I'm looking for opinions or personal experiences with the bodyguard or shield 9mm. I currently conceal carry the bodyguard but am not a very good shot due to the long trigger pull, but don't want to spend the $ on a shield without a little research. Any tips, info, or experiences would be helpful!
Bodyguard or Shield 9mm?
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nocents
Member
I have owned a carried a Shield....on the one I owned it had a very nice trigger...I have used and shot my buddy's BG 380....it was the WORST trigger pull in length and just plain grittiness I have ever experienced.....I guess a person could get used to it....but why????...he also had a Bersa Thunder380 which had a WAAAAY better trigger than the BG..........let the flaming begin
Both the BG and Shield fill different roles as guns. It's like comparing apples to oranges.
Some people can pull of the Shield with pocket carry, although I could never do it. It's more of a hip gun, whether you choose IWB or OWB.
The BG is more of a deep concealment gun. Pocket carries easily.
To tell you to pick one or the other we would need much more information about what your needs are when carrying, and the expectations that you have when carrying a firearm.
Many shoot the bodyguard pretty good, but the easier gun to shoot of the 2 is going to be the shield. If I personally had to pick one, I'd go with the shield. In fact, I did go back and forth between the BG and Shield for a bit, and I decided that I thought the Shield fit my needs better, and was a better package than the BG for me.
Some people can pull of the Shield with pocket carry, although I could never do it. It's more of a hip gun, whether you choose IWB or OWB.
The BG is more of a deep concealment gun. Pocket carries easily.
To tell you to pick one or the other we would need much more information about what your needs are when carrying, and the expectations that you have when carrying a firearm.
Many shoot the bodyguard pretty good, but the easier gun to shoot of the 2 is going to be the shield. If I personally had to pick one, I'd go with the shield. In fact, I did go back and forth between the BG and Shield for a bit, and I decided that I thought the Shield fit my needs better, and was a better package than the BG for me.
nocents
Member
exactly on point....I tried pocket carry in a Desantis holster .....but unless you wear cargo shorts everyday...all day.....the shield is a real borderline pocket carry......I may have been a little harsh on the BG trigger.....for its role a long trigger pull is good......and the grittiness could be cleaned up easy enough
I can pull off pocket carry of a Sheild in 5.11s and that's about it
ocinsomniac
Member
I have a Shield 40 and a BG MP. As mentioned before each one has its own purpose. I much prefer the Shield as my go to carry weapon, but the BG does have its niche - as an alternative when it's 90 deg in the midst of summer when clothing is light and scarce, and pocket carry is the only comfortable alternative. In cooler weather with more clothing, I often carry them both. The Shield is just a tad bit too large for comfortable pocket carry, but a perfect size for concealed IWB carry with it's relatively light weight and thin profile.
I'd get the Shield first with a comfortable holster rig, get used to it, then later on down the road, pick up a BG.
One thing about owning the BG (or a mini pocket pistol) has taught me.........there's no excuse for not having a weapon at my disposal at all times.
I'd get the Shield first with a comfortable holster rig, get used to it, then later on down the road, pick up a BG.
One thing about owning the BG (or a mini pocket pistol) has taught me.........there's no excuse for not having a weapon at my disposal at all times.
cpeblue
Member
I'm shocked that full size all steel everyday all day guys haven't chimed in yet. When I first got my CC I learned really quick what CONCEAL meant, I went from a 6906 to a 3913 then to a CS9 now to a Shield 9mm . I am the most comfortable with the Shield , 23.5 oz with a IWB and a good belt or suspenders so I'm not constantly pulling up my pants. All my shirts have to be long enough to cover the gun as I don't what to be the guy that walks into a store and someone says 'HE'S GOT A GUN' . With the shield I cut grass , run to the store , pretty much do what I want but I do have to dress around the gun. Before all is said and done I will most likely get a small 380 with a pocket clip for carry. As it is right now the Shield is working out just fine , I do have a gun with me all the time . How about the rest of you , do you really have that full sized all steel pistol with you all the time ??
Hodgin
US Veteran
Not sure if it's practical, but I'd try to avoid getting ride of the BG until you're pretty sure the Shield is what you want.
Here's what I did. I got a 9c for conceal carry and found there were times when I wanted something easier to conceal. IWB doesn't work for me, so the alternative was pocket carry. I got a BG 380 for that purpose. It works very well for pocket carry. I carry my 9c unless concealment is an issue. I know the 9c is a little larger than the Shield but you might find the same type of problem depending on how important concealment is to you.
