Editor’s Note: The Smith & Wesson Equalizer picks up with the M&P Shield EZ left off, with a very beginner-friendly design -- complete with an easy-to-rack slide. We spent a full day at the range with Equalizer and during our 500 rounds of testing, found it to be a soft recoiling option. It's easy to disassemble and maintain, which earns it bonus points with us. Plus, it ships with three magazines! The only downside is the short grip, which will be problematic for those with larger hands.