Bodyguard 380 - On to the next big problem

Take down lever

After firing 10 rounds the pin backout. I took the gun home cleaned it and then refired it.. 3 rounds later the pin backed out again. i called S&W and they sent me a pick up slip to return the gun. About a week later after bring told they put there BEST man on the repair who has 35 years with the company I received my gun. TWO rounda and the pin backed out again. WHO is kidding who here?????? I doubt they fired the gun after the so called fix. I wish I never bought this gun. I want a gun that i can rely on. Maybe a class action suit would be in order here. When i called S&W I was told they have not heard of the problems i am having and when i told them about these forums they said you guys are just jumping on the bandwagon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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I have had it with all the .380's for now. I think all the .380's need special care when in production because of their size. The quality control has to be exceptional on these guns because of the tight tolerances and at this time it is not being done. These guns are in such a high demand and they are being pumped out too fast without the proper quality and testing. I think most of these guns will be fine after several trips back to the factory but even after repair they need special care with cleaning and maintenance moreso than other larger guns. Just my Opinion.
 
When i called S&W I was told they have not heard of the problems i am having and when i told them about these forums they said you guys are just jumping on the bandwagon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same thing happened to me this morning when I called S&W about my takedown lever issue with my new BG380. He said that he honestly had never heard of this issue before. I told him he should read this forum, but he said he didn't put much confidence in what was being said in the forums about any problems. I guess we will send it back and hope for the best :(
 
Same thing happened to me this morning when I called S&W about my takedown lever issue with my new BG380. He said that he honestly had never heard of this issue before. I told him he should read this forum, but he said he didn't put much confidence in what was being said in the forums about any problems. I guess we will send it back and hope for the best :(

That is interesting. Tell the next CS person to talk to Paul as he knows of the problem and has seen my video on a popular video posting site. Bodyguard 380 take down lever problems on that site or do a search elsewhere. Your S&W CS person did a disservice to the company. Paul can also send you a FedEx mailing label right away by email.
 
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I got a call today from S&W customer service regarding my repair. My BG380 has been there almost 2 weeks for the take down lever problem. The CS said they had replaced the frame and were sending it to my local FFL since the serial number changed. He said they test fired it, but couldn't/wouldn't say how much. Since I have been reading posts about people getting their gun back (supposedly fixed) only to have the problem appear within a few rounds I am not real confident that my problem is fixed. In fact, I would say that my odds are almost zero that it is fixed. I am thinking, unless I see some sort of obvious design or part difference, it may be time to cut my losses. I am tired of wasting the ammo and time. This problem could go on for months until S&W gets serious about solving it. Heck, they won't even admit to having a problem. Isn't admission one of the 10 steps of recovery?????
 
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I got a call today from S&W customer service regarding my repair. My BG380 has been there almost 2 weeks (second visit) for the take down lever problem. The CS said they had replaced the frame and were sending it to my FFL since the serial number changed. He said they test fired it, but couldn't/wouldn't say how much. Since I have been reading posts about people getting their gun back (supposedly fixed) only to have the problem appear within a few rounds I am not real confident that my problem is fixed. In fact, I would say that my odds are almost zero that it is fixed. I am thinking, unless I see some sort of obvious design or part difference, it may be time to cut my losses. I am tired of wasting the ammo and time. This problem could go on for months until S&W gets serious about solving it. Heck, they won't even admit to having a problem. Isn't admission one of the 10 steps of recovery?????

Is S&W going to pick up the FFL transfer fee or are you stuck with the extra charge?
 
Is S&W going to pick up the FFL transfer fee or are you stuck with the extra charge?

Well, actually, no S&W said that any fees are my problem. My first instinct was to have them ship it to the closest FFL (whom I didn't buy the gun from). I called that dealer and they said they would charge me the transfer fee. Based on that I called the FFL that I did purchase the gun from (several hour drive from home). I had purchased it from this dealer because they are a large dealer and were 1 of the first to have the Bodyguard in stock. They said they would not charge me the fee since I bought the gun from them. Luckily, they will be present at a gun show this weekend that is only 1 hour from my house. They said they will bring the gun to the show and I can pick it up there. I was planning on going to the show anyway so it will work out.
 
