.380 bodyguard trigger pull

[hairylures]

I have taken my bodyguard .380 (purchased new in 2013) to my local gunsmith twice to try to make it easier to pull the trigger. He hasn't been able to make it much better.
Do you have a fix for this? It is impossible to fire this gun while trying to hold it on target.

 

[Jim L]

I really wanted to get a Bodyguard, but that heavy trigger made me chose a Ruger LCP Custom.

 

[18DAI]

Sadly, the fix for the "bodyguard" IS to trade it in on the Ruger. Either the LCP or the LC9.

If you are not against Glocks, try the Glock 42. Much nicer trigger and all around better quality pistol than the bodyguard and the LCP, IMO. Good luck! Regards 18DAI

 

[Old cop]

I'm one of the few who did not have a problem w/the BG trigger b/c I carried/shot J frames for well over 40 years. That said I recently picked up a Gen 2 LCP and like it much better due to the lighter weight and better trigger.

 

[KSDeputy]

I bought a BG, and upon dry firing it once, sold it. It has the most abysmal trigger of any pistol I have ever seen. I bought a Ruger Custom LCP to carry around my farm, the trigger on it is much better. The BG is one of a rare mistake S&W makes. Sell it and buy a Ruger. I tried every .380 pocket gun in the case, the Ruger had the best trigger.

 

[oldsman70]

I let Galloway precision do the trigger on my BG 380 , much better.

 

[Magload]

Is is a SD pistol and I can shoot it very well out to 10yds. I am glad the trigger is hard to pull when it is in my front pocket pointing and the boys. At 5yds I can fire it as quick as I can pull the trigger till the mag is empty and keep all rounds in a 6" plate. When not in a hurry and staging the trigger it will shoot 2" groups at 7yds. I up have to draw and use it I doth you will even notice how hard the trigger is to pull.

 

[vortex360]

I have taken my bodyguard .380 (purchased new in 2013) to my local gunsmith twice to try to make it easier to pull the trigger. He hasn't been able to make it much better.
Do you have a fix for this? It is impossible to fire this gun while trying to hold it on target.

I have no problem whatsoever with the trigger on my Bodyguard. I hold it on target and squeeze very slow. After awhile one gets used to when the hammer will drop. The people that have a problem with the trigger must not do any exercise whatsoever. They are not very good at adapting either. I'd hate to see them if they needed to use a knife or something primitive to defend themselves they would throw it down and simply surrender.

 

[Jeffytune]

The first step to fixing the trigger on a Body Guard.

1) Sell the pistol.

Now that we have that out of the way, take some time and do some research into your next pistol.
What I think is a good pistol may not be right for you, but a nice 3913 is very hard to beat.
If you want to stay with a 380, then a Walter PPK is very a proven small pistol.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Been looking for a small .380. The one I wanted has been discontinued, which was the SIG-Sauer P232. It had the advantage of being available in .22 LR, which would help with practice. (Same reason I have a S&W 19 & 18). Anyway, that leaves the default gun, a Walther PPK.

But, there is no denying alloy and plastic frames are lighter. Compared the S&W Bodyguard to the Ruger LCP, and dry fired them. Some impressions:

I like that the LCP trigger drops the hammer sooner in the trigger pull process, but overall the BG trigger was smoother, though a bit heavier. I've read several posts complaining about the BG trigger pull. I wonder if S&W has improved that recently?

The LCP fit my middle two fingers better, but the BG felt better overall for grip. Suspect the BG might be a bit more comfortable on the web of the hand to shoot.

Both triggers have the ability to be short stroked by not letting the trigger go fully forward to reset. Noticed this while dry firing. Don't know if this would be an issue live firing.

I like that the BG has an external safety option, though it probably is not necessary given the heavy trigger pull.

One big difference is the geometry of the gun in my hand for sighting. Found that with the LCP, when quickly bringing the gun onto target, the front sight was consistently well below the rear sight. I had to rotate my hand at the wrist to see the front sight. The BG did not have this issue; the front and rear sights lined up perfectly. To me this is a big difference, moreso than the other comparisons above. I am badly farsighted, so the sights are blurry. Thus the BG points more naturally for me than the LCP.

And, the BG has drifted in sights, while the LCP are part of the slide. S&W is not currently offering them, and I've not found any aftermarket so far, but if and when offered the BG could be upgraded with tritium night sights. That's a big plus because I can make out blurry dots pretty well in dim light.

