If not a Bodyguard 380 then What?

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Mambeaux

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I just bought a BG380 and after reading all the bad press about them I'm thinking about taking it back. My dealer had some very nice Kahr K9 trade in's and tried to sell men one of those. If I can take it back what should I replace it with?
 
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My dad has a BG380 and i was not a fan, i ended up getting a Ruger LC9 with no laser and i love it. I have several M&P's so i am not a Ruger nut, just my 2 cents. It has a little long of a trigger pull but at only 6.5lbs it gets better everytime i shoot it. The BG380 has a long trigger too so they are similair there. I also carry my PK380 and i love that also but i am a bigger guy, 6'2 240lbs so i can conceal easier than some folks.
 
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If it does not work buy a LCP, but all the Bodyguards we have sold where I work have been reliable.I think you are making assumptions.Make an assessment after a couple hundred rounds.I suggest a LCP because of personal preference over the BG. The S&W does have superior sights and a few other features.
 
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Nothing but good answers so far. I have no experience with the BG380 other than I want one and that I hate the laser (but in all fairness I hate all lasers). The people I know who have them all like theirs and carry them often. Like Dave said; maybe you should give yours a fair shake before getting rid of it.

I do however have a Ruger LC9, Ruger LCP and a S&W 642 (all mentioned in this thread). All of them are great guns and have been well worth owning. My least favorite of the group however is the LCP. Mine has been reliable and shoots fine, but it is so small (too small IMO). It will even rotate in my pocket using a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. So it's going to my Dad and I will pick up either a BG380 or just wait until S&W finally makes another compact single stack 9mm. Or both!
 
I took the Kentucky concealed carry course on Saturday. It was given by the sheriff's department here and there were 40 people in the class.

I had a 642 with a full size Hogue grip and everyone else had sliders and cannons.

The first thing the Instructor did was ask why everyone was bringing sliders and large guns to a concealed carry class.

He walked over to me and picked my 642 up and took it to the front of the class and told them that the 642 was what they all should be carrying and they all needed to try to trade in what they had for a 642.

He then put his foot on a table and pulled a 642 out of his ankle holster. He told them if they wanted it in black to get a 442. He said that was what the sheriff department here uses for a bug.

When we went to the range for our firing test my 642 did a great job at 25 feet.

I will be receiving a concealed carry permit from the state of Kentucky.

There were 12 women in the class and they looked like they were from the ages of 20s to 60s.
 
Yep get a j frame. I did and haven't looked back. Or an M&P - I have a full size but I'm also gonna pick up a compact.
 
I can't see a .380 as a primary gun. It is a marginal caliber in most people's minds. I'm not looking for a caliber war, anything from .38/9mm is fine, but both the street and gel results of .380's find them lacking.

You never said if the BG is a primary gun for you, I apologize if I mistook that it is from you post.

That said I use/carry a 642, Kahr CW9 and will be adding a Sig 250 compact soon. I'm comfortable with any of them as a BUG. You should look at the Kahr they are offering you, I love mine, it's accurate, dependable and with the right ammo, effective.
 
The well-proven Kel-Tec P3AT has all of its bugs worked out, and is relatively inexpensive. I personally carry a Kahr P380, but it cost over twice as much (with night sights) as the slightly bigger P3AT. (Small and light are essential for my needs.)
 
I paid less for my BG than for the cheapest I could find an LCP or even a P3AT. Don't care about the Lazer. I do like the fact that the BG has real dove tailed in sights not just a little bump on the top of the slide. Mine has been 100% reliable.

And I do have a 442.
 
My BG has been perfect thru 250 rounds. If something breaks S&W will fix it. I like it & carry it over an equally reliable LCP because I like the S&W sights better. If the BG had an inherent problem then LAPD would have found it before testing/ approving them for back up & off duty carry.
 
I have an LCP as a BUG on some occasions.
EDC a 66 , 2 1/2 and a 640 BUG if traveling.
I have seen a lot of light weight guns being sold for two reasons.
1, Recoil since a lot of folks want to use the +P ammo.
2, Poor results in hits since many use +P and at too great a range.
If the scenario is thought out, we need to practice defensive shooting at zero to seven yards. I am not a LE officer but an old guy who has been around the block.
I practice right , left and even sitting on the ground and prone.
Be realistic and think of the worst position you could be in. On the ground in some way from a slip fall or blind sided. Murphy's Law applies.
What ever you shoot be sure it works 100% and practice live fire and with snap caps [in the house] Know the difference between cover and bullet proof. A fluffy chair may slow down a round but will it stop it?
Know the capability of your weapon / caliber.
 
