M&P Bodygaurd vs LCP

So I went to the LGS again today and they just got the M&P Bodygaurd in. So I held it and the LCP. I must say I really like them both. Dry fired them both and what I came away with was the trigger on the LCP was much better. The Bodygaurd was very long and heavy, not that there is anything wrong with that especially being a pocket carry gun. The Bodygaurd was just a touch bigger but not enough to worry about. The price for both was $369 which I thought was a little much, especially for the LCP, so I know I can find them both cheaper. With that said, they are both very nice pocket pistols. I like the look of the Bodygaurd better than the LCP, but I think overall I like the LCP better. So with all that said, not sure which way I will go. Probably with which ever one I can get the best deal on. Any more advice please keep them coming on either gun. Thanks.
 
Early M&P bodygaurds had a lot of issues with the laser hold down bolt locking up the slide when it came lose. Don't know if that issue was fixed or not. I have a LCP and have shot a Bodygaurd and hated the Smith do to that long heavy trigger. For me it was to long and heavy to get use too with out being clean and crisp.. Even at 10 feet it's easy to miss with a very bad trigger on a small gun.. Don't get me wrong the LCP's trigger is much better " new model" smoother shorter braek is much more crisp and clean. For me a much easier gun to learn how to use well faster and when you can hit your target that makes learning a new gun fun.. Again at this point till S&W get's the trigger tuned better I am still very happy with my LCP. Yes only a small diffrince in size but the LCP is more rounded also in all the right spots. I have big hands I'm 6' tall at 200lbs and fit is great.. My wife is 5 1' tall and tiny withh wicked small hands size 4 to 4 1/2" ring size and that LCP fit's her hand as well as mine. I just liked it better all the way around and it shoots great no issues at all! Take you time and think about it feel them again maybe you will end up with both. That's what I do sometimed if I really can't decide.. Can't go wrong that way! But remember the smaller the gun the easer it is to shoot yourself or have a misshap. Please be careful learn slow with someone who knows! Best of luck! George
 
George, when you say "Newer Model" for the LCP, what manufacture date are we talking about? And how do I find out if its a "Newer Model?" I have a guy I work with who has one and has only shot it once and might be willing to sell it to me. Hes had it about a year.
 
I think it's 2013+ there will be no Dash "-" in the ser. Number the sights will be raised much better then the old model LCP's the trigger will be much smoother and with a shorter stroke then in the older LCP's With a much a bit earlier break and one that is clean and crisp. Not bad at all for a D/A pull. My first three digits of the ser number are 371 with no dash in the hole number if that helps..The sights in the old LCp's are all but useless put remember in a gun this size if your going to need it chances are your not even going to use the sights you will be so close.. All and all it's a nice gun that I think you will like.. The also have one now with a Stainless steel slide for a few bucks more if it was me I would get the SS slide version if I had the chance at the time but if they only have the all black ones at a good deal and you want or need one now get it..If oyu don't minf a little bigger gun and 9mm is a bit much power wise for you your can also look at the
LC.380 same size "really the same gun" as the LC9 but in ..380 so recoil is lower then both but have a few things more like a manual safty , last shot slide lock, nice three dot sights holds one round more.But if size is everything the LCP is nice and can go anywhere with you. You forget you have it it's so nice to carry. Hope this helps! George
 
Thanks for the info George. I already have the shield in the 9mm, so im not looking for that. Im just looking for the small pocket gun for when I just wanna wear my basketball shorts or whatnot to the store or to take my kids somewhere quick and I don't want to have to put jeans or cargo shorts on with my belt and holster so thats what im just looking for something small to throw in my pocket and go. Thanks for your help.
 