Noted the LCP has a stainless slide option, while the BG does not (except for a distributor option with an "engraved" slide). This is not a deal breaker but stainless would be a plus for corrosion resistance.

Back to sitting on the fence. Still debating about the PPK vs the BG. The PPK weighs 10 more ounces. On the other hand, I'm very familiar with the PPK, and shoot them well. Had a .32, and still have a .22 LR PPK-L (a real one, not the current pot metal clones) for practice.

Just wanted to share my observations, especially the pointing and sight alignment comparison, since I have not seen anyone mention it before.

 

[Magload]

There is only one thing I don't like about the BT and that is when I grip it high like I grip all pistols it eats the web of my hand. It used to draw blood but I have built up scar tissue there now. I have been so tempted to dehorn the two lower back edges of the slide. I shoot the gun well and like it to me the trigger is smooth.

 

[Renegade19]

I like my BG. I hate the trigger but it'll do. Not like I'm shooting competition with it. Taught my wife to shoot with it. It's the only weapon she's ever used so she doesn't now the trigger sucks! . She also shoots good groups with it out to 15 yds or so.

 

[W.E.G.]

Why are people trying to shoot this gun like its a target pistol?

If you ever have to use it for its intended purpose, the only thing you will be thinking about in regard to the trigger is, "Please God, let me make this thing fire before the attacker snaps my neck."

You will not notice the subjective quality of the trigger at that moment.

If you think that gun is for anything else, you made a mistake in your purchase.

 

[W.E.G.]

When I practice with the BG, I point it quickly at the target, and I pull the trigger as fast as I can.

Without using the sights.

This is quite good enough for what I want the gun to do.

I estimate this to be about double the distance I would ever need to shoot this gun in a self-defense situation.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

@W.E.G.,


Ain't much to add to that brother, you done nailed it good.
And some of these people come from a striker fired safe action trigger never cane up on revolvers even some of the old timers and the ones who claim tho have had a snubby never shot it much.

I will only shoot now double action only.
Just orderered me P290 .380 version and that pistol you can shoot all day, but it's belly gun just like a 642 is, just an auto loader.

You have to smile with some of these CCW holders practicing at yards instead of feet and 15 feet or less.
You nail someone at 25 yards with a .380 and they are liable to think they got bit by a mosquito.

To much bad info floating around out there and the sheep are taking it hook, line and sinker.

 

[W.E.G.]

Somebody in an earlier thread here said it best.

The BG is a "get off me" gun.

That's all I expect of it.
That's all I ask of it.

And oh my goodness how well the BG securely, and completely, conceals in the watch-pocket of my carpenter jeans.

I reckon the Ruger would do the same.
I had a Keltec P32 that hid in that pocket nicely before the BG replaced it.
I hear folks like the .380 Ruger. I probably will never know directly, because the BG alreadyy does everything I would ask the Ruger to do.

Point-and-fire.
That is all.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

That's all I want my .380 for and in my front pocket for the quick draw. I ain't looking to kill anyone just buy some time. If it happens so be it.
But the goal should always be to 'stop the threat'.

 

[0849]

I bought a new M&P BodyGuard 380 a few months ago. It seems, at least to me, that the trigger is not so bad, as much as it is so small, narrow, and such a short grip, which certainly makes it fantastic for concealment, also makes it a little uncomfortable to get a good comfortable purchase on it and makes pulling the trigger a bit more difficult. So I have not used it much, but can not bring myself to sell it, partly out of being a Smith & Wesson enthusiast, and partly because I guess I acknowledge that you get to a point making a firearms so small that this means compromise in other areas, so for the time being at least, it is a keeper for me.

 

[Protected One]

I have taken my bodyguard .380 (purchased new in 2013) to my local gunsmith twice to try to make it easier to pull the trigger. He hasn't been able to make it much better.
Do you have a fix for this? It is impossible to fire this gun while trying to hold it on target.

You can't "fix" something that isn't broke.
The only problem with the Bodyguard is people trying to FORCE it into service for which it is not intended - target shooting.
It's an up close and personal self-defense handgun. Used as such, it is more than adequate.

 

[garddogg56]

Love mine ,zero problems,use to carry a 642 same long DAO trigger which is the only trigger I'll have in my pocket.