martybee
Member
I imagine many of you have both, as do I. What is your choice for EDC?
mb
mb
Hypothetical Question: BG380 or Shield9 for CCW
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Arik
Member
Neither but with those two options my EDC is 9x19
A 9mm trumps a 380. With the compact 9's on the market now I can see no reason to ever own another 380.
I have a Shield and a Ruger LCP. The Shield is my preferred EDC hands down, but there are times and places where I just feel the need to have something more discrete and the LCP fills the bill when something is better than nothing.
Ballistic147
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I have a Shield 9 and a TCP (the Taurus version of the BG380) and carry both depending on the situation. I prefer the Shield and carry it IWB at about the 3 to 3:30 position but there are times when it simply does not work. The little TCP gets pocket carried in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster and can go absolutely anywhere.
kbm6893
Member
Until they make a 9MM in the same size and weight of a pocket 380 like the LCP or the Bodyguard, the 380 pocket pistol will have a purpose. I e owned the Shield. Now have an LC9-S. Neither one is a pocket pistol. And sometimes inside waistband isn't optimal. I'm thinking HARD of getting a bodyguard for true pocket carry. It's lighter than an Airweight J frame like the 642 and cheaper too. But I don't know if I wanna start with a new caliber. I own other 38's and reload for them too. Also, just not sure about the reliability of the Bodyguard. Never be up there with a J frame.
But that bodyguard sure does VANISH in a pocket. The j frame is nice, but the BG is sure lighter and smaller!
But that bodyguard sure does VANISH in a pocket. The j frame is nice, but the BG is sure lighter and smaller!
checkmyswag
Member
Ive owned the Shield, BG380 and LCP. BG380 is a terrible gun. S&W should be embarrassed to make it.
No reason not to go with a 9mm unless you must have a tiny gun for whatever reason. Then go LCP not BG380.
No reason not to go with a 9mm unless you must have a tiny gun for whatever reason. Then go LCP not BG380.
Given that both have proven reliable, I'll choose a Shield over a BG380.
I actually stopped carrying .380s back in '90, when the G19 came out.
When I went to front pocket carry back in 2010, I chose a PF-9, over the LCP, P3AT and BG380.
(Yes, I actually found a very reliable PF-9
)
I actually stopped carrying .380s back in '90, when the G19 came out.
When I went to front pocket carry back in 2010, I chose a PF-9, over the LCP, P3AT and BG380.
(Yes, I actually found a very reliable PF-9
)CaptRon956
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Be like me & just get both..... when I go out shopping, the movies, traveling, running errands, I carry the Shield. For evening walks or quick candy runs to walgreens I'll slip the .380 in a pocket holster & put it in my shorts front pocket... the .380 has it's place, but I wouldnt depend on it as my main carry.
On a side note. There is a lot of negative comments regarding the reliability of the M&P 380. I do not know the condition or how the other guys maintain their 380's, or what ammo they use, all I know is my particular M&P .380, out of 750 rnd fired thru it I can remember only 4 times I had to pull the trigger a second time, and a couple times & had a failure to lock the slide back after the last round. I will not fault the pistol. the few times where the round did not go off was with either WWB or Remington UMC, neither are high quality rounds.
But out of the couple hundred quality HP's I did fire, such as federal hydra shoks, Hornady's critical defense, & Hornady's custom XTP's. I had zero issues.... Its the ammo, not the pistol... Use quality ammo guys...
On a side note. There is a lot of negative comments regarding the reliability of the M&P 380. I do not know the condition or how the other guys maintain their 380's, or what ammo they use, all I know is my particular M&P .380, out of 750 rnd fired thru it I can remember only 4 times I had to pull the trigger a second time, and a couple times & had a failure to lock the slide back after the last round. I will not fault the pistol. the few times where the round did not go off was with either WWB or Remington UMC, neither are high quality rounds.
But out of the couple hundred quality HP's I did fire, such as federal hydra shoks, Hornady's critical defense, & Hornady's custom XTP's. I had zero issues.... Its the ammo, not the pistol... Use quality ammo guys...
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gwpercle
Member
The one I can shoot the best. The one I can make consistent hits with, and fast follow up shots. If you cant hit with it and can't shoot accurately you don't want to bet your life on it, In this business only hits count.
And the one that's 100% reliable in functioning. Don't want a jam in the middle of a "situation".
Gary
And the one that's 100% reliable in functioning. Don't want a jam in the middle of a "situation".
Gary
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A .380 is definitely better than nothing but my choice would be 9MM & better yet .40 cal or even better .45 cal. I personally carry .40 cal.
If deep concealment was important then a small pistol is the answer & at close SD range & improved ballistics in self defense rounds like Hornady Critical Defense or Speer Gold Dot .380 might be the choice. Other than that my philosophy is the bigger the better in both ammo & gun.
I would not want to be shot with any caliber round.
If deep concealment was important then a small pistol is the answer & at close SD range & improved ballistics in self defense rounds like Hornady Critical Defense or Speer Gold Dot .380 might be the choice. Other than that my philosophy is the bigger the better in both ammo & gun.
