Bodyguard 2.0 easier on older hands

[tarheel13]

"The Talon grip makes the slide much easier to rack."

That's a BIG 10-4!

Yes, I just recently added a Talon slide grip to my BG 2.0 and it makes all the difference.

 

[BriscoCountyJr7]

The Talon grip makes the slide much easier to rack.

Thanks, I'll get a set. By the way, what did you do to your rear sight, looks like you got into a fight with it. och.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I have shot a couple 100 round matches with my BG2.0 no steel and indoors. I wouldn't have even dreamed doing that with my LCP Max

Take that straight to the bank. The darn thing is an ergonomic wonder; grip shape, and bore axis especially.
Moon

 

[BriscoCountyJr7]

Yes, I just recently added a Talon slide grip to my BG 2.0 and it makes all the difference.

So did I, what you didn't mention is you can't just carry it in your pocket or in a pocket holster. The super grippy texture of the Talon grips grabs onto ALL types of fabric and makes drawing it smothly near impossable. And I even tried a plastic , inside the waist type, and it even grabbed that, but not as bad.

 

[tarheel13]

So did I, what you didn't mention is you can't just carry it in your pocket or in a pocket holster. The super grippy texture of the Talon grips grabs onto ALL types of fabric and makes drawing it smothly near impossable. And I even tried a plastic , inside the waist type, and it even grabbed that, but not as bad.

Sorry you had that experience. I tried the BG 2.0 with Talon rear slide grips in my Craft Holsters nylon holster and the Alabama Holsters kydex pocket holster. There was no contact between the Talon grip and my pocket fabric or the holster itself in either case. No effect on drawing smoothly. Both holsters shield the grip surface from the pocket fabric. Did you install the Talon rear slide grip? The Talon frame grip would certainly snag on your pocket fabric and the front slide grip might cause a problem with smooth draw.

I did not try just putting the BG 2.0 in my pocket with no holster. I don't plan to carry it that way.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Fortunately, the BG2.0 is a perfect fit for my hands (can get all the fingers on with the 10rd mag), and there's enough to grab on the slide for me to work it. Use an overhand grasp.
Moon

 

[Donnie805]

I just turned 77 this week, and with hands that have undergone several surgeries and old age arthritis, I'm always looking for the best handgun that not only fits my hand, but will allow me to rack the slide easily. I had high hopes for the BG2.0, but had numerous problems and issues, such as a thumb safety which failed to work, a guide rod and spring which failed to compress, the oh so common problem of shooting left, and magazines that I was unable to load to maximum. I since tried the Glock 42 and the Sig P365-.380 but now carry a Walther PD380. Even my 10-year-old granddaughter can rack the slide on the Walther and it shoots like a dream. I'm still tempted, however, to go back to try the new Bodyguard 2.0 Comp. carry to see if S&W has learned from its past mistakes. I guess I'm just a Bodyguard aficionado!

 

[tarheel13]

I just turned 77 this week, and with hands that have undergone several surgeries and old age arthritis, I'm always looking for the best handgun that not only fits my hand, but will allow me to rack the slide easily. I had high hopes for the BG2.0, but had numerous problems and issues, such as a thumb safety which failed to work, a guide rod and spring which failed to compress, the oh so common problem of shooting left, and magazines that I was unable to load to maximum. I since tried the Glock 42 and the Sig P365-.380 but now carry a Walther PD380. Even my 10-year-old granddaughter can rack the slide on the Walther and it shoots like a dream. I'm still tempted, however, to go back to try the new Bodyguard 2.0 Comp. carry to see if S&W has learned from its past mistakes. I guess I'm just a Bodyguard aficionado!

