Bodyguard all over the paper!!

[Bkreutz]

I wish somebody would put a bunch of these pocket guns in a Ransom Rest and do a shoot off to settle this "accuracy" discussion. These little rascals were never intended to be accurate, only reliable. Smart marketing guys know that these guns will mostly get shot at the range, and evaluated for accuracy, hence the quest for better sights. Ruger has "upgraded" the LCP with more prominent sights integrally forged into the slide, still thankfully rounded off enough to slide out of a pocket holster. I read an article years ago about how the Mossad taught combat shooting with pistols. They ground the sights off and taught instinctive pointing. Makes sense. I would argue for better triggers with less backlash and better fitting for your hand size and finger length.

LCP's have sights??, never noticed them on mine

 

[HappyPuppy]

I have trouble with the small 380s and the bodyguard is not different. In my case the problems the trigger its small and my hands are pretty big.

I have trouble pulling the long trigger straight back. So I tried pushing the second pad like I do with revolvers. That worked for me.

 

[pistolpal]

Erratic BG .380

I now believe the problem is operator error. I need to work with it a bit more. But I AM putting most of them in 10" which is all I need at 15-20 feet. But I have been trying to shoot more.
Which brings me to this: cleaned pistol yesterday and when I reassembled it the small pin just ahead of the take down pin seems to protrude more than I remembered it doing. Frankly I do not know what the pin does, but when I see things like that I tend to get nervous.
I still like this little pistol and intend to keep it. I have some other carry guns but this one disappears in a pocket or IWB. I have pushed several hundred rounds though it and currently carry it with Hornady Critical Defense 90gr.
Blew though two boxes of ammo made in S.Korea yesterday. I think they are selling us back all the brass we dumped all over Korea in '51 and '52. Ha Ha Ha!

 

[Bob O]

LOL!!!

Generally, the pins should be flush with the frame or the slightest bit recessed on both sides. I would tap it back in and monitor it.

 

[comiskeybum]

LOL good joke.

 

[Bkreutz]

I now believe the problem is operator error. I need to work with it a bit more. But I AM putting most of them in 10" which is all I need at 15-20 feet. But I have been trying to shoot more.
Which brings me to this: cleaned pistol yesterday and when I reassembled it the small pin just ahead of the take down pin seems to protrude more than I remembered it doing. Frankly I do not know what the pin does, but when I see things like that I tend to get nervous.
I still like this little pistol and intend to keep it. I have some other carry guns but this one disappears in a pocket or IWB. I have pushed several hundred rounds though it and currently carry it with Hornady Critical Defense 90gr.
Blew though two boxes of ammo made in S.Korea yesterday. I think they are selling us back all the brass we dumped all over Korea in '51 and '52. Ha Ha Ha!

That pin (and the trigger pivot pin under the takedown lever) secure the front housing into the frame. It's pretty normal for this pin to "walk" at times. Just tap it back in flush, it would have to fall completely out to cause any problems (if even then) and I think you'd notice it before then.

 

[Btsnipes]

Bodyguard 380, accuracy

Recently purchased and trying to get a feel for it! View it as a short distance defense weapon!, I thought someone stated that the type of ammo might affect accuracy. Please explain how that is a factore in accuracy .

 

[comiskeybum]

Recently purchased and trying to get a feel for it! View it as a short distance defense weapon!, I thought someone stated that the type of ammo might affect accuracy. Please explain how that is a factore in accuracy .

Many many reasons. Impossible to get into the science of ballistics in one post. Read up on it, watch you tube videos on it. Nothing wrong with firing cheap stuff at the range, but dont expect it to perform like defense rounds.

Think of it like golf balls, why do some travel longer than others? Why do some feel better?

 

[triggerb]

Practice trigger control. I don't use the tip of my finger for the 380 I actually use the strong of my index finger and I shoot more accurately.

 

[BE Mike]

Shooting groups in different places is usually because of changing the grip. Of course, if you are only shooting 10" groups at 20 feet, then it is hard to tell. If your sight is a lot bigger and it is hard to get a really sharp sight picture (front sight even with top of rear sight, with equal light on both sides), then that might be a contributing factor. Your age is probably a factor, since your eyesight and gripping strength diminish as time goes on. I'm not far behind you in age and I respectfully disagree about laser sights. I have them on all my defense handguns. I can shoot better groups at fairly close ranges with the red dot, as long as I use very good trigger control. 1-2" groups are common for me at 21 feet with a Crimson Trace.

 

[pistolpal]

Erratic BG .380

Okay, here is my conclusion regarding lazers: when you turn that thing on and point it your possible target , they ALSO see the red dot coming at him and clearly knows just where you are.AND...in the time I take to find the red dot and get it on my target I have left myself wide open.
Otherwise I have no trouble with lazers on the range etc.
And I think you are right that age,eyesight and poor technique are causing me to wander all over the paper at 20 feet. Gotta keep on shooting.
Thanks for the comments.

 

[KSDeputy]

I shoot Remington ball ammo in my .380 guns at the range. My carry ammo is either Speer 95 gr hollow points, or Federal HydraShok personal defense rounds. I do not like DAO pistols. The heavy trigger pull causes the pistol to move off of target.

 

[Old cop]

FWIW I shot 50 rounds of Federal ball out of my M&P .380 yesterday @ 7 yards. Nothing outside of the eight ring, about a 3" group and no failures what so ever. Also shot my Model 38 Bodyguard w/similar results. Both of these are my EDC and routine practice is a must to maintain my skills.

 

[BE Mike]

Okay, here is my conclusion regarding lazers: when you turn that thing on and point it your possible target , they ALSO see the red dot coming at him and clearly knows just where you are.AND...in the time I take to find the red dot and get it on my target I have left myself wide open.
Otherwise I have no trouble with lazers on the range etc.
And I think you are right that age,eyesight and poor technique are causing me to wander all over the paper at 20 feet. Gotta keep on shooting.
Thanks for the comments.

By the time they notice the dot, the trigger squeeze is complete. I got worse at night firing over the years. A lot has to do with my eyesight. Although I feel comfortable point shooting at 7 yds. or less, the dot gives me advantages at longer ranges. I feel like yeah, an adversary is going to see the red light coming out of my Crimson Trace, but if he is a threat to me, he has already identified me. If I am defending an innocent third party, then the focus is upon that intended victim. The movies that show the red dot to be a line to the gun are Hollywood hype. It is possible under certain conditions, but is the exception.

Shooting a pistol isn't easy. Most handgun owners today have no conception of what is required to shoot a handgun accurately. Back in the olden days, when revolvers ruled the earth, I spent a lot of time training myself to shoot double action. I think the time was well spent. A lot of folks and gun manufacturers try to "sell" the story that this feature, that feature, grip, trigger, ammo is the answer to good marksmanship. The fact is that getting good trigger control comes with training. IMHO, it starts out at greater distances, say 15-25 yds. where errors in trigger control really show. Once good trigger control is established, speed can be increased gradually without sacrificing accuracy.