bullseyebob47
Member
i want one of these based on reliability. i would get a wallet holster for back pocket carry and load it with full metal jacket. i would take recommendations of what brand of fmj in 380acp also.
which do you think is more reliable, lcp 2 or s&w body guard 380acp?
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Tallball
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I would go with which one felt better in my hand, and if possible, which one I shot better. The LCP is smaller, which might matter to you one way or the other. But I think you will find that the consensus is that they are both as reliable as any other good semi-automatic pistol.
Extensive side by side testing doesn't exist to say which is more reliable. And production variances mean that you could get the one stinker that shouldn't have made it thru QC. There are hosts of posts on that over the years.
Since most guns these days have a few sharp edges and in the pocket pistol class do not operate well with cheap low powered ammo, ten of each gun fired on the line will likely have stoppages and failures until they get thru a few hundred rounds. Once broken in any of them might be "life and death" reliable as long as they are maintained and you shoot them to keep up proficiency. Then, as more thousands of rounds are run thru them - the curve starts approaching a point where wear and tear affect the operation. You never know where you are on that curve years down the road, and you are carrying the gun that shot it's last reliable round when you reloaded it at the range and left.
And, there is the issue - much more important - of just daily carry and getting debris in it, or not having rotated the ammo to always have the fresh round next up instead of the one that has been chambered a dozen times.
All we can share on the net are one gun anecdotal stories of ownership and for all that, it did Ruger no good with the first LCP. They experienced about 6 owner mishaps when they introduced the first generation, reading thru them I never understood where the gun was at fault. Nonetheless they recalled them to change out some parts which they saw as being problematic.
We can't know if that is just 6 months down the road for these two guns. Since there's no way to tell, it's better you choose the one you are more assured of and which you can shoot with more mental comfort it will work. Being confident in it's use means you will likely practice more, and that is going to be a bigger help when the chips are down. There are a lot of guns out there with reputations that are highly disrespected by other shooters but they work for their owners. The problem is that tribal loyalties and Branding get into the selection process - and if there is ever a place to preach about how great somebodies gun is, the internet is it.
To provide an example, I will mention SCCY. Lots of pros and cons about them right now on the net. Yet some consider them their life and death backup. Others would categorically state more the latter than the former. Reading the net the last fifteen years, every gun made has it's fans and haters. Yet they are all carried.
I went thru this last year, sorted out which .380 I might want to carry, and when I boiled down the features, the trigger pull, and where that particular gun was in it's production cycle which means have they fixed the early problems, I wound up with a Kahr CW380. It wasn't really even at the top of the list when I started. Better to go pull triggers and sight down the slides first, see how they fit and what you are willing to put up with. Despite some naysayers claiming my Kahr would be a jammomatic, I find breaking it in on steel cased Monarch fodder it's reliable. And brass cased Hornady works just fine, too.
Your mileage may vary. My first try was a first gen LCP - it was reliable, too, as little as I cared to shoot it or even carry it loaded. Each gun is unique to that owner and it's really up to you to discover what you think about it. That's why there is rarely any consistency on the net about one over the other.
Since most guns these days have a few sharp edges and in the pocket pistol class do not operate well with cheap low powered ammo, ten of each gun fired on the line will likely have stoppages and failures until they get thru a few hundred rounds. Once broken in any of them might be "life and death" reliable as long as they are maintained and you shoot them to keep up proficiency. Then, as more thousands of rounds are run thru them - the curve starts approaching a point where wear and tear affect the operation. You never know where you are on that curve years down the road, and you are carrying the gun that shot it's last reliable round when you reloaded it at the range and left.
And, there is the issue - much more important - of just daily carry and getting debris in it, or not having rotated the ammo to always have the fresh round next up instead of the one that has been chambered a dozen times.
All we can share on the net are one gun anecdotal stories of ownership and for all that, it did Ruger no good with the first LCP. They experienced about 6 owner mishaps when they introduced the first generation, reading thru them I never understood where the gun was at fault. Nonetheless they recalled them to change out some parts which they saw as being problematic.
We can't know if that is just 6 months down the road for these two guns. Since there's no way to tell, it's better you choose the one you are more assured of and which you can shoot with more mental comfort it will work. Being confident in it's use means you will likely practice more, and that is going to be a bigger help when the chips are down. There are a lot of guns out there with reputations that are highly disrespected by other shooters but they work for their owners. The problem is that tribal loyalties and Branding get into the selection process - and if there is ever a place to preach about how great somebodies gun is, the internet is it.
