Bodyguard 380: Finally Reliable!

CORRECTION AND UPDATE at reply #73 in this thread.

I have been posting a series about the saga I have been going through with my Bodyguard (non-laser) 380. I stopped posting after Part 6 because it was getting depressing.

Here's a recap:

Gun #1: Numerous problems, common to this gun, all repaired by S&W except a persistent FTFire issue. All brand-name US ammo, FTFired on most brands occasionally, but most regularly on Wnchester White Box. After four trips back and forth to S&W they replaced it with:

Gun #2: A couple minor glitches, and again the FTFire. Installed Galloway spring and firing pin, made no difference. Started working with a guy from another forum who is well regarded as a BG380 expert, and took the gun apart completely for a thorough inspection. Didn't find anything that could explain the problem.

Against all common sense, I bought a backup gun, #3, to have when #2 was off getting repaired. My wife, who is normally very understanding about these things, said, "So you're buying TWO guns that don't work?!" A little crazy, but I really liked the gun and wanted it to work.

Gun #3, the backup, did the exact same thing. FTFire about 1 out of 10 rounds of Win WB.

Talked with a supervisor at S&W who was very understanding and helpful. He agreed they had been working on this problem, and hinted they thought they were on the path to a solution. I pressed him to tell me what it was and he told me they thought the length of throw of the firing pin might be too short, and they were redesigning it. So I sent gun #2 in to hopefully get it fixed.

Got Gun #2 back from S&W with their typical vague description of what they did. The minor problems were fixed, but the FTFire was the exact same. Called my supervisor connection but he could not confirm whether the new-design firing pin had been installed. Sent it back the second time. Hoped he might look after it personally.

Got Gun #2 back and took it out yesterday. Torture tested it with four brands of ammo, especially Win WB, its nemesis. Ran it hot, fired slow and easy, fast and hard, didn't clean it. After 110 rounds, the gun... wait for it...

...

...

performed PERFECTLY!

I am so pleased with this thing, finally. Despite the six times I had to send two guns back to S&W (not to mention Gun #3 that I still need fixed), S&W has really put the effort into taking care of me without a hassle.

I really like this gun a lot, as it is my EDC. Once you go small, it's hard to go back up to a 9. Next I need to see how it likes +P ammo...

So Gun #3 is going back for hopefully the same treatment, and then I'm selling it.

David

Thank you for posting a follow-up. I really like the Bodyguard, particularly the one like yours without the laser. I must admit that your saga was one of the factors that weighed on my decision to get an LCP for a small pocket gun not long ago. If they have solved the issues, maybe I'll consider a Bodyguard again.

It is also nice to hear that S&W obviously is trying very hard to get their products right and kept at it until you were satisfied.

FINALLY!! I've known from the beginning that my BG380 had either a firing pin that was too short, or a channel that wasn't cut properly.
I've been waiting for years to hear this news. Maybe it's time to send mine in (again) and have it properly repaired. Then I can take out the aftermarket hammerspring with the 12lb+ pull.
Thanks for the update!

PirateJim said:

I must admit that your saga was one of the factors that weighed on my decision to get an LCP for a small pocket gun not long ago. If they have solved the issues, maybe I'll consider a Bodyguard again.

Click to expand...

I hope you do. They are great little guns. You might want to wait a bit until they've had a chance to get the new firing pins through the production system. If that's what actually fixed it. I'm assuming here.

I started with an LCP before I got the BG, and like the BG better because:

- Manual Safety (I know many don't like one, but it's what I'm used to)

- Double Strike Capability (Hopefully I'll never need it again!)

- Better Sights

- Able to handle +P

- It's nicer looking, IMO.

(Trying not to come off as too much of a born-again fan-boy, here!)

David

Thanks for the info, David. I agree with what you said (post number 4) but I have been so disgusted with the two BG380s I have owned I have been seriously considering going back to a Keltec. Maybe I will send my remaining BG380 back one last time and see how it goes. It has just been sitting in a drawer for months without much hope of being used because of the failure to fire problem.

The only ammo my current BG380 is reliable with has been Remington FMJ-RN. I would much prefer to use the Winch. FMJ-FN. It works fine in every other gun I have tried it in, except the BG.

I hope it is reliable as I have been thinking about buying one, even though I do not like DAO. It is the nicest looking pocket gun in .380 I have seen, except the PPK and I already have one of those.

I don't know when you purchased your BGs but I got my no laser model in Feb. and it has been 100% reliable w/FMJ and HP defensive ammo; maybe I got lucky. It has become my EDC and the J frame, carried over 40 years off duty as well as into retirement, went into the safe.

These are great little guns for the average guy just looking for something unobtrusive to protect themselves as well as loved ones.