I love my BG 2.0 but I have to say that I don't think Smith has learned anything about how to set sights correctly. Two new reviews and range tests of the BG 2.0 Comp version showed that the new comp BG 2.0 still shoots left. And the rear sight is very hard to drift. And I don't think it's any easier to rack the slide. Talon rear slide grips do make it much easier to rack and both my wife and I have added those to our Bodyguards.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I just turned 77 this week, and with hands that have undergone several surgeries and old age arthritis, I'm always looking for the best handgun that not only fits my hand, but will allow me to rack the slide easily. I had high hopes for the BG2.0, but had numerous problems and issues, such as a thumb safety which failed to work, a guide rod and spring which failed to compress, the oh so common problem of shooting left, and magazines that I was unable to load to maximum. I since tried the Glock 42 and the Sig P365-.380 but now carry a Walther PD380. Even my 10-year-old granddaughter can rack the slide on the Walther and it shoots like a dream. I'm still tempted, however, to go back to try the new Bodyguard 2.0 Comp. carry to see if S&W has learned from its past mistakes. I guess I'm just a Bodyguard aficionado!

"I just turned 77 this week"...

Happy Birthday Donnie805.

The Walther PD380 is a really nice handgun. The problem is like the other choices I considered for a pocket carry defense handgun - the size and weight.

My BG2 is the most difficult handgun to rack that I have. The Talon grip on the rear of the slide really helps. My "gunsmithing" of the guide rod spring (cutting off 3/8" from both ends) did make a slight noticeable difference in racking the slide.

One thing about racking the side… I see 3 typically times when racking is done: 1) when I insert a mag to chamber a round for carry. 2) when I'm at the range for practice, 3) when I'm cleaning after use. Of course, for dry fire and if you carry like the Israeli IDF - unchambered.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I love my BG 2.0 but I have to say that I don't think Smith has learned anything about how to set sights correctly. Two new reviews and range tests of the BG 2.0 Comp version showed that the new comp BG 2.0 still shoots left. And the rear sight is very hard to drift. And I don't think it's any easier to rack the slide. Talon rear slide grips do make it much easier to rack and both my wife and I have added those to our Bodyguards.

"I love my BG 2.0 but I have to say that I don't think Smith has learned anything about how to set sights correctly."

I don't believe the issue with the sights being off on the top of the slide is the cause of the left high or left low. There is something wrong with the polymer grip module, barrel alignment, and slide alignment. I believe this was a quality control issue that was not caught, or ignored, before a large number of frames and slides were manufactured. One of the videos reviewing the BG2 and discussing the obvious left POI said he thought it might be spin drift caused by the 10:1 twist rate in a very short barrel length.

Unfortunately, for those of us choosing the BG2 for high concealability or pocket carry, S&W wasted their time on the BG2 Comp.

 

[tarheel13]

"I love my BG 2.0 but I have to say that I don't think Smith has learned anything about how to set sights correctly."

I don't believe the issue with the sights being off on the top of the slide is the cause of the left high or left low. There is something wrong with the polymer grip module, barrel alignment, and slide alignment. I believe this was a quality control issue that was not caught, or ignored, before a large number of frames and slides were manufactured. One of the videos reviewing the BG2 and discussing the obvious left POI said he thought it might be spin drift caused by the 10:1 twist rate in a very short barrel length.

You are probably right about the cause, but Smith should still be verifying POA/POI before the pistol leaves the factory. Whether it's twist rate, barrel alignment or whatever, it can still be fixed by adjusting the sights.

Unfortunately, for those of us choosing the BG2 for high concealability or pocket carry, S&W wasted their time on the BG2 Comp.

I agree completely.

 

[kelljor]

I love my BG 2.0 but I have to say that I don't think Smith has learned anything about how to set sights correctly. Two new reviews and range tests of the BG 2.0 Comp version showed that the new comp BG 2.0 still shoots left. And the rear sight is very hard to drift. And I don't think it's any easier to rack the slide. Talon rear slide grips do make it much easier to rack and both my wife and I have added those to our Bodyguards.

May I ask where you got the Talon grips for just the rear of the slide? All I see are handle grips.

 

[tarheel13]

May I ask where you got the Talon grips for just the rear of the slide? All I see are handle grips.

Slide Grip - S&W Bodyguard 2.0

TALON Slide Grips are stick-on grips that help you get a secure hold on your firearm improving performance, safety, and confidence so you maintain control.

talongungrips.com

Under the "Options" tab, choose "rear serrations".