I'm not anti-centennial (442,642) but prefer the bodyguard airweight(638) since it offers single or double action. I also like to carry my Rhorbaugh 9mm once you get past the sticker shock from the original purchase.
 
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I'm a Smith and Wesson fan but I wanted something a bit larger than a 380,so I opted for the LC9. It's accurate, easy to shoot, and concealable. When I'm not carrying that in the summer, I opt for my 340M&P. IMHO
 
I would like to add that either the 60 or 640 are great guns.

Or you could really go nuts and buy a Ruger SP101.
 
My wife has a BG380 and we haven't had any issues. But, if you don't trust yours by all means pick up something else. I think everyone needs at least four or five carry guns. :D For the record, I love my Smiths but I value lots of different guns.

The 642/442 would serve you well, but if you wanted a wheel gun why not pick up a 357 such as the MP340 or others. You can always practice or carry the 38 specials if the 357's are a big issue recoil wise. You mentioned Kahr, not a bad choice. The PM9 with the 9mm round would in my opinion would be a better defensive choice than a 38 special. However, you can likely get into a light weight 357 for not much more. I recently shot the LCP with laser, wasn't bad. I do prefer the BG trigger and sights. But, afterwards I did look at the LC9 for kicks. Could be a fair option, 9mm, light, safety.
 
Just an FYI on buying and then changing your mind.
Shoot it before you choose to sell it.
Then make a first hand informed choice.
The resale price of a fired modern piece with a box run through is not going to effect resale value. Unless you drop it on the concrete or damage it in some way.
I had my P11 Keltec for two weeks it is nothing but a memory now.
I will stick tot he 640 Centenial SW thank you very much. I do not fancy the LW popular fad Smiths. I want to feel steel and wood in my hand.
I forced myself to buy several Glocks. NO not plastic! The ugly things work 100% for me but I still like American Craftsmanship best. It is a shame the MIM and locks has blurred the lines of production and craftsmanship. I have one new model and it is a 686 which I have not fired yet.
LCP works fine not recommended for +P accuracy , well it is a 7 yard gun. The PPK style and Makarovs are way more accurate and the short barrel [LCP] causes lost velocity and sight radius. If there are sights.
So my EDC is 640,66, or G27.Bug is 640 or LCP.
We all make choices I hope you can justify why you pick whatever it is. Also know the limitations and performance of your handgun and ammunition.
Good luck.
 
If your looking for a 380, can I suggest looking at the Diamondback 380's. I have one an love it for a front pocket pistol.
 
FWIW, I looked at all the little .380 autos out there and it doesn't seem like any of them are worth a darn. They all just felt like not enough gun and most have reliability issues because there's not much metal and thus no leeway in the designs and I think they all do a very good job of proving that just because a CAD system says you can build something, reality is a whole other ballgame. Get a 642/442, it's the minimum standard for a self defense handgun.
 
FWIW I have the Ruger LCP, but carry it only when my wardrobe needs to be more formal and deep concealment is a must. The LCP runs fine (100% reliability through 500+ rounds) but my 340 M&P, loaded w/CorBon DPX .357, is my EDC.

My suggestion is to keep your .380 and pick up a J frame for EDC (if funds allow), leaving the .380 for those times when you cannot carry a "real gun."

UPDATE (2017): All the .380s I tried developed a problem sooner or later. I still have the LCP but my EDC is the 340PD, it weighs about the same and is much more reliable, IMHO. I kept the 340 M&P as a back up in the safe.
 
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+1 on the Sig P238. I have the HD all stainless steel version with around 1000 flawless rounds down the pipe. Shoots much softer than the blow back .380's and is quite accurate too. I think it has the best sights out of any .380 pocket gun on the market (there night sights!). Again not looking for a caliber war but I in no way feel naked when I only have a 380. As they say; Any gun is better than no gun. That said I agree that a J-frame S&W would be a solid choice as well.
 
J D Allen said:
The best replacement is a model 642 38 special. 12 oz. Unloaded and shoots better defense ammo. I have one and its easy to carry.
Click to expand...

I've got a J-frame airweight, 2-7/8" snubby and it is, in my opinion, THE best deep conceal carry pistol. Load it with 158 grain hollow points and you're good to go!
 
I too suggest a j-frame, but first check out the Bersa Thunder 380.
It looks like a Walther PPK, but less that $300. Bersa owners rave over them.
 
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