Bodyguard 2.0 Finally Released

Agreed. Hammer fired would have been awesome.

Striker with a 3-4 lb trigger? Don’t think so. Why ditch the hammer, hell Ruger Max has one.

Striker fired=no go for me. They only had one thing to do and they f...screwed it up.

Seeing as it's intended for pocket carry and deep concealment, it would have to be an internal hammer so it doesnt snag clothing. Also it would have to be DAO, otherwise it would be very dangerous. So then you'd have a pocket 380 with a long and heavy trigger pull which is exactly the problem people have with existing pocket 380s. The grip isn't big enough to stabilize the gun reliably for accurate shot placement, especially when fired rapidly.

Internal hammer DAO pocket guns already exist. Just use one of those if that's what you want. There's no reason S&W needs to make the BG 2.0 like everything else. Overall, the market wants striker fired guns.

It's obvious from the overall design of the gun that the whole point of the Bodyguard 2.0 is to maximize shootability (speed and accuracy) with a pocket 380. That's something that hasn't been done before to this extent. This is important because against a determined attacker, it'll take a few rounds to stop the threat. That's true with any handgun caliber, especially 380.

Even with a long heavy DAO trigger pull, it's unwise and dangerous to put an unholstered gun in your pocket or even to use a soft body holster. Lets be honest though, in a pinch I'd still do it.

Due to the 3-4lb trigger of the striker fired BG 2.0, for me the manual safety is mandatory. I'm also the type where a manual safety on any striker fired IWB gun is mandatory. I carry AIWB.

OWB or even strong side IWB is a different story for manual safeties on striker guns in my opinion.

Because I already have the muscle memory and battery of arms from the manual safety on the M&P Shield, the manual safety on the BG2.0 looks to be a natural transition.

The real hole in the market is a highly shootable, ergonomic, and well designed DA/SA stagger-stacked micro 9mm with de-cocker that's of the size of a M&P Shield or P365 and with a firing pin block. In my eyes that would be the safest way to AIWB with a round chambered.
 
Striker with a 3-4 lb trigger? Don’t think so. Why ditch the hammer, hell Ruger Max has one.

Hammer fired would have required a taller frame and/or a taller slide to accommodate it. It is clear that this gun was designed to maximize the amount of grip for a given height. I suspect the only way to achieve this was to use a striker system.
 
Hammer fired would have required a taller frame and/or a taller slide to accommodate it. It is clear that this gun was designed to maximize the amount of grip for a given height. I suspect the only way to achieve this was to use a striker system.

This ^ . While I like hammer fired pistols too the lower bore axis was a good decision.
 
Hammer fired would have required a taller frame and/or a taller slide to accommodate it. It is clear that this gun was designed to maximize the amount of grip for a given height. I suspect the only way to achieve this was to use a striker system.

I see very little difference. Then again Ruger is innovative.

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I see very little difference. Then again Ruger is innovative.

IMG-2230.jpg

That little bit of bore axis difference plus the reduced trigger weight inherent to strikers fired guns makes a big difference for shootability.

Yes the LCP Max is capable and yes Ruger can be innovative. However the fact is that a lot of people still carry the LCP without a round in the chamber due to there not being an option for a manual safety on the LCP Max. If they're not carrying with one chambered, all of the safety advantages of a long heavy DAO trigger pull become drawbacks and make the gun less shootable.

If a round isn't chambered, a light trigger pull has no drawbacks. Many people refuse to carry a gun without a manual safety and for their pocket guns, they won't chamber a round. For those people, the BG 2.0 without a safety is the better option for ergonomics and shootability.

For those who are willing to carry chambered with a manual safety, such as me, and are also willing to develop the muscle memory necessary for deactivating the safety, the BG 2.0, by a lot, is the better option because of the option to have a manual safety. The shootability enhancements are a bonus.
 
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Bodyguard 2.0

I took it out and ran about a hundred rounds through it of Blazer Brass and Fiocchi and not one malfunction. It leaves my Ruger LCP Max in the dust. The grip and trigger are way better. We checked the pull with an NRA weight set and it's four pounds. It puts rounds on target very quickly, with decent groups and hardly any recoil. My LCP Max Elite is going to be leaving the fold very soon.
 

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I see very little difference. Then again Ruger is innovative.

IMG-2230.jpg

Look at the area I have circled. That's a huge difference when it comes to getting your hand high on a gun. I do not know what a LCP Max looks like inside, but I suspect the part I have circled houses the hammer. Regardless, the only way to get high on the Ruger is to roll your hand up over the rear of the tang, heading for Slide Bite City. I won't hold a gun like that, and I don't think anyone else should feel forced to, either. On the BG 2.0, the shape puts the upper part of your hand where it should be, well forward and under the tang.

