So I've been thinking about some carry pistols and the bodyguard came to mind. I've been looking around the forum for some reviews and they are all over the place. Are they really as bad as everyone says they are? And is 380 ammo that hard to find? Thanks everyone!
Bodyguard 380 questions
- Thread starter M1melo
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I have a Shield and two BGs. One with Insight Laser and on with the CT. It is my EDC, pocket carry and ankle. Only problems I have had is with the Insight Laser. S&W fixed the laser, and it works as designed. I have never had any problems with FTF,FTE or any of the other issues.
mikey460sw
Member
M1
You will read more bad reviews on here than good ones but I own a m&p with ct laser. I have installed a trigger kit from Galloway and a heavy recoil spring in mine. Before I did that I run 200 rounds through it with no fails of any kind. After the kit was put in my gunsmith did some other stuff to it some polishing and debureng for me. Now I have 900 rounds through it with no fails! From 7 yds you should beable to keep them in a 4 inch group or better. If you do have trouble with your new bg let s&w fix it that's why they have a "LIFE TIME warrenty". They stand behind there product some people on here are to quick to bash it and not fix it because they are lazy!! If you do go with the bg hope you post a range report when you make it there.
You will read more bad reviews on here than good ones but I own a m&p with ct laser. I have installed a trigger kit from Galloway and a heavy recoil spring in mine. Before I did that I run 200 rounds through it with no fails of any kind. After the kit was put in my gunsmith did some other stuff to it some polishing and debureng for me. Now I have 900 rounds through it with no fails! From 7 yds you should beable to keep them in a 4 inch group or better. If you do have trouble with your new bg let s&w fix it that's why they have a "LIFE TIME warrenty". They stand behind there product some people on here are to quick to bash it and not fix it because they are lazy!! If you do go with the bg hope you post a range report when you make it there.
southerncomfort
Member
A lot of the bad reviews on BG380's are posted by people who don't own one. I've had an original EAK serial # with Laserlyte since 2011 and I love it. It's my warm-weather EDC. Surprisingly accurate for a small pistol, but you do have to practice your technique (you should anyway), because it's sensitive to limp-wristing. Runs well with most brass-cased ammo--avoid the steel-cased stuff.
bg1111
Member
It's a crapshoot if you get one that works. Watch Hichkocks videos and you'll see the slide not locking back and misfires, same problems reported by a lot of people here. You'd think he'd get a flaw-free one to do a review on. S&W should charge $20 more and certify that actual one actually works. I had 3 severe problems that required replacement parts for each. No "good" ammo would have made a difference if the parts are no good. You can't say it's bad ammo when the fireing pin is cracked or the slide stop is bad. The problems were from day one and still there after hundreds of rounds that at the time were nearly impossible to get. I had $200 of ammo trying to get it to work when it never would with defective parts.
Bad reviews by people that don't even own one?? Go watch the videos and decide for yourself. One guy posted a picture on this forum of his slide release stuck to the side of the mag follower keeping it from locking back. I could get the same thing to happen by just racking the slide. A new part fixed it, not better ammo or holding it properly. If you have an empty mag and you rack the slide it should stay open, no?
Bad reviews by people that don't even own one?? Go watch the videos and decide for yourself. One guy posted a picture on this forum of his slide release stuck to the side of the mag follower keeping it from locking back. I could get the same thing to happen by just racking the slide. A new part fixed it, not better ammo or holding it properly. If you have an empty mag and you rack the slide it should stay open, no?
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Dillinger-63
Member
I have one with the built in laser, about 200 rounds through it thus far no issues. My main pistol is a S&W model 5906 9mm that was signed over to me when I retired from law enforcement.
lmacrichter
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My BG had so many problems I traded it on a Sig. But that was only one gun. I still want another one since I really like the features and have always been a S&W man.
As for 380 ammo., I went to 5 stores today(in cent. Al) and did not find a single box. One store clerk told me about another store that I will try tomorrow. If I strike out there I will order some online.
