Bodyguard 380: Finally Reliable!

[db4570]

After getting my 2nd BG repaired with the new firing pin, I just received my 3rd one back from S&W and took it apart to measure it.

I can't believe it. It has the OLD version firing pin in it! Why would S&W replace my firing pin in one gun with a new, modified design, and then when I send in the next gun, go back to the old design? If they even replaced it.

How hard is this? This is a company that doesn't appear to be run with any intelligence. Customer service, as nice and helpful as they appear to be, is also totally clueless. On the repair sheet it says they replaced the trigger bar (why, I can't imagine) but no mention of the firing pin, even though that is what I specifically requested.

For gun #2 they repaired with the modified firing pin, I can't imagine they made a one-off custom one just for me to test for them. I understand they may have old inventory sitting around they haven't depleted yet, but when they have come up with a new part design that solves a chronic problem with this gun, costing them a fortune in Fed-Ex, shop costs, and replaced guns, (not to mention squandered customer loyalty), why are they not fixing the problem once and for all with this $1 part?

David

 

[RV4driver]

Well, now I have to check my "new" firing pin. Stand by for updates.
BTW, they replaced the trigger bar on mine, also. Not sure why.

 

[buckshotshorty]

What I can't understand is how come so many work perfectly out of the box while others do not?

 

[db4570]

RV4driver:

From the symptoms you described after you got your BG back, it sure sounded like you got the old firing pin. I just couldn't believe it until I got mine back and actually measured it.

David

 

[db4570]

What I can't understand is how come so many work perfectly out of the box while others do not?

I have wondered the same thing. My hypotheses are as follows:

- Most gun owners don't shoot much. My BGs never start acting up until about 30 rounds into any shooting session. So if I had only put a mag or two through in any session, I'd never experience it.

- Others happen to use ammo their BG "likes". Federal works really well most of the time for me (although with one gun I had a couple rare FTFires even with it). Winchester WB is so consistently bad in these guns that it is my go-to ammo for testing. But I don't accept ammo-finickyness as acceptable (with any brand name ammo). Win WB cases, BTW, are a several thousandths of an inch shorter than the other brands I measured, affecting headspacing.

- Many have just gotten lucky, getting one that happens to work. But I think that if the design of the firing pin is incorrect, it is only a matter of time and just the wrong conditions before it acts up. It's odd that I have had three lemons in a row, implying that the ones that work are the exception.

FWIW,

David

 

[RV4driver]

[/QUOTE]

Just measured my recently returned FP.

OAL is 1.435, Throw is 1.094, cut to rear of FP is 3.405

The pin definitely protrudes farther than it did before. So, since it has a longer throw, and protrudes farther, but still doesn't set off primers with the factory hammer spring, but does with the Galloway spring, it must be a hammer spring issue, with MY gun. I put a spent .380 case in the barrel, put into battery to see how close the case head was to the pin, nice and close, so it's not a headspace issue. I guess, the heavy spring goes back in, and I deal with a 12lb pull. Whoopie!
I also figured out why the slide stop is so stiff, and doesn't lock the slide after the last round. There is too much play in the slide stop, allowing the tab that is supposed to be raised by the step in the follower to be over-ridden. Either that or the tab is SLIGHTLY too short. Maybe a combination of the two. The ProMag magazine that I bought (because, you know, Smith determined that a SD gun with low round mag didn't really deserve a back up), seemed to work better than the Smith mag, but still catches a bit.
And I've had two in a row that didn't work.

 

[db4570]

RV4Driver:

It definitely looks like you have the "new" firing pin. Your measurements actually look like the cut is deeper than on my "new" firing pin. One or both of our measuring methods may be slightly off; I find it very difficult to measure the "throw" with a conventional caliper.

Or maybe S&W hasn't standardized its dimensions yet. (Ironic that the concept of precise interchangeable parts was a technological breakthrough first implemented on firearms around 1800, but that S&W doesn't seem to have mastered it yet!)

Whatever the case is with the firing pin, your gun appears to have other issues. Every time I think I have figured out what ails these guns, it turns out they have other problems. For a long time I thought it was because the right side of the hammer was dragging on the slide, slowing it down. I spent a lot of time working on mine, experimenting with shims, etc. Didn't make any difference.

I thought finally the new firing pin was the cure. But between the inconsistent dimensions of the firing pins, and not knowing which one you're going to get, and now you having problems apparently not related to the firing pin... it's still mysterious and discouraging.

