Carrying Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380 with round in chamber

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gunguy31416

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I just recently bought a Model M&P BODYGUARD® 380. I have carried this gun a few times with a round in the chamber. I am pocket carrying in a holster. To be honest I still feel a little bit nervous carrying with a round in the chamber. How many of you carry with a round in the chamber? Also how do you get over being nervous? I do also carry with the safety on. I know the trigger pull is really heavy and the safety is not needed. How many of you carry with the safety off. In the back of my head I just worry about it just going off at random. I know just keep my finger off the trigger and good holster will keep this from happening. Any advice is appreciated.
 
I carry mine with a round in the chamber.If a situation arises trying to manipulate the slide is one more unnecessary movement that could cost you dearly.My wife carries with safety on but trains to release it while drawing and has no problems with placing quick well aimed shots in the black.You need to focus on training and your confidence will increase while your awareness of the chambered round will decrease.
 
Welcome to the forum!

I think your concerns will ease over time as you gain familiarity with carrying and practicing with your new Bodyguard. This gun is as safe to carry with a round chambered as a double action revolver.

This model is fired by a hammer which is uncocked when the trigger is "at rest". To fire the gun, the hammer is cocked by the trigger as the trigger is pulled, then releases to strike the firing pin when the trigger is all the way back. You can see this set up by looking at the back of the slide.

When the hammer is forward, the firing pin is prevented from hitting the primer of the cartridge by a firing pin block. This block only permits the firing pin to go forward when the trigger is pulled all the way back.

With this system the safety is really not needed although some do prefer to carry with it engaged. Hope this helps!
 
It's natural to feel nervous at first, but that will eventually pass. I don't have manual safeties on any of mine and I carry a BG sometimes. You're right, with a good holster that guards the trigger you will be fine. I won't say that I am still nervous, but I think about it and that just keeps me aware and makes sure I don't get careless. Eventually all you will do is just maybe think about it. Congrats on the BG.
 
Welcome to the forum. The M&P BG380 is safe to carry with the safety disengaged and a round in the chamber. That firearm isn't going to discharge until you squeeze that substantial double action trigger. Become familiar with the firearm and practice with it regularly and your anxiety level will diminish. Good luck with your new pistol.


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We have a similar thread going but.....

I always carry loaded and I got over it because that's how it was designed to be carried. Just like I know my car won't roll away if I put it in parm

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I bought a BG .380, and sold it without being fired, due to the abysmal trigger. I went to the store and tried the triggers of every pocket pistol there. The only acceptable one was the new Ruger Custom LCP. I ordered one, cleaned it, shot it, and carry it in my pocket around the farm. It is in a pocket holster which covers the entire gun except the butt. It is the only DAO pistol I own, I would have preferred a used PPK but could not find one. I feel confident the pistol will work properly, should I need it. No matter what I carry, it always has a round in the chamber, and the safety off. To carry it otherwise can get you killed should you need it quickly. When off of my property I carry a S&W CS45. I have carried it for over 20 years, qualified with it numerous times, and it is the perfect carry pistol. There are many people who like the long trigger pull of today's DAO pocket pistols, if you are one of them I hope you enjoy your purchase. Everyone is different.
 
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I do. The purpose of these small pocket carry pistols is self defense, not target shooting, not tactical shooting, not combat shooting. If you need to deploy this pistol it will most likely be in close quarters and you will want to pull it out of your pocket, point at the threat, and pull the trigger. You won't have time to chamber a round, thumb a safety off or aim. Point and shoot. For that purpose the BG .380 is perfectly suited.
 
Coastie762 said:
Welcome to the forum!

I think your concerns will ease over time as you gain familiarity with carrying and practicing with your new Bodyguard. This gun is as safe to carry with a round chambered as a double action revolver.

This model is fired by a hammer which is uncocked when the trigger is "at rest". To fire the gun, the hammer is cocked by the trigger as the trigger is pulled, then releases to strike the firing pin when the trigger is all the way back. You can see this set up by looking at the back of the slide.

When the hammer is forward, the firing pin is prevented from hitting the primer of the cartridge by a firing pin block. This block only permits the firing pin to go forward when the trigger is pulled all the way back.

With this system the safety is really not needed although some do prefer to carry with it engaged. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Coastie762 is absolutely correct. I carry mine with a round chambered and safety off. That really long trigger pull will prevent any accidental discharge. Now if I only felt the same with my .40, but that is for an entirely different reason and has nothing to do with trigger pull. Okay, I'll say it. Since the .40 is striker fired, to keep a round chambered means it must be cocked. I'm concerned that leaving it cocked will damage the firing pin spring by having it constantly compressed. S&W customer support says it will if left that way over a long period of time. Not trying to change the subject of your question, just comparing the two models.
 
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All my automatics have safeties. I always carry with a round in the chamber, safety ON. Same procedures to follow regardless of which gun I'm carrying. KISS.

You're right, I don't have any Glocks.
 
I carry a BG380 in a pocket holster with one in the chamber and safety on. I also carry my Shield safety on and train to draw and release the safety. Not sure in a real world situation as I have never been in one (and really hope never to be) but that is how I carry and train.
 
My BG380 WAS MY FIRST POCKET CARRY,with that said I know what your going thru.at first I didn't chamber a round after a week I did a lot of live firing and dry firing then after I felt comfortable I chambered and used the safety after a lot more practice no more safety one in the chamber :Dbeen that way ever since:cool:absolutly love the BG380 very comfortable with her and no problems.
 
i pocket carry my .380 with one in the chamber, safety on, in a holster that covers the trigger. it does not make me nervous at all, since the safety prevents it from firing, and the trigger is covered as well. With some practice drawing the weapon it'll become automatic to swipe off the safety with your thumb as you draw, and it won't slow your response down at all. my larger handguns (9mm) don't have safeties so i don't load the chamber on those. its too easy for something to accidentally pull the trigger and i have zero confidence in the two piece trigger.
 
I carry a DAO revolver, but when I carried a Glock there was a round chambered. I almost bought a Ruger LCP recently before an emergency took the money I had put aside. If I get one it will be pocket carried in a holster with a round in the chamber.

For self defense in a full red alert emergency, does it make sense not to be ready to light off a round instantly? It doesn't to me.

You'll almost certainly get comfortable with a chambered round very soon.
 
hexnut said:
There may be a possibility that people who are afraid to carry a round in the chamber may not be ready to carry a gun period.
Click to expand...

If he doesn't begin chambering a round within about 2 weeks, maybe he needs to carry pepper spray instead of a pistol.

I know several fellows who carry a naked revolver in their front pocket. I like to use a pocket holster and have several different kinds. Either way, guns are loaded and ready to fire.
 
gunguy31416 said:
To be honest I still feel a little bit nervous carrying with a round in the chamber. How many of you carry with a round in the chamber? Also how do you get over being nervous? I do also carry with the safety on.
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right?

Do you think Zimmerman had time to pull his pistol out of his pocket, pull the slide back to chamber a round while a 6' tall young man is on top of him pummeling his head against a sidewalk?

In all seriousness, you are perfectly fine & safe carrying your BG380 with a round in the chamber & "safety" off. That double action trigger is your safety.. think about it as a revolver. There is a reason why that trigger is heavy.

Now although I like the BG380 a lot, I just don't understand why S&W chose to add a "safety" on a DAO pocket pistol when most of it's competition has no manual thumb "safety", such as the Kahr CW/P380's & Ruger LCP's. The LEO version of the Bodyguard has no "safety" for crying out loud.
 
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