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Look at the area I have circled. That's a huge difference when it comes to getting your hand high on a gun. I do not know what a LCP Max looks like inside, but I suspect the part I have circled houses the hammer. Regardless, the only way to get high on the Ruger is to roll your hand up over the rear of the tang, heading for Slide Bite City. I won't hold a gun like that, and I don't think anyone else should feel forced to, either. On the BG 2.0, the shape puts the upper part of your hand where it should be, well forward and under the tang.

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Also note the lower trigger guard on the Ruger - even if you get your hand higher in the back, you're not getting up there in front.

The Bodyguard 2.0 is the most controllable micro .380 I've fired to date, and it's all about the low bore axis and high grip.
 
I suppose we're going to have to get used to butt-hurt Ruger LCP Max loyalists coming here trying to justify their existence and purchasing decisions while explaining how they think guns should work.

The Bodyguard 2.0 had better prove to be reliable otherwise those guys are gonna have a field day with it.
 
With a trigger pull that averages about 3.8 pounds, I am holding out for the thumb safety model. It will be a pocket carry in a pocket holster gun for me.
That is a waaay too light of a trigger pull for a pocket gun or one to be carried IWB without a safety.
 
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I put 150rds through it today without a single issue. Also, there’s no longer a “hitch” when I pull the slide back, so I can easily pull it back to lock it open now.

My trigger is 3.25-3.5#, which is perfect for me.

The wide rear notch made distance shots difficult, and I’m ALMOST positive that my gun is shooting left and it’s not just me pulling the gun left. I even benched it and concentrated on a straight pull, and it still shot left. I’m gonna mic it tomorrow.

Ordered a Muddy River Tactical holster, and waiting on PJ Holsters to get a mold. I wanna put 150 more rounds and some Underwood through it, but so far I love it. I don’t think I’ve been this amazed by a new gun since the P365 came out.
 
I suppose we're going to have to get used to butt-hurt Ruger LCP Max loyalists coming here trying to justify their existence and purchasing decisions while explaining how they think guns should work.

The Bodyguard 2.0 had better prove to be reliable otherwise those guys are gonna have a field day with it.

You still see butt-hurt Keltec fans complaining about the LCP. Improving on existing comparators models is a good thing.

As soon as I can find one I am buying.
 
At 15 feet I put them all in a paper plate with my Bodyguard 1.0. I’m sure the 2.0 is a better shooter, but the 1.0 fills one purpose for me. Deep concealment pocket carry. When I see a 2.0 in person, I’ll check it out. If I ever do get one, it will have to be the safety version. 3-4 pound striker trigger absolutely needs a safety, in my opinion.
 
Asking for a hammer fired version, as the original, from a guy who doesn’t own a Ruger other than 10mm makes me butt hurt?
 
Asking for a hammer fired version, as the original, from a guy who doesn’t own a Ruger other than 10mm makes me butt hurt?

Why do so many of you want a hammer fired version? Is it because the trigger pull can be better on hammer fired guns or is there some other reason I am not considering?

I really like the crisp, light trigger pull you can get with a good hammer fired gun for range use. But on a carry gun there is such a thing as too light. Striker fired guns have good balance between having a trigger that is too light and the excessively long pull of a DAO gun. Plus, they have the advantage of not taking up so much room vertically.

IMO, S&W made the right decision going to a striker in the 2.0. Its the first 380 I have considered in 35 years after getting rid of a Walther PPK/s that despite having a hammer had a horrible trigger. It was also not 100% reliable and heavy but that did not have anything to do with the hammer. It pretty much soured me on 380s in general.
 
Why do so many of you want a hammer fired version? Is it because the trigger pull can be better on hammer fired guns or is there some other reason I am not considering?

I really like the crisp, light trigger pull you can get with a good hammer fired gun for range use. But on a carry gun there is such a thing as too light. Striker fired guns have good balance between having a trigger that is too light and the excessively long pull of a DAO gun. Plus, they have the advantage of not taking up so much room vertically.

IMO, S&W made the right decision going to a striker in the 2.0. Its the first 380 I have considered in 35 years after getting rid of a Walther PPK/s that despite having a hammer had a horrible trigger. It was also not 100% reliable and heavy but that did not have anything to do with the hammer. It pretty much soured me on 380s in general.

For pocket guns I prefer a hammer for the generally longer trigger pull. And you’re right, for a carry gun there is such a thing as too light, and for me 3-4 pounds is way too light.
 

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