I have to say i have been looking for the perfect pocket pistol for a long time. The Bodyguard looked awesome with its first release but I waited for S&W to work the bugs out and wasn't in any particular hurry. Two years later and the BG380 was still the standout in its class of guns. I picked up one today and put 150 rounds through it. Serial number of my gun is KAJ4***.

Ammo choices were slim these days but I did find some PMC and Sellier Bellot. Both were extremely accurate, I mean tack drivers! The Sellier Bellot had some issue with tough primers. I had a few FTF that required another hit to set them off. It was another reason why a DAO is a huge advantage giving a round a second drop of the hammer. I have seen similar heavy primers in some brands of Euro ammo and tend to avoid these brands but in todays ammo shortage I was lucky to find any 380acp. The PMC were flawless. The gun was very reliable and spit the cases out in one neat little pile on the ground. No break-in issues of any kind. Recoil was not even worth mentioning. I generally limit myself to a 9mm as my minimum caliber but with the advancement in high performance bullets and the manufacturers are all using them in the 380acp, I feel the Bodyguard is a Pit bull for its size and weight. Sometimes the right caliber in the right gun is a perfect marriage and that is the case with the Bodyguard 380. Super thin, light, accurate and comfortable to shoot in one package. It makes a Glock 27 feel too heavy and too big to ever pocket carry again.

I am a experienced tactical hand-gunner and handgun hunter so the heavy DAO trigger was no issue to get outstanding accuracy. It is heavy but breaks crisp and clean. It has a very unique feel that makes it very easy to stage the trigger almost like you would with a DA revolver. Once you got the feel of staging the trigger, you can take head shots all day long. If you are new to guns, this trigger might just seem heavy but old school revolver guys will love this trigger. I have seen similar accuracy claims so the trigger will perform if you learn the gun and it took me about 2 magazines to do that. A DAO is what I want in a pocket gun. Its just added insurance. The safety is also a nice option when the gun is loose in a pocket. The DAO trigger doesn't need to have the safety engaged for normal safe carry but I like the option. I did have to fine tune the laser for pinpoint accuracy but I was pleased with both the iron sights and laser accuracy. I get why S&W is using these sights, a tritium front sight would snag on your pocket. Painting the front sight is what we always did pre tritium sight days and I don't see it being any different with the BG380.


With very little effort, I could get accuracy bettering some full size service sidearms. The one target, I just used the iron sights and the other i just used the laser as I was tweaking it for accuracy.

I was able to put 6 shots in the size of a quarter at 10 yards when the laser was sighted in.




I found a perfect fitting pocket holster.


This will make a perfect hot weather pistol or just when I don't want to carry one of my bigger sidearms. There is no reason with this accuracy, the Bodyguard 380 couldn't be your only or main CCW especially with the high performance ammo now in 380acp. Number one rule in a gunfight is to bring a gun and you would be well served to have the BG380. My LGS let's me try about anything they have and I really didn't find any of the other pocket guns to be in the same league as the BD380. People tend to cheap out on their pocket guns and it should be just the opposite. Little guns need excellent engineering and S&W set the bar with this gun. The BG380 feels like a $500 gun and the fact that S&W lowered it to $400.00 for a laser integrated gun makes it a bargain in my book. I live in the mountains so this little gem will ride along with me as a light weight trail gun on ATV rides or scouting deer. Now to locate some high quality defense rounds like Gold Dots or PDX1.....

These holster fit the BG380 perfectly. The IWB is for shorts or sweatpants. The gun is light enough you dont need a belt.





I also wanted to add that the Bodyguard needs to be thoroughly cleaned before you shoot it the first time. I also found out that when I treated my BG380 with Froglube today, it made a noticeable difference in the trigger feel. It was good before with normal cleaning but its even better now. I recommend it.

I have one myself and I'm very happy with it. My xdm was just too big for summer carry.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Thanks Mystro!

Glad to see you could log on here.

How do you like your new job at S&W marketing?


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Kirk / Spock 2020

Happy to hear you're pleased with your BG380! I too was very impressed with the accuracy/consistency of this of this short barreled little gun. The guide rod and full length rails help a lot.

I am stimulating the economy. I should at least get a employee discount.....

The Mystro, Congratulations on the Bg380. I enjoyed you're write up very much. When I read it, I smiled that is the exact way I feel about the gun. I have not had any light strikes as of yet and hope I never do. I have only fired the PMC as of yet. I am still waiting on the Galloway up grades though, I will replace the firing and spring when he gets them ready. I find that I don't even want to carry anything else now. It just feels good in the hand and feels solid unlike the other 380's that I have had or felt. Just Rock solid.

My BG is a little finicky. Tried multiple brands of ammo until I found PMC Bronze and American Eagle would cycle without any issues. A requirement for a CC. My laser went out after less than 100 rounds. Wouldn't stay on when the action cycled. Sent the laser back to S&W and they replaced it. They sent a new Allen wrench with it. Too bad it was .050 and the correct size is .035. Don't know why they did that.

I have always had a good relation with S&W and their warrantee. I have sent in old revolvers for a tune up at no cost.. The laser is always going to be the most fragile part of the gun and I thought about that before buying but S&W is has such a no-questions-asked warrantee, it takes all the pressure away should something happen. I have used lasers in the guide rods on some of my Glocks and it always bothered me I couldn't fine tune the adjustments to be spot on exactly. I am so glad the laser is adjustable on the BG380. Now there is no such excuse as close enough. I am going to see what the BD380 can shoot at some distance with the laser. I am just waiting to find more ammo. I am desperately trying to find some Personal Protection rounds like..Critical Defense, Gold Dot, etc.... If any one knows a online shop that has some, I would appreciate it.

