THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE M&P Bodyguard V. Ruger LCP

[Smoke]

(not a back pocket gun)

Why not please ?

 

[Chris642]

Why not please ?

Sure, you can conceivably carry a little polymer .380 in your back pocket and have it look like a wallet with the right holster. Why anyone would do this I have no idea unless they were already carrying their primary gun someplace else, in which case an ankle holster might be a better plan. I'd imagine that little gun would be mighty hard to reach quickly while seated, and I'd hate to think that some thug might reach in and pick-pocket my unguarded back side. He may end up with something of much more value to him then the average wallet that's for sure.

I always carry in front pocket only, where I can quickly and easily reach and draw and where I can keep my hand hovering close over it to help aid in concealment and deter anyone from getting any bright ideas of going for it in the unlikely event they knew I was carrying.

 

[Smoke]

As usual I could have communicated better in my OP so let me take you through my decision making process a little bit.

1. Occasionally I am required to attend training seminars for my employer, the dress at these seminars is always "business casual" which my employer defines as Dockers and a tucked in Polo. No one has stated that firearms aren't allowed at these seminars but I don't want to be the test case. I'm looking for a gun that I can pocket carry in that circumstance that I know isn't going to be detected. A "tuckable" holster isn't an option unless there's one out there that doesn't show at all on the outside of the pant

2. I have made a decision to only feed three calibers of my guns .380, 9mm & .40S&W. I don't want to get into a new caliber so it has to be 1 of those three. Unless I can find concealable 9mm revolver, revolvers are out as are .22s ,32s, .45s and the M203 .

3. Based on the criteria above I felt that I was limited to a .380 from the start the only reason I even considered a 9mm (or a .40S&W) is because the shield was mentioned as a possible choice on another forum and I am going to look at even though I don't think it's going to make the cut on size.

4. I don't buy new guns often and when I do I try to get something compatible with what I already have. In this case the big advantage the LCP has over the Bodyguard is that I already have one so any magazines I purchased or any holsters would be interchangeable between my LCP and my wife's

5. My primary reason for considering a Bodyguard was because I didn't know that much about it and didn't want to miss a good choice.

Bearing all that in mind, right now the LCP looks like the winner but I may still end up with a shield.

The shield has the advantage of being a 9mm which I would prefer to a .380 but the LCP has the edge in concealability and as I told my wife even though my intent isn't to pick up a BUG I'd probably end up using the LCP in that capacity because it is so concealable.

So with all that in mind it still looks like the LCP is going to be the winner

 

[Smoke]

Sure, you can conceivably carry a little polymer .380 in your back pocket and have it look like a wallet with the right holster. Why anyone would do this I have no idea unless they were already carrying their primary gun someplace else, in which case an ankle holster might be a better plan. I'd imagine that little gun would be mighty hard to reach quickly while seated, and I'd hate to think that some thug might reach in and pick-pocket my unguarded back side. He may end up with something of much more value to him then the average wallet that's for sure.

I always carry in front pocket only, where I can quickly and easily reach and draw and where I can keep my hand hovering close over it to help aid in concealment and deter anyone from getting any bright ideas of going for it in the unlikely event they knew I was carrying.

My pants fit my legs weird and if I had a pistol in a pocket holster in my front pocket sitting down it would look like a pistol in a pocket holster in my front pocket.

 

[Chris642]

As usual I could have communicated better in my OP so let me take you through my decision making process a little bit.

1. Occasionally I am required to attend training seminars for my employer, the dress at these seminars is always "business casual" which my employer defines as Dockers and a tucked in Polo. No one has stated that firearms aren't allowed at these seminars but I don't want to be the test case. I'm looking for a gun that I can pocket carry in that circumstance that I know isn't going to be detected. A "tuckable" holster isn't an option unless there's one out there that doesn't show at all on the outside of the pant

2. I have made a decision to only feed three calibers of my guns .380, 9mm & .40S&W. I don't want to get into a new caliber so it has to be 1 of those three. Unless I can find concealable 9mm revolver, revolvers are out as are .22s ,32s, .45s and the M203 .

