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  #1  
Old 09-03-2010, 06:30 PM
kas1263 kas1263 is offline
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My birthday present broke. At about 98 rounds the take down pin fell out releasing the barrel and slide. I put it back in and reassembled it about four different times up to 200 rounds. Then I quit rationalizing and admitted it had to go back to S&W. Customer service sent me a FedEx label and it's currently on it's way for repair. After the pin started falling out I also started to experience several misfires.
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  #2  
Old 09-03-2010, 09:24 PM
Loco Weed Loco Weed is offline
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The take-down pin falling out seems to be a common problem these days and I've seen lots of posts on various gun forums by disgruntled BG owners. Some people have had to send theirs back to the factory twice for the same problem. It appears that S&W doesn't have a clue as to what is going on or how to fix it. Stay tuned....

Edit: What kind of ammo were you shooting when you had the misfires? Did the ammo fire after several strikes?

Last edited by Loco Weed; 09-03-2010 at 09:27 PM.
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  #3  
Old 09-04-2010, 07:31 AM
kas1263 kas1263 is offline
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I was using White boxed Winchester ammo from Walmart. And yes it did strike after the misfire.

It appeared the take down lever would lock when the slide and barrel were not on the gun. However, when the slide and barrel were involved the pin would not lock into place the way it should.
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Old 09-04-2010, 02:48 PM
Goffman Goffman is offline
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I wonder if it has something to do with the design of the barrel lug. I don't know a great deal about semi-autos (or any type of pistol for that matter), but it would seem to me that the up-and-down rocking motion of the barrel during firing may be contributing to (or the cause of) the dislodged take-down pin. The video I have seen (posted by another forum member) definitely shows the take-down spinning counterclockwise as it is working it's way out of the frame. Not that the barrel shouldn't be rocking upward during firing, but perhaps the shape of the barrel lug combined with the rocking motion is setting that take-down pin spinning loose. Anyway, it's just a thought.
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Old 09-05-2010, 07:16 PM
kas1263 kas1263 is offline
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I've read on another forum where a Bodyguard was returned from S&W "repaired" however the take down pin came out again. I wonder what S&W does to fix the problem?
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  #6  
Old 09-11-2010, 04:41 PM
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Mike Walsh Mike Walsh is offline
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My BG shot through about 250 rounds AFTER it was return to me from Smith for a flipping takedown lever. The gun ran perfectly, and I was learning the trigger and the point of impact with a big smile on my face when on THE LAST BULLET of session the lever popped out AGAIN!

Smith has a real problem here (Hopefully S+W execs read these posts!). I will be calling for my second return tag, and I'm not giving up on this piece.
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  #7  
Old 09-11-2010, 07:37 PM
Sawdust25 Sawdust25 is offline
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Smile BG 380 slide lock pin

My Body Guard 380 is in S&W repair shop again for the same problem. Slide lock pin keeps falling out. Seems to happen more often on rapid fire. I think the barrel lugs hit the pin on the way to load another round and rotates it slightly until it reaches the unlock position. Then; out comes the pin, the slide and a round in the barrel.

Smith said they repaired mine the first time, but on return, I had the same problem. Apparently they don't shoot test their repairs. Customer Service is nice enough but they won't admit to the problem nor can they give me any clue what the engineering folks plan to do about it. It won't go away by itself.

Funny thing: when mine was returned to my dealer, the S&W rep was there and shot it. Same problem. He went to his car and got his demo BG 380. Rapid fired it and guess what; the pin fell out. He called Smith about the problem.

I think a stiffer spring, shaving a bit off the barrel lugs, and a deeper indent in the pin for the spring would fix the problem. I told them that but they weren't impressed. I hope they find a permanent fix. I really like the gun. The postman and the S&W repair shop have had it longer than I have.