Sorry that's right you said that! Ok yep that the ticket then.. Good luck and let us know how you make out! George
 
Given the choice between the Bodyguard and LCP I went with the Bodyguard. Like the feel and look of it better, and it offers more features than other .380's. Plus it's not as punishing to shoot at the range. Added a Pachmyer grip and it's a "fine" pocket gun now. HOWEVER...if you're open to other options in .380 I will suggest the Glock 42!
Just picked one up for my wife a month ago. She is VERY recoil sensitive and has small hands. The Glock fit the bill to the T! Felt recoil is almost nothing because of the dual recoil springs (making follow up shots more accurate). The trigger is the same as any Glock, and if you're not one whose prone to limp wristing you can forget about those bad reports of failures to feed. My wife experienced it, yet when I fired right behind her...no problem. Once I helped her correct for that she was "rollin". I'm thinking of getting one for myself.:) LOVE the gun, and if I were choosing my first .380 now, there's no question it would be the Glock.
 
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Protected One said:
...if you're open to other options in .380 I will suggest the Glock 42!
Click to expand...
Glocks are fine guns, but Glock42 is larger in size.
OP wanted "...the smallest pocket gun...", I believe.

[see post #12 where "smallest" is mentioned]
 
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Glock is kinda of chunkey for cary for me Like a Sheild 9mm is to a LC9. I'll carry anything from a skinny Colt 1911 .45 to a LCP in .380 right down to a .22 depending on what I have on that day what I'm doing and how maney guns I think would be best. Most of the wide grip guns like the M&P FS .45 or S&W 6906 make great house guns for me. But all and all I would not be with out a LCP .380 George
 
Protected One said:
Given the choice between the Bodyguard and LCP I went with the Bodyguard. Like the feel and look of it better, and it offers more features than other .380's. Plus it's not as punishing to shoot at the range. Added a Pachmyer grip and it's a "fine" pocket gun now. HOWEVER...if you're open to other options in .380 I will suggest the Glock 42!
Just picked one up for my wife a month ago. She is VERY recoil sensitive and has small hands. The Glock fit the bill to the T! Felt recoil is almost nothing because of the dual recoil springs (making follow up shots more accurate). The trigger is the same as any Glock, and if you're not one whose prone to limp wristing you can forget about those bad reports of failures to feed. My wife experienced it, yet when I fired right behind her...no problem. Once I helped her correct for that she was "rollin". I'm thinking of getting one for myself.:) LOVE the gun, and if I were choosing my first .380 now, there's no question it would be the Glock.
Click to expand...

If you're not tied down to the Glocks, the 9mm Kahr CM9/PM9 are the same size as the Glock 42, and provide more firepower than a 380. The 42 is certainly a nice pistol, but I think Glock missed the mark by making it a .380 in the same size as a LOT of pocket 9mm pistols out there.
 
WilliamG said:
If you're not tied down to the Glocks, the 9mm Kahr CM9/PM9 are the same size as the Glock 42, and provide more firepower than a 380. The 42 is certainly a nice pistol, but I think Glock missed the mark by making it a .380 in the same size as a LOT of pocket 9mm pistols out there.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Sure, there are small 9's out there (and .45's for that matter), but along with that increase in power comes an increase in recoil. This affects the shooters ability to control fire and put rounds accurately on target. Some people are more sensitive to recoil than others (my wife is one of them),and won't practice with...or carry a gun they can't control.
It's not always about firepower. Glock knows this, and that's why they went the route that they did. Smart. Very smart.:cool:
 
The OP Stated he has a 9mm shield and does not want another 9mm he wants a small.380 for summer carry.. George
 
I haven't had a chance to see the new M&P 380, but when I was looking for a picket pistol I really liked the BG380 (although I had never shot one). I felt better in my hand than the LCP, I liked the sights better, IIRC it had the last shot hold open which the lcp LCP did not. My only problem with it was I couldn't find a single one that both buttons worked the laser consistently and at that time I believe they were fairly new (I was looking 2 to 3 years ago), people on here were talking of some issues (which all forums and all guns have talk about issues). I went with the LCP and after adding the Hogue grip, it fits 100% better and I've never had a single issue with either of them (ended up buying a second one as well). I have a desantis pocket holster that accepts a LCP with a laser and it works with the one that doesn't have a laser as well.
 