I shot the 9c far better than the BG, but to me the BG is what it is. A good concealment pistol that I can quickly shoot fairly accurately up to about 10 yards. I've shot around 800 rounds through my BG and shoot it much better now than at first. I'm sure I could improve quite a bit more with practice. I'm not hickok45 of youtube fame, but he shot a BG M&P version for the first time and did extremely well.
Here's what I did. I got a 9c for conceal carry and found there were times when I wanted something easier to conceal. IWB doesn't work for me, so the alternative was pocket carry. I got a BG 380 for that purpose. It works very well for pocket carry. I carry my 9c unless concealment is an issue. I know the 9c is a little larger than the Shield but you might find the same type of problem depending on how important concealment is to you.
I shot the 9c far better than the BG, but to me the BG is what it is. A good concealment pistol that I can quickly shoot fairly accurately up to about 10 yards. I've shot around 800 rounds through my BG and shoot it much better now than at first. I'm sure I could improve quite a bit more with practice. I'm not hickok45 of youtube fame, but he shot a BG M&P version for the first time and did extremely well.
with me or on me?.
Prior to purchasing the Shield I did not walk out my front door without my 6906, unless I was carrying my 4006. When I was in the house it was within arm's length at all times.
When we purchased the Sheild it became the around the house gun and the 6906 went to the nightstand. I carry the Shield as long as I'm not leaving the apartment complex and the 6906 or the 4006 if I'm actually leaving "home"
I carry the Shield out and about when I'm wearing clothes that won't conceal a 6906 (a rarity) and an LCP when deep concealement is required.
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cpeblue
Member
Hodgin I agree with you on not selling the BG. Unless you have a face to face sale there is no way of selling gun that is not a big loss . The only reason I don't have a 380 now is I reload and don't want the expense of starting another caliber. The one thing that I have found out about CC is that size and weight of the gun IS a big factor, but you also have shoot-ability . I have shot my sons LCP380 and after about 30 rounds it starts to hurt, not a fun gun to get to know, I haven't yet shot a BG but I would figure it to be the 2nd verse of the same song.
cpeblue
Member
Smoke you know I meant on you. I love 3rd gens, I have 14 right now. I look at polymer like I would a hammer. I don't own a 380, so the Shield is what works for me now and so far it's doing ok and I'm not beating up a 3rd gen. I have a 4006 and a 4006tsw. I think it would be funny to watch someone walk through a mall in the summer trying to conceal that dinosaur under a polo shirt . Got to go run to the store now and the Shield is coming with me.
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With pistols like the Shield, the SIG 290RS, Beretta Nano, Walther PPS, Ruger LC9, etc., I am surprised that ANY .380 sells, as all of the aforementioned truly are "pocket pistols."
If one of these little 9mm single stack pistols will not fit in your pocket, then adjust your wardrobe.
If there is a real need for a weapon for defense, clothing would certainly not get in the way of choosing one. Remember the Clint Smith statement, which is widely quoted, "Carrying a gun is not supposed to be comfortable, it's supposed to be comforting." With today's single stack 9mm pocket guns, it is indeed possible to have both.
If one of these little 9mm single stack pistols will not fit in your pocket, then adjust your wardrobe.
If there is a real need for a weapon for defense, clothing would certainly not get in the way of choosing one. Remember the Clint Smith statement, which is widely quoted, "Carrying a gun is not supposed to be comfortable, it's supposed to be comforting." With today's single stack 9mm pocket guns, it is indeed possible to have both.
Hodgin
US Veteran
I agree on the trade-in. The BG is not the gun I take to the range to shoot for fun. It's a little perky and does't fit my hands particularly well. Not bad, but I prefer to shoot my 9c or Sig 226. I got my BG in June 2013 and have shot 720 rounds (thought it was closer to 800) in 22 trips to the range with the BG, and average of about 33 rounds. That compares to an average of around 60 rounds for the 9mm's.
Nevertheless, the BG is a good conceal pistol in my opinion. I hope I never need to fire it more than 33 times in defense.
I don't understand what you're saying here, you asked if we really always have that full sized pistol with us as I said in my response prior to purchasing the Shield I never walked out my door without the gun on me but at home it was merely with me.
As for the Mall thing I'm more a Hawaiian shirt guy than a polo guy.
cpeblue
Member
Smoke There was another tread where a couple of the guys were talking about how they carry there full size-rs all the time I just found that mildly amusing because if I could I would but that would be like hiding a dinosaur with a napkin .
Ozarker
Member
Its according how I'm dressed, but I carry either the BG380 or the M&P 9C. I have a DeSantis IWD for the BG or drop it into a back pocket. In this case the trigger is a plus. The 9C has a Atlas trigger job and it needs to be in a holster.
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