I have been reading about the Bodyguard .380. Seems that the original model.... the NON M&P.... had some issues.

Since many people simply say Bodyguard and do not distinguish between Non M&P and the newer M&P I have a couple questions.

* When did the M&P Bodyguard .380 begin production?
* Has the M&P Bodyguard .380 become a reliable firearm?
* What changes were made to the newer version.
* Have you had issues with your M&P Bodyguard 380?
if so, what was it and has it been fixed?

I had one in 2014 that developed the dreaded light strike problems. It was fixed by S&W but I lost confidence & got rid of it.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

That is bad.
Was yours the M&P version? Do you know what S&W did to fix it?

1: The label on my M&P BG box is 04/18/14... So, sometime before that...
2: I have probably 1000 rounds through mine, and, have experienced 1 FTE in the first 100 rounds... Other than that, it's been perfect...
3: I have searched for the answer on this board, and couldn't really find anything... Most people claim they are identical externally and internally... But, somehow, the M&P BG .380 weighs a smidge more than the BG .380, and, it does not have the laser...
4: Other than 1 early FTE, it has run like a champ...

2015 M&P with laser the only problem with mine was the mag release and that was replaced with a metal one.I have shot 50 rounds a month thru her since I got it.No fte or ftf.I do keep it clean after every trip to the range.She's been very accurate and reliable.I never owned a old BG.380 as I carried a J frame for years that why I never had a problem with the long double action trigger.

It was the M&P version w/o the laser but I can’t remember what S&W wrote on the repair ticket.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Thank you for the replies.

The M&P Bodyguard 380 is a model I would like to have.
I have learned that one change is that current model has a metal mag release, that I believe is a little longer than the older plastic one.

I've taken my new M&P Bodyguard 380 to the range a few times, fired 225 rounds.

My biggest problem is that the trigger travels all the way back, so my fingertip touches the magazine catch. The magazine catch spring is so weak, that a little pressure releases the magazine. I tried all different kind of ways to keep the tip of my finger away from the magazine catch, but it wasn't 100% effective. I even tried shooting left handed, but sometimes my palm would touch the magazine catch during the recoil kick.

Last night I completely disassembled the frame and took out the magazine catch spring. I bent the left side of the spring outwards, the side goes into the magazine catch, and now it takes a lot more pressure to release the magazine. I'll go to the range this weekend and see if it solved this problem.

Another problem was failure to feed. I think it was related to the magazine catch. Anytime it got partially or fully released, I'd have failure to feed. It improved when I did my best not to touch the magazine catch with my trigger finger.

The last problem is light primer strikes. I fired 75 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense HP and didn't have any problems. But I would get about 3 light strikes per box of the other 150 rounds of Magtech FMJ. Maybe it isn't a problem as long as defensive ammo have softer primers? Kind of a little concerning though. If ammo ever gets less expensive, I'll try firing another 50 rounds of Critical Defense and see what happens.

I also disassembled the slide and made sure the firing pin and tunnel were clean. Which they were, but I wiped them down anyway. Galloway makes an aftermarket weaker pin return spring, or stronger hammer spring, I might look at those if I continue having problems.

I owned the M&P model ( no laser ). Found it likes Hornady American Gunner; runs great. Gave it to my daughter in law; she really likes it.

__________________
John

I bought my M&P Bodyguard new in 2016. Every great once in a while, shooting Freedom Munitions reman ammo, I'll get a light strike. I'm on my last box of that ammo, and doubt I'll buy anymore. Every light strike fired with a second pull of the trigger. I just bought a Hogue handall grip sleeve for it for $12.95 delivered. What a huge improvement for my size XL hands. It feels much better in my hand, and yesterday at the range I shot it better too.

I like my Bodyguard. I carry it when I want to pocket carry. I trust it. I had a Ruger LCP before I bought the BG. It was a good gun, but the BG felt slightly better in my hand, and I wanted a thumb safety.

I have a Bodyguard 380 with the on-board Insight laser. As far as I am concerned, it is an unreliable gun. I have broken the striker twice during dry-fire exercises with snap caps in the chamber. Given the tendency for the striker to break without warning, I don't trust this as a carry gun anymore. The factory striker is "injection molded metal" which means basically some ground-up metal powder cast in resin. Not a very reassuring manufacturing process for such a critical component. Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket striker made of actual steel? I like this pistol for pocket carry, but don't trust it any more.

After bending the magazine catch spring outward to make it harder to depress, I've gotten much fewer loose magazines at the range. Only 1 time (and 1 when it almost popped out but then clicked back into the catch) when firing a box of ammo, instead of 1 or 2 times per magazine. It actually does better if I stick my trigger finger comfortably through the trigger guard, instead of trying to balance my fingertip on the trigger.

I think I'll stiffen the spring a little more, maybe file down the release button 1mm.

Only had 1 failure to feed, possibly when the magazine almost popped out.

Still getting at least a couple light primer strikes on Magtech FMJ ammo. Only other plinking brand I tried was 1 box of Federal Syntech. Hope the 75 rounds of Hornady CD with no problems was enough to test for light strikes.

I’ve owned the older model LCP for a few years and a few hundred flawless rounds that only has one problem. The mag sometimes pops out when pocket carried in a pocket holster. I even tried a Kydex holster that covered the mag release but it happened just a couple of days ago so it mostly sits in my safe.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)