Did it before I read the reviews on here. Should I back out now and avoid it like the plague and consider something else similar in size or am I over reacting. If I should back out, what should I consider?

Have one no problems with it shoots fine and mine or should I say my wife's eats all types of ammo with no problems. If you feel you might not like it then don't buy it that way you can’t blame anyone for bad advice. Most of the time you will hear bad things about anything because people would rather complain about it then tell of their good experiences. Read the threads about them there are a lot of good information about them about things you should pay attention to like screw holding laser backing out, use blue locktite, spring in mag backwards take base off turn spring around, and some others I can't remember off hand. Break it in according to recommendations and be careful when reassembling as per instructions. We have the pre MIM barrel.

Here is one review from BlueSheepdog: Your Law Enforcement Training Source
Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380 Review | Tested by a SWAT Cop

Also from another LE mag.
http://www.policemag.com/channel/wea...ol/page/2.aspx

Gdnagle, thanks for posting the links to the 2 reviews.

Great move,....you are buying a $500.00 gun at a bargain price.
I wouldn't want any other pocket gun. Accurate, reliable and feeds about every thing. The laser is a great perk for low light shooting but the iron sights are the Novak type and vey effective. The Bodyguard is thin and light and is extremely comfortable to carry all day and that is what its all about. There isn't another pocket gun with all these features that is this comfortable that you actually want to carry it all the time. You will get a late serial numbered gun with all he bugs worked out. Mine was test fired like 3 weeks ago so mine essentially came right off the production line.

I bought one back in January or so - about 100 rounds through it so far - no issue with the take down lever or the barrel or the laser.

The only "issue" I am having is with the break point on the trigger being so close to the max travel of the trigger and keeping it steady all the way to that point. My wife doesn't like the heavy DA only trigger.

I am planning to do some mods from Galloway Precision when they are available (currently listed as coming soon on their site). Primarily the short trigger kit.

FloridaFeMan there are lots of reviews out there good and bad just google and you will see some of the problems some people are having, some of them are shooter induced. And lot or upgrade, updates, repairs for them.
Here is a nice video for disassembly you could watch so when you get your firearm your ready to field strip and clean, or just read the manual on line. As severial others have chimed in it's a nice "mouse gun" as some call them.
Just make whatever decision you feel right about.

The New Smith and Wesson 380 Bodyguard Pistol disassembly / fieldstrip battery replacement S&W - YouTube

I'm another satisfied BG 380 owner. Took it shooting again this past weekend and enjoyed every round.

The early problems with the firing pin, Insight Laser button, and laser set screw have largely been worked out. My BG380, serial # EBR 6xxx, is functioning perfectly after some early issues. Several thousand rounds downrange with it, I'm a happy camper. Enjoy your pistol!

I went to buy one and the local GM was out. Walked out with a Beretta Nano.

There is a Gun show this coming weekend, so I hope I can find a new one at a decent price.

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Wachuko

I have had two BG380's sold the first one and regretted it so bad that I tried to find another one. Took way to long to find the second one. I have never had any problems with mine. If you hold all the other 380's in you're hand and then hold the BG380 it feels like night and day as far as the quality and the hefty feeling of the gun. I shot two other manufactures of 380's they just felt like junk in comparison while shooting. I have other self defense and home defense guns but they stay in the safe. My Bg380 is always by my side. I am 50 years old and have had more than my share of guns over the years, I have wasted more money on guns than I care to remember (I've had a lot of guns) but I can not remember of a gun that I ever liked better than this little 380. I just wish S&W would make it with night sights instead of the laser, I like the laser but would rather have the night sights.
Good Luck on you're decision.

Thanks for everyone's advice. I will be picking it up tomorrow. Since I live in a warm weather climate (Florida), the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to be able to throw this is my pocket and go. They had a 9 mm shield that I considered switching to but decided to hold off. I think this will complement my glock 23 & my taurus millennium .40 as well as my taurus PT 58 (beretta knock-off), which I love.

I had the S&W Shield also, great gun well made works great with the new trigger. Just wasn't what I was looking for. The Bg380 fills that slot for me, sold the Shield.

This is exactly what I am talking about.

"The early problems with the firing pin, Insight Laser button, and laser set screw have largely been worked out."

No they have not been largely worked out. My Firing Pin broke and my sn# EBZ purchased March 2013, test fired by S&W 02/20/13 so why do people think that just because they have not experienced the problem it is fixed??

If someone wants to state an "opinion" I have no issue with that but posting opinion as "Fact" is another story.
This forum is riddled with such.

My brand new 380 (ser. no. started with KAF) went back to smith for light strikes/FTF's with most ammo. Came back the same. The other, that I shot for the first time today (SN starts with KAH) had the takedown lever break in half after about 60 rounds.

Issues are most definitely not resolved. That's two for two failed with recent s.n.'s.

After reading all the happy campers posts, I figured I had the odd one with issues, apparently not so much.

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One could ask you the same....Why do you generalize that the problems haven't been worked out just because you have experienced a issue???
Just by the laws of statistics, more people are inclined to complain on form if they have a problem than all the thousands of silent trouble free owners.
I suspect a bad batch of guns will leave the factory every now and then. S&W warranty is no questions asked so they will take care of you. I would want to hear what S&W would say after two faulty guns with the same owner.

I am very happy with mine and like said still have never had a problem. But that being said so many have had firing pin problems I will up grade mine with Galloway's firing pin as soon as it is available and a stiffer spring also. After that should never see any problems.

I've had my #EAM bodyguard for quite some time now and haven't had any problems. The only minor issue is the laser button is a little stiff... But I never use it so it's really not an issue for me.

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- The Federalist #46 -

I think when the after market gets caught up with the BG380, its gonna get really popular. My BG has been flawless but I am a tinkerer.

I've had my BG380 for about a year now. About 500 rounds downrange. No issues. Great gun so far.

One thing that has made me re-re-consider the BG vs LCP is that I can find plenty of replacement parts for the LCP but not so much for the BG.

I like the ergonomics of the BG better, but I like having a wide selection of replacement parts.

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- The Federalist #46 -

Perhaps they are more readily available with the LCP because they are more NECESSARY?

Replacement parts? Lifetime warranty with the S&W, why would you need them???

I went to the gun show this weekend... Had both the Shield (425.00) and the Bodyguard (379.00) in my hands....should have left my conscience at home as I walked out empty handed

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Wachuko

If your BG380 performs like the many thousands that are out there, as does mine, you'll be extremely pleased with it. Contrary to what S&W states, don't dry fire the pistol.

A forum is, by definition, a communal place in which opinions - yes, opinions, are shared amongst the membership. It is everyone's hope, I trust, that these opinions are shared honestly in civil discourse. That doesn't mean of course, that everyone will always agree.

That said, I hope your issues with your BG 380 are addressed by S&W Customer Service.

As many have said, there are lots of people that have had these guns and have not had issues. But there are many of us that have had a multitude of issues. I purchased my new BG380 in March of 2013 for $400 and it is on its way back for repairs for the second time.

I will spare you the details of the issues that I have had as they are the same as those of many other unhappy owners.

Anyway, my point of this post is that unless you are willing to accept the chance that you will get a lemon that spends more time S&W warranty repair than in your pocket, then I would suggest that you get your deposit back and look to a proven gun such as the Ruger LCP.
Thanks and good luck,
MDCOV

Just my experience and opinion.

I love my BG380! Super fun to shoot and rides nicely anywhere I put it.

Ruger puts out lemmons too. Here's a post with feed issues and sweat corrosion on a new one....
Problems with New LCP

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