, she'll feel very comfortable carrying this with one in the chamber. Train with what you carry, and nothing will surprise you. For women, new shooters, or those with less upper-body strength, the S&W Equalizer is a winner.
Glad to hear it!!
I carried a 1911 A1 for years so the grip safety is nothing new to me. My wife carries the EZ 380 and loves it. You train with what you carry. This is on the top of my list.
Unlike a 1911 or the XD, the grip safety on the Smiths is long and hinged at the bottom. If you have any half-assed grip on the pistol it will be depressed. My wife shot a couple hundred rounds thru her 9 EZ before she noticed it even had a grip safety.
Since they have to take their pants down to pee, women tend to carry in a belly-band that's independent of their pants, and those don't have a hard shell protecting the trigger... so... when holstering/re-holstering you can place your thumb on the back of the slide and the grip safety is not depressed. When carrying, if anything should push into the belly-band and contact the trigger, same thing, the grip safety is not depressed so the pistol cannot fire. I love this feature for my wife.
I just bought this gun, and haven't had it a week yet. I've only run a box of 115 g FMJ through it so far, but I really like the gun. I've only had two boo boos with the grip safety, but it was all me, not the gun. When I grip the gun like I should, the grip safety is not a concern at all. I will probably use the 13 rd mag when I carry the gun, and I'll switch EDC with my Hellcat. No complaints from me on this one.
How would you compare it to the hellcat? Pros n cons? Thanks
Jusr recently moved from my EZ 9mm to the Equalizer. My main reason for originally buying the EZ was due to age related hand strength issues. But I never liked the low round capacity of the single stack magazine and lack of an optics mount.
So when I saw the equalizer which still has the easy rack system and also has high capacity and an optics ready slide it was a no-brainer for me to choose the Equalizer. I got mine 08/2023. I also liked the fact that S&W currently has a rebate going on where you get the three extra mags. They're said to be 15 round mags so thats a pretty good rebate.
I mounted a Viridian RFX11green dot on the Equalizer. Having never used an optic before the RFX 11 was priced right. It installed easily and even though its not an alloy or feature rich optic, it works great.
The original S&W EZ in 9MM was my first handgun and since I wasn't used to anything else, I found it very easy to operate. Even in the very beginning I have never had any issue with the grip safety. If you are holding it with a proper grip, it will shoot. I had other issues from holding it wrong when I was learning to shoot, but not from the grip safety. During the ammo shortage, I was using whatever ammo I could get my hands on and it would run whatever I put into it even when I wasn't sure where the heck it came from.
One of the reasons I love SW, like my Glocks it will shoot anything and lots or rounds before I need to clean it. Price is important but you need to trust the gun. 👍
My daughter who has limited experience loves it. Easy for her to manipulate and the thin grips work for her small hands. The question does it hit Mark it hit the mark or miss the mark? I think it hits the mark it was aimed at which is different that the typical, experienced male shooter. Props for S&W reaching past the traditional gun buyer which is why it’s called the Equalizer. Gives ppl like my daughter an equal chance to survive.
AHA! Teya's brilliant comment about things flopping over the grip safety while appendix carrying AWAKENED ME! I have a big belly roll of flab and never considered this idea before, since this is the first grip safety pistol that interested me. Thank you Teya!..............................elsullo
Thank you for doing this review. The challenge with fully loading the 15 round magazine has nothing to do with the Mag Uplula. Once the magazine spring is “broken in” then getting all rounds loaded will be a breeze.
I had trouble getting 15 in, got to 13 and had to take the Uplula off and check the mag, then the last 2 would go in with the Uplula.
I don't know this channel but i love the way this lady was describing her experience.
Welcome to the channel. Teya's reviewed a few hundred pistols, her bio is in our "about".
@@GBGuns Glad to know know both of you from the bio. Fellow veteran here as well :]
... I bought one not long after they came out, me and a good friend test fired it, both of us really like it. Being able to use magazines that already exist is a definite plus in my book. As far as the grip safety, in my opinion, ether you love it or hate it. I put it akin to the old K&K P7 " squeeze cocker" pistol - some loved it as well as some hated it. Mine is definitely a keeper ...
