I'm new to the site and was hoping to get some advice from people who know a bit more than I do on the subject. I travel for my business at odd hours to even odder places, so I'm shopping for a concealed weapon for personal protection.

Here are the details: I'm a lefty, about 5'11" & 220 lbs.-so I can reasonably conceal a firearm. My hands are only medium size, and I haven't needed to carry before, so I don't want a monster piece.

For the most part I'm not in terrible areas but, on occasion, I find myself in the seedier areas of some of the cities here at night. I've had trouble on more than one occasion. Fortunately, I've been lucky, but being outnumbered & scared is no fun.

I like S&W because it's American-made and they seem to accommodate lefty's. The M&P 40c seems to be almost entirely ambi (slide lock and the magazine release). Is the Bodyguard .380 ambi as well? If not, can it be adjusted?

Based on what I've said, can anyone offer me any suggestions/advice? Thanks for the help.

Well, there is quite a bit of difference in the 40c and the BG380!

Of course, there is the size difference alone...but also there is quite a gap of caliber there too! Based on the many comments of problems with the BG380, I don't know that I would go that way. (I had one a couple of years ago, and liked it, but decided that .380 was just too small for me, as was the pistol itself.)

Some people find the .40 too much to handle...the recoil is "snappish" to some. I would suggest that you rent some pistols in .40 before you buy one, if you are not already familiar with this round.

While I own several 1911s in .45, and a M&P45 is my home defense gun, for carry I prefer a small 9mm. My wife has both an LC9 and a M&P9c, while I just bought a Kahr CW9. There are other small 9mm options available...it is rumored that S&W is going to announce a single-stack 9mm tomorrow.

In any case, many people do carry and rely on a .380. If you want to do that, I would recommend a Ruger LCP or a SIG P238. Both seem to be reliable, and should be very easy to carry/conceal.

Edited to add: I didn't answer your questions about the "lefty friendly" nature of the BG380. I don't remember if it has ambidextrous controls, as does the M&P. IIRC, it doesn't, other than the laser buttons, but someone here with more current experience can address that. The LCP doesn't have any controls, other than a slide stop which doesn't lock open on empty, so it is equally operable by either a lefty or a righty; the P238 is like a 1911 in it's controls, and is not ambidextrous.

The BG380 has a safety on the left side and not the right, so it is more of a right handed gun.

The 40c is a dang snappy gun. The M&P line is better than others I think in controlling the snappy recoil, but she's a handful. The small .45 has less perceived recoil. I carry a M&P9c quite often, and I own a BG380, M&P 40, and M&P 45. In my opinion the 9c has about the same recoil as the 40 full size, just much less noise.

My recent review of stopping power using handguns taught me that caliber wars are mostly fallacies. As long as a round has the ability to penetrate at least 12" into a human target you are good, with a bit of an edge going to larger calibers because they make a larger hole. So if you were going to miss a main artery by .001" using a 9mm, and then you fired the exact shot using a bullet that's .002" bigger, now you have an edge using the larger bullet.

Here's a great write up by the FBI that I enjoyed reading. It made me think less of my .380 and more of my 9mm. Not because of size (obviously a .380 IS a 9mm so the size is the same) but because of the penetration.
http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf

FWIW my every-day-carry (EDC) is the M&P 340 in .357. My LEO days taught me that anything smaller than the .38 was not going to do the job and the FBI article seems to support that. Given these parameters I'd forget the .380 and go w/something more powerful as long as it can be concealed and you can hit what you're shooting at.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I think you answered your own question from your example. Being outnumbered and in danger is not a job for any 380 on the planet. Stay above .38/9mm.

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God Bless Our Troops.

I am a lefty too and have a 40c (with no safety) and both Bodyguards. The BGs are very easily carried in pocket or holster and easily concealed. The 40c is a double-stack and will need to be on your belt or in a shoulder rig, either of which has an impact on your wardrobe choice. When I carry the .380 it's with safety off, the length of pull is enough of a safety, keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire.

I disagree with people who say the .380 is too small...ask yourself if you want to have one shot at your chest. With modern SD ammo I think it will be sufficient, and you've got six or seven rounds to work with. If you're not sold, then try a J-Frame sized revolver. 38 spl SD rounds are very good as well and pack a bigger punch. But they're more of a handful to shoot. And if you can't control the gun or hit what you aim at you should consider changing jobs.

