380 bodyguard mag release issues

E

Ed911

Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2013
Messages
60
Reaction score
17
Location
Eastern NC
I don't know where else to put this, so here it is.

My BG 380's mag release is, as far as I'm concerned, way to easy to push...I pocket carry without a holster and on occasion have had the mag to self eject. Sometimes it's because I forget and put my cell phone in the same pocket, and sometimes it has just done it.

I don't know what the release pressure is supposed to be, but my wife has a Ruger LCP 380, and the mag release spring pressure is very similar to that of my Glock...much stiffer than than my BG.

If I had one suggestion for SW to improve the BG, it would be to add pressure to the mag spring release button. My son also has a BG and it has similar spring pressure on the mag release.

So, after history, comes the questions.

1. Has this historically been an issue with this weapon?

2. Is there anything that I can do to increase the spring pressure on the mag release button? I'm thinking no, but decided to ask anyway.

Responses are welcomed.
 
Register to hide this ad
The mag release has been a problem with these.

The mag realease shouldn't interfere with the pistol.

If it does, you have a problem.

There should never be such a problem.

I have no interest in a pistol with these issues: even if they not happen occasionally.

Sd handguns must work all the time.

A pistol that sometimes works isn't one that I am wiling to consider.
 
I had that happen once in a folded leather holster while repositioning the holster while seated. I suspect a Kydex retention type holster would cover that area better with less interference.
A shorter mag release button or stiffer spring might help.
 
Sorry about not tending to this thread after I started it. But, have had some issues at home that have precluded almost everything else. But, all is fine now.

Thanks for the replies. I would have suspected more posts. I'm finding that I like carrying the BG...every day...all day, but find that I constantly check that the mag is seated.

I think the BG is a great gun. But, have been thinking about switching to something else and selling my BG.

I can't believe that something as important as the mag release has such as weak spring.

Can you imagine pulling your BG out in an SF situation only to have the mag drop out and hit the floor. Talk about a bad SD scenario. One in the chamber and six on the ground. Not cool.

I wonder what the spec is on the spring tension.
 
Best bet is if your not confident with it is to sell it or use another firearm. At least with it you have one shot not like the Ruger's with mag safety where you would have none. I luckily haven't had any problems with the early BG380 with laser.

Or you could replace the Mag Release for Bodyguard 380 Pistols with a Galloway precision for $15.00 +shipping

Or ship it back to S&W for them to repair.

Galloway Precision :: Smith & Wesson® Performance :: Bodyguard 380 Performance Parts :: Mag Release for Bodyguard 380 Pistols
 
Replacement Mag Release part

That looks like a good option...one that should be part of the original assembly.

Part of the problem with easy mag release is that the mags are loose fit and depending on where they wind up sitting, can be released with only a slight depression of the mag release button.

I was wondering if you, or anyone else has experience replacing this part. It says drop in and I'm really interested in acquiring one and doing it myself, or having my local gun smith install the part.

I mean, my CCH is a life or death kind of thing. I find that while I own more pistols, that the BG, in general, is such a good gun and easy to carry, that I have it on me all day long...even at home, and forget that it's in my pocket.

If this is a fix, then the BG is a keeper.

Thanks for the parts lookup.
 
Replacing the mag release button

Has anyone here replaced the mag release on the BG 380 with the Galloway replacement part. If so, could you explain how you did it and wether you like it or not.

Thanks
 
Same problem with my M&P40, Look at the mag release and the mag falls to the ground. Seems like S&W doesn't seem to think that your mag laying on the floor at some store is a problem?
 
Shield mag release issue

When I purchased my Shield, the mag release spring wasn't tempered...so in essence, it wasn't a spring...the mag would just fall out.

Sent it back to Smith, and they replaced the gun, which took about 6 weeks. Of course, demand for the Shield was much higher then. The mag release on my new gun is okay, but if I were designing weapons for Smith, I would pay attention to mag release spring, and make sure that it had tension similar to the Ruger LCP, or Glock, both of which have adequate to adequate plus spring tension on the mag release.
 
You said you carried it in your pocket WITHOUT a holster.....have you ever tried a pocket holster to see if that helps?
 
pocket holster...

No, I haven't tried a pocket holster...maybe I should. However, prior discussions in other forums also voice concern about the weak mag release spring. It doesn't take much pressure to accidentally release the mag. I've found it on many occasions popped out, when I thought there was no reason for it to be unlatched.

After looking at it closely, I think it's more than a spring tension issue. I think it's a design issue. The mag fits rather loosely and therefore has marginal contact with the mag release lug. So much so, that when the mag release is only partially depressed, it ejects the mag.

It would be nice to see a metal mag release that would more positively engage the detent on the mag. I know it's cheaper to produce the plastic ones, but sometimes you just need to give up and produce a better product.

Anyways, I like the gun, it shoots well...is well manufactured, but suffers from some design flaws.

And as i've talked about before, SW could take a hint from the mag release tension on the Ruger LCP 380.

Thanks for your recommendation. I'll look into pocket holster...and replacing the mag release with the aftermarket product referenced above.

When I have the new product in place, I'll post my thoughts.

I would like to note that the Galloway replacement mag release for the BG is not compatible with the new M&P version of the BG. So, maybe S&W has responded to complaints on the old BG's and fixed the issue on the new M&P BG's. If so, then I'd like them to fix mine...since it's most likely an issue that they know about...a DEFECT.
 
Last edited:
Another thing I have noticed is that if you have a full mag there is far more pressure against the mag catch and it may take less pressure on the release for the mag to pop out. You might want to try having only 5 in the mag and see what happens. Any sort of holster is a good idea as you never now when something might get wedged into the trigger guard, although with the weight of the trigger pull it is hard to imagine the BG380 going off unintentionally unless you are really not paying attention.

