Yeah, I bought it without researching the net. I went to my LGS intending to buy a Kahr P380 but after handling the BG380 and seeing the smaller size, I had to have it. I wanted a smaller gun primarily for CCW on the ankle and it fits the bill quite nicely in an Uncle Mike's ankle holster. It's also great in a pocket holster, and surprisingly, it fits fine in my big hands.

But after reading all the negative comments I threw a fit. I checked all the issues firing a box of my chosen round for defense (Hornady Critical Defense) and they fed and shot without issue. The laser activates easily at the push of the button and, after several cycles, the take-down pin removes fairly easily.

I don't understand the negative comments about the shoot-ability of this gun. It fires predictably and the pull is way smoother than what I've read. I'm sure this is because mine is a later model (S/N EBBxxxx) and S&W has worked out a lot of the bugs. The test fired shell was dated 1/12. I really like the fit, finish and feel of this gun, but I have one question:

The laser needs adjustment, which I expected to do. It shoots way low at my favored range of about 25 feet. I figure I'd be using the sights for close range and even those could use a triple dot sight which I may attempt later. But the problem is the included Allen wrench for adjusting the laser sight was NOT included. I have not been able to find an exploded parts diagram or detailed listing for those screws so I need to know the screw size before I go buy a set of wrenches to make sure that small size will be included. Anyone?

The allen wrench which came with my BG380 was in the package with the lock.

Sorry, mine had an allen wrench also.

I can tell you a couple things about your gun.

1. With the laser, I can hit a dime at 20 feet. Consistently. The gun is accurate.

2. I've never had a lick of trouble and I have fired the gun hundreds of times, and dry fired more than that. I figure over 800 firing cycles. No issues. Never a FTF, a FTE, a feeding failure, nothing. My laser isn't as easy to activate as it could be but I DON'T CARE because it is there for the range and trigger control, it's not like I'm going to use it in a fight. MAYBE if I'm holed up in the bedroom with a bad guy banging on my door, but if that's the case I'll probably have one of my other guns anyway.

3. It fits. It fits my hand, it fits my pocket, it fits my truck cubby, it just fits!

4. With a lifetime warranty and a cheap pricetag, what's not to love. People complain the laser is off, the buttons are hard to push, the screw backs out... Mine never had issues but even so, those are minor issues! Check your set screws, put some locktite on them if you want and enjoy this little pocket gun.

5. Mine has been eating all ammo I give it, including cheap WalMart stuff, expensive Gold Dot, and cases of Lawman I bought at an auction. If it wasn't so dang hot out I'd go rip off a few hundred rounds today because it is a fun little gun to shoot. It's a real gun with real sights and I am happy as a clam with mine.

I happy to hear about your satisfaction with your BG380. I was relieved to see that the issues I read about didn't seem to exist on my gun. It's a pleasure to shoot but I've gotta get some cheaper ammo for break-in. The recoil even for such a small gun just isn't that bad. I think the double recoil spring which is similar to a 4GEN Glock makes the difference.

Now I'm off the get the laser set right. Thanks for your input.

The right Allen wrench size was .035, I could not find them locally so I had to order mine off of eBay. I also wrote an Email to S&W and they sent me a free Allen wrench and screw. Great customer service.
Good Luck with you're BG380 Mine is perfect also. I have found it to be the best little pocket gun I have. Even better than my NAA Pug. Accurate like you stated and the only problem I did have was after a little use the buttons for the laser gets softer and makes it hard to turn the laser on. Found a fix on the internet that won't interfere with the warranty, using a Bic Pen ink tube. Fixed my problem and works well now. I absolutely Love the gun. Can't praise it enough!

Thanks for the feedback. What make/type ammo are you finding works well in the BG380?

My results and feelings pretty much mirror LL, mines been pretty flawless, think I cleaned it once... Have shot anything nd everything I find, nothing in particular, just bought a box of WWB and a box of Federal... am sure they will both shoot fine... just like everything else

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Jack C

You were right. It was in the lock bag stuck into the instruction sheet.

I had the same problem with my BG38 revolver. Just call or email S&W. They will send you the right wrench at no cost.

Got mine about a month ago now and love it. Its eaten everything I've fed it so far; Silvertips, Gold Dot and hardball. I've found it to be a great "point shooter" and have done well using the regular sights also. While the laser is a neat add-on, I can't see too many situations where I've want to slow down my speed drawing and firing by fidgeting around for the button. It could be useful for the wife if she needed it for home defense. I suppose it could be good if activated in the pocket before drawing...if you had the time.

I just got mine yesterday at a gun show and I am itching to go to the range to try it out. Did y'all buy extra magazines? Also I want a vertical shoulder holster for mine for concealed carry. I love JR Roscoe holsters but I hate spending that kind of money. Are there any that are comparable and the same body style? I don't want extra over the shoulder straps or across the belly straps. I just want the simple style that I can slip my gun on and throw a blazer, cardigan or jacket over it and go. Thanks for your help.

