Bodyguard 380...Love it or List it?

[RV4driver]

I've got a brand new one, took it to the range today. Slapping the mag in is a no-brainer. And it doesn't close the slide like my Kimber Solo 9.
VERY light strikes on primers. The third pull fired the rounds. Trigger on mine is great. Not long like the LCP, sights are GREAT compared to the LCP, accuracy is amazing for the size, 50 yds into 10" circle freehand no problem. Also, not like the LCP. All in all, it's a keeper, but have to get the light strikes solved.

 

[pisacksen]

Wife hates trigger pull effort. Not sure if this will last.

 

[offensive]

Had one, firing pin broke, laser failed, buttons failed. Bought an LCP and sold the BG380. Saw the 2nd gen LCP with the rolling changes and sold the 1st gen LCP and replaced with the new model. I have not looked back. I have M&P's and a Governor but not a fan of the Bodyguard.

 

[lucasoil4u]

Fan-
That's what I've been seeing measured on this pistol on an average. No way for an AD and that's why I carry it hot.

Mr. Stanfield-
I agree the laser is worthless in a self defense situation but is neat to show how "unsteady" your hands really are. It can help you with this and shows when you're too tensed, jerking the trigger, etc. I dotted my sights for a quicker picture, here's a photo, sorry about the blur.


Your pocket holster is only as good as the pocket, no doubt. The lady across the street from me is a seamstress and I have her sew my pockets for me. Most pockets are too deep and curved at the bottom so she raises it up with a straight across stitch. I mark around the Nemesis and she sews the curve and then anchors the bottom of the pocket to the outside pant with a couple stitches. The Nemesis kinda snaps in I guess you could say and gives you place for an extra mag too. I tried StitchWitchery but it comes loose after a few washings.

If your hands are in your pockets, which is not unusual, you can pull and shoot in less than a second, pocket stays put.

Can you give us a better picture of the sights. Maybe one lined up and one like you have but not blurry. This would be a nice addition to the firearm. Thanks

 

[3dots]

Hi Lucas,

Sorry about the blur, I have a new camera and not experienced with it yet. Here's another pic I took at the same time. The front sight is fluorescent orange with clear nail polish on top. The rear is bright white with clear on on top. They really look more like beads with the clear on top. Very durable so far, I carry it every day and no chipping so far. It tends to appear more as a bar than dots but is a very fast sight picture. I use this color scheme on all my guns. I'll try to get better pics.

 

[Mcwsky09]

Regarding the trigger - I don't might a heavy trigger pull - and the DAO is fine as well. And while it was not a well researched purchase - the display model and dry fire of mine seemed okay - but live fire at the range not only me but three other shooters had a hard time firing the gun because with such a small grip if you are not careful about where you put your finger on the trigger you can pull "all the way" and not fire - slightly adjust grip - pull "the rest of the way" and bang.

I guess the correct way to say it is there is virtually no over travel at all - which might also be okay if the thickness of the grip etc didn't end up with extra effort required which affects accuracy to actually fire the gun.

So for me - I am anxiously awaiting the Galloway trigger transfer bar upgrade - which is shown to move the break point at which the gun fires forward from 1 and 3/8" stock to about 5/8" without reducing the spring weight.

as this might become my daily carry I would not want to need it in an emergency and not get a bang when the trigger is pulled because I was a mm short of where it needed to be - while at the same time do not want SA type oops I shot myself in the leg just holstering the gun.

overall I quite like it - my Ruger SR22 is easier to operate - but less concealable and lower caliber.

 

[3dots]

Regarding the trigger - I don't might a heavy trigger pull - and the DAO is fine as well. And while it was not a well researched purchase - the display model and dry fire of mine seemed okay - but live fire at the range not only me but three other shooters had a hard time firing the gun because with such a small grip if you are not careful about where you put your finger on the trigger you can pull "all the way" and not fire - slightly adjust grip - pull "the rest of the way" and bang.

I guess the correct way to say it is there is virtually no over travel at all - which might also be okay if the thickness of the grip etc didn't end up with extra effort required which affects accuracy to actually fire the gun.

So for me - I am anxiously awaiting the Galloway trigger transfer bar upgrade - which is shown to move the break point at which the gun fires forward from 1 and 3/8" stock to about 5/8" without reducing the spring weight.

as this might become my daily carry I would not want to need it in an emergency and not get a bang when the trigger is pulled because I was a mm short of where it needed to be - while at the same time do not want SA type oops I shot myself in the leg just holstering the gun.

overall I quite like it - my Ruger SR22 is easier to operate - but less concealable and lower caliber.