It must be nice to shoot your new M&P 380. I sent my M&P (no laser) back to the factory 2 weeks ago - still waiting. Neither I, the range master or the dealer could get the gun to fire. Once I find out the problem, I will post the results. I previously owned the Sig P238 and currently have a Kahr P380. I think I prefer the manual safety. I do have the Ruger LC9 and LC380 and they are a little large for a pocket gun.
 
In relation to the LCP, the BG is bigger, heavier and equiped with a safety. Three things I am not looking for in a pocket pistol. I chose the LCP.
 
I have the bg .380, the shield .40 as well as the kahr cm9.. I dont like how ruger's LCP or LC9 feel or shoot.. My buddy has the rugers.. I just cant get into them... I think its just personnal preference... Find a range that lets u rent platforms and buy what fits u best... Find a friend with one or the other.. Get trigger time behind them both and then decide
 
I bought the BG 380 after deciding that my Shield 9mm was to heavy and not comfortable at all to pocket carry. I thought the Shield would do the double duty, but it just wasn't comfortable at all and the pockets of the jeans were small for the weapon and my hand trying to grasp it. The BG 380 I have has the laser and has been flawless to shoot. Ammo has been a little tough to find, but it isn't a firearm that I expect to target shoot that much with. I have put some 250-300 rounds through it and also have used several different hollow point rounds trying to decide what to use as a every day personal defense round. (not to start another topic) Each round has fired without any FTF or FTE or anything. Trigger pull is long indeed, but once you feel the the way the firearm fires, and where that point of discharge is, you will have no problem shooting it with accuracy. I do like the laser, also noting that without it a night sight would be advantageous to have in low light situations or at least a white outline. I have had trouble getting extra magazines form anyone, as the BG I have came with only one mag and I need the finger rest. That would be the only problem that I see with the firearm. Good luck with what ever you choose, but I do like and recommend the 380 Bodyguard from Smith & Wesson!
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
In relation to the LCP, the BG is bigger, heavier and equiped with a safety. Three things I am not looking for in a pocket pistol. I chose the LCP.
Click to expand...

I had been thinking about buying one, just because it's a S&W M&P, but I am very satisfied with my LCP for the very reasons Phil stated. If I want something bulky in my pants pocket, I'll carry my Shield 9mm.
 
I bought my BG 380 in Jan '11 after doing much research and test firing of several pocket 380s. As mentioned above, the LCP was terrible to fire; just seemed to snap in my hand. The BG was much easier and the recoil felt much better. Additionally I liked the sights on the BG better and I could turn the laser on with just a tiny bit of pressure from my trigger finger.
I politely disagree with not taking your CC to the range on occasion as one must be expressly familiar with the operation of any piece one carries. In a desperate situation you don't have time to think and must react from instinct. Not being familiar with your CC could be fatal.
 
I love the LCP for pocket carry.

Yes it's snappy, and with my large hands it's still too small for a pinky on the grip even with the extended magazine, but it is the smallest thing out there, with no sharp corners or edges to catch on pockets on the way in or out, and still room to get your hand into the pocket around it.

My LGS had them on sale the week I was looking at pocket guns so I got one for $279. That's the new one (no hyphen in the number). Sights are better than the original but still not really going to be much use in a real situation. Trigger seems fine to me, I haven't tried the original to feel the difference.
 
Thanks again everyone for all of your input. I am still searching for the right deal for either one. Hopefully will come across one soon. I appreciate everyones opinion as it has helped me a lot. Thanks
 
I have had a BG380, a LCP, and a SIG P238. The P238 is a nice gun, well made and functions well, plus I like the "mini-1911" look and feel...but it's expensive and a bit heavy (to me) for pocket carry. Between the LCP and BG380, I preferred the BG380...and I think the new M&P 380 will be even better, since my main discontent with the BG380 was the laser. I've not owned a Kahr 380, but I have owned a Kahr CW9 and CW45, and I'm not a fan of Kahr guns.

