These posts are disturbing. What part of Guns & Ammo’s “Handgun of the Year: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0” has to do with quality?
What percentage of BG2 buyers, whether perfect out-of-box or have a quality issue, never appear in a forum?
Does the importance and level of evaluating and inspection of a firearm to be purchased as a self-protection defense carry get any higher?
In the last 5 years, 3 of the last NEW 5 handguns I’ve purchased had issues. Two had been fired in excess of 50 rounds (used being sold as new). Luckily the BG2 had been gunsmithed by the range armorer (barrel feed ramp had been polished). I did, however, have to do my own “gunsmithing” to correct the poorly designed guide rod spring, fix the 12-mag follower, and attempt to correct the crappy out of alignment sights. I had to add Talon grips to be able to more easily rack the slide. I still cannot fully load the 10-round or 12-round mags, even with an UpLULA. The good news is I have NOT had a failure to fire or failure to feed, now at about 200 rounds, of 5 different defense ammo, and 2 FMJ, and 2 flatnose.
I’ve had the opportunity to shoot over 50 different new firearms, mostly handguns, over the past 5 years. In my opinion, too many have had issues right out of the box. During a recent range day, one of my range buddies was trying out his new pistol from a very well-known manufacturer. I fired a mag, he fired about 70 rounds before it had a failure to fire, the guide round spring assembly broke and locked the slide. It took a couple minutes of fiddling before he could get the slide off.
Knowing what I know now, I will not buy a firearm without being able to do a basic field strip and inspection. If the gun shop will manually feed a couple of my favorite defense rounds that would be even better. The range I belong to has all kinds of firearms to rent and try-before-you-buy. Since I am not a collector, I will only buy a firearm from a reputable FFL, gun shop, or direct from the manufacturer, and not from a Cabela’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or an online supplier.
Oh…. If your dongle doesn’t dingle and only dangles, you could have an accidental discharge.