UPDATE: A couple of months after my initial post my BG started to experience the same problem, especially with WWB ammo. Had a friend who thought he could fix it so I sold it to him and never looked back. It’s a shame b/c I really liked everything about this little gun but anything carried for SD has to be 100%.

David - No way you have this fixed! You will be so bored now that you don't have anything to scratch the head about! Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS, I am so glad they finally figured it out! Now, with all of us reading your final fix, S&W will get many of them returned for the fix, as rightfully they should get them back! The Bodyguards have given a lot of people, including those with past allegiance to Smith, a "bad taste in their mouth!" If they start fixing those with issues, maybe they might be able to keep some of their faithful followers! Anyway, I am happy for you, start enjoying THEM! - Rick

Bodyguard 380

Can someone please explain firing pin throw?

"Throw" I believe is used as the travel length the firing pin would make in it's operation. "Throw" could be a reference, start (release) to finish (impact at cap).

I am not an engineer, but when David was having problems with light strikes and failures to fire, this would make sense in assuming the firing pin throw (length) was inadequate? ie, not enough to detonate the round...

I could be totally wrong, but I will then stand corrected. - Rick

How do you change firing pin throw? A longer firing pin,
firing pin spring, hammer spring etc.?

I should clarify my use of the word "throw". I'm sure it's not an official engineering term. It's just how I describe the amount the firing pin travels before it is stopped. There is a notch in the firing pin that is stopped by a pin in the slide. This controls how far the firing pin penetrates the primer.

Many talk about "light strikes", or "hard primers", but I started to believe the issue was not that the firing pin was not hitting hard enough, but that it was not penetrating far enough. In other words, you could have a firing fin being hit with the strongest hammer spring out there, but if it was stopped in its travel before it could penetrate deeply enough, it still wouldn't work.

I also measured many fired cartridge cases, and found that the Winchester white box ones were on average several thousandths of an inch shorter than other brands. Perhaps this is what exacerbated the problem with that brand of ammo. I studied a book covering firing pin design, and there is only a few thousandths of an inch difference between a firing pin that doesn't travel far enough, and one that goes too far and pierces the primer.

A lot of this is guesswork. I in no way claim any expertise with this. I don't even remember exactly how S&W described the new firing pin design to me, but I think the "throw" was what was increased, I'm guessing by cutting the stop notch a little longer. So take all of this with a big grain of salt.

I'll inspect and measure my firing pins, the original and the replacement, when I get a chance. (Man, I hate removing that rear sight to get the slide apart!) I'm curious to see if there's a difference.

David

richr1226 said:

How do you change firing pin throw? A longer firing pin,
firing pin spring, hammer spring etc.?

Click to expand...

I got the Galloway firing pin, which is a little longer, and it didn't make a difference. So I am guessing it is the design, and the length of the stop notch, that makes a difference.

The Galloway pin, BTW, was too long, and would actually put a tiny dent in the primer when chambering a round. Probably not going to touch it off, but no way was I carrying a gun that would do that.

David

I tried the Galloway firing pin and extra power hammer
spring in my Bodyguard 380 to try and cure the light
strike problem. I would still get an occasional light strike.
I will be sending this firearm back to S&W.

How can you have any confidence in the gun to perform if you need it. Wake up. You have a piece of junk. Time to move on.

sodacan said:

How can you have any confidence in the gun to perform if you need it. Wake up. You have a piece of junk. Time to move on.

Click to expand...

Have you even read the information in this thread? It is about how it seems S&W has finally figured out how to make this pistol 100% reliable. You calling it a "piece of junk" makes zero sense. If you have something against this gun, don't buy one. In the meantime, plenty of people are eager to see it succeed.

David

DB, I liked my BG so much, I got a second one. As they say: two is one, and one is none. I carry both, or one BG and one Shield. Never had any problems with their functioning. After gun 3 is fixed, you might want to consider keeping it.

db4570 said:

I hope you do. They are great little guns. You might want to wait a bit until they've had a chance to get the new firing pins through the production system. If that's what actually fixed it. I'm assuming here.

I started with an LCP before I got the BG, and like the BG better because:

- Manual Safety (I know many don't like one, but it's what I'm used to)

- Double Strike Capability (Hopefully I'll never need it again!)

- Better Sights

- Able to handle +P

- It's nicer looking, IMO.

(Trying not to come off as too much of a born-again fan-boy, here!)

David

Click to expand...

I'm curious, where did you see that it is OK to use +P. There is no standard for .380 +P so how could it be approved?

Florida J Frame said:

I'm curious, where did you see that it is OK to use +P. There is no standard for .380 +P so how could it be approved?

Click to expand...

You're right there's no real +P standard.

S&W in the owner's manual says something to the effect that if you use +P ammunition the gun may wear faster, but unlike other manufacturers, they don't prohibit it.

I'm going to try some Underwood and see what happens.

David

Interesting