 

[walkin' trails]

I've been seeing this pistols start to trickle in with CCW class students. I haven't seen one yet that seemed to be a problem other than mags that are hard to load. I'm starting to be more tolerant to the idea of the mag loaders as I get older.

Anyway, a couple of failures to feed or extract is normal for a new gun. OP didn't say it he cleaned and lined it before going to the range for the first time, but I would clean the snot out of it, make sure it's got oil, and continue the break-in. Interesting that in regard to the sights, OP's experience was that one brand shot left while two others shot POA. Maybe the 2.0's more fickle about some brands of ammo.

In regard to the Shield EZ, anyone who buys one really needs to have some solid pre-range experience learning to establish a proper grip and understand how all the safeties work. Too many new shooters get really flustered when their EZ doesn't fire. The resort to messing with the thumb safety, racking the slide and ejecting rounds, and eventually pointing anywhere but down range - all because they didn't know how to grip the gun correctly to deactivate the grip safety.

 

[halfmoonclip]

You are probably right about the cause, but Smith should still be verifying POA/POI before the pistol leaves the factory. Whether it's twist rate, barrel alignment or whatever, it can still be fixed by adjusting the sights.

Sights are adjustable, so they can be, well, adjusted....granted, the ones on the BG2.0 are a real bear to adjust.
The ones I've seen, personally, all shot to the left...except a buddy's. He is left-handed, and his gun shoots to the sights. Guns don't recoil the same way in everyone's hands. Of course, the head of development, for the BG2.0, might be left handed.
Moon

 

[GnarlsR2]

Update on MagGuts:

I recieved a reply from MagGuts on my question about a +2 kit for my BG2 magazines.

"No updates on that one yet. I made sure you are on the notification list. Apologies for the wait."

Apparently MagGuts missed this:

"Smith & Wesson is proud to receive the '2024 Handgun of the Year Award' for the Bodyguard 2.0 from our partners at Outdoor Sportsman Group and Guns & Ammo"

 

[SeniorShooter]

I just purchased a New Bodyguard 2.0 a week ago. Born on date was 03/19/2025. Shot it for the first time today. I am going to be 78 in 5 days. My right hand has had 2 surgeries and has arthritis. My thumb is fused at the middle joint. The reason I stated all this is that I have trouble shooting smaller guns, except this one.
I sold my Ruger LCP Max last month. The pain from shooting it was horrible. Bought the Bodyguard 2.0 as a hopeful replacement. All shooting at 7 yds. I 1st put 75 rounds of Speer Lawman RN ammo though it. Shot about 1 inch to the left of center. Next was 50 rounds of Academy Monarch ammo. Dead center. Then 50 rounds of some XTP hollow points. Again Dead Center. Finished with 20 rounds of Hornday Critical Defense. Slightly high Center. My hand was sore, but not bad. The slide locked back every time on an empty mag.
That was the good part.
Not so good. Had 4 jams. 2 FTF. Case was half way in . Had a bad angle. Both were with Lawman. 2 FTE Case was halfway out. Slide holding it in place. 1 with Lawman and 1 with XTP. The Lawman ammo was some of the dirtiest ammo I have ever used. Lots of blowback on the cases. None with any other. I don't know if this caused the problems or helped to cause them. Mag problems- Got 10 in the 10 round one, but can't lock it with the slide forward. Can only get 11 rounds in the 12 round mag. With 11, can't lock it in with the slide forward.
Sights. I really like the front sight. Don't care for the back one for 2 reasons. It is too wide for me, but I could live with that. the fact I have to remove the rear sight to take the striker assy. out to clean it is ridiculous. S&W could have at least made the sight with a set screw to make it easy to remove. If, after a few hundred more rounds , the functioning problems go away, I will replace the rear sight. I really want to be able to carry this gun.

Yeah the sights, especially the rear, are horrible. Too wide, I was shooting the biggest groups ever! And the front sight is too tiny!!