Very, very well done. Interested in this for my wife as she gets older. I like so many newer higher capacity micro guns. But this offering with EZ properties is attractive. Thanks
I have one that I carry everyday, I bought it and took it to the range and it worked flawlessly.
Always appreciate your thorough and multi-perspective shooting reviews!
Had a friend buy an S&W EZ a year ago. It’s a good starter gun for her and I feel like the Equalizer is the next evolution of that. The EZ is a pleasant gun to shoot. I imagine this is much the same. Glad to see S&W innovating and moving things forward.
My wife has a shield plus and I tested out the Equalizer. Think I will get the Equalizer for myself. But I have an HKP30 and its a bit hard to conceal. Equalizer is a pretty good gun
I have always wanted something with an easy-rack slide, but was hesitant to buy the EZ due to the relatively low capacity. This might be exactly what I'm looking for, even if it is a bit large for carry in the warmer months. Thank you for doing this review.
I wish they would just release a shield plus ez, best of all worlds, you get the ez slide, the high capacity, and the compact size and slide length
I have one, you'll love it.
My wife has one and loves it. She and I both shoot it well. She likes how easy it is to rack. I am thinking of changing to if from my Canik MC9 for my EDC so that if she would need to use it then it would be familiar to her. These are great guns.
ARX is not frangible. It is a solid copper/polymer matrix. The flutes and hyper velocity (1650fps) do all the work. Amazing performance in gel.
I'm looking forward to a .380 Equalizer.
So am I.
That would be awesome 👌 👏 👍
Great laid back review. The slide lock and 15th round look like they'll soften up with use. Really hope they put out the 380 version of this sooner than later. Keltec P15 looks interesting, hoping you do a review of it.
We'll see if our Patrons was to see a P15.
I feel that S&W hit it out of the park my opinion only
I have two M&P 380 EZ pistols. What I have noticed is that the this Smith and Wesson pistols are somewhat lose in their tolerances.
I have some arthritis in my hands and these pistols are very easy for me to use. They don't shoot as tightly as say my Beretta 92FS, but they will do six inches all the time at 7 to 10 yds with various types of ammo and beyond that I as a civilian am looking to disengage so I am guess that the tolerances on this gun are not very tight which makes the slide easy to rack.
In the manual for my 380 EZs they say that the sight picture should be the front sight covering the impact point. just an observation, I had to get use to that since the military taught me a six o'clock hold.
Ive had an Equalizer for about a year now. I also have a shield, shield plus and lcp. I find myself utilizing the Equalizer 80 percent of the time, the lcp 15% and the shields 5%. I like the safeties for AIWB, the longer barrel and the ability to rack the slide on my leg/belly or anything I can press it against. Not as easy to conceal due to the slingshot bosses and ambidextrous safety.
I'm always eager to see your evaluation of a new gun.
Just picked up up yesterday and was very pleased with it shoots very nice
I examined one in the gun store 2 days ago and the grip safety is an issue for me ,the ‘webbed ‘ area between my thumb and trigger finger just didn’t always engage the grip safety. I never had that problem with 1911s or old S&W revolvers
Fantastic video 😊. They also offer a version with a manual safety. Was researching this pistol, definitely like the appearance of it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and review.
Happy Thanksgiving too you both.
I have an Equalizer and really like it. It has not become my EDC because I also really like my Sig P365s but it's a close race between them. I have to concur with Tia, it's a good gun but not special. That works for me - all it has to do is work when and if I ever need it to work.
I'm going to take exception with your "beautiful day" claim. It's clearly much too cold to be beautiful 😂
(I grew up in DFW Texas and spent all my AF assignments in Deserts 😆)
I couldn't agree more 😂
Just to put this out there I have one and the mag release works just fine. Out of the box it was a little stiff but after I cleaned and lubed as per the smith and Wessons guidelines in the handbook I haven’t had a problem.
Watched this video for the second time. As a S&W fan boy I hope they do make a 380 acp performance center version for my arthritic hands.
The slide release on my M&P 9 2.0 compact was super stiff at first. Run it enough and it will work itself out.