I know exactly what you're saying. Your thumb placement on the grip is also important. I learned immediately that your index finger will contact the tip of your thumb before you reach the sear point. These are very small guns and although they're not a handful, they're a handful .

 

[lucasoil4u]

Hi Lucas,

Sorry about the blur, I have a new camera and not experienced with it yet. Here's another pic I took at the same time. The front sight is fluorescent orange with clear nail polish on top. The rear is bright white with clear on on top. They really look more like beads with the clear on top. Very durable so far, I carry it every day and no chipping so far. It tends to appear more as a bar than dots but is a very fast sight picture. I use this color scheme on all my guns. I'll try to get better pics.

Please take a picture of the front sight so i can see how far down you painted. Also what did you use for paint. Thanks

 

[3dots]

Here you go, still not the best. I used my daughter's bright white nail polish for the rear and fluoro spray paint from a can for the front, I just shot a pool of it on a paper plate.

Your front sight ramp starts and stops with little grooves with two little flats at either end. Just fill them with paint (tiny brush). After you get the thickness you want, coat it with clear nail polish. Same with the rear. It's cheap and works for me anyhow.

 

[Rider414]

To the guy who can shoot a 10" group at 50 yards one handed - Liar!!

 

[Boris B]

To the guy who can shoot a 10" group at 50 yards one handed - Liar!!

I have to say I find that claim to be excessively difficult to believe.. but if someone can do it I'll just tip my hat to them...

 

[Lost Lake]

I've got a brand new one, accuracy is amazing for the size, 50 yds into 10" circle freehand no problem.

Wow.

Did you mean 50 feet?

50 yards is 150 feet and I'm looking out my door at my mailbox that's 150 feet away and that's a loooonnnngggg way to shoot a tiny pistol with iron sights....

Maybe with the laser on I could do it. I haven't tried that. I think I will see what kind of pattern I can get with the laser at 50 yards. I'll post back. I bet we can prove this little BG is super accurate at 50 yards.

 

[3dots]

Maybe on sandbags with the laser. 50 yds, free standing, iron sights, 2.75" barrel...yup has to be 50 ft.

 

[Plottman Pops]

My wife's BG380 laser wont adjust to POA...anyone know of a fix for it?

 

[GANDOG56]

For such a small gun it's sure hard to rack the darned thing And that DAO really takes some getting used to. But once I got the laser aimed in, it hits where that red dot is! Lightest gun I have and my carry favorite.

 

[noammo]

My wife's BG380 laser wont adjust to POA...anyone know of a fix for it?

That's what mine was doing, The laser mounting screw was loose and would not tighten, I found the threaded insert pulled out of the frame. I had to send it back to S&W.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I'll continue to love it for what it is..

I've had mine since they first hit the streets. I've never had an issue with it. It runs and runs. I love it for what it is. An extremely reliable, 11.7 oz , low cost, ultra compact pocket gun that I don't have to baby. I don't mind what it isn't either. No it doesn't have a target trigger but it's not a target gun. Yes the laser buttons can be hard, then again, I don't use it. The gun is designed to hit center of mass at 20'. Mine will hit center of coffee cup at that distance just fine with factory sights. No it's not a finely machined piece of glowing steel but that just means I can carry it with my car keys and not cringe.

FWIW, It wasn't that many years ago that many of us would have killed for anything more than a Jennings .22 in the form of a ultra compact sub 15 oz pocket gun. The BG380 is light years ahead of those expectations. I'm grateful that it is.

 

[Doc TH]

380

I like the 380 acp; it is good for what it is intended. I prefer a little larger pistol, and my Browning BDA 380 is excellent. The DA and SA trigger pulls are good, and the entire mechanism is very robust. Plus, it is such a good-looking pistol!

 

[rudybunt]

I love mine and would not sell it.

 

[rogarm43]

Had mine near two years. #EATXXXX 750+ rds, stripped the laser screw head, S&W sent a new one, reinstalled with a drop of Blue Loctite. Have not dry fired more than one or two times, I have used snap caps, maybe 50 pulls maximum. NO ISSUES. Laser works fine.

Every now & then put a drop of oil on the main spring in the back side of the grip. It does wonders for the DA trigger pull..

Also pay attention to reinstalling the magazine spring after cleaning. You can put it in incorrectly.

If you think this pistol has a strong pull on it's DA trigger, try a Polish P-64.