All I can say is; Ditto on all the TheMystro’s points. Try taking the target out to 25 yards, you’ll be surprised.

I agree with you, and I don't work for S&W, I have shot every brand of ammo I could get at the time several years ago fmj and hp, and no failure with any. Only thing I would complain about is activating the laser, it would cost more but would be better to be able to activate by trigger or grip, but I don't rely on it anyway, it's not my primary carry, which doesn't have a laser anyhow.

A cool sight mod I stumbled across was to use reflective DOT tape on your front sight. Its thin, weather resistant and sticks very well. I had some I bought for my Kubota plow and I remembered that when its stuck, it is extremely hard to peel off. It glows like a fiber optic pin. Its a cheap mod and still lets your front sights be snag free.




Since you dont need alot, Email me and I can send you some cheap.
Reflective Tape - TapeJungle.com - The Industrial Tape Superstore


Since I have a late serial number, my laser retention screw had locktite from the factory and it felt nice and snug. I add some white paint so I can visually tell if it has moved. Germans have been doing this for years. Its cheap insurance.

Had mine about year n half now. Lost count on how many rounds I have put threw it. Now that warm weather is back it becomes my primary carry. I just added a tactical glove to it on Tuesday and makes it better and adds just a slightly more to the grip, and plus being rubbEr it sticks in my hand better. Great gun haven't regretted it for one bit.

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Thanks Bob

I love my bg380. Awesome summer carry gun.

I was fortunate enough to find Critical Defense, Gold Dots, AND Winchester PDX1 at a local gun shop....so I have all three.
Love my Bodyguard as well and the ease of carry means it's on me much more than my Gen4 Glock 23.

Good score....I found some Magtech Guardian Gold .380ACP 85gr JHP +p at a decent price on line. They are not my first choice but have performed very good on the test I have seen on Youtube.

Do you have to re-sight-in your laser when you remove it from the frame to change the batteries????? How long do the batteries really last in the gun??

I haven't had to replace my batteries yet, so I can't answer that question for you. Manual says they last 6 hours...we'll see.

The BG 380 is an excellent little pistol and a good choice for warm weather carry. I concur as to it's accuracy with either the sights or the laser. Even Gun Tests magazine refers to the BG as the Cadillac of micro 380s. With so many good loads being offered now, the 380 is a viable defensive caliber. I carry Corbon DPXs in mine.

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Fantastic little pistol for concealed carry.

That bullet expansion couldn't look anymore perfect regardless of the caliber. I am a big fan of Corbon ammo. I haven't seen Corbon ammo in half a years time. I think the 380acp has benefited the most with the high tech bullets. It really took the 380 up a notch. I no longer scoff at the 380 and its effectiveness. Its a pit-bull now with the right ammo.

Great suggestion to use reflective DOT tape. I may give this a try. I bought my wife a BG380 over a year ago and I front pocket carry it frequently during warm weather months. Great little gun.
Anyone out there know of a fiber optic front sight manufactured specifically for this BG380? I believe most BG380 owners would love to know and use one on their little gun. Thanks.

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"Know your sword."

Great review, great gun, gotta get one! For as long as I can remember, the only .380 ACP load recommended for self defense - per Massad Ayoob - were Cor-Bon ones. Yes, expensive, but isn't your life worth the expense? I carried a Colt .380 briefly alternating Cor-Bon with Glaser Safety Slugs.

The most highly regarded ammo for this gun is the Hornady Critical Defense. It performs consistantly every time (uniform expansion and good penetration-for the round).
Massads recommendation was made BEFORE some of the more modern ammo came out.

As far as all my other calibers, my top tier performers are Critical Defence, PDX1, Gold Dot with the Golden Saber working very well in the 9mm. I have to been able to locate any of them for the 380acp. There has been a few new 380acp personal pertection rounds released this year by other manufactures. The 380acp segment is getting really competitive.

I have been waiting too long to get a gun small enough to conceal carry. The ones that I have now are too big for that purpose (Beretta M9, S&W Pro Series 1911 in 9mm)...

I wish there was one from my preferred manufactures that I could buy without worries... so far there has been too many negative comments/reviews on the S&W BG .380 and the Beretta Nano to give me the confidence to go and get one... Beretta just announced the Pico (Beretta Pico)... will see how the reviews and first owners report back on that one...

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Stay safe, stay alert
Wachuko

I think the bugs have been worked out of the BG380. I am picky as hell and went over the Bodyguard with a macro lens and it is a quality built weapon.

Great post! I'm going home at lunch and get my BG380 out of the safe!

The way I am going, I might end up getting both (Nano and BG.380)... . I can always tell the wife that one is for her, lol

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Stay safe, stay alert
Wachuko

I think I have worked the bugs out of mine finally. It was finicky at first and I had a lot of lite strikes and ammo spitting out unfired. The first ammo I ran through it may have been a problem, but it was all I could get at the time. Now it doing much better with PMC and Independence. I could barely work the slide when I first got it since I have small weak hands and it was my first pistol. Now it is broken in and everything works smoothly and easily. I am glad I didn't get rid of it when I was thinking I should. My instructor worked with me yesterday with rapid fire and it shot like a charm and I didn't even notice the long trigger pull. I am glad I purchased it! It's a great little gun to learn on. I feel confident now that I can graduate to the M&P Shield for another gun for my collection.

I use fluorescent duct tape for my site, but I sure would love to try the tape you are using. Looks expensive!

The glow tape is expensive but worth it.. As a service to my fellow forum Bodyguard owners, PM me and I can hook you up with some of my Orange Glow tape for your sights.