Thanks for your thorough review. I too was hesitant to learn the Mag Lula loader that my wife loved until I hit my 72nd birthday. They really work good. Lot's of guys will buy the Equalizer because of the name. The market will actually be folks with lots of guns and extra money. Thanks again.
I just picked on up last week, it is a shooter, no complaints. Absolutely love the trigger. After shooting the FN Reflex and this pistol, I don't know if I'll ever buy another striker fired gun again.🤷♂
Same thing happened to my shield plus 13 rounder, I could only get 12 no matter what. I finally used a mag loader and really pushed it down and finally got it. After that you can get the 13th round in no problem. My guess is it’s the same with this mag
I cannot get the 15th round in a s&w sd9ve.
I had the same issue, you just have to get it fully loaded and leave it like that for a while. After that its completely fine and I can hand load them.
Nice shooting, both of you, on different ammo and being new to the gun. It was very reliable at least. I'm hoping to shoot it at my indoor range before making my own decision.
Love what you all do. Keep it up. I have bought one of my guns based on your recommendation.
Which one?
Yea which one?
I love my Equalizer, but I did have to do a little file job on the slide release and it works great now.
Enjoyed the Star Trek reference 😁. Looks like a nice gun. I was looking at the M&P Shield EZ in 9mm but may take a closer look at the Equalizer. Thanks for the video and keep shooting 😊.
Great job on sharing your first impressions on the S&W Equalizer! My question is: What are some of the compatible red dot for this pistol ?
Just got,my 380,EZ it is the nicest recoil I have shot. The grip safety not a problem for me, I want low recoil putting shots back on target if this has lower recoil the the shield I am in for a purchase.
Did you ever do a what's for breakfast or what's for lunch? Bacon smelling rounds? Thanks for all your videos all the love.
We have found some interesting smells with some rounds.
Interesting. Thanks for reviewing it 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
And thanks to the Patrons for making it possible!
Great review as always.
@ 21:30 - I never use a slide LOCK as a slide release, especially with an empty chamber, i.e. with an empty magazine or no magazine, and no one should. The slide lock is really stiff, because it's not a slide release. If one continues to use the slide lock in that manner, one will prematurely wear the slide lock tab that secures in the slide notch. Stripping a round out of the magazine and into the chamber puts a little drag on the slide and slows it down. Without that drag it will slam harder into battery which, over time, may prematurely wear the locking surfaces in the action (ruclips.net/user/shortsQNNoOW3QIUw). I own an Equalizer, and I would rate it much more favorably in all aspects over most semi-auto pistols that I either own or have shot. And I would take an Equalizer over any Glock 9mm any day.
Well said!
Just picked one up glad it's 9mm for the prices of ammo today. Only fired 100 rounds so far but the pistol fires great! Thank for the video I always watch videos like this before I purchase a gun.
Thank you for the feedback
I was excited for it because of the hammer fired aspect and the looks, but none of the reviews i have seen really gave a ringing endorsment....so I think I will wait a bit and see if things change down the road.
It's not a bad gun, just nothing magical either.
Reading this a year later, having just rented one, and loved it, we’ve watched a few more videos, and note the well earned general high regard this gun is held in, virtually across the board. We are planning one more rental next week, and expect exceptional groupings like last time. We’re probably buying one. I find it nearly as easy to run as my Shield 380, and I like the additional mag capacity.
*Grip Safety:* This is a nice feature, especially for women. Since they have to take their pants down to pee, women tend to carry in a belly-band that's independent of their pants, and those don't have a hard shell protecting the trigger... so... when holstering/re-holstering you can place your thumb on the back of the slide and the grip safety is not depressed. When carrying, if anything should push into the belly-band and contact the trigger, same thing, the grip safety is not depressed so the pistol cannot fire. I love this feature for my wife (her EDC is a 9 EZ).
Unlike a 1911 or the XD, the grip safety on the Smiths is long and hinged at the bottom. If you have any half-assed grip on the pistol it will be depressed. My wife shot a couple hundred rounds thru her EZ before she noticed it even had a grip safety.
The slide release worked on both of our M&Ps right out of the box. I see a lot of reviews where it doesn't or it takes time to break-in/free-up, but we haven't had that issue. The one on the right side of the gun, however, requires super-hero strength to release.
