Due to my age, I don't want to carry my SIG hammer fired pistols for EDC any longer. I have purchased a Bodyguard .380 from Grabagun for use as a pocket carry EDC.


I have shot a friend's and while snappy, I am able to shoot it w/o any problems.


Opinions , good or bad please.


Thanks,
Bill

Did you buy the OG Bodyguard 380 or the new 2.0 version?

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Retired LE Instructor/Armorer

If you are referring to the Bodyguard 2.0, I think it is the best pocket size .380 available by a good margin. Manageable recoil, relatively high capacity, small size and light weight.
It is not without its own quirks however. The magazines are hard to load to maximum capacity. A full magazine is difficult to seat with the slide in battery. The rear sight is to wide. (This may be an asset for older eyes). The sights seem to be misaligned to shoot left in many examples.
I have replaced the rear sight on mine with a Ruger LCP Max rear sight and it cut my group sizes by 50% at least. Had the gunsmith that installed it center the sights to correct windage. An Uplula magazine loader made loading the magazine to full capacity possible. It still takes effort to seat a full magazine.
Smith and Wesson came up with a winner.

OZ

Another vote for the BG 2.0

My friend has a Bodyguard while I have the 2.0. I love mine and he loves his. I never shot his, don’t think it would be fun shooting at 15 yards like I normally do with mine, especially with that long trigger, I’m sure it’s adequate for 3 yards though!

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USN Retired, EDC BG 2.0

If not caring my 45 Shield, I feel adequate with my Taurus 380. At CQB last ditch defense distance I will always hit some bone somewhere for a disabling blow. Don't try this at home. A professional told me so.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

The original bodyguard. No way am I going to carry a striker fired pistol on my pocket, sleeve/holster covered or not.


Bill

Drop mike. Walk away.
You have just nailed the CAJUNLAWYER every day carry for the same reasons as I.

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Forum consigliere

I like my BG-2. I tend to shoot it left, and it jams once in a while with one particular brand of ammo, but runs like a sewing machine with everything else, so I just avoid that particular ammo. No opinion on pocket carry, since I've never done that with any gun, but in a IWB holster it works just fine. All the stiffness problems have gone away as I shoot it. I still use a mag loader, but that's because I can, not because I have to. Slide racks as easy as any other gun.

I don't carry it, but that's because I like and shoot my 380 EZ better. I like the BG-2. I really like the EZ 380. The EZ shoots to the sights, shoots any ammo I've put in it, has never malfunctioned, and fits my hand to a T. To big for pocket carry but as I said, I don't do that anyway. It works just fine in an IWB holster. Yea, I give up a few rounds to the BG-2 but I've got an extra inch or so of barrel to "soup up" the ammo. If I haven't either won the fight, or gotten out of Dodge by the time I've used 17 rounds, well, I was already having a bad day.

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John 3:16 .

I pocket carry the 2.0 with the thumb safety on . In a quality Kydex holster I am confident as to it being a safe method .

After some initial issues and drifting the sights I am very happy with mine and find myself carrying it more often

My Bodyguard (non laser) is my EDC. I was really looking forward to the release of the Bodyguard 2, until I learned it was striker fired with a 4-5 pound short trigger pull. Plus it's slightly larger than mine. I decided to stick with my original. I practice with it every trip to the range, and shoot it very well. 10+1 would be nice, but I'm OK with 6+1 and a spare mag.

Bill - the best money I spent on mine was less than $15 for a Hogue Handall grip sleeve. It did not add appreciably to the bulk of the grip, greatly reduced the snappiness of the recoil, and fit my XXL hands so much nicer.

I've been thinking of getting the Bodyguard 2.0 as something I can just stick in a pocket and go.
Of course it'll be in a holster.
That's usually the job of my 442 but twice the capacity is appealing.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Happy with my factory stock 2.0.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

I pocket carry only and have pocket carried a P3AT, LCP Gen1, LCP Custom, LCP Max, and Glock 42 and the BG 2.0 is the perfect package. I still have my LCP Custom as a backup just in case my BG 2.0 has to back to Smith.
Muddy River Pocket Holster

Original is a hammer fired pistol

I have both. Just got the BG1.0, and a spare, working, with TruGlo sights, and the 2.0 came out. Damn.
Without a doubt, the 1.0 is as safe as pocket guns get, but it is more challenging to shoot, and holds fewer rounds.
The 2.0 is as safe as any striker fired pistol, with a firing pin block and trigger dongle. Certainly no different than a G42.
I replaced the rear sight of the 2.0 with one taken from the 1.0, and that gives a great sight picture.
Save a couple stumbles early, mine has been as reliable as gravity. Some magazines will accept 10 rounds and lock in against a closed slide, while others will not. All the mags run well.
Recoil is fine, especially for such a small gun, and a sharp contrast to, say an LCPMax, which is much sharper.
The trigger is remarkably good, especially for a striker gun.
Moon

[QUOTE=hyena;14214157
Bill - the best money I spent on mine was less than $15 for a Hogue Handall grip sleeve. It did not add appreciably to the bulk of the grip, greatly reduced the snappiness of the recoil, and fit my XXL hands so much nicer.[/QUOTE]


I hope you mean the Handall jr as that is the one I bought. The only concern I have is if the bump on the grip frame will interfere with the sleeve after installation.