Bottom line, my EDC is one of the Bodyguards in a pocket, or one of my small non-Smith 9s in an IWB depending on wardrobe. I have carried the 40c in a pancake holster but that means a long jacket to cover it up.

Good Luck, and Stay Safe.

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-gonzo, SoCenPA.

I thought that way too until I researched it a bit. The .380 just doesn't have the umpf to consistently penetrate deep enough for a good SD round. No I don't want to get shot with one, and yes I own one, and yes I carry one, but the minimum power needed for SD has been shown to be more than a .380 can muster.

Please read this report and let me know what you think:
http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf

I scanned the document and it does not rule any caliber out, except perhaps the .22. It even seems to suggest that no handgun is a guaranteed stopper.

Elsewhere, to the extent that gelatin testing is valid, it shows .380 HP loads like Gold Dot and Hornady do cause significant damage. I can't CC my 1911 and a .45 pocket gun is probably uncontrollable for the average shooter (like me) so I'm going to have to stay with what I've got and make sure I put in the range time to be proficient with it, which I do.

Thanks for the link.

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-gonzo, SoCenPA.

The .40 would be a better defense round, and I'm sure you could shoot it more accurately than the tiny, little BG380.

The M&P has a LOT better trigger-pull than the BG380, but, as stated, tougher to conceal.

Depending on how I'm dressing, a lot of times, I'll carry my BG380. I don't know what S&S was thinking when they put a safety on the BG380, which has a HEAVY, double action trigger. I don't use the safety on the BG380.

I kept a Browning 380 on hand as a home defense gun for many years until I got serious about as home invasions started occuring around me with more frequency. I got an MP40FS for home defense. Then I lookded for a smaller gun that would be better suited to CC and SD. I finally decided to buy the Ruger SD40c after testing many small guns. Today I shot it and found it was as easy to shoot as my MP40FS. After changing guns a few times I could not tell much difference. It is a great gun. It is not as tiny as a 380 but it is smaller and easier to conceal than the mid-size guns like the MP40FS which is much smaller than the 1911. Test one on a range if you can. You should try a Ruger SR9c if the kick of the SR40c is too much for your. I doubt it will be.

If you want the smaller size but still have more that the 380, maybe the new shield will fill the need.

As far as your 2 choices I have a 40c and can say my two buddies and myself were pleasantly surprised at the recoil compared to their Glock 26 and Ruger sr9c. You had a little different type of recoil, I guess you could say, but no more painful than the others. With the finger extension it fits my hands well. My gloves are size med. So hand size are probably similar. I can agree with the statement of trying them out first if possable, I was disappointed at first going from a .38 revolver to the 40c. It took 180 or so rounds before I was comfortable with it. Now I love the thing, still need more practice, but settling in nice. If I went BG route I think it would be even harder to get use to the short sites and smaller grips.

I live in a no crime town so going to walmart with my trusty BG380 is perfect for me. Plus a Back up gun is always in the truck as well. But i dont dare to go the Bigger towns with it. I think the MP 40c is for you. Buy them both. BG380 is great for summer wear.

My advice would be to shoot an M&P9c and an M&P40c and see what you think. The compacts conceal well, can take a full size mag and will be much nicer to shoot than the BG380. At least the 9 will be...

I wouldn't want to be shot in the chest with a 22 but I'm certainly not going to carry one as a self defense gun either. that argument is played out. Heck, I wouldn't want to get hit in the chest with a 30 weight ballbearing from a wrist rocket slingshot either... he also stated at some point (which got him thinking ccw) he was in a dangerous situation where he was outnumbered. 380...no thanks. 5 or six rounds into a single individual - maybe....one shot at 5 or 6 individuals of 380....good luck.

380 makes a good BUG...but for strolling through badguy country in the middle of the night (his paraphrased words), you should pack the biggest caliber you can shoot with proficiency. He's not trying to conceal going to church....I'd dress around the gun for serious situations.

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God Bless Our Troops.

Thanks for the great insights and feedback! The article really helped as well. I'm not so much concerned about being able to "control" the gun. At 220 pounds, I've been ok with that with the guns that I've used.