I was in the market for the Shield Plus. I was all but decided to get one...but then they dropped the Equalizer. I'm not a huge fan of safeties, but I'd rather have a grip safety than a thumb safety. The higher mag capacity, new slide serrations, and the smooth slide are actually tempting for me even though I have no issues racking any 9 mm handgun.
What do you think of the recoil of the Equalizer vs the Shield Plus?
We've not done an in-depth review of the Shield Plus but have shot one. I think the Equalizer is sifter shooting thanks to the longer slide and grip.
@@GBGuns
Great, thank you for the reply. I have a lot to think about now.
It comes down to 1 key thing if you want to carry it... TRAINING!
I have the S&W Equalizer, much better than the EZ, I use it for qualification and like it a lot better than my glock 19, and a bit easier to rack than my Shield Plus, which also shoots well. I carry G9 defense ammo in it and have had no issues with any of the ball target ammo I have tried in it. It is my favorite of all the pistols I own.
I want the Equalizer so bad. This is the perfect gun
I practice a lot and don’t even notice the grip safety at all. Peace of mind for carrying a gun all day everyday.
My biggest issue with these guns and the Springfield XD series is I’m not a fan of grip safeties on a defensive gun. Under stress you can pull your gun and not get the perfect grip on it to fire it. To me it’s just one more thing to go wrong. That’s just my opinion though. Great video again 👊🇺🇸
To test that theory I've attended courses with a grip-safety gun (Springfield XDm) and to me your concern seems to be valid only if someone doesn't train or have solid shooting fundamentals. I did, however, experience a failure with the Springfield when a roll pin snapped and prevented the grip safety from working. The gun still functioned, but the grip safety was no longer a safety.
@@GBGuns good info.
This looks like a decent pistol but I'm no fan of the grip safety on polymer carry guns. I guess I'm too old school for my own good, but to me the only pistol that should have a grip safety is a model 1911. I like the cross compatible magazines though, now I can pick up a 15 round mag for my Shield Plus. I would not trade my Shield Plus for one of these or a CSX. No grip safety or manual safety to worry about, just draw and shoot......like it should be with a carry pistol. For some, this would be a nice first gun for carry use and home defense, it just doesn't appeal to me personally. Thanks for the nice review!
Nice looking pistol great video thanks 👍
The mags and slide lock like most guns just need time to loosen, for more rounds.
7:07 I was hoping for another Star Trek reference to Walter Koenig (actor who played Pavel Chekov on Star Trek) when she pulled out the Koenig ammo...oh well, there's always next time :) Thanks for the review.
Haha, that's a bit deeper than our knowledge. I only casually watched and enjoyed the hidden social commentary.
I was unable to adjust my rear sight. Even removing the set screw, the rear sight must be epoxied in place. Tried to hit it with a jewelers hammer, no move!
It appears they brought that "feature" over from the Shield line. I've seen sight tools break on Shields
Re mags capacity: it’s a common thing w Shield Plus mags from the factory that you cannot load them full. If you buy spare OEM mags, they work fine. Also, slide release issue is with the shape of the Follower in the mags. You should be able to do it with a round in the mag but not on empty mag. I was listening w/o watching so I’m not sure if you tried slide release on an empty mag or a loaded mag.
It was with a loaded mag.
My shield plus had that same issue initially when I tried to use the slide lock but after about 300 rounds it broke in and works fine now
Amazing Job Graham on the spinning target. I think this is the first time I've seen you flip it twice. How does this shoot compared to the Shield Plus?
We don't have a Shield Plus to compare against, but I have shot one at an event. I would consider the Equalizer softer-shooting and more controllable, but most importantly the trigger is predictable unlike Shield triggers which seem to slip sometimes.
@Graham Baates Thanks, and it appears a Shield Plus review is needed? There are a lot of people considering the Shield Plus and need your and Teya's review.
Oh my..she's lovely
I guess this is basically a Shield EZ plus? I love the OG Shield and the plus. I also have my daughter starting out on a Shield .380 EZ with lighter loads. All great guns. Personally I don’t see enough here to make me change my EDC over from a Glock 43x, however I don’t see enough in just about everything else that’s out there as well.