3. Based on the criteria above I felt that I was limited to a .380 from the start the only reason I even considered a 9mm (or a .40S&W) is because the shield was mentioned as a possible choice on another forum and I am going to look at even though I don't think it's going to make the cut on size.

4. I don't buy new guns often and when I do I try to get something compatible with what I already have. In this case the big advantage the LCP has over the Bodyguard is that I already have one so any magazines I purchased or any holsters would be interchangeable between my LCP and my wife's

5. My primary reason for considering a Bodyguard was because I didn't know that much about it and didn't want to miss a good choice.

Bearing all that in mind, right now the LCP looks like the winner but I may still end up with a shield.

The shield has the advantage of being a 9mm which I would prefer to a .380 but the LCP has the edge in concealability and as I told my wife even though my intent isn't to pick up a BUG I'd probably end up using the LCP in that capacity because it is so concealable.

So with all that in mind it still looks like the LCP is going to be the winner

OK, I get it, but you keep mentioning the Bodyguard. Do you mean the one with the laser? The new M&P 380 is roughly the same gun except without the laser and with the fish scale serrations to match the rest of the M&P line. It is now closer to the same size as the LCP but with last shot hold-open, 2nd strike capability and better sights. Other then the LCP having a better trigger, the new M&P 380 seems a better choice in every way.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I chose the LCP.
Front pocket with DeSantis Nemisis.

Comparing the two, the BG is a bit larger, heavier and equipped with a safety. Three things I'm not looking for in a pocket pistol.
LCP has been flawless with Hornady CD.

 

[Chris642]

My pants fit my legs weird and if I had a pistol in a pocket holster in my front pocket sitting down it would look like a pistol in a pocket holster in my front pocket.

Believe me, most people are totally unobservant and wouldn't notice anything in your front pocket. Even If they did, most wouldn't immediately think "gun". People are mostly into their own little worlds these days, texting and receiving texts, checking phones, etc.

 

[Chris642]

I chose the LCP.
Front pocket with DeSantis Nemisis.

Great gun/holster combo, I agree.

Comparing the two, the BG is a bit larger, heavier and equipped with a safety. Three things I'm not looking for in a pocket pistol.

But is the BG's slightly extra weight and length really worth giving up last shot hold-open, 2nd strike and better sights?

LCP has been flawless with Hornady CD.

Does the older BG380 and newer M&P BG have reliability issues?

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

But is the BG's slightly extra weight and length really worth giving up last shot hold-open, 2nd strike and better sights?

For me, yes. I don't consider any of those items giving up anything useful.

I have no use for last shot hold open. I don't carry spare mags.

All the years of shooting centerfire I have never had a use for SSC.

LCP sights serve the purpose of the gun quite well, for me. I have no need for anything bigger hanging off the gun. The below more than meets my expectations for this type of gun at 7yds.

 

[Smoke]

I see the safety on the M&P as a drawback. I was watching a youtube review of the Shield yesterday and while the reviewer was showing the gun at different angles he apparently put the safety on without realizing he had done so.

He went to dry fire the gun and couldn't then said 'Oh, I must have pat the safety on by accident."

 

[doc84]

Rohrbaugh R9?

The Products - R9 series | Rohrbaugh Firearms

 

[Smoke]

Rohrbaugh R9?

The Products - R9 series | Rohrbaugh Firearms

Waaaaaay out of my price range.

For the price of 1 R9 I could get 1 each of an LCP and a Shield and maybe a .380 M&P

 

[POWinCA]

I have the LC380 which is pretty small - depends on how big your pockets are. But I believe the LC9 is the same size.

I also have a Glock 42. About dead even with the LC380 on size. Prefer to shoot the Glock but I just feel safer with the double action and manual safety - fear likely unfounded.

Kahr is definitely worth a look. I have a P40. Not a true pocket gun.

You probably already own the best you're gonna get that meets your criteria. Six rounds of 380 is as marginal a carry piece as it gets. Use your LCP and save the money for practice, cuz you will need it.

