Report: Problems with new S&W Bodyguard 380

[WilliamG]

It's time S&W stood up and recalled all .380 bodyguards. There are serious trigger issues with the first run models. I purchased one at Cabela's recently and so disappointed when I fired my first round through it! The trigger was literally against the the rear of the trigger guard before the pistol fired, that's 3/4 of and inch and probably 15 pounds of resistance! Try doing a google search on S&W bodyguard trigger pull issues! Many hits will pop up!
Come on S&W! You have been a great gun manufacturer for over 100 years. Make your long time customers happy!
Sure, first models are prone to have bugs, but that does not dismiss the attitude of the customer service rep I spoke to on the phone about my trigger issue today! What a jerk! Recall this gun before some one is killed from it's faulty trigger!
Matthew G.
p.s. the casings upon discharge usually fly straight up, so, if you wear a large brimmed hat you can catch most of them as long as you hold your head level!!!!

Erm, the trigger is designed to break right at the back. That's normal. Not sure about your ejection issue.

For what it's worth, my EAE BG380 hasn't been perfect. Just had to send back the laser module because of this... Yep, not sealed laser. And no, it's not on the outside.

S&W should get it back this Friday, so we'll see what they do. Hopefully they just replace the laser...

 

[Goffman]

Erm, the trigger is designed to break right at the back. That's normal. Not sure about your ejection issue.

For what it's worth, my EAE BG380 hasn't been perfect. Just had to send back the laser module because of this... Yep, not sealed laser. And no, it's not on the outside.

S&W should get it back this Friday, so we'll see what they do. Hopefully they just replace the laser...

I've got the same problem. In fact, I can see white spots (pretty sizeable ones) on the inside of the lense cover of the laser when the laser is turned off.

 

[matthew g]

Sorry William, My BG.380 has trigger issues! I'm glad you purchased one that didn't.

 

[matthew g]

?

William, My dad and myself fired fifty rounds through my bg.380 and on six occasions the gun didn't discharge. Actually once when I was shooting, the gun discharge three seconds or so after the trigger had been pulled back fully.
This is not right right nor is it safe.
A gun this light should not have a trigger action so hard to manage. I'm confident S&W will fix the problem as I am finding out I am certainly not the only one who has experienced this after reading many posts on many blogs such as this which address the trigger issue in EAA and EAH serial # .380s.

 

[WilliamG]

matthe g, I really cannot understand what you're even saying. I've put over 200 rounds through my BG380 with not a single failure to fire or failure to eject. How can your gun be discharging three seconds AFTER the trigger has been pulled back fully? That makes no sense unless perhaps your ammo sucks and didn't fire immediately when the primer was struck?

Have you tried different ammo?

Also, I disagree that "a gun this light" shouldn't have such a trigger. It's a pocket pistol, so you do not want a 1911-style trigger, unless you're fond of unintentional discharging of a firearm.

 

[WilliamG]

I've got the same problem. In fact, I can see white spots (pretty sizeable ones) on the inside of the lense cover of the laser when the laser is turned off.

Send it back to S&W. They'll give you a prepaid label if you call them.

 

[Col_Cotton_Hill]

Send it back to S&W. They'll give you a prepaid label if you call them.

When I talked to them about sending me some new button's, they acted like they would send me a new laser. Might want to call and ask. Then you wouldn't have to send the gun in.

 

[WilliamG]

When I talked to them about sending me some new button's, they acted like they would send me a new laser. Might want to call and ask. Then you wouldn't have to send the gun in.

I didn't send my whole gun in, but they wanted my laser back first before they'd send me a new one. So just my laser is on its way back to MA.

 

[VOID]

Man, I was hoping to find that all the bugs have been worked out of the BG380 by now... Now I'm not so sure what CCW to get. I'll take a look at the RUGER LCP's again I guess.

 

[wvron]

I've put a little over 50 rounds thru my BG 380 with no problems except one. I hit the mag. release while shooting and the mag slipped down around a 1/4th of an inch giving it a fail to load. I think the mag feels very loose in the grip. I'm thinking of making a thin rubber spacer for the mag to take up the gap between the mag and the base of the grip. I like the little gun and it really shoots accurately for such a short barrel but wish I would have purchased a .38 revolver instead. I let the idea of a laser sway my choice.

 

[dralarms]

Wow, Glad I'm having trouble getting one now. I've been looking one for 3 months and the only people that have any still want 5 bills for them.

 

[WilliamG]

Bear in mind that S&W has likely sold a load of these. Most people aren't having issues. Just a few. Mine has functioned flawlessly as a gun, i.e. it fires every time. Just a few quirks with lasers/buttons are a fairly common occurrence. Not a deal breaker, though!

 

[ws76133]

Mine (EAF s/n series) has been flawless.

 

[lil'Bill]

My EAJ has been functioning just fine, as well... no real issues.
The laser button mod is a must!
And the triggggggger puuuuullllllllll takes a LOT of getting used to.
All together, I'm satisfied with the weapon for the price.

 

[snakeman48]

My EAJ has been functioning just fine, as well... no real issues.
The laser button mod is a must!
And the triggggggger puuuuullllllllll takes a LOT of getting used to.
All together, I'm satisfied with the weapon for the price.

My EAF32xx also has been flawless.
I agree on the trigger pull, and I just did the laser button mod.

I would buy it again, and in fact the wife is thinking of getting herself one.
Nice, light, purse/pocket personal protection gun.

 

[WilliamG]

Anyone else having trouble getting hold of Smith & Wesson. The only options I get are to leave a message. I sent in just the laser module for replacement, which they received last Friday, but I haven't heard anything since, and it hasn't been possible since Monday to get hold of a live person.

 

[tchick]

I bought my BG 380 a couple weeks ago. So far I've put 75 rounds through it without any functioning problems. My takedown lever is hard to rotate past 5 o'clock but I just use the end of a cleaning brush to push it past 6 o'clock and it pops right out. That's not a big deal to me. I'd rather it be a little hard to remove than it popping out when firing like some of the early models did. My serial # is EAH9***. I've been carrying mine in an ankle holster and I love how light it is. As long as it keeps working fine I'll be using it. I'm waiting for the extended 10 round spare magazines for it like the ones that are out there for the LCP.

Here it is with my G19.

 

[Shuz]

Anybody sent a 380 Bodyguard back to the factory for FTF and FTE problems and have the gun come back with the same problems? Mine FTF's on 1 out of 3 attempts. Always fires on the second "strike". Why can't they fix this? Factory ammo or reloads same story. Help!

 

[WilliamG]

That sucks. I can tell you I sent in my laser for repair/replacement, and S&W tell me it's a 3-week turnaround. No idea why. Not particularly pleased, especially when they don't repair them - just replace the laser.

 

[Shuz]

I called Smith on Monday and they are sending out another "call tag". I'll post the final results when i get this gun back again.