Please review the shield plus if u havent. Its a wonderful gun
We haven't yet
Your from the PNW, I'm guessing your in Oregon....Sorry to hear about your new magazine ban, that will be in affect pretty soon. I live in WA state but from Oregon...my sympathy to all Oregonians. Washingtonians fully understand your pain....
The magazine restriction sucks, but the rest of the measure is the true nightmare. It will effectively halt all transfers as there is no way to comply
Thanks for the video
Funny you mentioned the ejection..... that was the first thing I noticed with Teyas shots..... my XDS and G3C almost..... bag casings for me. But I'm only two and a half minutes in.... apologies for the interruption.....
How firm your wrist is also makes a difference. A softer wrist absorbs some of the energy, reducing slide velocity which results in "weaker" ejection.
I saw in another video that the equalizer needs lock tight in rear sights
That might explain our accuracy struggles
I guess “M&P9 Shield EZ Pro” was too long to fit on the slide 🤷🏻♂️.
Do you think accuracy would be better with a 2 moa dot?
It would take less skill, but we're pretty good with irons.
With the passing of 114, how does this affect your channel going forward? From a concerned viewer that shouted from roof tops to vote no.
We may have to move. 114 is completely illegal and unconstitutional, but that doesn't stop politicians who hate America from wanting to disarm the populace.
The sights on the gun need to be adjustable. After a few hundred rounds an making grip adjustments I was still shooting left. Put a holoson dot on it an what a hugh difference. The gun is a pleasure to shoot accurately an easily
Here’s the question Graham. How would you compare it to the single stack EZ? And the CSX.
Our CSX was a mess so nothing compares to it. Unfortunately we don't have a 9mm EZ, it's not a fair comparison to the .380
@@GBGuns I'm curious what the comparison to the 380ez is. How much of a difference is it? My wife has the 380ez and she wants something with more rounds but with a similar ease of use as the 380.
Are you guys planning on staying in Oregon, with the new gun control bill having passed?
If it stands (it's illegal) and Oregon leaves the Constitutional United States we'll be forced to move.
@@GBGuns Right, I am really hoping the SCOTUS nopes the hell out of it.
@@nimbly1693 There's no published plan for the permits, no funding, even the State Police are at a loss. The whole measure was a miss and threatens a slippery slope of civil rights denial.
Good video.
6:42 oh brother… 🤦🏻♂️😂
I rented one and loved the way it shot. I would like other perspectives. What gun shoots better? What gun has a better trigger? What would your recommend for general use including range, carry, and defense?
It's overall not a bad gun. Asking about the trigger can be a slippery slope as we all have different preferences and skill levels. A lot of folks like something short and crisp. I enjoy such a trigger on the range and it certainly makes it easier to shoot well, but would not and do not carry something with a light and short trigger. I think the Equalizer could serve well as a general-purpose gun (carry, range, etc). It's nothing magical, but not a bad gun either.
@@GBGuns Thanks for the perspective
I'm considering this or the Sig 365 Macro. I don't understand how you figured it is too difficult to get that 15th round into the mag. I've been watching a lot of review videos on the Equalizer but no one else has mentioned this issue, and I try to screen my videos to avoid so-called "unbiased" reviews that are obviously from reviewers that are supported by manufacturers. I believe you are being honest and fair in your reviews.Have you reviewed the Sig 365 Macro and how does it compare to the Equalizer?
We paid full retail for this gun, it's a real consumer review.
@Graham Baates Is 30 super carry going to stick around? Since the original EZ and shield plus are in 30SC and this new gun wasn’t launched with 30SC shows this Caliber isn’t easy to transition too. DOA
It makes sense to launch in the world's most popular ha dgun cartridge first, the. Roll out others later. Teya and I got to try 30SC at an event and it certainly makes small guns more pleasant to shoot. I don't know if demand will keep that load alive.
What area do you shoot? Coast range? I hunt and shoot in the trask area. Glad we have some gun RUclipsrs in Oregon. Since you are in Oregon and are laws are about to suck can you do a review on the mag blocks to see if they actually work?
I think it small gun problems because the grip is so small that if you are right handed you shoot left and opposite if you left handed !