A lot of people speak favorably about the Taurus TCP...it is made in America, and Taurus CS has improved (not comparable to Ruger or S&W, yet, but improved.) If you buy a Taurus at Academy Sports, they will send it back to Taurus for you for two years after purchase (which, hopefully, isn't the length of time it will be at Taurus) but the downside is that you have to take it to the store where you bought it (or so I was told...that could be challenged, I think.) Academy has the base TCP model on their website for $199, but they never have them in stock (at least around here.)

I saw a Glock 42 in a local shop the other day, and that is a sweet pistol! The only thing is, there are a lot of reports of problems with them now, so it would be better to wait until they've been out a while...and they are also much more expensive than the LCP/TCP/M&P380...but comparable in price to the P238.

For the money and service, right now I'd buy a M&P 380. If they get it sorted out and the price comes down, I sure would like to have a Glock 42. One thing about Glocks...there are tons of parts and accessories available for them, and they are easy for even a person with basic skills to maintain. I'd also consider a LC380, even if it is a bit big for pocket carry (but manageable) because of Ruger's great service...but I sure wish they get rid of the magazine disconnect and LCI. I had a LC9 and liked it OK, but for a small 9mm, the Shield can't be beat, IMO.
 
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I picked up a new M&P BG380 this weekend for $299 and traded in my TCP. I was never that fond of the trigger on the TCP (did not pull consistently), so I don't feel I'll be missing anything in that category, plus, the BG trigger provides 2nd strike capability.

The primary reason I went for the BG is the fit in the hand. It feels far better than the TCP did even with Pearce grip extensions.

I also really like the overall fit and finish of the BG (not that the TCP F&F was poor), and the sights are better than the TCP. The BG sights are stainless steel and they're adjustable for drift vs small fixed sights on the TCP.

Mike...
 
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There are all sorts of reasons to like the Bodyguard over the LCP, but the one I had with the laser, while perfect in performance as regards the gun, was unfortunately not right as far as the laser is concerned. It is long gone, and I have waited patiently for the non-laser version of the Bodyguard, now introduced. If it works, it should be good to go, for a .380 ACP. Unfortunately, in the meantime, 9mm pistols hardly larger have been introduced that eclipse the Bodyguard .380 as far as I am concerned. If you want a .380, however, I like this new one they have just introduced, at least on paper. I have not owned or shot one, but it seems to have all the features I wanted when it was first introduced. I had no use for the laser then, and thought it was sort of a gimmick, but all sorts of people love them, and that is ok - lasers are just not for me. That said, I can see a use for them when you cannot see the sights, as has been demonstrated by Todd Jarrett. However, I do not worry enough about that scenario to want to have a laser on everything. I would rather buy ammo and shoot. :)
 
PersDef said:
I picked up a new M&P BG380 this weekend for $299 and traded in my TCP. I was never that fond of the trigger on the TCP (did not pull consistently), so I don't feel I'll be missing anything in that category, plus, the BG trigger provides 2nd strike capability.

The primary reason I went for the BG is the fit in the hand. It feels far better than the TCP did even with Pearce grip extensions.

I also really like the overall fit and finish of the BG (not that the TCP F&F was poor), and the sights are better than the TCP. The BG sights are stainless steel and they're adjustable for drift vs small fixed sights on the TCP.

Mike...
Click to expand...

Mind sharing where you found the M&P Bodygaurd for that price? Thanks.
 
I don't know why, but I read reports of various handguns selling around the country for much less than they sell for here in the DFW area. I guess everything (including price tags) really is bigger in Texas. :p
 
Prices vary, and even within small area they can be really different across the board. When I was shopping for my M&P BG380 about a month ago, local prices (area within ~50 miles) were from $320 to $400.
If a lower price isn't available, suggest looking online. Just factor in the FFL transfer on top of sale price and shipping.
 
SMR said:
Mind sharing where you found the M&P Bodygaurd for that price? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Florida Gun Exchange in Ormond Beach, FL (near Daytona) had a big sale this weekend featuring S&W products. I also picked up an M&P22 for $329. Prices are good through April 12th. Follow the link below to the sale flier pdf download.

http://floridagunexchange.com/red-tag-sale-event
 
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