I think, like everyone else, that the issue lies with having to make concessions for the caliber in exchange for the size of the gun. A question that they ask in the insurance industry is: if you knew that you were going to die in a year, how much life insurance would you buy today? The corresponding question here is: If you knew that you would have trouble where you would need a firearm, which one would you carry? Since you can walk down the street with an AR or shotgun, EVERYTHING is a concession.

I'm now leaning toward the 9c and .40c, but I think that I need to test-fire them all. The .380 still has appeal because for it's small size. It's a very practical carry. I can see myself getting tired of strapping on a larger gun and leaving with nothing (unless I KNOW that I'm going somewhere less-desirable). I'm also going to check out the BG .38 (I hadn't really considered it before).

Naturally, I want smooth and accurate firing, so I really need to test-fire a few prior to buying one (or two).

Thanks again for all the input! This forum is great and hugely helpful!

I'd also recommend the Ruger LCR. I've owned both the LCR and the BG38, and I prefer the LCR for a carry revolver. The LCR is available in .357 as well as .38, and I prefer the .357 model. It is 3 oz heavier, but that doesn't make a lot of difference to me. I like the option of being able to use either caliber, although I only carried mine with .38 + P in it (I felt like the .357 model will be more durable over time.) The LCR sure has a sweet trigger!

I don't have an LCR right now, since I traded mine in as part of a 1911 deal (I have been on a 1911 kick lately) but I wouldn't mind owning another one someday, when funds allow.

I carry the 40c everyday and I really have no issues with carrying it, it's very concealable and considering your size and weight I would see no problem with it. It's actually a fairly small gun and the small amount of added size over the 380 gets you way more gun.

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This Signature is too Short!

I would look at the shield. It is a bit thinner than the 9C or 40C, comes in a cardboard box and doesn't have interchangeable backstraps. I doubt you could pocket carry except with jeans or cargo pants. It would conceal very well on a 220LB person in an inside the waistband holster (IWB).

If you want to pocket carry or ankle carry, I would recommend the KelTec PF-9 (9mm). I have one and it doesn't print any more than a wallet. You have 8 rounds of 9mm for protection. Long trigger pull means no safety needed. Made in USA with lifetime warranty to the original purchaser.

As you said, if you don't have it with you it won't do you much good.

For me it's simple economics: .380 ammo is very costly, and kind of hard to find. .40 is much cheaper, easier to find, more powerful, but as stated above, 'snappy'. So what about an M&P9c? Ammo is about as cheap as it can get for a centerfire gun, so you can practice as much as you want. Also you can get some hot and heavy loads for defense. Or another choice would be to just get a compromise M&P Shield in 9mm, the only real downside to this gun is that it lacks he capacity that I have become spoiled to with my M&P9's

First off, I don't think anyone should have to justify what they carry to anybody else. The .40c works for me. The bg380 works for others. My employment is about 1/4 mile from the County Jail Complex, I've fired a couple of nutty types at work, and my wife works with me. The .40 leaves no doubt as far as it's capabilities. Assess your daily situations,environments, and comfort levels, then do what is right for you. I don't know if my input is of any help, but carrying something is better than nothing. I personally like the idea of "no doubts". Good luck on your decision, there's a lot of good info on this forum.

The .380 is the one you will carry every time you leave the house. The .40 is the one you will wish you had if you ever need it.

Life is full of compromises. Neither choice is bad -- it is your mindset, along with willingness and ability to use the tool you have, that really matters.

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Pisgah

I carry a 40Compact daily due to lightweight and just a long shirt buttoned if loose fitting or not if tight over a BlackHawk Serpa I also have a Minotaur IWB that is quite comfortable wearing the same with less problems of printing or wind blowing and such!

This is of course a rhetorical question would you want to have stopping power or conceivability because once you draw your weapon it is no longer concealed now is it?

Someone might notice a bulge on your hip but it could just be a cell phone and your behavior would indicate whether you have a gun or not, so what is your life worth? I am a man of small stature and I want to be able to stop any threat with the least amount of effort except in how to conceal until needed (hopefully never) any weapon I am carrying and have been doing so for quite some time.

However I do not look for trouble or go to bars and try not to get into bad places like unfamiliar neighborhoods. Plus I am older and unassuming to meet and certainly not a threat to others. Let's just say I want to live until I can retire in a few years, so you do your thing and I'll do mine unless you doing your thing makes me have to shoot you, and I do shoot quite well!

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59,M&P9,40,40C,357,(2)45,G26