Bodyguard 380 trigger pull

[robbo323]

Finally got my BG380. Very excited & loving this gun until I put the first shots through it. Something must be wrong. The trigger pull is soooo long. As in pulling with all my might, trigger pulled all the way back against the rear of the guard & its still not kicking over! I know its supposed to have a long travel, but this is really ridiculous. If I pull with BOTH index fingers and hold it as tight as I can against the rear, it will roll over and fire, but with a delay and almost only as you're giving up and releasing tension - then it kicks. I was able to put 10 rounds through this way and not one more. You have to pull so hard its downright dangerous. I'm an average size/strength guy so its not me on this one. Have an SW99 that shoots like a dream. Anyone else having this issue? Do I have a problem gun here? Not sure what to do, whether I talk to dealer or S&W about this. Thanks for any help.

UPDATE: Got my gun back from S&W. Fixed! Based on FedEx tracking info, it only spent one full day with them before they had it out the door back to me. Put 150 rounds of various ammo thru it tonight with no problems whatsoever (and yes, I watched the takedown pin somewhat fearfully the whole time - never moved). Whatever they did to the trigger made a night vs day difference. I think they did some other fine tuning as well. The laser is dialed right in now, where before it was way off right/low & I had not yet adjusted it. They did throw in an extra free magazine, which I think is the least they could do after really disappointing me with a brand new gun that messed up. Very happy with their customer service though. Reminder of why I spent a little extra on the Smith name & warranty I guess. Will report back with any issues as more rounds are put through it. Hope the other issues I'm seeing here clear up. It really is a great little gun.

 

[Copnomore]

Someone else posted that S&W is off for the next couple of weeks. You might have to wait but they will send you a shipping label to send it back to the factory. Mine is still on back order, so I can't tell you anything other than I have read all of the BG380 posts on here and this is the first post with your problem. I hope I get a healthy one.

 

[Duke426]

Sounds to me like that one needs to go back to the mother ship for some attention. No gun should be that hard to fire. I would call S&W and they will no doubt make it right for you.

 

[Goffman]

The trigger pull on my now nonfunctional BG 380 is long and somewhat stiff, but nothing like what you described. I have smallish hands, but I still can operate the weapon without any difficulty. If you call S&W, as I did on Monday, they will send a shipping label to you, although I still am waiting to receive my shipping label.

 

[xzhync]

Absolutely, send it in for service. Mine has a long pull as well, but it kicks over reliably. I must admit that I wish the trigger pull was a little shorter and smoother. I was hoping it would be more like my Kahr PM9, but instead, it is more like my Ruger LCP...maybe even a bit longer than the LCP. In general I like the pistol, but my complaints would be the trigger pull and the laser. I have been practicing with dry firing with laser turned on. By focusing the laser on a target while I pull the trigger I am trying to improve my ability to keep the laser steady and without wobble. I wonder if there are any "gunsmithing" adjustments that could be done to improve the trigger. Not saying I would attempt it, but maybe a trained gunsmith would know how to smooth it out.

 

[Copnomore]

If you were to put a "shoe" in front of the trigger would you still be able to get your finger on the trigger. Try a thick piece of leather that would reduce the apparent distance of pull by moving it foward a 1/4 inch. Just a work around. If that works maybe you can have a shoe made from aluminum or epoxy that would fit on the trigger.

 

[kcwood]

I just purchased my Bodyguard 380. Went to range yesterday, first trigger pull, I thought , like robbo, something was wrong.
I had pulled it so far back, I thought it had bottomed out. What was actually happening, the trigger doesn't actually begin rollover until it is about 1/16" from the frame, at which point the full pressure is felt. Your finger is so far back, you really think nothing is going to happen. The next 1/32" is where the pin actually deploys, which lets the trigger actually bottom out on the frame. Like robbo said, you feel as if you have to pull harder, because nothing has happened, and when it fires seems a surprise at times.
I shot 100 rounds, never even got use to having my trigger finger in that arkward position, being so far curled back, on such a small gun, to fire. I have shot pistols all my life, never have felt such a ackward trigger pull on a pistol... ever.

 

[PittShooter]

Hmm. Robbo yours sounds like something is amiss. The pull is long, yes. But not like what you describe and pulling hard is not really needed.

I don't know, maybe my LCP has already trained my hand, but I have no problems ripping off shots/double taps consistently and the pull doesn't seem super long to me. But I'm 6'5" and have pretty large hands, so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[robbo323]

Thanks for the input everybody. I brought the gun back to the dealer and also showed it to a firearms instructor who both agreed its messed up and needs to go back to Smith. A shame it came out of the box like this. Figured there would be a little tighter testing before it left the factory. Its been a full week now and I'm still waiting for the return shipping label from S&W. Right now I'm stuck with a laser-equipped paperweight.

