Smith & Wesson Equalizer

About the Smith & Wesson Equalizer

The Smith & Wesson Equalizer is a micro-compact, internal-hammer-fired semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm, introduced in 2023 and designed specifically for concealed carry with an emphasis on ease of use for shooters of all hand sizes and strength levels. Built on the M&P Shield EZ platform, the Equalizer features a lightened recoil spring that dramatically reduces the force required to rack the slide, making it one of the easiest-to-manipulate compact pistols on the market. The polymer-framed pistol ships with three magazines (10-round flush, 13-round mid-size, and 15-round extended), allowing the shooter to tailor grip length and capacity to their needs. The Equalizer features an 18-degree grip angle for natural point-of-aim, a grip safety (rather than a trigger safety) to help prevent accidental discharge, a loaded chamber indicator, and an optics-ready slide cut compatible with Shield RMSc and Holosun 507K-footprint micro red dots. The stainless steel slide and barrel feature Smith & Wesson's proprietary Armornite corrosion-resistant finish. White dot front and white 2-dot rear sights provide a three-dot sight picture that co-witnesses with mounted optics. The three-slot Picatinny rail accommodates weapon lights and laser modules. At 22.9 ounces empty and only 1.04 inches wide, the Equalizer conceals easily while offering magazine capacities that rival larger pistols.

Smith & Wesson named the pistol the 'Equalizer' to convey its mission: equalizing the playing field for shooters of all strength levels and hand sizes. The lightened recoil spring borrowed from the Shield EZ platform was the breakthrough that allowed a full 9mm micro-compact to be as easy to rack as many .380 ACP pistols, removing one of the biggest barriers to effective concealed carry for new and smaller-statured shooters.

Smith & Wesson Equalizer specifications

The Equalizer was announced at the end of 2022 and began shipping in early 2023. It is based on the M&P Shield EZ platform which was originally designed for shooters who have difficulty manipulating traditional semi-automatic pistol slides. The lightened recoil spring is the key engineering feature, reducing slide manipulation force by approximately 35% compared to traditional compact 9mm pistols. The grip safety is unusual for a modern polymer pistol and is inherited from the EZ platform. Available in both thumb safety (TS) and no thumb safety (NTS) configurations, as well as state-compliant 10-round-only models. The trigger pull measures approximately 5.5-6 pounds (24-27 N) with a short take-up, clean break, and fast reset. The sight radius of 5.875 inches (149mm) is generous for the pistol's compact size. MSRP is $599 but street price is typically $450-500. A Maglula UpLula magazine speed loader is included in the box.