I would not want to be shot with any caliber round.
I also have a Shield 9mm and a Ruger LCP .380, only I tend to carry them in tandem. Shield on my hip and LCP in my pocket. When I want something smaller than the Shield I tend to take my Kahr CM9. Between the BG and Shield, I would definitely go Shield.
AR-Getsome
Member
My choice, M&P 9c.
Body Guard trigger is a turnoff. I own the Shield and pocket concealed for 2 years. Love the weapon but the weight over time just got to be too much and if I am going to pack IWB I may as well pack full size.
I now pocket pack the Taurus Stainless TCP 380. Hands down the best trigger for a mouse gun and 1/2 the loaded weight vs my loaded Shield. Makes a huge difference pocket packing all day. Downside the sights on the TCP stink and molded into the slide there is not much you can do to improve the sights.
I loaded up my TCP 380 with Lehigh rounds which performs in ballistic gel as good as hollow point 9 mm.
Russ
OP
martybee
Member
My thoughts on this; The BG380 is a little smaller than the Shield and weighs less (12oz. vs 19oz.) but does not have the SD capacity of the Shield. 6+1 vs 7+1) and the striking power is not as good as the 9mm.
At present, I do not EDC. Should I choose to carry in the future, I believe the Shield would be my choice. The BG380 is my wife's piece and she says, "It reminds me of the Colt 1903, Dick Tracy style cap guns we used to shoot back in the 40's & 50's."
It is sooo... easy for her to rack and shoot! The Shield is mine!
mb
At present, I do not EDC. Should I choose to carry in the future, I believe the Shield would be my choice. The BG380 is my wife's piece and she says, "It reminds me of the Colt 1903, Dick Tracy style cap guns we used to shoot back in the 40's & 50's."
It is sooo... easy for her to rack and shoot! The Shield is mine!
mb
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gunny4053
US Veteran
I'll keep this short, buy the Shield! You won't be sorry, ever.
I have the BG, and have shot and handled a friend's Shield, and they are two different animals. The BG is so tiny it seems to disappear compared to the Shield when carrying.
For the record, I am on my third BG and still can't get it to fire reliably on all name brand ammo. The first one went back to S&W four times before they gave up and replaced it with a new one. The second one didn't like Rem, Win, or Federal. The third one hates Win. So this is a real problem that Smith acknowledges and hasn't figured out yet. I like the gun so much I am patiently trying to find a solution working with them.
I understand that some have found a brand of ammo that it likes and seems to handle reliably. But I don't believe a defense gun should be picky.
My friend was very critical of my FTFire with my BG until his Shield stove-piped one. He got pretty quiet after that. I'd take a FTFire, with second-strike ability, over a stovepipe any day.
David
For the record, I am on my third BG and still can't get it to fire reliably on all name brand ammo. The first one went back to S&W four times before they gave up and replaced it with a new one. The second one didn't like Rem, Win, or Federal. The third one hates Win. So this is a real problem that Smith acknowledges and hasn't figured out yet. I like the gun so much I am patiently trying to find a solution working with them.
I understand that some have found a brand of ammo that it likes and seems to handle reliably. But I don't believe a defense gun should be picky.
My friend was very critical of my FTFire with my BG until his Shield stove-piped one. He got pretty quiet after that. I'd take a FTFire, with second-strike ability, over a stovepipe any day.
David
Neither one is the smallest of its category.
You have to figure out how you want to carry if that'll help you make your decision.
The Shield is too big to pocket carry. The only single stack 9 that I think is worthwhile as a pocket carry is the Kahr CM9/PM9. For 380 pocket carry, there are a ton of options better than the BG.
If you're going IWB I think an M&P9C is a better choice for the capacity with trivial increase in size.
You have to figure out how you want to carry if that'll help you make your decision.
The Shield is too big to pocket carry. The only single stack 9 that I think is worthwhile as a pocket carry is the Kahr CM9/PM9. For 380 pocket carry, there are a ton of options better than the BG.
If you're going IWB I think an M&P9C is a better choice for the capacity with trivial increase in size.
I have carried and shot both. My carry gun is a Shield in 9mm or if I really need to go small, a Kahr PM9 .
I have seen hit and miss with the Bodygard with respect to being ammo finicky but nothing to warrant me not considering that gun.
All ammo tests I have witnessed put on by ATK show the modern 9mm to be a far superior performer to the 380.
I prefer the 9mm.
I have seen hit and miss with the Bodygard with respect to being ammo finicky but nothing to warrant me not considering that gun.
All ammo tests I have witnessed put on by ATK show the modern 9mm to be a far superior performer to the 380.
I prefer the 9mm.
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It seems reliability problems have always been a common complaint with micro .380's. I kind of like the idea of having a very small pocket auto, but there always seems to be fairly widespread problems with these tiny guns and the ones that are reported as being pretty reliable, aren't all that small. Small 9's like the Shield are significantly more dependable based on what I've read, but not real small in size compared to the micro .380's. Until I'm convinced otherwise, I'll likely stick to revolvers for my pocket gun needs.
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