I don't expect to see the pistol for another week so so, maybe longer if the coming winter weather slows down shipment. A pic of yours would be nice to see.


Thanks,
Bill

Here you go, Bill. I still had the package the Handall came in, so took this shot for you. There is no model number on the front or back of the pack. The sleeve does not interfere with any of the functions of the gun.

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Why not clip a coil or two off the bottom of the magazine spring?
I got a new Bodyguard a little while back and that’s what I am going to do with mine.
I refuse to carry or own any gun that requires a magazine loader.
Most factories make their magazine springs too long.
The worst offenders were Kahr magazines when I was buying them 20 years ago. I had to clip a full one third of the magazine coil springs off to get the guns to function no matter which model.

At 68 years, I find the little guns the MOST challenging. What Sig Hammer-fired were you talking about?

Maybe I have a different take on "pocket carry".
There is nothing about having pockets that needs a gun.
The advantages to pocket carry, that I can see, are two:
1) You can have your hand in your pocket on the gun and nobody is the wiser. I do this all the time! It is the most natural thing to me.
2) You can just pick your gun up off the dresser, stick it in your pocket and go.

Pocket carry is about the trousers, not the gun or the holster.
Pocket carry in winter involves coat pockets which is a different problem.

I read a lot on this forum about the BG1.
I finally settled on a Glock 42 because of the store price and because of a popular YouTube video* about it, where four most popular .380 subcompacts were compared by four ladies. BG1 came in last IIRC. They hated the trigger.

I would love to hear more from you as you use this gun and reveal YOUR pros and cons, etc.

Best!
BrianD

*Legally Armed America YouTube Channel.
Video was called
"Ladies review the Glock 42, Colt XSP Mustang, S&W Bodyguard, & Ruger LCP".

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

Thanks Bud. The one I bought is the standard handall jr slip on model that fits most micro compacts. I'll check out Hogue's site and get the correct one then.


Bill

Brian,


Sig full size models all. P6, P226, P228, P229 .40 S&W, P220 .45ACP and M11A1. All OWB holster models that are bulky and heavy compared to a micro compact "pocket" sized pistol.


I'll say why all those women picked the bodyguard last is due to the long DOA only trigger pull and snappy recoil in such a small package.


Bill

Recently picked up a nice clean used Bodyguard 1.0 with laser $265 out the door.
I like that its small, fits the pocket, 2nd strike capability slide locks back on last round.
If I needed more firepower I wouldn't be interested in higher capacity .380's I'd be leaning into a micro 9mm.
.380 only advantage is it can work in tiny pocket pistols and the BG 1.0 is about the same size as my Beretta 21A pocket 22 lr.

Ps SW quoted my $10 for a spare magazine recently which is cheaper than online retailers.

I like mine , my holster of choice is Vedder kydex pocket holster .

There has been a lot of praise for the Galloway Bodyguard trigger. It makes the trigger pull much better in my experience. If you don't like the Bodyguard factory trigger it could be worth your while.

It is not hard to install with the instructions they provide. I also installed the Grip Overlay they sell. It makes the grip better for my hand. This changed the small gun into a better shooter. Not every one likes it and it is a little expensive compared to the cost of the gun. I recommend because it works for me.

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IMG_4485.jpg (45.8 KB, 15 views)

I've heard this comment before. Could you please explain? What's the difference between a striker and a hammer fired pocket pistol?

A manual safety for one and a long DAO trigger pull for another.
Thanks to hyena for the proper grip sleeve. It really tames the recoil and feels really good in my hand.


Bill
IMG_0184.jpg

I just ordered this Muddy River pocket holster. It has all the features I like, adjustable retention, pants hook well spaced from the grip and slight curve to fit the pocket.

I’m happy with my M&P BG380 1.0. Never a failure of any kind and most of the rounds fired were my own reloads. 6 rounds is fine for my purpose.

Clip a few coils off the bottom end of that overly strong magazine spring and you can ditch the magazine loading tool.
I refuse to have any modern gun that requires that you have to use a tool to assist in loading.
I have a Bodyguard 2.0 and except for the magazine spring issue that I will fix in a few days, it is hands-down the best compact .380 out there.
Be careful with the trigger. The weight of pull is too light for a pocket gun. NEVER carry one without it being in a holster that covers the triggerguard.