 

[Loco Weed]

They will take care of your problem in a jiff once they get back to work next week. I really don't like the weight of the trigger pull but I like the long follow through -- I can two stage it, pausing for a split second just before it trips over and the hammer falls and giving me time to fine tune my aim. Kind of like shooting a revolver DA. In any case, I don't think I will be using the manual safety since the BG380 seems to have a "safer" trigger pull than the P3AT I am currently carrying. I tried to measure the trigger pull on my two gauges (an RCBS spring scale and a Lyman electronic) and it is way off the scale. Mine is probably close to 15#.

 

[yashua-p]

I have the same issue with the Colt Pony Pocketlite. Always functions but the pull is ponderous. I believe that many of the double action only are like that. I still cary it frequently because it is so reliable.

regards

yashua

 

[kcwood]

They will take care of your problem in a jiff once they get back to work next week. I really don't like the weight of the trigger pull but I like the long follow through -- I can two stage it, pausing for a split second just before it trips over and the hammer falls and giving me time to fine tune my aim. Kind of like shooting a revolver DA. In any case, I don't think I will be using the manual safety since the BG380 seems to have a "safer" trigger pull than the P3AT I am currently carrying. I tried to measure the trigger pull on my two gauges (an RCBS spring scale and a Lyman electronic) and it is way off the scale. Mine is probably close to 15#.

Loco... are you saying the trigger pull is greater than the max pull that registers on 2 gauges? I knew it takes a heck of a squeeze on mine, but one could assume, if it is more than the max on gauges to measure such, then it really exceeds what would be considered by the industry to be normal.
I really feel I have to squeeze so hard, I have no control of the actual shot. Love the shape and the feel of the gun, but firing it has not been a pleasant experience.

 

[Loco Weed]

Loco... are you saying the trigger pull is greater than the max pull that registers on 2 gauges? I knew it takes a heck of a squeeze on mine, but one could assume, if it is more than the max on gauges to measure such, then it really exceeds what would be considered by the industry to be normal.
I really feel I have to squeeze so hard, I have no control of the actual shot. Love the shape and the feel of the gun, but firing it has not been a pleasant experience.

Yup, the trigger pull far exceeds the capacity of both my gauges.

 

[kcwood]

I think I have finally figured out what is happening. Yes the trigger pull is VERY long, then it tightens up right at trigger rollover. My finger at that point is very tight, pulling real hard, makes the skin tight. The trigger becomes so close to the frame, the tight finger skin actually wraps around the trigger, so tight the finger, wrapping around the trigger, bottoms out on the frame.

Either S&W will correct this problem, or I will have a gun for sale. My gun dealer has sold 4, and has complaints on all 4.

Dang... low serial numbers

 

[magnum12pm]

I think I have finally figured out what is happening. Yes the trigger pull is VERY long, then it tightens up right at trigger rollover. My finger at that point is very tight, pulling real hard, makes the skin tight. The trigger becomes so close to the frame, the tight finger skin actually wraps around the trigger, so tight the finger, wrapping around the trigger, bottoms out on the frame.

Either S&W will correct this problem, or I will have a gun for sale. My gun dealer has sold 4, and has complaints on all 4.

Dang... low serial numbers

I don't know why they want to market a self defense gun (Bodyguard) and such with a overly heavy trigger pull (15lb). They are doing the same thing with revolvers. I guess you need to be five feet from the target not 15. This explains why the people with these and the Ruger at the range can't hit anything even at 15 feet. My boss offered to let me take his new Bodyguard to the range for a test run, when he was unable to go, guess I should have taken him up on it. That way I could see for myself.

 

[SHAMUSPI]

While I am loyal to Smith & Wesson, I couldn't wait any longer and picked up a Ruger LCP. The trigger pull, as you describe the Smith, is extremely long. It too was rough at first but after dry firing it a lot and applying a moly lube, it smoothed out. Given so many complaints about the Bodyguard, I suspect it won't be too long before Smith issues a recall.

By the way, Ruger says over and over again, NOT to use +P rounds. Does the Smith?

 

[Goffman]

No, the BG380 manual advises that +P ammunition may accelerate wear, but it doesn't prohibit +P. My understanding, though, is that there is no SAAMI (SAAMI | Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) standard for +P in 380, which makes it kind of risky in my largely uninformed opinion. FWIW.

 

[joseph brown]

problem with trigger pull on new body guard 380

need info on phone number or address to send to smith and wqesson for some work on the trigger

 

[Copnomore]

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[matthew g]

.380 trigger

I too have some definite issues with the long trigger pull on my newly purchased .380 bodyguard, serial # EAH... I read many of the posts when I was first in the market for a personal protection pistol. I was hoping these trigger issues would have been resolved, unfortunately, they aren't.
I picked the gun up last Saturday, March 5, and fired 50 rounds through it with my dad last Sunday. It misfired 6 times and the trigger pull makes it next to impossible to shoot accurately even at 7yards.
Now I'm waiting for S&W to email my Fed-ex return label which I requested yesterday morning. If I get it back and the problem still exists, I will return it to Cabela's with out hesitation. I'm hoping this won't be the case and S&W will take care of the issue.