Some thoughts on the M&P Bodyguard 380

[halfmoonclip]

My 380 BG with a laser is pretty accurate at 30 feet from a rest, but hand held, good luck. I found a smooth complete trigger pull, not trying to guess or feel when it will break works best for me. It is a point and shoot pistol and certainly not a range gun.

I added some Talon grip material to the grip to protect my candy azz hands.

You have it figured out; roll it through, as if you were shooting a revolver. I've gotten some tolerable groups from mine, at defense distances. Do like the size, and it doesn't pound me like an LCP.
Moon

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Another 100 rounds downrange through the Bodyguard 380 today... still 100% reliable and crazy accurate.

All Winchester White Box ammo today.

 

[Boom Vang]

Posters here have this pistol figured out.
-The long trigger pull is a challenge. I'm an old double action revo shooter, so it's not a problem.
-Happy for the safety.....it gets used for things like putting the gun in a lockbox; a quick grab won't find the trigger by accident...though the trigger is deliberate enough, it's not apt to go off anyway. Usually, I just ignore it.
-The gun seems far better made than an LCP, but it is the same size.
-It seems designed for a lot of shooting.

This right here sums up why this is a good little pistol. But if you can't shoot a DA revolver, you won't like the Bodyguard 380.

I've several of these over the years and the only real problem I had was the laser on the original. S&W upgraded it for free to the current Crimson Trace unit. I don't actually want/care for the laser idea, and so when S&W later made a non-laser version, I bought that. Daughter liked the pistol so I had to buy yet another. They all have worked 100% with everything.

The pistol is more accurate than most can shoot it... like everything else usually. If you can shoot, 5-shot groups @ 15 yards are the inside 4", and that is about the accuracy of most bigger service pistols.

 

[halfmoonclip]

This right here sums up why this is a good little pistol. But if you can't shoot a DA revolver, you won't like the Bodyguard 380.

I've several of these over the years and the only real problem I had was the laser on the original. S&W upgraded it for free to the current Crimson Trace unit. I don't actually want/care for the laser idea, and so when S&W later made a non-laser version, I bought that. Daughter liked the pistol so I had to buy yet another. They all have worked 100% with everything.

The pistol is more accurate than most can shoot it... like everything else usually. If you can shoot, 5-shot groups @ 15 yards are the inside 4", and that is about the accuracy of most bigger service pistols.

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That was reassuring. The saga with BG #2 has had a last chapter. I was checking the chamber prior to a fieldstrip, to try some parts swapping with #1. The damned thing gave me a bloody mess when it pinched my index in the E-port. For the 3d time. I cleaned it, went to my local shop, swapped it on another one, took a beating on the deal.
Took this one along to camp for a quick test hop, where it gobbled up four magazines with no drama whatsoever. I'll run some more rounds, to make sure this one runs as well as the first one.
I ordered TruGlos, but won't install them until it's better proved.
Hate to go through all this, but I've tried all the small alternatives.
Moon

 

[halfmoonclip]

Okay, BG#3 went to the range last night, maybe 75 rounds, of all descriptions, including the Gold Dots with the ginormous hollow point. Not a bobble, misfeed, or other problem. Slide locked back all the time.
Pounded the daylights out of the 9 ring of a P29 silhouette (half scale) at 21'.
I just drew the short straw with #2. Enough to make you crazy.
But I do like the BG, for size, accuracy, and relatively mild recoil...a day at the beach, compared to an LCP. And an LCP is the same size.
Moon

 

[W.E.G.]

Bodyguard 380 in watch pocket

youtube.com

 

[Larry in wyoming]

It's interesting that I don't find my gen 1 LCP at all objectionable

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Another 50 rounds through the Bodyguard 380 today, weak hand practice, WWB ammo, the pistol ran great with no issues, did fail to lock the slide back once but it was weak hand only practice so I'm calling it my fault (limp wrist)...I was gripping it as weak as I could figure out how and still hold on to it.

Still dead nuts accurate... it'll hit where its pointed when the hammer drops...a good squeeze and follow through is important.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Another 50 rounds through the Bodyguard 380 today, weak hand practice, WWB ammo, the pistol ran great with no issues, did fail to lock the slide back once but it was weak hand only practice so I'm calling it my fault (limp wrist)...I was gripping it as weak as I could figure out how and still hold on to it.

Still dead nuts accurate... it'll hit where its pointed when the hammer drops...a good squeeze and follow through is important.

In some ways, that long, deliberate trigger foists a firm hold. Tried mine, both handed, the other night, and no issues.
You are right about the squeeze; I do my best to roll straight through. Did adjust the rear sight a bit on mine.
I've been composing a letter, in my head, to S&W...their customer service was beyond reproach, and they've dropped the ball on two of my guns lately.
Moon

 

[defjon]

It's interesting that I don't find my gen 1 LCP at all objectionable

I picked up an lcp custom on the used market (the one with rechargeable sites and a red trigger). So far I haven't been able to make it choke, it feeds anything.

This Saturday i had it out with my j frame and detective special. The 38s especially 158 gr lead round nose really rang and moved the steel targets more than any 380 round, and i really have to focus a lot more with the lcp to be accurate. My 642 is just right on for me, from up close out to 20 yards.

The lcp custom is a lot smaller and lighter than the 642. I feel confident it is dialed in, it won't choke, but it will be slower to draw from the pocket, my accuracy isn't there without a two hand hold (642 I can shoot two hand, or left/ right alone).

It's a compromise but for me, 7 rounds of 380 in such a small, light, reliable package makes it a keeper. It's like an naa mini i can reload faster and reach further out with, with ammo that is a lot less likely to fail because I hiked with it out in the humidity!

(I carried a taurus ply 22, it would turn into a mag full of dud rounds every time I decided to carry it for a bit)


...(not the guns fault, the ply22 was accurate and reliable, no issues. The rounds wouldn't go off in any 22s even single action ruger)

... ... (turned me off of 22 for carry, the round seems very affected by temperature changes, humidity, etc)

 

[halfmoonclip]

I picked up an lcp custom on the used market (the one with rechargeable sites and a red trigger). So far I haven't been able to make it choke, it feeds anything.

Had one of these, some years ago. The broader, alloy trigger would have been much better rounded on the edges, and I drilled out the front sight hole for a larger white dot. As with all the Gen I LCPs, it went bang all the time, and the sights were some help. The recoil was tiresome, and two magazines were about all I wanted.
I still have a standard LCP, and shot it the other night. It worked, but feels the way I remember.
The BG has the same profile and thickness, but is slightly heavier, and is commensurately easier to shoot a lot. The TruGlos I've installed are miles better than anything on an LCP.
The BG isn't as soft shooting as a G42, but it's bunches nicer than an LCP. But I won't badmouth the LCP; there's a reason Ruger has sold a ton of them.
Moon

 

[kevincallahan]

I bought mine looking to replace my keltec 32. After trying to like the smith The last tw years, I had a friend still on the job who liked it more, of the two ,my 32/ never has had an issue, is easy to take apart and Carrie’s just as easy, looks like hell after 12 years, but I like it and trust it , The bodyguar was only dependable with hardball, spraying brass everywhere and lastly was a bit of a pain to reassemble, That is my thought