If not a Bodyguard 380 then What?

[Mambeaux]

I just bought a BG380 and after reading all the bad press about them I'm thinking about taking it back. My dealer had some very nice Kahr K9 trade in's and tried to sell men one of those. If I can take it back what should I replace it with?

 

[J.Solo]

Stainless, S&W/Walther PPKS-1

 

[jwalts27]

My dad has a BG380 and i was not a fan, i ended up getting a Ruger LC9 with no laser and i love it. I have several M&P's so i am not a Ruger nut, just my 2 cents. It has a little long of a trigger pull but at only 6.5lbs it gets better everytime i shoot it. The BG380 has a long trigger too so they are similair there. I also carry my PK380 and i love that also but i am a bigger guy, 6'2 240lbs so i can conceal easier than some folks.

 

[sdcromer]

I've got both a BG380 and a LCP,and right now the nod goes to the LCP.

 

[Dave from Pa]

If it does not work buy a LCP, but all the Bodyguards we have sold where I work have been reliable.I think you are making assumptions.Make an assessment after a couple hundred rounds.I suggest a LCP because of personal preference over the BG. The S&W does have superior sights and a few other features.

 

[J D Allen]

s&w 380 replacement

The best replacement is a model 642 38 special. 12 oz. Unloaded and shoots better defense ammo. I have one and its easy to carry.

 

[mlk18]

Nothing but good answers so far. I have no experience with the BG380 other than I want one and that I hate the laser (but in all fairness I hate all lasers). The people I know who have them all like theirs and carry them often. Like Dave said; maybe you should give yours a fair shake before getting rid of it.

I do however have a Ruger LC9, Ruger LCP and a S&W 642 (all mentioned in this thread). All of them are great guns and have been well worth owning. My least favorite of the group however is the LCP. Mine has been reliable and shoots fine, but it is so small (too small IMO). It will even rotate in my pocket using a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. So it's going to my Dad and I will pick up either a BG380 or just wait until S&W finally makes another compact single stack 9mm. Or both!

 

[BurgerBoy]

I took the Kentucky concealed carry course on Saturday. It was given by the sheriff's department here and there were 40 people in the class.

I had a 642 with a full size Hogue grip and everyone else had sliders and cannons.

The first thing the Instructor did was ask why everyone was bringing sliders and large guns to a concealed carry class.

He walked over to me and picked my 642 up and took it to the front of the class and told them that the 642 was what they all should be carrying and they all needed to try to trade in what they had for a 642.

He then put his foot on a table and pulled a 642 out of his ankle holster. He told them if they wanted it in black to get a 442. He said that was what the sheriff department here uses for a bug.

When we went to the range for our firing test my 642 did a great job at 25 feet.

I will be receiving a concealed carry permit from the state of Kentucky.

There were 12 women in the class and they looked like they were from the ages of 20s to 60s.

 

[arrowslinger#1]

Yep get a j frame. I did and haven't looked back. Or an M&P - I have a full size but I'm also gonna pick up a compact.

 

[Mountain14]

I like the Sig p238 and the S&W 442 Airweight J-Frame. Never had an issue with either of them.

 

[StatesRightist]

I can't see a .380 as a primary gun. It is a marginal caliber in most people's minds. I'm not looking for a caliber war, anything from .38/9mm is fine, but both the street and gel results of .380's find them lacking.

You never said if the BG is a primary gun for you, I apologize if I mistook that it is from you post.

That said I use/carry a 642, Kahr CW9 and will be adding a Sig 250 compact soon. I'm comfortable with any of them as a BUG. You should look at the Kahr they are offering you, I love mine, it's accurate, dependable and with the right ammo, effective.

 

[JudgeColt]

The well-proven Kel-Tec P3AT has all of its bugs worked out, and is relatively inexpensive. I personally carry a Kahr P380, but it cost over twice as much (with night sights) as the slightly bigger P3AT. (Small and light are essential for my needs.)

 

[Engieman]

Kahr .380, or a Walther PPS. I highly recommend them both

 

[jdh]

I paid less for my BG than for the cheapest I could find an LCP or even a P3AT. Don't care about the Lazer. I do like the fact that the BG has real dove tailed in sights not just a little bump on the top of the slide. Mine has been 100% reliable.

And I do have a 442.

 

[1911bphil]

Just my humble opinion: get a j-frame 442 (blue) or a 642 (stainless). Carry every day and you will be ready if the worst happens.

 

[Narkcop]

My BG has been perfect thru 250 rounds. If something breaks S&W will fix it. I like it & carry it over an equally reliable LCP because I like the S&W sights better. If the BG had an inherent problem then LAPD would have found it before testing/ approving them for back up & off duty carry.

 

[ibewbull]

I have an LCP as a BUG on some occasions.
EDC a 66 , 2 1/2 and a 640 BUG if traveling.
I have seen a lot of light weight guns being sold for two reasons.
1, Recoil since a lot of folks want to use the +P ammo.
2, Poor results in hits since many use +P and at too great a range.
If the scenario is thought out, we need to practice defensive shooting at zero to seven yards. I am not a LE officer but an old guy who has been around the block.
I practice right , left and even sitting on the ground and prone.
Be realistic and think of the worst position you could be in. On the ground in some way from a slip fall or blind sided. Murphy's Law applies.
What ever you shoot be sure it works 100% and practice live fire and with snap caps [in the house] Know the difference between cover and bullet proof. A fluffy chair may slow down a round but will it stop it?
Know the capability of your weapon / caliber.

 

[47knuckle]

I'm not anti-centennial (442,642) but prefer the bodyguard airweight(638) since it offers single or double action. I also like to carry my Rhorbaugh 9mm once you get past the sticker shock from the original purchase.

 

[Phil W]

I'm a Smith and Wesson fan but I wanted something a bit larger than a 380,so I opted for the LC9. It's accurate, easy to shoot, and concealable. When I'm not carrying that in the summer, I opt for my 340M&P. IMHO

 

[Maximumbob54]

I would like to add that either the 60 or 640 are great guns.

Or you could really go nuts and buy a Ruger SP101.