After arguing with myself for a few weeks about whether I needed a Bodyguard my dealer won. I am an old school shooter, 77 years old, bought my first pistol when I was 14. Shot on an Air Force Base pistol team, served as a military and LEO instructor and still teach local CCW classes. Took it down to my pasture range and shot 12 rounds at 25 yards....if it won't hit a man sized target at 25 yards you don't need it. Eleven hits on an IPSC size steel target, the first few were high and I threw on over the top. a few head hits and one barely clipped the top of the right shoulder area. A few in the chest and the rest in the boiler room. I quit because it was getting dark and my eyes are not what they used to be and damn, those sights are little bitty. I will do some closer speed work but so far I am happy with this little lady. Zero function issues. Happy camper so far.
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New Bodyguard .380
- Thread starter galena
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cmj8591
Member
There’s nothing wrong with that. I like my Bodyguard. It’s perfect for a cargo shorts pant pocket in the summer. I changed out the sights for a set of Williams fiber optic. I think they are a big improvement. You can find them at Brownell’s.
You're doing great with the .380. I love mine, great summer carry gun. I fine mine to be very reliable especially with Lawman ammo.
hyena
Member
I like my Bodyguard. I just ran a box of Winchester white box through it this afternoon. I also started with torso size targets at 25 yards then did close work. Not long ago I added a Hogue handall sleeve to it and it's much more pleasant to shoot.
oldiegoldie
Member
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- Oct 23, 2015
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i'll second the Hogue Handall....makes worlds of difference. it's a bearcat to install, but worth the effort.
garddogg56
Member
The Mighty S&W
Member
I’m brand new here, but far from brand new to firearms. And, while my Bodyguard isn’t my preferred pistol for general carry duty, it has proven to be the one that gets carried when others simply can’t. It doesn’t shoot as softly as my old Glock 42, but I prefer the heavier trigger on a pocket pistol, the gun feels better in my hand, and it’s a Smith & Wesson. Haven’t had any reliability issues out of mine.
mrmike7189
Member
metal mag release
The newest ones built in the last 3 years or so do have a metal magazine release. I checked mine with a magnet.
The newest ones built in the last 3 years or so do have a metal magazine release. I checked mine with a magnet.
garddogg56
Member
Thats good to know Mike.
I really like mine. Right on about the sights! I painted my M&P 380 front sight with Testor’s bright yellow paint (see pic) and added Talon black rubber pistol grips (see pic), the best $20 I could have spent.
My carry round is Precision One 90gr hp/xtp ammo.
I carry AIWB in a Vedder kydex holster.
Runs 100% with no issues.
My carry round is Precision One 90gr hp/xtp ammo.
I carry AIWB in a Vedder kydex holster.
Runs 100% with no issues.
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oldiegoldie
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Midwest Gun Works has the steel mag release for about $4.50. i just changed one out. they are a good source for the Body Guard parts. and many other firearms parts.
mrmike7189
Member
The Mighty S&W
Member
Truth be told, I’m not sure why they even put the manual thumb safety on these pistols to begin with. Its low profile and stiffness would make it impractical to use under stress conditions, and the mile long, heavy trigger pull render it unnecessary in my opinion. I always assumed they were an optional accessory, and didn’t realize that they were discontinued. My particular Bodyguard has the safety, but it is never used.
smoothshooter
Member
hyena
Member
That presents a small quandary for me. I bought my BG in 2016. Been carrying it and shooting it ever since, with the plastic mag release, and I've never had a problem. POSSIBLY because it's my practice on that particular gun to push in the mag release every time I seat a new mag. Been doing that since I first heard of the failures.
So the quandary - do I fix it if it ain't broke? But that could also be expressed do I fix it BEFORE it breaks. The cost is negligible, but I watched the Galloway video and I'd be leery of changing it out myself, even though it only took the Galloway guy like 8 minutes. I carry my BG frequently, and I'd hate to have that part fail when I needed it the most.
I have read a number of comments on this forum about the first Bodyguard having light strike issues, (thanks Old cop for your helpful comments on this subject) but not to many comments on the new M&P Bodyguards.
The question must be asked if on the first failure to fire does everyone try a second trigger pull? If the gun goes bang on the second attempt, is there successive failures to fire with the same ammo? Not all ammo (primers) are created equal. Some primers are harder than others. There are a number of reasons for what people call “light strikes” besides a hard primer. A broken firing pin, broken FP spring, gummed up firing pin hole due to carbon buildup etc..
I had a single failure to fire with my practice ammo, but it went bang with the second trigger pull. No concerns with my carry ammo.
On the subject of the mag release. If S&W thought it a good idea to replace the plastic one with a metal one, I would replace it. You never know when the plastic one will fail. It would be worth the expense of a gun smith to put in the new part for piece of mind. Not everyone feels comfortable or skilled enough to work on their guns. JMO
My local gun store has a gun smith on site and cost are very reasonable.
The question must be asked if on the first failure to fire does everyone try a second trigger pull? If the gun goes bang on the second attempt, is there successive failures to fire with the same ammo? Not all ammo (primers) are created equal. Some primers are harder than others. There are a number of reasons for what people call “light strikes” besides a hard primer. A broken firing pin, broken FP spring, gummed up firing pin hole due to carbon buildup etc..
I had a single failure to fire with my practice ammo, but it went bang with the second trigger pull. No concerns with my carry ammo.
On the subject of the mag release. If S&W thought it a good idea to replace the plastic one with a metal one, I would replace it. You never know when the plastic one will fail. It would be worth the expense of a gun smith to put in the new part for piece of mind. Not everyone feels comfortable or skilled enough to work on their guns. JMO
My local gun store has a gun smith on site and cost are very reasonable.
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Happy camper this evening. Thanks for all the comments on my original post. I did take the comments by cmj8591 above to heart and ordered some Williams fiber optic sights, also a couple of extra mags. No issue with the mag eject button, it is steel. I am being pretty stingy with my .380 ammo until I can take another trip down the mountain to pick up some more; also need to get some serious situation hollow points. At any rate, shot some faster trigger work, probably about the old NRA Rapid fire speed. Eleven rounds, five at 15 yards and six at 10 yards, HAPPY with the results. I am liking the trigger, almost like a DA revolver pull. Also popped a couple shots at steel, one each quick shot at 8 a12 inch plates.....both at 10 yards and good center hits. One shot at 25 at my steel IPSC target.....good center head hit but was high, as I was going for center chest. We will work on that. As I said, Happy Camper, and thanks again for all the earlier comments.
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The Norseman
Member
First cartridge fail
I like the S&W Bodyguard. Congratulations on
your target practice.
I know this fella with a S&W Bodyguard .380 that has first
cartridge fail to fire problem. He asked me to to clean,
look it over, and try to fire it.
Well first cartridge doesn’t fire, pull the trigger again
and it fires. The rest of the cartridges in the
magazine fire. And not always the first cartridge.
What is the fix for these fail to fires?
I like the S&W Bodyguard. Congratulations on
your target practice.
I know this fella with a S&W Bodyguard .380 that has first
cartridge fail to fire problem. He asked me to to clean,
look it over, and try to fire it.
Well first cartridge doesn’t fire, pull the trigger again
and it fires. The rest of the cartridges in the
magazine fire. And not always the first cartridge.
What is the fix for these fail to fires?