I should shut up and just accept the gun they finally fixed, while continuing to send the third one back and forth until it, too, is fixed. But this gun and its quirks still fascinate me. I'd love to spend a day looking over the shoulder of the S&W gunsmiths and engineers as they try to figure this thing out.

Good luck with yours, and keep me posted!

David

 

[eturbo924]

I have had two BGs. The first was the original with the insight laser and then the M&P with the Crimson trace laser. The first was used when I got it and I put 150-200 rounds through it with no issues. I sold it to get the M&P version. I did not put any rounds through it before I put the Galloway trigger kit in. I had one light strike in the first 50 rounds with that kit. I have gone on to put approximately 380 rounds through it with no issues after that first one. Only problem I have been dealing with is a mag release that keeps breaking. anyone else have this issue? I think I may have finally figured it out. The mag is very sharp where is engages the plastic catch. Over time and a few mag releases it begins to cut away the plastic and eventually there is not enough plastic to keep the mag in reliably. So filed down the mag in those areas and hope this third catch from S&W survives.

 

[David Drickhamer]

Hi All.
I recently purchased a 380 Bodyguard with the intentions of using it for concealed carry. This weekend was the first time I had it out shooting. Here's my problem. After firing about a dozen shots it will no longer function. I pull the trigger and nothing happens. The hammer will not move. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen or heard of this problem.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[moose1953us]

sounds like your safety has engaged...

 

[Jarrett]

So I have been reading these threads on the BG380 for awhile hoping to find that "magic" fix for the little *******. Have an older model with the insight laser and I really want to love this thing but it continues to piss me off at times. It is truly a blast to shoot and easy to carry as I'm sure you all already know.

I can honestly say I have never had a light strike but it loves to stove pipe rounds. Been down the whole road of different ammo, clean mags etc, etc, etc. In its defense I do shoot it a lot and this stove pipe thing happens on a regular basis now.

So here is the stupid question... Has anyone used a slide lube on their 380? If so, did it make a difference?

 

[M29since14]

...I can't believe it. It has the OLD version firing pin in it! Why would S&W replace my firing pin in one gun with a new, modified design, and then when I send in the next gun, go back to the old design? If they even replaced it.

How hard is this?...

David, it appears you have a lot to learn about S&W customer service.

I don't know how long you have been dealing with them but many of us here have experience going back four, five, or even more decades. Does the fact that you don't understand/appreciate the nature of some of the various responses you have gotten indicate you have a little less than that?

Just kidding you. Really, I am not trying to be difficult but it seems safe to assume S&W has some sort of problem here that is not going to be cured by something as simple as running a new batch of firing pins or they would have done that a long time ago. I could be wrong about that, and what might be going on I have no idea, but they definitely have a problem - or combination of problems.

My record is 0-2. (2 unreliable guns) There won't be a 3. S&W didn't get the job done right on this gun and I am tired of fooling around with it at the retail end. I might give them one more chance to fix gun number 2, but it isn't going to be right now.

 

[db4570]

So I have been reading these threads on the BG380 for awhile hoping to find that "magic" fix for the little *******. Have an older model with the insight laser and I really want to love this thing but it continues to piss me off at times. It is truly a blast to shoot and easy to carry as I'm sure you all already know.

I can honestly say I have never had a light strike but it loves to stove pipe rounds. Been down the whole road of different ammo, clean mags etc, etc, etc. In its defense I do shoot it a lot and this stove pipe thing happens on a regular basis now.

So here is the stupid question... Has anyone used a slide lube on their 380? If so, did it make a difference?

For all the trouble S&W has had fixing the FTFire problems with my 3 BGs, any feeding or extraction problems have been fixed by them perfectly, the first time. So just send it to them and get it fixed once and for all.

David

 

[Jarrett]

For all the trouble S&W has had fixing the FTFire problems with my 3 BGs, any feeding or extraction problems have been fixed by them perfectly, the first time. So just send it to them and get it fixed once and for all.

David

And when the pistol is returned what is their explanation? Are they just polishing things up?

 

[db4570]

I had a long conversation today with the supervisor at S&W repair that I have had previous dealings with. I learned some very interesting things:

There is NO redesign of the firing pin. I'm sorry I gave that information.

