2nd snapped firing pin for my M&P Bodyguard 380

[Sheepdoggit]

I'M LOSING CONFIDENCE IN MY M&P BODYGUARD 380.

I purchased one about a year and a half ago. I really like it for a lot of reasons, but it seems to have a reoccurring issue.

A day or two after I brought it home, I tried removing the factory sights but they were pressed in too tight, and after smacking it with a hammer and brass punch didn't work, I brought it to a gunsmith who installed new sights. When I got it home, the back of the firing pin fell out when I went to strip the gun. Apparently it just snapped off. I sent it to Smith and they returned it in two weeks later no problem. I figured it was a fluke and their customer service was excellent so I didn't really think much about it.

Since there was no explanation as to why it broke, I figured I better buy some snap caps for this gun (which I did).

A year and a half later the firing pin breaks off again (snapping in the exact same place). I took pictures including ones of my snap caps so they'd no I wasn't dry firing it without them. I would imagine dry firing would be bad for the tip and not the back of the firing pin, but I just wanted to remove any variables on my end just in case. To be honest, this gun hasn't been fired much either, though I have dry fired it with snap caps quite a bit.

Is this because the firing pin is a MIM part? If it is, Smith & Wesson, please change this!

Has this been a common problem? I've had lots of guns in for service (Glocks, other S&W M&Ps, FN FNS, XDs, etc...); I've never had something like this before, and it's failed twice now.

I don't know if this is a design issue or a quality control issue but I feel like selling the gun now but I really don't want to.

 

[yep380]

That stinks... not seeing the pics.

 

[oldiegoldie]

I thought they had that problem solved. Wish Galloway still sold the stainless FP's. I installed them in my & brother's .380's. Wish a metal magazine release button were available too. Such a great little gun with a few imperfections, but I still carry mine daily.

 

[Old cop]

Lost confidence in mine too. After two years and over 800 trouble free rounds of FMJ & HP light strikes started. Withfull disclosure, and at a big loss, I sold it.

 

[comiskeybum]

Mine has beer perfect and is in my pocket now.

However word on the street is there is a gen 2 coming at the same time as the gen 2 shields. Shorter trigger, etc.

Sent from my Pixel XL 128

 

[SmithNWesson]

Sorry to hear about this dilemma. Like many here, i have not had any issues with my BG380. Hearing about these issues make me happy i got my shield. I still love and carry my BG380 but happy that i can put less "mileage" on her at the range.

Did S&W give you any reason after the first occurance?

 

[Autonomous]

I would not trust that gun for self defense. Even as a plinker I'd move on.
The Sig P238 is a nice .380 hand gun.

 

[Shield9mm]

Did S&W give you any reason after the first occurance?

For dry firing it too much.

 

[olywa]

I had a first gen Bodyguard​ that was flawless thru over 1200 rounds. I traded it in on a new M&P Bodyguard because I didn't like the built in laser. I now have about 400 rounds thru this one. Only problem was a handful of light strikes due to hard primers on cheap ammo. My carry ammo has never failed.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[Dpris]

Might consider not dry-firing a Bodyguard.
Denis

 

[thomast]

If it is as easy to replace as the other m&p why not just replace it and keep a spare.
S&w outsources parts. They may have received some faulty striker assembly...

 

[oldiegoldie]

If it is as easy to replace as the other m&p why not just replace it and keep a spare.
S&w outsources parts. They may have received some faulty striker assembly...

If you consider removing the back sight as "easy"......I don't like that concept for replacing the firing pin. Yes, you have to remove back sight to replace firing pin.

 

[Shield9mm]

If you consider removing the back sight as "easy"......I don't like that concept for replacing the firing pin. Yes, you have to remove back sight to replace firing pin.

exactly, it is not that simple as other guns or M&P's where you just remove the backplate. Also parts for the bodyguard are practically nowhere to be found.

 

[Dpris]

Back when Ruger came out with their LCP, Ruger said that the pistol could be dry-fired, as they do with their guns.

What Ruger meant was that OCCASIONAL dry-firing would not hurt it.
One guy decided the LCP would be his primary carry gun, and since he felt his primary carry gun had to be dry-fired hundreds & hundreds of times, he did.

And then complained to Ruger when he busted a firing pin, chewing them out for selling an inferior product.

No amount of explaining that the gun was simply not designed or intended for 2000 dry-firing cycles made any dent.

"It's my CARRY gun! I GOTTA dry-fire my CARRY gun! You put out a ***!"

No, it's not a ***. If you feel you HAVE to dry-fire your carry gun thousands of times, pick another carry gun. That's not what the LCP is built for.

I'd say the same idea applies to the Bodyguard .380.
I have two.
They are not high-mileage IPSC guns, but one occasionally gets carried when circumstances dictate the regular M&P won't work.

Neither Bodyguard has been dry-fired more than a handful of times, just to check function or trigger pull.
Neither has malfunctioned at all.

I'd suggest extensive dry-firing be avoided, even with caps.
Busting two pins should be what Sherlock Holmes would call a "clue".
Denis

 

[mrmike7189]

0ver 1k rounds no issues

I have over 1k rounds through mine,no issues.
I never dry fire it.
never

 

[Bengalsfan59]

S&W M&P 380 Bodyguard firing pin failure on 2 Guns within a month

Purchased s&w M&P 380 Bodyguard on 1/9/2019. Went to the range and used laserammo surestrike laser cartridge and laser target to work on trigger discipline. Probably fired over 1000 times between dry fires and actual firing. Firing pin failed 1/14/19. I really liked the firearm so did a direct exchange with the dealer for another 380 bodyguard. Exchanged on 1/15/19 and had another firepin failure on 1/19/19. Both times I was firing at laser target and suddenly was not getting a laser shot and heard a piece of metal rattling around the inside of the gun. Looks like there is a weak point o n these firing pins that leads to fatigue failure after about 1000 cycles. I will return this Bodyguard too. Hopefully they will let me exhange for another firearm. I really like how this gun handles and shoots but will be using for self defense and can't afford to have it fail after such a short period.

S&W Please look into this since it looks like this is a recurring problem