Sawdust
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Old 09-11-2010, 08:25 PM
tnharley tnharley is offline
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Unfortunately, the same thing happened to me today. I just purchased the bodyguard 380 on Thursday and took it to the range today. I was amazed on how accurate the gun is, hitting close in clusters around the target easily, but on round 35, it failed to fire. After checking it out, I noticed that the takedown lever was missing and the round was jammed and wouldn't eject. I had to field dissassemble to remove the round which was a PIA. My son and I searched for about 30 minutes and never was able to find the takedown lever in the graveled area. I really didn't want to leave without it, but it just wasn't in the cards to find it. I guess I will calling S&W customer service on Monday morning. Bummer! I really hoped mine wouldn't be one of those with issues.
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Old 09-12-2010, 04:35 PM
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spec5 spec5 is offline
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Originally Posted by tnharley View Post
Unfortunately, the same thing happened to me today. I just purchased the bodyguard 380 on Thursday and took it to the range today. I was amazed on how accurate the gun is, hitting close in clusters around the target easily, but on round 35, it failed to fire. After checking it out, I noticed that the takedown lever was missing and the round was jammed and wouldn't eject. I had to field dissassemble to remove the round which was a PIA. My son and I searched for about 30 minutes and never was able to find the takedown lever in the graveled area. I really didn't want to leave without it, but it just wasn't in the cards to find it. I guess I will calling S&W customer service on Monday morning. Bummer! I really hoped mine wouldn't be one of those with issues.
I know it is too late now but when my take down lever would come out of my BG 380 I would find it to the rear left of the shooter. The barrel and slide would go forward and the take down lever to the rear. So for those who will be searching that is the place to start.

Last edited by spec5; 09-12-2010 at 07:13 PM.
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Old 09-12-2010, 06:55 PM
tnharley tnharley is offline
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Quote:
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I know it is too late know but when my take down lever would come out of my BG 380 I would find it to the rear left of the shooter. The barrel and slide would go forward and the take down lever to the rear. So for those who will be searching that is the place to start.
You would think that it would have been easier to find, but our shooting position was on a concrete deck but when the arms extended put the gun over the graveled area. My son and I searched forward and to the left front and back to no avail for at least 30 minutes until we just finally gave up. My son told me that even if I found it, I needed to send the gun back to S&W for evaluation, so we gave up since it was hot and getting late
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  #11  
Old 09-18-2010, 05:04 PM
kas1263 kas1263 is offline
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The spring that was in my old frame was barely noticeable located towards the bottom of the hole the take down pin fit into. When the slide was open the pin would be loose and not have any tension from the wire. Today I fired with the new frame. The spring is more in the center of the hole and when the slide is open the take down pin has a little bounce to it from catching on the spring. I don't know if it is a different take down lever. I fired 200 rounds without a misfire or the take down lever coming loose. However,I did loose the small gray laser button off of the right side. I fell real comfortable with the gun now and once I get the button replaced I will be a totally happy camper. Now to choose a holster-any suggestions?
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  #12  
Old 11-08-2010, 10:22 PM
gutterman gutterman is offline
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After reading all the "horror" stories with the new BG380-failures to fire-take down lever falling out etc. I'm convinced not to buy until all the gremlins are caught!
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Old 11-08-2010, 11:04 PM
tnharley tnharley is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kas1263 View Post
Now to choose a holster-any suggestions?
See my holster post at: Couple of holster options for BG380
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Old 11-08-2010, 11:05 PM
tnharley tnharley is offline
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After reading all the "horror" stories with the new BG380-failures to fire-take down lever falling out etc. I'm convinced not to buy until all the gremlins are caught!
S&W is up to EAE frame numbers now. All the EAA gremlins have been fixed.
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  #15  
Old 11-08-2010, 11:29 PM
Goffman Goffman is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tnharley View Post
S&W is up to EAE frame numbers now. All the EAA gremlins have been fixed.
Where have you seen the EAE frames? I haven't heard of anything above an EAB, although it would make sense that they've moved on to the next set of serial numbers by now.
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  #16  
Old 11-08-2010, 11:38 PM
tnharley tnharley is offline
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Where have you seen the EAE frames? I haven't heard of anything above an EAB, although it would make sense that they've moved on to the next set of serial numbers by now.
Willie over on the Bodyguard 380 Forum sent his EAA frame back due to the takedown lever problem and just got back this week his replacement frame EAE2***.
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  #17  
Old 09-03-2012, 04:35 PM
David Johnston David Johnston is offline
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I have a Bodyguard with an EBP74XX serial number. Is that a newer one? Should I be worried about the take down pin or the lase screw backing out?
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