I joked in an earlier post about how I'm sure they didn't make a custom firing pin just for me; well, it turns out that's exactly what they did. They will tweak any particular gun based on its operation and measurements. A firing pin throw that is correct for one gun might be too long for another, piercing the primer.

The technology of "interchangeable parts" has not yet been perfected by S&W.

So the firing pin is NOT some final magical cure. It might be for some guns, it might not for others. The S&W guy said there are still any number of things that could be causing FTFire with these guns.

David

 

[Historian1863]

Just a thought
Is it possible the gun has second strike
Capability because there are design issues
SW could not resolve

 

[newbg380]

Wanted to add here that my MPBG, which I bought about 2 weeks ago, is flawless. So far it feeds any and all ammo, is accurate for a pocket pistol (fist-sized groups at 14 ft), and adding a Pachmayer grip makes it easy (almost pleasurable) to shoot. I've had 5 or six different makers ammo in it, and it fired them all. The primer dents are pretty deep with my pistol, I think if they were any deeper I might have a problem with puncturing. ONE failure to lock the slide back in the first 20 rounds, then it has all been fine with both mags. The date on the envelope containing the fired casing is 8/2015.
Not trying to diminish in any way the problems folks are having, just throwing in my experience. I say this because if I were in the market for a pocket 380 and read a forum like this, I would have serious second thoughts about the BG.
One last thought: this Bodyguard 380 replaced a *** Diamondback DB380 that could not get through an entire mag without some varied type of malfunction. The DB380 is truly, truly, worthless. My BG380 = perfect.

 

[Rickgus]

So refreshing to hear a positive on a newly purchased Bodyguard. I sincerely hope Smith figures out all the problems David and others are having with theirs! Good luck and happy shooting! - Rick

Oh, and shame on me! Welcome to the forum. You will surely enjoy this one and it will definitely be one that you can contribute to!

 

[newbg380]

Thanks Rickgus. I hope SW gets it together, too. Maybe they have.
I've been through what David has been through, although in my case it was with a Colt Officer's Model in the mid 80's. If you recall, they were having a "working strike." My Officer's model was sent back to them, and when it returned to me it had filing marks on the slide, and the slide would not even rack backwards. Colt management stepped up and replaced my pistol with a better one for my trouble. Colt was releasing pistols with really poorly done handwork. So much for Union workers. But Colt straitened it out - my 1991A1 is also flawless and always has been.
Back on topic, I noted a suggestion that there may be design flaws in the BG380; things like "second strike functionality" is there because of a design flaw. Ridiculous. The BG operates such that it drops the firing pin on every trigger pull. To suggest that a company like Smith would release such a thing.... ugh. However, this is not to say that the employee pistolsmithing could not be improved, and that's where I think the problem is. I suggest that rather than a single round be fired for testing, run a couple of mags through it. That would likely reveal any of the light strike issues.
Any way one slices it, I think is a black eye for Smith, and they need to stay on the ball and make pistols like mine - works out of the box, every time.
I really dig my Bodyguard, and sincerely hope others will be taken care of by Smith in a speedy manner.

 

[Rickgus]

I had a long conversation today with the supervisor at S&W repair that I have had previous dealings with. I learned some very interesting things:

There is NO redesign of the firing pin. I'm sorry I gave that information.

I joked in an earlier post about how I'm sure they didn't make a custom firing pin just for me; well, it turns out that's exactly what they did. They will tweak any particular gun based on its operation and measurements. A firing pin throw that is correct for one gun might be too long for another, piercing the primer.

The technology of "interchangeable parts" has not yet been perfected by S&W.

So the firing pin is NOT some final magical cure. It might be for some guns, it might not for others. The S&W guy said there are still any number of things that could be causing FTFire with these guns.

David

NewBG380 - I think you hit it on the head when you said maybe individual pistolsmithing at Smith could be improved. If you read David's post it really sounds like the cure could be dependent on which gunsmith receives your returned BG. It is obvious in David's research and pics to support it, the second BG and it's problems were solved by the gunsmith trimming the firing pin back a touch to allow more throw. His expertise in making this BG an acceptable firearm surely was not shared with his fellow gunsmiths and life goes on. Smith will come right out and tell you, there is no improved firing pin out there! Each BG returned stands on it's own and successful repair is dependent on which gunsmith is selected to repair your BG. This is why some BG's function without issues and others have them! Sad as it might be!