S&W Bodyguard 380
- Thread starter SteadyD
- Start date
- Status
Arkansas Paul
Member
I like mine ok for what it is.
I pocket carry it daily.
It's accurate enough for SD, and it's never had a failure.
I pocket carry it daily.
It's accurate enough for SD, and it's never had a failure.
Edcnh
Member
I pocket carry mine in the warm weather. It is accurate enough for SD at 10-12 yds which is my typical practice distance with this gun. Better sights would be a plus but the stock sights are ok. The laser is not very useful during daylight.
Gun Geezer
Member
The laser wanders. The trigger pulll is stiff and long. I put in an after market for $100 and it helped, but it still sucks. It has, however, been very reliable.
That said, I vastly prefer the Sig P238. 1911 style pistol scaled down to 380 ACP. Great SAO trigger, safety is easy to manipulate. Very reliable. Very accurate at my 10 yard testing distance.
That said, I vastly prefer the Sig P238. 1911 style pistol scaled down to 380 ACP. Great SAO trigger, safety is easy to manipulate. Very reliable. Very accurate at my 10 yard testing distance.
ive just put 500 rounds through my sig p238 without any problems. it shoots like a dream. no wear and tear on my hand, feels great for its small size. straightforward fieldstrip. the p238 is a one-gun semiauto pistol solution, in 380acp, both for fun practice at the range and as a ccw.
i can pocket ccw it, though my go-to pocket ccw is a naa survival 22lr mini revolver, due to my sometimes absolute need to look firearms-deprived. next best sized pocket ccw for me is a naa guardian 32acp, but the sig is a 100% better shooter. i’ve not tried the s&w bodyguard but the ruger lcp is an awful shooter, for me at least.
I think light primer strikes is inevitable with these subcompact DAO pistols. Today's shooters don't want a 10 pound trigger pull so the manufacturer lightens the main spring. Too light and the gun becomes unreliable but if they increase the pull weight to ensure strong hammer strikes then people complain about how hard it is to shoot accurately.
OP
OP
SteadyD
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2017
- Messages
- 1,747
BG 380 has returned and is functioning properly. No more light strikes in about 250 rounds and the primers show much deeper firing pin hits than previously.
I tested Hydra Shoks, Gold Dots and Hornady Custom/American Gunner as well as 50 rounds of AE. After about 40 rounds of Hydra Shoks I had a failure to feed so I switched to Hornady and Gold Dots and had no issues whatsoever with either in a combined 140 rounds. I’ll likely use the Hornady since they seem to perform well in tests, though I wouldn’t be afraid to use the Gold Dots either.
I tried to limp wrist the gun but couldn’t get it to fail as a result. It was easy to keep a magazine inside 5 or 6 inches while shooting as quickly as possible at 5 yards, even with the awful factory sights. That’s acceptable to me. I’m sure many of you could best me on this.
Next up I’ll get some night sights and a few more magazines. Eventually I may try some magguts.
I tried this gun very last in my search for a DAO hammer fired pocket 380 because people generally speak poorly of the trigger. Turns out I really like the trigger. Go figure!
I tested Hydra Shoks, Gold Dots and Hornady Custom/American Gunner as well as 50 rounds of AE. After about 40 rounds of Hydra Shoks I had a failure to feed so I switched to Hornady and Gold Dots and had no issues whatsoever with either in a combined 140 rounds. I’ll likely use the Hornady since they seem to perform well in tests, though I wouldn’t be afraid to use the Gold Dots either.
I tried to limp wrist the gun but couldn’t get it to fail as a result. It was easy to keep a magazine inside 5 or 6 inches while shooting as quickly as possible at 5 yards, even with the awful factory sights. That’s acceptable to me. I’m sure many of you could best me on this.
Next up I’ll get some night sights and a few more magazines. Eventually I may try some magguts.
I tried this gun very last in my search for a DAO hammer fired pocket 380 because people generally speak poorly of the trigger. Turns out I really like the trigger. Go figure!
