utm fk

46 G&A February 2020 | still EZ
to ready the slide for removal, simply lock the slide to the rear
and rotate the disassembly lever down.
than measured. There is a molded overtravel stop behind it. Trigger
reset was fairly short, and both tactile and audible.
Most controls on this handgun are ambidextrous or reversible
including the magazine release, which can be configured for
right- or left-hand use. The exceptions to this are the slide-stop
and takedown levers, which are both located on the left side of
the frame and cannot be relocated.
Notably, there is no need to pull the trigger to unload the
Shield EZ, which could be considered yet another safety
feature. To disassemble, the slide is locked to the rear and the
With the slide assembly removed, the inner workings reveal the
shield EZ’s internal hammer assembly and trigger linkage.
takedown lever is rotated. The slide can then come forward and
off the grip frame, which then allows you to remove the barrel
and recoil-spring assembly. No further disassembly is required
or recommended.
What has always impressed me about the Shield lineup has
been the size. Shields have always struck a balance of being small
enough to conceal, but large enough to shoot well. The barrel
on the M&P9 Shied EZ measured 3.675-inches long, which puts
the overall length at 6.7 inches. This handgun is also slim with a
slide width of just under 1 inch. Unloaded it weighs 18½ ounces.