To provide an example, I will mention SCCY. Lots of pros and cons about them right now on the net. Yet some consider them their life and death backup. Others would categorically state more the latter than the former. Reading the net the last fifteen years, every gun made has it's fans and haters. Yet they are all carried.
I went thru this last year, sorted out which .380 I might want to carry, and when I boiled down the features, the trigger pull, and where that particular gun was in it's production cycle which means have they fixed the early problems, I wound up with a Kahr CW380. It wasn't really even at the top of the list when I started. Better to go pull triggers and sight down the slides first, see how they fit and what you are willing to put up with. Despite some naysayers claiming my Kahr would be a jammomatic, I find breaking it in on steel cased Monarch fodder it's reliable. And brass cased Hornady works just fine, too.
Your mileage may vary. My first try was a first gen LCP - it was reliable, too, as little as I cared to shoot it or even carry it loaded. Each gun is unique to that owner and it's really up to you to discover what you think about it. That's why there is rarely any consistency on the net about one over the other.
Zerodefect
member
The Smith.
But .380's are ammo dependent. Some .380 is weak and'll just bounce off a paper target, some is almost as powerful as 9mm. The hotter ammo is more reliable. My Kahr p380 is 100% on Corbon Powerball, and terrible on WWB.
But .380's are ammo dependent. Some .380 is weak and'll just bounce off a paper target, some is almost as powerful as 9mm. The hotter ammo is more reliable. My Kahr p380 is 100% on Corbon Powerball, and terrible on WWB.
Omaney
Member
That's not something I hear with any frequency. Lemon.
Speedo66
Member
With today's "as cheap as we can make it and rush it out the door" philosophy, who knows? I have a first gen LCP that's been flawless. Who knows how the one before it or after it were?
In general though, the LCP does seem to enjoy a good reputation. No insight on the S&W.
In general though, the LCP does seem to enjoy a good reputation. No insight on the S&W.
JohnBiltz
Member
The only thing I know about the LCP 2 is what I've seen on the net. Everyone seems to love it. I'd like to shoot it and see how recoil is.
loneviking
Member
Recoil? Bad, painful. Both the Bodyguard and LCP are bad, and I'm used to shooting .357. I bought a Bodyguard, never could go over about 25 rounds at a time because it hurt too bad. Sold it, bought a Browning BDA and couldn't be happier. The BDA is a very comfortable, tack driving gun.
GetmeoutaCT
Member
I have heard good things about both those guns.
That being said - I will NOT trust my life to a gun until I have put a minimum of 500 rounds of my selected SD ammo through it, over at least three separate range sessions. The most historically reliable model out there will not help you if you get the one lemon, and the only way to find out whether you did is to practice and put rounds through it.
As for ammo recommendations, I made the personal decision to go no smaller than 9mm for carry. Just my preference; YMMV. In 9mm I like any of the more popular Hornady or Speer Gold Dot loads.
Finally, you note that you plan on using a "wallet" holster. If this is what I think it is - a square holster in which the gun fits, with a hole to pull the trigger through - be careful. Sometimes an auto pistol will not cycle reliably in one of these; I also recall reading somewhere that wallet holsters are actually illegal in some jurisdictions. I found that hard to believe but after reflection and remembering (for example) the ammo restrictions in NJ, I concluded that anything is possible in the wacko crazy-quilt world of gun laws.
That being said - I will NOT trust my life to a gun until I have put a minimum of 500 rounds of my selected SD ammo through it, over at least three separate range sessions. The most historically reliable model out there will not help you if you get the one lemon, and the only way to find out whether you did is to practice and put rounds through it.
As for ammo recommendations, I made the personal decision to go no smaller than 9mm for carry. Just my preference; YMMV. In 9mm I like any of the more popular Hornady or Speer Gold Dot loads.
Finally, you note that you plan on using a "wallet" holster. If this is what I think it is - a square holster in which the gun fits, with a hole to pull the trigger through - be careful. Sometimes an auto pistol will not cycle reliably in one of these; I also recall reading somewhere that wallet holsters are actually illegal in some jurisdictions. I found that hard to believe but after reflection and remembering (for example) the ammo restrictions in NJ, I concluded that anything is possible in the wacko crazy-quilt world of gun laws.
giggitygiggity
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I'd go with the Ruger. I have two and they have both been excellent. I've only had a few minor jams and they were with underpowered reloads of mine. I'm sure the S&W is good, but the Ruger is slightly smaller and has more of a following. The generation one LCPs can be had for $200 now.