👍👍
I have to wonder if a Talon Grips overlay would help with the accuracy. My own personal experience says that it very well could. While trigger control has, can and does lead to varied group size, I've found that even experienced shooters may miss that the grip size and texture might be just a little small. I suggest this because I've seen many of your videos and seen how well both of you shoot.
Anecdote: I have a SD40VE and was having the problem of shooting low and left. After replacing the factory trigger with a (what I believe to be) very good trigger and spring kit to reduce trigger pull weight I was still suffering this problem...unless I really concentrated on grip and squeeze to the point of almost shaking. After adding the Talon Grip textured rubber overlay, this problem has magically vanished.
I'm not saying that Talon Grips are the fix for every accuracy problem. I'm saying that the shooter may need to spend time at the range and carefully evaluate what is going on.
Thank you, When we printed that poorly I was sure it would bring on the trash-talkers, but we show it like it is and always have. Some guns just work better for us than others. This is one that didn't want to print nicely.
Yeah. My Ruger P95 eats everything but aluminum case. It hates aluminum.
I just got me one today
That's funny i always blame the sights too when i miss the target.
If you've seen any of our several hundred other pistol reviews, this was some of the worst shooting results we've ever captured on camera.
I am in Oregon where are your shooting at.
Looks clean and safe.
A secret spot I've used for 7 years, but now they've blocked it off with boulders despite it being public land. NOT COOL. We pay our taxes and have an Off-Highway Vehicle decal to drive on public land.
@@GBGuns
It would be nice to find a safe place out by Estacada
Just gets spendy going to the Clackamas county range.
We're far West of you. This spot is near Jewel.
The last time I shot out at the "Memaloose" rock pit way East of Estacada, about three years ago, as I drove out that rough road home I encountered an incoming CONVOY of six or seven low riding new and expensive sport cars full of young Asian men with long hair combed way up high-and-back. At that hour the pit was still full of Western Rednecks, so I am glad that I never learned how it went out there. I do not know ANY shooting spots in Oregon that are "clean and safe!".............................elsullo
@@elsullo2
Just looking to go somewhere that is somewhat safe and outdoors.
Just stick to the range.
Or I can just walk around Portland and hand my firearms to criminals and say.
Thank you wheeler for all you DONT do.
Thank you all for getting back be safe out there.
I'm hoping for one in 30 super carry
How does the trigger compare to Shield Plus? Plus has take up, solid wall, no creep, clean break, no over travel, small reset. Does the Equalizer compare? Thanks!
See the "Trigger Talk" chapter of our tabletop video.
Your thoughts: Equalizer or PDP F ...which would you prefer for CCW?
The Equalizer would he easier to conceal.
Damn..... now I have to track down a test gun..... well before I even think of a purchase at that price
Did I hear correctly that the 165 grain shot soft and the 65 grain was snappy?
Yes
Well that's confusing. I'm a small 71 year old man with arthritis and I'm trying to decide on which 9mm ammo will work best for me.
@mikec8123 take a look at our 9mm range ammo guide and look for stuff with lower muzzle energy. Even just 115gr can vary by 30%+ from brand to brand. The article is at GBGunsDepot.com
Are they using Unique in those loads? Super smoky
It was a cold and damp day with low-angle sun. It made most everything looks smoky.
any idea if the sight dovetails are made to the same dimensions as other Smith models?
I don't know for sure, we published all the official information from S&W on GBGunsDepot.com. They didn't tell us much about this thing.
I've read they share the same sights as the M&P core models
Does this have second strike capability?
No, it's single-action only.
@@GBGuns I see, thank you.
Eh' meh. Saving my $$$ for the Arex Zero2!!
You saw my post about the Arex deals. I'd jump on that first, these will likely come down over time.
@@GBGuns Oh I saw it alright! I just need to find someone I can buy it from. It's a little steep price wise, like the newest Steyr pistols are, but I'm still buying it either way. Those are sweet ass deals on the G.Power's too!
It's u , not the gun. I make weapons as a .machinist. 99.9% of the time, it is the user. Equalizer, like the EZ, is made for older people with weak hand strength and first-time gun owners..
I haven’t seen anyone shoot these SW EZ type guns as well as SW Compact series. EZ series feel like a cheap imitation gun.