As for 380 ammo., I went to 5 stores today(in cent. Al) and did not find a single box. One store clerk told me about another store that I will try tomorrow. If I strike out there I will order some online.
buckeyedave
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Here in NE Ohio I have been able to find .380 easily only problem is cost. Usually over $20/box is what I find.
I am a BG380 owner with some major problems with his gun, as you may have seen me discuss elsewhere here.
BUT: I think I am in the minority. I have said that either people seem to have chronic problems with this gun, or the guns are perfect for them. People probably are more likely to give a negative review of their gun if it is causing them trouble, rather than a positive one if it is working just fine. So you may hear a disproportionate amount of negative reviews of it.
BUT #2: We hear about other pocket 380s, particularly the LCP, that run perfectly all the time. This makes me think the BG380 will go down in history as a finicky gun that was often unreliable.
BUT #3: It really is a sweet little gun, apparently well-made, that if I can figure out how to make it 100% reliable will end up being my EDC.
FWIW
David
BUT: I think I am in the minority. I have said that either people seem to have chronic problems with this gun, or the guns are perfect for them. People probably are more likely to give a negative review of their gun if it is causing them trouble, rather than a positive one if it is working just fine. So you may hear a disproportionate amount of negative reviews of it.
BUT #2: We hear about other pocket 380s, particularly the LCP, that run perfectly all the time. This makes me think the BG380 will go down in history as a finicky gun that was often unreliable.
BUT #3: It really is a sweet little gun, apparently well-made, that if I can figure out how to make it 100% reliable will end up being my EDC.
FWIW
David
silentflyer
Member
I had one for about 30 days, worst new firearm I ever had, horrible trigger,feed problems, fail to fire, and several other things. Bought a Ruger LCP 9mm, much better gun IMHO...my warm weather CC gun. My Model 19-4 my preferred CC gun just a bit unhandy in warm weather when I am out on the Harley.
I have had no issues finding .380 ammo. As far as the pistol itself goes, I have only had 2 problems. When I put a mag of blazer brass through it, it was a FTF or stovepipe every other round ( I was displeased as I use this for my other carry guns.) With that being said I then ran some steel case blazer ammo through it and had no issues. I also use WWB (95gr hollow points) as my daily carry ammo. I have never had an issue since then with ammo. As with most smaller pistols I believe this one is ammo picky. The other issue I had was the slidea not locking back. It's only done this twice and I believe it was just a dirty mag because since I have cleaned it it hasn't done it again. What Im still trying to figure out though is if it's normal to have to push the slide release in to put my mag in(this is the new CT model)...any help would be great because I can't seem To find a straight answer.
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Any thoughts on a Bersa cc Combat?
mikey460sw
Member
Sig&wesson
Do you mean the mag release button on the grips??
You said
What Im still trying to figure out though is if it's normal to have to push the slide release in to put my mag in(this is the new CT model).
Do you mean the mag release button on the grips??
You said
What Im still trying to figure out though is if it's normal to have to push the slide release in to put my mag in(this is the new CT model).
bg1111
Member
I just kept putting the mag in & out and now it goes in like normal. The mag release is plastic and maybe needed to be "Broken In."
I sold my Ruger LCP and bought the Bodyguard because I wanted an actual safety. I got my safety but I am waiting for S&W to return it to me for the third time. They have been using an EDM process to rifle their barrels and my last two looked like the groves were put in with an old rusty plow shear. In all fairness to S&W, when we have problems with a product we write letters. When they work as designed we don't say anything. The Bodyguard may not be as bad as it appear. Just keep in mind the EDM process when done correctly produces a fine surface finish but would take a lot longer than button rifling. The way S&W is doing it is just a quick cost cutting inferior process.
I have a M&P BG 380 shot two mags of ammo thru it and changed the trigger to a Galoway as well as the firing pin. Also changed the sights to a big sight set, my old eyes didn't like the stock black ones. Have had not problems at all with it, before or after the mods. Other than mag is a little hard to get in without pushing the release, just slap it and all is good. I'm a S&W guy and love the BG, my "big" carry gun is an M&P 40.
