The Smith & Wesson Shield EZ 380

[Bayoublaster]

I’ve always wondered why locked breech .380’s are so uncommon.

Easier to make a straight blowback. Just balance the slide weight/spring rate and there you go. No need to engineer more moving parts.

[Drifting Fate]

If you have arthritis I would unfortunately steer you away from the 380 Berettas. I loved my 84s and the 85 is a sweet single stack, but being straight blowback they do have some bite on recoil.

I admit it's been a long time since I've fired a Beretta .380, so thank you for the good advice!

[Dienekes]

"I've already moved away from the .45 to the 9mm for arthritis and God only knows how long I will be able to tolerate the 9's."

Time and chance happen to us all...

Not very high speed low drag, but beats the hell out of nothing. Sort of a successor to the old top break lemon squeezer Smith revolvers of yore. Of which they sold tons.