Jeb Stuart
member
I shot the gun and liked the trigger. Of course most people speak poorly of the trigger. Because most people have not even shot a double action and the internet is and has been on a phase/fad of light crisp triggers. Newbies going to the counter and worried about stacking, getting the lightest trigger etc. Spent 10 years shooting the Pocket guns and always observing how people shoot them. 99% shoot the gun like it is a target gun. Slowly taking aim, waiting, slowly pulling the trigger etc. Yes, these target shooters need a light crisp trigger that breaks fast. Why do you think the LCPll came out? Get a good DAO with restrike capability and learn to shoot fast and you will love the trigger.
I was at the range a few weeks ago and some clown was talking about how great his light Striker fired trigger was, how well it stacked and the short reset. And then talking about other triggers. Problem was, the guy could not hit the broad side of a barn.
I guess it needs a lighter trigger. Maybe 3 lbs of pull and a shorter reset.
My new BG380 is heading back to the mothership due to no locking back on an empty magazine. It's really not a big deal. Plenty of micro 380s dont lock back. Beside one light strike the last range trip it's been flawless. The laser has held zero and has been a constant companion over the last month.
Thw trigger has smoothed considerably. While i prefer the clean short and even break of a striker fired gun on my hip, the bg is a solid performer.
Thw trigger has smoothed considerably. While i prefer the clean short and even break of a striker fired gun on my hip, the bg is a solid performer.
OP
OP
SteadyD
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2017
- Messages
- 1,747
How often is it not locking back?
ShootingTheBull410's .380 tests on YouTube:
He liked anything that shot Hornady's XTP bullet with Hydra-Shok as a second choice. Gold Dots didn't penetrate far enough. .380 doesn't have enough energy for both penetration and expansion and penetration to reach vital organs is more important.
Jeb Stuart
member
SteadyD, I recently and finally bought the Kahr CM9, Just a fantastic gun and not much bigger than the Body Guard. It has a wonderful trigger, mild recoil and only about 3 or 4 ounces heavier than the body guard and shoots 9mm ammo. Mine has shot flawlessly with the first 400 rounds of mixed ammo. I only wish I had bought one earlier in the many years I have shot Pocket guns and Micro 9mm. At only 15.8 ozs there is noting I have shot so far that compares to it in size and weight and mild shooting. I do not think there is another 9mm out there in the 15oz weight range. Yes, I love the Nano, but the Kahr is 4 oz lighter.
And for $50.00 you can get a front night sight.
And for $50.00 you can get a front night sight.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,294
Jeb Stuart
Yep, I knew once you tried a CM9 you would love it! When I went looking for a micro 9mm. I had it narrowed down between the Nano and the CM9. Both were well designed and built guns but the CM9 just felt better in my hand than the Nano did.
Enjoy your new pocket pistol acquisition!
Yep, I knew once you tried a CM9 you would love it! When I went looking for a micro 9mm. I had it narrowed down between the Nano and the CM9. Both were well designed and built guns but the CM9 just felt better in my hand than the Nano did.
Enjoy your new pocket pistol acquisition!
I started with a BG380, with the integrated laser, but, I'm a little color blind, and it was only usable to me, in low light conditions.
When they came out with the BG380s, without the built in laser, my friend bought one, and put a green, Crimson trace on it, so I bought one too. I also installed a Galloway trigger, and put some white paint, on the front sight.In the years I've carried it, it's accurate enough to easily take out varmints out to 15 yards, but, it hurts my hand worse than my S&W .460 to shoot it.
I picked up a Kahr CW380 which is a twitch smaller, lighter, and the softest, centerfire pistol I've ever shot.
When they came out with the BG380s, without the built in laser, my friend bought one, and put a green, Crimson trace on it, so I bought one too. I also installed a Galloway trigger, and put some white paint, on the front sight.In the years I've carried it, it's accurate enough to easily take out varmints out to 15 yards, but, it hurts my hand worse than my S&W .460 to shoot it.
I picked up a Kahr CW380 which is a twitch smaller, lighter, and the softest, centerfire pistol I've ever shot.