 

[Jcoope12]

I own a colt mustang xsp 380 you never know it is in your pocket love how it shoots. I also have a Kimber Solo 9mm that is only a hair bigger but fits in your pocket nicely.

 

[eisenbird]

eisenbird

The Kahr .9mm or .380 are very small and light to carry. If you can
try one. They are well made and reliable. I carry a Kahr 9mm most of the time, and after break-in it has never failed to work!

 

[710]

I'd look into the Kahr CM9. It's only .08" thicker than the LCP. It's .17" longer, 2 oz heavier, and I believe the same height as BG.

 

[Fastbolt]

But is the BG's slightly extra weight and length really worth giving up last shot hold-open, 2nd strike and better sights?

Depends on the owner/shooter.

I don't see the last shot hold-open as an especially critical issue for the nature and intended role of the diminutive .380 pocket pistol. None of my 5-shot snubs even offer that option.

Lots of pistols lack "second strike capability", but you can see how a gun company might promote it as a beneficial feature if they can work it into their design. Sounds good, even if it's not something being consistently taught in a lot of defensive/service training venues.

I've not seen how a "second strike" benefit is something all that desirable, for my needs, but then I don't train to try a second trigger pull for semiauto pistols. I resort to a clearance manipulation to get another round up and chambered.

The whole second-strike thing is sometimes mentioned as being useful because DA revolvers have a "second-strike capability", but that's a bit different and somewhat disingenuous. DA revolvers have a "next-strike capability", as the "second" trigger pull is actually bringing up a fresh round under the hammer, not trying to re-strike the first round that didn't fire.

Better sights? While good sights are always a handy thing to have (and aging eyes need increasingly larger, more easily seen sights ), it's a subjectively valued feature that has to be determined by each individual.

For example, I like the newer, wider style fixed post/notch sights on the J-frames over the older narrow style post/notch sights on the J's ... but I like the XS front sight & wide U-notch on the M&P snubs better, still ... and I don't care for the fiber optic sights (which, while easily seen, can be more easily damaged). Subjective, right?

Different folks place a different priority on different features, and the gun companies are trying to attract the widest number of buyers with their standard features.

Not all of us apparently fit into each and every tidy check box on every marketing survey, I suspect.

 

[raggededge]

I've had several of the small pocket pistols which I always carry in my front pants pocket of my dress pants. Used to have a KelTec P3AT but had problems now have a DiamondBack .380 with CrimsonTrace in a holster and a Diamondback DB9 holstered with an extra magazine in a Kydex holster. Love it being a 9mm and having an extra magazine available. Recently bought a Glock 42 and added a Crimson Trace laser. This may become my full time carry as to date it will feed anything and recoil is low. P.S. I carry every day jeans, shorts, dress pants etc. never leave home without it. My only concern with the Smith was that the attached laser was not activated with the grip but with a button and didn't like the idea of it being on all the time. Whatever you get shoot a lot of ammo to make sure it is 100% reliable before you carry it.

 

[fbcmrjrtykr]

I have the Shield 9 and the BG380. The Shield conceals well IWB. It is my favorite gun. However, as a pocket carry, it's a bit big unless i'm wearing my cargo pocket shorts. The BG disappears in my running shorts pocket and I've often forgotten it was there. One negative about the BG to me is the DAO trigger. It is a long trigger. However, I compared it to the LCP and what I noticed was that the LCP trigger wasn't a consistent pull. It was easy until you got to a certain point, then it got harder whereas the BG's trigger was consistent throughout the trigger pull. I felt that would make an impact for accuracy so I went with the BG. As others have said, it's an accurate little gun and the recoil is manageable. The only other negative I've I've had since the purchase is the take-down lever. You have to rotate it down and pull it out and it's not easy. Makes field stripping a bit tougher. Mine has the laser but I typically leave it off.

 

[Smoke]

Just so everyone is clear whatever gun I end up with (still looks like the LCP) will be carried in a pocket holster of some type