Bodyguard 2.0 Bent RSA?

[icecoast99]

Just picked up the bodyguard 2.0 this week. I haven’t taken it to the range yet. While I was field stripping it I noticed that this section of my recoil spring assembly looks bent, is it meant to be this way or is it defective?


Update 5/15/25: Contacted S&W customer support, they are sending a new RSA. I still haven't tried shooting the firearm to see if the defect even affects the performance, I figure better safe than sorry.

 

[Cphobes]

Just picked up the bodyguard 2.0 this week. I haven’t taken it to the range yet. While I was field stripping it I noticed that this section of my recoil spring assembly looks bent, is it meant to be this way or is it defective?

View attachment 756525

That doesn’t look right, top should be flat.

 

[Ceemo]

Yep, supposed to be flat. Call S&W customer service and they'll send you a new one.

 

[RedRover2011]

It's damaged. The store I bought a couple of 2.0s at said they'd received a few like this, but it was quite a while ago.

 

[Cphobes]

Hind sight is 20/20 but always inspect the firearm before purchase. And disassemble too.

 

[Cotis]

It is definitely NOT supposed to be like that.

 

[GnarlsR2]

Wow.... that damage would have to be caused by dropping the gun while the slide is locked back, or it was damaged during manufacturing.

The rod cap damage would be very noticeable when looking over the gun!

 

[ladder13]

Is that new or pre owned by Bubba?

 

[oliver897]

It’s actually pretty common for the recoil spring assembly (RSA) on the Bodyguard 2.0 to have a slight arc when it’s not under tension. Smith & Wesson designs them that way to help with function and seating.

If it’s just a gentle curve, you’re probably fine. If it looks severely bent or kinked though, I’d hold off on shooting it and contact S&W customer service to be safe

 

[dben002]

Can't wait for the next S&W "handgun of the year"

 

[GnarlsR2]

It’s actually pretty common for the recoil spring assembly (RSA) on the Bodyguard 2.0 to have a slight arc when it’s not under tension. Smith & Wesson designs them that way to help with function and seating.

If it’s just a gentle curve, you’re probably fine. If it looks severely bent or kinked though, I’d hold off on shooting it and contact S&W customer service to be safe

Wow!....

A designed in “arc to help with function and seating”?

Can you please elaborate on that?

S&W couldn’t even design a simple 4-piece magazine that will hold 10 rounds and 12 rounds, how in the heck did they manage to design an arc in a guide rod spring assembly with two metal tubes and two springs that are under extreme pressure??

What I know about firearm engineering wouldn’t make a pimple on a highly paid armorer’s butt, however I have a pretty good grasp of physical science and mechanical systems.

 

[Cheyenne WYO]

I can't tell if the question is about the rear end cap of the rod that rests against the barrel and/or about the entire recoil spring assembly.

The outer tube does not appear to be bent, but the brand new spring appears to have some play in it that may make the RSA look a little goofy. Can you manipulate the slide without the rod binding? If you lock the slide open, is the visible portion of the rod straight?

As far as the end cap is concerned, that is not like the one on my two guns. I'd call S&W about it, but I also would shoot the gun and see if it makes any difference. I probably would rotate the RSA and shoot the gun with it in various positions. It may end up being a spare.

 

[shadowless]

Can't wait for the next S&W "handgun of the year"

Ouch....

(break)

OP, as several folks have relayed, that is not normal.
I would not fire the weapon with that RSA....

 

[icecoast99]

Wow.... that damage would have to be caused by dropping the gun while the slide is locked back, or it was damaged during manufacturing.

The rod cap damage would be very noticeable when looking over the gun!

Yes it would be visible if it were the rod cap, this is the rear end cap that rests against the barrel. It's brand new so I didn't think to field strip it when I picked it up for purchase initially, but perhaps I will in the future for purchases regardless if its new or used.

 

[icecoast99]

I can't tell if the question is about the rear end cap of the rod that rests against the barrel and/or about the entire recoil spring assembly.

The outer tube does not appear to be bent, but the brand new spring appears to have some play in it that may make the RSA look a little goofy. Can you manipulate the slide without the rod binding? If you lock the slide open, is the visible portion of the rod straight?

As far as the end cap is concerned, that is not like the one on my two guns. I'd call S&W about it, but I also would shoot the gun and see if it makes any difference. I probably would rotate the RSA and shoot the gun with it in various positions. It may end up being a spare.

It is the rod cap end that rests against the barrel, sorry I should have included a wider angle picture so you can see both ends.

Manipulating the slide is no problem, when the slide is locked back the rod appears straight. It seems to be just the flat rear face that is bent.

 

[icecoast99]

Is that new or pre owned by Bubba?

It's new, purchased from Cabela's.

 

[JoeB51]

Looks like S&W is having trouble assembling their own guns. My guess is it was bent on initial assembly. My experience with big box stores you can't field strip a gun.

 

[tarheel13]

It's brand new so I didn't think to field strip it when I picked it up for purchase initially, but perhaps I will in the future for purchases regardless if its new or used.

I always disassemble a pistol in the LGS before I pay for it. On my most recent purchase of a BG2.0, I also brought along a mag of Winchester Flat Nose FMJ and asked the guy in the store to hand cycle the mag through the pistol, to make sure that the feed ramp etc. could handle my favorite .380 ammo.

 

[GnarlsR2]

Yes it would be visible if it were the rod cap, this is the rear end cap that rests against the barrel. It's brand new so I didn't think to field strip it when I picked it up for purchase initially, but perhaps I will in the future for purchases regardless if its new or used.

Hello icecoast99,

Your photo was fine. It is clearly the rear rod cap that is bent. That cap is about half the thickness of the front rod cap. I was thinking that if the slide was locked back and the gun happened to be dropped onto a hard surface, landing on the front guide rod cap, the force might be enough to bend the rear spring rod cap, since it is captive on the barrel. I was just speculating.

When I said “looking over the gun”, I meant that if I were looking over the gun. I will not purchase another striker/hammer pistol unless the source allows me, or their onsite armorer, to do a basic field strip and inspection.

It is very disturbing to think that it left S&W assembly with a damaged guide rod spring assembly.

 

[RedRover2011]

Hind sight is 20/20 but always inspect the firearm before purchase. And disassemble too.

I don't think there's ever been another gun I looked at more closely than when a friend bought her 2.0. Made sure the sights were aligned, made sure the RSA was normal..lol.

I bought one when they launched last year. Sights are on straight, no issues with the recoil spring. Seems like as production ramped up, problems started.