I only have two magazines for my BG380.

I've never considered a shoulder holster. I guess you'd always need a cover-up for it and I don't always wear extra layers. They sure look comfortable.

If you like the JR holsters I'd say go for it. I have a drawer full of holsters and many look alike. I even made a few of my own and styled them as exact copies of ones I like. But you know what? They aren't the same. Once you find the right holster you know it, and any little difference in another holster can be a pain in the behind, or in this case in the hip or shoulder.

So if you like JR, save the pennies up and get one. You'll have it for 30 years or more, and each time you put it on you'll reward yourself with the finest holster you could have.

Isn't that worth it?

It's awfully nice for a "mouse-gun" but is a hand-full-o-nasty for any threat that comes along, especially when spitting Critical Defense rounds. Two points though: the iron sights are useless in dim light or deep shade and HiViz Big-Eyes cost almost a quarter of the price of the BG! I got some white reflective tape at an auto parts store and ran a strip up the back of my front sight. Viola'! I know where the front of my gun is again! Also, for those who would like just a little more to hold on to, Pachmayr has a new grip sleeve for the BG380 that gives just a tish of palm-swell and a skoosh of cusioning that makes a really big difference! Getting it on won't give you a finger-hernia like some of the type do. As for holsters; I have three different Galco's (Stinger, Tuck-away, and Front-pocket) and may get a Slide just so I can carry wearing anything except a thong (scary thought!). Shoulder rigs would seem awkward with a pistol as small as a BG but I think it's a matter of taste.

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Vide - Aude - Tace

I was wondering about my Bodyguard .380 also. I was wondering if I should get rid of it or keep it. My serial number is EARXXXX. I like the gun, except for the trigger, and the hard to turn on laser. I know the reasoning behind the long trigger pull, and I can live with that. Maybe something can be done with the laser. What worries me is all of the problems people are having with the Bodyguard. I know you can't believe everything you read on the net, but it does have me wondering.
I do like the feel of the gun, the way the slid locks back on the last round, the size of the pistol, but is it reliable?

You own one, you tell me.... is it?

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Jack C

It is so far, but being new to handguns, and newer to the Bodyguard .380 I was wondering if it will stay that way. Of course I am hoping it will.

Well, mine has just been sent back to Smith & Wesson. I had fired and cleaned it without incident twice since buying it in August. I took it to a LEOSA qualification last week (it functioned flawlessly) and fired a 98% with it (without the laser), took it home and cleaned it, and that's when the trouble began. During re-assembly, the slide was extremely difficult to get to the rearward, locking position. When you could get it there, you could disengage the slide lock and it wouldn't go forward without a good nudging. I had followed the same cleaning/ disassembly/ reassembly process on two previous occaisions with no problems, and it hadn't done that before. My theory/ guess, something had gone awry with the slide/ rails. After taking it apart and putting it back together, lubing, blowing it off with compressed air, etc. , it still wouldn't go back fully. I gave up, took it to the dealer where I bought it and had them sent it back under warranty. Hopefully, it will be better when I get it back. Wheeew.

Sometimes the laser screw will come loose and interfere with the slide.
S&W will fix it. Glad everything else went well.

Well if it was, it wasn't very obvious at all. In fact, it was sticking in the rearward position, where it should have been way clear if the laser parts. I hope they send a note back with it telling me what caused it to become so "vexing." Thanks

Well, I got it back from S&W today, with the cryptic note that they had replaced the sight (I'm guessing laser). Seems to function fine. I'm going to the range Tuesday to run a few rounds through it.

Another big plus to me is that the Laser also has a 100% lifetime warranty. When you consider most add on lasers only include a 1 to 3 year warranty, and many fail within that time, the cost added into the BG380 to have a laser was well worth it.

Laser might not seem useful to some, but helps to quickly learn how to control the pistol, saving a lot of wasted rounds. Bullet goes exactly where laser dot is (after aligning), and with the extremely long and hard pull of the latest BG380's, this quickly shows how that long hard pull might force you off target. Combining laser with the BG380s' decent sights, makes training much quicker and easier, while gaining confidence in using the normal sights, then leaving the laser for the time when you most likely need a CCW (anything other than bright daylight).

I have one. I like it. Finally. It took me a while to like it. Mr. Wrench got it for my birthday last year. I told him I was interested in one, and it showed up.

It just took some getting used to.

Issues with the laser button...found a nice fix on this very forum. Other than that, like someone else said...it FITS. Pocket, purse, console of the car, hands, it FITS. Also, jam free since round 1, regardless of weak cheap ammo or home defense rounds...whatever.

