Hey its my first time on the site, hoping a few of you can help me out with this. Im highly interested in getting the new bodyguard 380 for carry for my wife and I. However I cant stand the laser on it. Ive talked to a few people and some have said that they are going to come out with a model with out the laser and some say they never will. Has any heard one way or another, im afraid to buy them and have the madel come out after it. any other thoughts on it would be great. Thanks

Welcome to the forum.

There are a number of threads going on the BG .380 currently, and most seem to be having some problems with theirs. You may want to read some of the threads before purchasing one. I was considering one for my wife, but after reading the experiences others are having, I decided to wait until they have been out for a while, and the issues settle down.

If it didn't have a laser, I'd be more interested in it too. For a gun with such limited range and intended for upclose and personal use, I don't need no stinking laser that probably ain't gonna work when I need it.

Ghost, if you're thinking about a BG380, I'd recommend you focus more on the trigger and less on the laser. The trigger is pretty stiff on the BG380. It took a fair amount of dry fire practice for me to get used to it, and both of my other firearms are j-frame revolvers, so I'm used to long, stiff triggers. That said, I don't mind the trigger now that I've become accustomed to it, and it doesn't appear to affect my accuracy at all. On the other hand, my wife fired two magazines in my BG380 earlier today and then quickly returned to her Kahr P380, complaining that the trigger on the BG380 was too stiff.

Thanks everyone for their reply. Thetrigger being stiff isn't a big deal at all seen and shot worse. And the laser would be such a big deal if they had actually thought about it's controls before they put it on. It's not possible to turn it on with one hand and keep your finger on the trigger. If they can change the design to put the switch somewhere on he grip that would be better. I'll have to wait and see hopefully all of the buys will be worked out of it soon and they Listen to people about the laser. I know dropping the price to $350 with out the laser would get Amit more peoples attention. Here's to hoping their change it up a little.

Faced with a deadly threat the last thing I want to be doing is fumbling with the laser button, especially on mine where it sometime works and sometimes doesn't. Another problem is that when you insert the pistol into a holster the laser tends to turn itself on by itself. I'd hate to be in Walmart trailing a laser beam behind me. The laser buttons seem to be a common problem and S&W customer service keeps a bag of them on hand to mail to people having problems. In a darkened room the laser will also give away your position -- it works both ways, just like tracer ammunition. Another problem that has cropped up for a few is the laser hold down screw backing out under recoil and locking up the slide. Overall the laser seems to be poorly designed and unreliable. I'm selling my BG after I get it back from the factory for the second time.

I've heard nothing but problems when it come to the laser. Sounds like s&w need to go back to the drawing board with that or just take it out completely.

Don't give up so fast. This is a multi-function weapon. I have heard that after the sixth shot the gun is light enough, so that if you throw it the correct way it returns like a boomerang AND the laser will blind everyone within 50 feet.

When I first received my BG using it without the laser had me all over the place with recoil, wrist action, trigger pull and stance. I practiced with the laser to help with the problems I had and after several hundred rounds I was able to shoot just as accurate without the laser as with.

It is a great learning tool.

Frank

With as much bad press on this site about the little S&W auto, I own and suggest a Ruger LCP with a laser. The control is on the front of the grip which makes perfect sense compared to how the S&W is described above. I am very happy with the Ruger .380 in a pocket holster and its functioning has been flawless.

I wouldnt mind a laser in the least bit nor the price that comes with it, if S&W would have just made it easier to operate one handed like the Ruger.

but it isn't really all that hard to use ( when it is working right) lol

My finger hits it perfectly when holding it in my hand.

While I wish S&W well with their little 380 auto offering, there are too many tried and true options out there to gamble your life on it, just because it says S&W on the side. While not much to look at, the KelTec P3AT has a decent reputation, and I hear the Ruger LCP is getting better. Don't recall hearing much bad bout Sigs, and if you favor something a little cheaper (and a hammer) the Bersa 380 has a lot of fans.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

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Don't need no stinkin' sigline

I like the smith due to it's feel and the full size features, safety, slide release, and take down. Don't know to much about the kel techs and not a huge fan of the rugers either. Sig's 1911 is a great gun and would get that but it's SAO and I don't wanna keep the hammer cocked with one in the chamber while it's in my pocket ( don't need any extra holes in my body) lol

The Sig P238 has and still plagued with several issues. Many have returned them multiple times according to their forums.

The sleeper in the compact .380 market seems to be the Taurus TCP 738. Not many problems reported and very accurate right out of the box, made in Florida.

Talked to S&W today about the status of my BG380 repair for the takedown lever. I sent it back 2 weeks ago. Good news, they told me that they are replacing the gun with a new one and that customer service would be in contact with me in a couple of days to arrange for delivery to a local dealer. I sure hope they have the issue resolved.

By all accounts the new frame should solve the problem. How many times did you have to send it back to S&W? I have one there now for a problem with the takedown lever.

Edit: I see in another post where this was the first time you sent it back.

At least they are working with you.
I have had to call them 4 times now and each time I get a different answer and information on how I need to send my gun back. They keep this unorganized **** up. This will be my last S&W. They also seem to have lost my laser they told me to ship back last week which they got Monday and as of today Can't find it. Have no history of it being there

They need to go back to the drawing board on the whole gun.

sounds like from what everyone is saying, S&W rushed the gun on to the shelves with out proper testing first. a new design or just an update would hopefully fix the problems. I was going to buy the gun last month but until the problems are fixed ill stick with Sig for now.

I am with Goffman's wife I like the trigger on my Kahr P380. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

Are the laser on the Bodyguards useful, or just a "gimmick?" I too would rather see a smaller (and less expensive) gun.

I think the take down lever issue has been resolved. Now onto the trigger.

I don't think there is a perfect CCW .380 out there yet. Will be interesting to see how the BG380 evolves.

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"Git 'er done with one"

I just picked my BG 380 up from my gun shop after a back order of 4 months. Good price but had to wait. My gun left S&W on the 24th of November, went to the dealer and was shipped to my shop with todays FedEx delivery. The serial numbers are EAF1XXX. The range was not open today, so tomorrow I'll crank 200 rounds through it. I field stripped it and found,as some others have mentioned, it is easier to get the takedown pin out by inserting the magazine. Also, the pin needed to turn 180 degrees, or past the detent by 90 degrees in order to be removed. I can live with that rather than worry if the slide will fire along side of the bullet.So far I'm a happy camper.