Jeb Stuart
member
Yes, I will be carrying the CM9 but still love the well built Nano. FYI, the Nano was just upgraded to the APX Carry. Little bit of a different grip and the APX serrations. They also added a slide lock, which I really do not need or find important in that gun. I am happy with the Nano, and Kahr, so will not be upgrading. And as I mentioned, the Kahr is a 4oz lighter. Just like I love my LCR9mm but now carry the Smith 642 due the lessor weight and size. (Train with the LCR still and will carry on certain occasions).
jar
Contributing Member
I had the same issue out of the box. Turn around time to and from the mothership was about two weeks. It's feeling much better now.
It will only lock back by accident. I first chalked it up to not cleaning it before I first shot it. I literally took it out of the box, wiped a rag across the outside, loaded it and took it to the range to see how it would handle. I only had one or two light strikes but it never locked back once. Truthfully, I had forgotten that it was supposed to. the original LCP does not. It was only when I started to clean it that i noticed it locked back here and there with the mag inserted. I figured it a packing gunk issue. I cleaned it pretty well and thought I would test it out at the range the next time.
100 rounds and not one lock back on an empty mag. Behaves the same with both magazines that came with the gun. Honestly, I'm hoping its a magazine issue. If S&W wants to look at the gun and send me 2 mags with it that lock back, I'm super jazzed about having 2 range mags and 2 go mags.
I'm hoping to ship it out Tuesday as my work schedule allows.
agent89
Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2010
- Messages
- 58
I have no experience with the BG, I own a Glock 42. It seems everybody I know or heard from has some trouble with .380,s. They just are not as reliable as a 9 it seems. When the 42 was new it had a couple ftf issues. now broken in it runs well with the right ammo. They all tend to like ball ammo. I load underwood brass jkt 102gr hp for carry, the profile of the bullet itself is similar to ball.
Is there a slam dunk choice for a .380? I don't know? Cheers.
Is there a slam dunk choice for a .380? I don't know? Cheers.
I don't think there is a pocketable autoloader I would consider an out of the box slam dunk. All of mine have run pretty well. I've had more ftf out of the LCP II than any of them. I love the way the gun looks and shoots, but its just not been as reliable as my old lcp, Pico, or BG380. I think the Pico would get the nod for me. I never had one issue with mine.
I will say that the light strikes of the BG are a bit concerning. However, I have never had one that didnt ignite on the second pull. I think in a SD situation I would probably put the trigger about 27 times in 3 seconds not really counting clicks and booms. Even the slide not locking back isn't an issue for me, really. So far, my laser is still spot on at 10 yards where I dialed it in. That's after a month of pocket carry in a soft holster never coming out except to change my jeans or to be left when going into secure buildings. I do like the gun quite a bit, and it seems really well made.
I will say that the light strikes of the BG are a bit concerning. However, I have never had one that didnt ignite on the second pull. I think in a SD situation I would probably put the trigger about 27 times in 3 seconds not really counting clicks and booms. Even the slide not locking back isn't an issue for me, really. So far, my laser is still spot on at 10 yards where I dialed it in. That's after a month of pocket carry in a soft holster never coming out except to change my jeans or to be left when going into secure buildings. I do like the gun quite a bit, and it seems really well made.
OP
OP
SteadyD
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2017
- Messages
- 1,747
Definitely let them know about the light strikes. They swapped the barrel and slide on mine and now you can clearly see the firing pin is making deeper indentations on the primers. Hopefully they can fix all your issues in one go.
OP
OP
SteadyD
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2017
- Messages
- 1,747
I really like the Kahr triggers. But for pocket carry, I want something without any energy stored in the action. With pocket carry, the gun is often pointing at somebody when I am sitting down, and I don’t like the idea of that. Just my own personal preference. I prefer a revolver or a true DAO hammer fired auto loader. The BG380 has both a DAO hammer setup and a firing pin block. I reckon that’s as safe as I can get for an auto loader.
- Status