Now he decides he likes it a lot too.

No. MINE.

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Soli Deo Gloria

I am wondering what others have done to see what others did to brighten up the sights? I read on a forum that someone used glow in the dark paint called glonation. Without spending a ton of money of trijiton sights and the like has anyone have any other suggestions?

I just purchased my BG and have not had the opportunity to fire it. By first appearance it seems the lazer is about a foot low (from the factory). Does that sound right? Does anyone care to share some tips on adjusting it in?
Thanks!

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Mike

I'd use white or orange nail polish or model paint. I've read that the glow in the dark paint isn't very effective because it fades too quickly to be of much use.

I've noticed that when I field strip and clean it, I have a hard time getting it back together when I follow the instructions/ procedure in the manual. I seemed to do better when watching along with a YouTube video I located online. The issue seems to be when to/ when not to insert the take down lever back in to the frame.

Anyone else having trouble with re-assembly? Any tips and/or tricks would be appreciated.

No probs here Just make sure the take down lever is parallel to POA. With enough downward force it should just click in. Took me a few times. Taking it out to range tomorrow for first time though.

Well I have posted on this earlier in this post. I loved my BG380, but wanted another Ruger Mark 22lr so I traded it off for one. What a mistake that was, my BG380 was perfect. I missed it so much, I heard an FFL dealer that I work with talking to another guy at work that he ordered 3 BG380. I jumped right in and told him to save one for me. He did and I have put a deposit down on it. At the end of this month I will pick it up with my vacation pay that I did not use. Can't wait ! For those of you that have a hard to turn on laser, Google the fix for it, it's real easy to fix with a bic pen ink tube and works great afterwards and from what I understand wont interfere in the warranty. I have had several carry guns over the years and have a Sig Sauer P290 now that is pretty good to carry but none of them ever fit me or made me happier than this little BG380 (Great Gun) only improvement that could be made is to maybe do away with the laser to make it a tad smaller on the frame and put night sights on it instead.

I got the Bodyguard 380 after having a Diamondback for about a month. The Bodyguard has alot more features, such as lock back on last shot, you can pull the tigger twice if you have a light strike, a built in lazer and the Smith and Wesson reputation. I enjoy shooting it and can group decent with the little gun. I would be interested in seeing what folks have chosen for a holster for it and if any9ne has qualified LEOSA with it?

I qualified with mine with no problems. You may find that on a timed course of fire, you'll do better with the sights on the weapon, not the laser. I've been alternating between an ankle holster, an in-the-pocket holster and an inside the pants/ attached to a cell-phone-case arrangement I picked up at a gun show for real deep cover.

Had multiple FTFs with Speer LE gold dot (90 gr) and Winchester Ranger LE (95 gr T-series). None, so far, with the Hornady CD FTX (90 gr).
The "rumor" is that the flatter the round tip, the bigger the opportunity for the bullet to hang up on the feed ramp (FTF). Maybe this explains why the super expensive Hornady rounds work better since they're more "pointy" than traditional HPs.
Or maybe my feed ramp just sucks......lol!

I just bought mine on sale, for $379, Man I love this little gun! I'm a Glock guy and I carry my G27 but wanted a summer/shorts carry and Im very pleased! Cant even tell its there!

Sights seem to be a big issue with BG 380's and everyone seems to have a different take. I've posted before that I had used a reflective tape to brighten up the front sight blade but after some more range time and an advanced carry course I've come to some conclusions:
First, the Bodyguard is not a firearm for stand-off engagements. Trying for a sight-picture with something this small in the time frame of a surprise (or surprising) armed action is not gonna happen. This piece is for shooting quickly and hitting anything you can, not drilling bulls. Brightening up the front sight with tape or paint or a "Big-Eye" lets you know where the front of the gun is quickly and that is whats important! I found that the faster I used "instinctive-aiming" (what the Army used to call "quick-kill"), the more potentially effective hits I made. In the rapid draw-and-present situation I found myself making that long trigger travel work for me as I brought it up to the firing point then tripping the sear as the gun reached what I perceived as the proper point of aim. It also worked well when the coach called "abort" as we were in the middle of a three-round cycle. My DAO Bodyguard was easy to bring back to guard while the striker-shooters were making unintended bangs. The little Smith isn't perfect, but as a "where did that thing come from!" element of protection it's darned hard to fault.

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Vide - Aude - Tace

S&W sent me a new Laser and all is good on my BG380. I really really like shooting the little *******. My Shield 40 feels like a monster compared to it.

You know the more that people try to knock them the more that people Love them. I think once you buy one and use it and really carry it the more you respect and Love the gun. I think S&W really hit a home run with it. But I still would like to see them make a model without the laser and put night sights on it. I would buy another in a heart beat with that set up and have both styles. Just my wish list.