MICHAEL T
Member
For me neither my Ketec 380 been eating ball and HP with out a failure for 10 years. . Why would I risk that on some copy cat.
Go with the LCP. I recently picked up a new M&P Bodyguard and it gives occasional light primer strikes. The primers from the rounds that do fire are so light I'm surprised that they fired at all. This seems to be a common problem with the Smith from doing some online research (Hickock45 had this issue in his review).
I'm only 100rds in so I'm hoping that a different ammo might help but I'm not wild about a self defense gun that is picky about ammo.
I'm only 100rds in so I'm hoping that a different ammo might help but I'm not wild about a self defense gun that is picky about ammo.
JohnBiltz
Member
LCP 2 not the LCP.
With my 1 sample experience lcp custom
(The red trigger one)
I first fired a box of 50 cheap underpowered fmj ammo that didnt break 500 fps with no issues
And after that about 250 of my handloads that chrony at approx 1000 fps with no issues.
So far i actually enjoy shooting that dinky thing.
Such a change of pace compared to the bigbore wheelguns i usually shoot
(The red trigger one)
I first fired a box of 50 cheap underpowered fmj ammo that didnt break 500 fps with no issues
And after that about 250 of my handloads that chrony at approx 1000 fps with no issues.
So far i actually enjoy shooting that dinky thing.
Such a change of pace compared to the bigbore wheelguns i usually shoot
SwampWolf
Member
I've had good success (read: reliable) from my Generation 1 LCP. Not the most pleasant gun to shoot but that goes with the territory for most concealable handguns. I do have one rule: If I'm carrying a .380 chambered pistol, I want it light and compact. If a pistol is much bigger/heavier than the LCP, I'll step up to a 9mm. I run hardball in my little Ruger but it has functioned flawlessly with the few hp types I've tried in it.
I can't give an opinion on the others but I have carried a BG 380 for about 3 years. I've put maybe a couple of thousand rounds through it with ammo from about 10 different manufacturers plus several of my own loads including lead bullets. Never had a malfunction of any kind.
I shoot the BG 380 about as good as a J frame.
I shoot the BG 380 about as good as a J frame.
Get a Glock G42 and you won't have to worry about the Ammo because it will shoot everything, is more reliable than either, softer shooting than either and is very close to the Bodyguard size.
railroader
Member
I have a LCP custom which I like a lot. Well I handled a LCP II the other day and liked it a lot too. I liked that the grip was slightly wider than my gun. I liked the trigger on it better than my LCP. My gun has a reset on the trigger that has two clicks before it resets. You must let the trigger go all the way forward to fire again. The new LCP has a shorter reset with one click and the trigger pull feels slightly lighter than my gun. Now I do like the sights on my custom better.
browningguy
Member
It doesn't take too long for get a glock to show up. I had a 42, it's gone now. I still have a Bodyguard 380, and it's never had a failure in a couple of years of regular practice. Having said that try the trigger on the LCP first, the trigger pull is the only thing I don't like on the BG, they simply made it way to long and gritty for me to actually like it.
Hokkmike
Member
Had a Bodyguard - lovely gun. I had the trigger pull lightened and the trigger travel distance shortened. Recoil is what you would expect from a gun this size but considering that I had previously shot a Walther PPS in .40 it was nothing.
I have since "upgraded" to a Sig P-238. The feel of quality pervades a little more with this gun.
I have since "upgraded" to a Sig P-238. The feel of quality pervades a little more with this gun.
Ibmikey
Member
I bought both the Ruger and Smith, i still have the smith in it's pouch, loaded and carried in the back pack i must take with me for medical reasons. The Ruger was traded on a Sig P 238 andy i am the real winner there.
Taurus 617 CCW
Member
Which one is more reliable? They both are as long as you keep them lubed. Which one has a better trigger? The Ruger hands down. Even the old LCP had a better trigger than the S&W. If you are talking about the Bodyguard 380 with the Crimson Trace laser or no laser then I would think about comparing one with the LCP in person. If you are talking about the older Bodyguard 380 with the Insight laser, I wouldn't give you a nickel for one. Just my $0.02.
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