I might try that Galloway part, I have a number of other items from them and might be ordering more soon.
 
Last edited:
I've tried with and without bullets in the mag. It still drops with just the slightest pressure on the mag release. I'm sending it back to SW to have it fixed. It has to be a manufacturing issue. No one would design a mag release that was that weak.

I just recently retrieved my BG380 from my nightstand drawer, where it stays at night. The mag was unlatched and extended. It would have fallen on the floor, if I hadn't seen it.

BTW...having a full mag actually puts pressure on the release and should make the mag release harder to push, because of the downward pressure on the mag lug.

Thanks for the post.

Ed

Not good.
 
Sent to SW for Repair

Update. (9-19-2014) I just sent my BG380 to SW for repair, after talking to Joe in customer service.

Just FYI, the gun was manufactured in March of 2013 according to a serial number lookup by Joe from SW customer service. This should give some idea of when the manufacturing issue occured.

S&W says they'll have it back to me in two or three weeks.

He confirmed that the mag release issue is a known manufacturing problem, and that they have a fix for it. He told me that when I get the gun back, that the mag release would be much stiffer...much stiffer and that I would no longer have a problem with the mags unlatching.

I will post as soon as I get the gun back and let you guys know what I think about the fix, relative to its previous state.

So, look for something around the first week of October, if I'm lucky.

Until then...

Ed
 
Gun is back

Well, S&W supposedly fixed my mag release spring issue...NOT. The mag release was replaced and maybe the mag spring. However, the spring tension on the mag release is about the same as it was when I sent it in for repair.

I'm guessing that the customer service rep was speaking about other mag release spring problems.

The factory obviously thinks that the spring tension on my gun is satisfactory. But, I'm here to tell you, it's not.

No gun owner should have to worry about dropping a mag if he pocket carries w/o a holster.

I look at it this way...no gun should require that you use a crutch in order for it to work properly. My wife's LCP-380 does not have this issue. If you have to buy an accessory in order to ensure you weapon won't drop the mag, then that is a defective weapon.

Just my two cents.

Anyone out there own both the older Bodyguard and the newer M&P version and can comment on whether there's a difference in the pressure required to release the mags between the older and newer guns?

Anyways, just following up as promissed.
 
Ed911 said:
I've tried with and without bullets in the mag. It still drops with just the slightest pressure on the mag release. I'm sending it back to SW to have it fixed. It has to be a manufacturing issue. No one would design a mag release that was that weak.

I just recently retrieved my BG380 from my nightstand drawer, where it stays at night. The mag was unlatched and extended. It would have fallen on the floor, if I hadn't seen it.

BTW...having a full mag actually puts pressure on the release and should make the mag release harder to push, because of the downward pressure on the mag lug.

Thanks for the post.

Ed

Not good.
Click to expand...

The added pressure on the catch resulting from the mag being loaders seems negligible. What I was talking about what that with 6 rounds in the mag anything that causes the catch and the mag to disengage will result in the mag being forcibly ejected from the frame while less than 6 rounds has far less pressure so a momentary accidental press of the release is less likely to have the mag shoot out but rather just pop out half an inch or so.
Either way it sounds like something is not right with one that releases too easily.
 
body guard 380 mag release

I have noticed that when firing my BG, the recoil makes my thumb inadvertently hit and release the magazine every second or third round. I have also noticed when carrying in my pocket, the magazine is often times is ejected. Does anyone know of a fix for this problem? :(
 
Today I called Smith and Wesson, and I told them the problem I'm having with magazine release. they claim to know nothing about the problem and said to fix it I'd have to pay $45 diagnosis fee and whatever cost for parts and repair, because I'm not the original owner. This is the last S&W I will be buying. There are better guns by Ruger, Walther and Sig Sauer. Anyone want to buy a S&W bodyguard 380 with laser sight? :mad:
They should be willing to fix it once they see it's a defect and not due to tampering or modification, even if I'm not the original purchaser. I have other S&Ws I purchased new. Good guns after some trigger work is done. Original trigger on M&Ps are ****.
 
I have the same issue. Has anyone tried...

I have the same premature slide release issue with my bodyguard:). I pocket cary 24/7. Otherwise great gun for me. But SW should step up and own this issue. It can't just be us. I think the mag release button sticks out too much - making it easy to inadvertently press. I've thought of simply sanding/grinding the button down to make it more recessed. Has anyone else tried this? I'm less hesitant to give it a shot if I know a replacement part is available if I screw it up.
 
I'm sure some of you have figured this out by now, but if you remove the slide and look down in the handle from the top side in the correct lighting, you can see that the magazine catch is likely worn. I haven't shot mine a whole lot, but I've done a lot of dry runs and magazine removal/ replacement. I like to be familiar with my tools. My magazine will actually break free if I wiggle on it and pull slightly. This is with and without any ammo in the mag. The catch is plastic.... metal on plastic with repeated abrasion can only end one way. I noticed this after having the mag drop out while shooting. It had came out in my pocket while holstered a couple times and I just assumed that it was my fault. This will be fixed or not trusted anymore.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

flundertaker
Cylinder Release & Screw
Replies
6
Views
500
heeter3
H
Vtgw938
Model 43 Cleaning issues?
Replies
1
Views
63
D Brown
D Brown
T
Mod. 41 - Slide issues
Replies
4
Views
244
BB4XL
B
R
Fixing Timing Issues
Replies
6
Views
809
Ray
R
S
Need a NOS 845 slide release
Replies
1
Views
156
colt_saa
colt_saa

Latest posts

Back
Top