Well, actually, no S&W said that any fees are my problem. My first instinct was to have them ship it to the closest FFL (whom I didn't buy the gun from). I called that dealer and they said they would charge me the transfer fee. Based on that I called the FFL that I did purchase the gun from (several hour drive from home). I had purchased it from this dealer because they are a large dealer and were 1 of the first to have the Bodyguard in stock. They said they would not charge me the fee since I bought the gun from them. Luckily, they will be present at a gun show this weekend that is only 1 hour from my house. They said they will bring the gun to the show and I can pick it up there. I was planning on going to the show anyway so it will work out.

That's pretty crappy of them to not pick up the transfer fee. You would think that S&W would have a set reimbursement rate, say $25 or so, and just drop a check in the mail to you. It may not cover the FFL transfer fee at every dealer, but it at least would be a gesture or acknowledgment of the trouble and expense caused by their manufacturing problems.
 
New Gun Coming - Take Down Lever / Pin Problem

Called S&W to check on the status of the second repair for take down lever/pin back out problem.
The rep told me that they are in the process of sending me a new gun and someone will be contacting me.
My original serial number was EAA 20xx.
Now I will have the minor inconvenience of having the new gun go through an FFL and paying the transfer and background check fees because I bought the first gun at a gun show from a non-local dealer.
Someone is supposed to be contacting me from S&W to arrange for the shipment.

Bottom line is that they must have identified a either a manufacturing problem or a design problem that resulted in the need to send a new gun.
Will update with a range report once I get the new gun.
 
Bottom line is that they must have identified a either a manufacturing problem or a design problem that resulted in the need to send a new gun.

Well that better news than returning it with the same problem. I just Fedex'd mine to them this morning for the same takedown lever issue. I also put in the letter that my right laser button is extremely difficult to actuate, and told them about the trigger not firing until it is approx 1/16" from the frame. I guess we will see what they come up with on those issues.
 
My BG is too on the way back to the "Mother Land" for the 2nd issue of a flying takedown lever problem. I can tell that many of you folks are rightly pissed about the failures of a product from a company like Smith.

Do yourself a favor and check your emotions, Smith will fix or replace your firearms, and will make it right. THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES!....The BG 380 will turn out to be a classic!

P.S.....Can you tell I really like this gun?... ;-)
 
My BG is too on the way back to the "Mother Land" for the 2nd issue of a flying takedown lever problem. I can tell that many of you folks are rightly pissed about the failures of a product from a company like Smith.

Do yourself a favor and check your emotions, Smith will fix or replace your firearms, and will make it right. THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES!....The BG 380 will turn out to be a classic!

P.S.....Can you tell I really like this gun?... ;-)
 
My BG is too on the way back to the "Mother Land" for the 2nd issue of a flying takedown lever problem. I can tell that many of you folks are rightly pissed about the failures of a product from a company like Smith.

Do yourself a favor and check your emotions, Smith will fix or replace your firearms, and will make it right. THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES!....The BG 380 will turn out to be a classic!

P.S.....Can you tell I really like this gun?... ;-)



What flavor was the Cool-Aid?

EarlFH
 
So the guy likes the gun. Someone has a different opinion than you and they have to be a Cool-Aid drinker?


Did you read the entire message? It sounded like a TV commercial. IT'S GOING TO BE A CLASSIC!

Heck, I hope they do right by him, too. It's just that it sounded kind of fanatical. No malice meant. Just a humorous comment. Sorry you took it wrong.

EarlFH
 
Do yourself a favor and check your emotions, Smith will fix or replace your firearms, and will make it right. THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES

I really don't think they are making it right. Even if they do replace it they should reimburse you if you have to pay a FFL fee again. I'm glad I was able to return mine.
 
While my BG has worked just fine with no mechnical problems, I agree that if it would need replaced due to a factory defect, then having the customer pay the FFL fee again is poor service IMHO. Maybe if this was 15 or 20 years down the line I could understand it better, but this is within a year!

And guys, it's Kool-Aid. With a K. :)
 
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