M&P bodyguard light striking.

[martybee]

Something....just does not smell right! Either the firing Pin is poorly designed, or sub-standard MIM! S&W needs to research the problem and come up with a viable solution! (As dixie-cup-dan said, "The hammer spring seems to be stout enough...")

 

[leadhead2]

I have also had light strikes with Fiocchi ammo in my Ruger LC9s.
I've heard they have very hard primers.
Denny

 

[jim46ok]

You got a crappy trigger replacement for it. Everyone knows you go to APEX to replace S&W triggers.

Not the gun's fault, its yours. Mine has 600 rounds through it and ive had 3 light strikes all in the same box of cheap as dirt steel ammo. All other ammo has been perfect.

Guess you missed it.....the part where he said he returned all OEM parts and it still malfunctioned.....

 

[dixie-cup-dan]

Something....just does not smell right! Either the firing Pin is poorly designed, or sub-standard MIM! S&W needs to research the problem and come up with a viable solution! (As dixie-cup-dan said, "The hammer spring seems to be stout enough...")

I've noticed that pistol designs where the hammer spring is stretched as apposed to being compressed like the bodyguard seem to never have issues with light strikes. While I do think the problem with the bodyguard lies more in the firing pin design or operation, that is something to think about.

My Kel-tecs are cheap pieces of junk compared to the bodyguard, but they are known for going bang with any ammo you feed them despite having a hammer spring that feels like it came out of a toy gun. The way that whole system fits together and operates in those guns is almost comical because it's so cheap looking and feeling. They literally look like they're assembled by 10 year olds in Pakistan, but what do I know? They work well for what they're designed for.

 

[oldiegoldie]

I think the tiny [and light] hammer is part of the problem. A heavier hammer wouldn't add significantly to the weight. I have several other small double action hammer fired pistols and the hammers on them have more mass and weight.

I really like the idea of smoothing up the hammer spring guide rod.
and using a very fine stone or very fine sandpaper on the rails will help it cycle better. No impact on the light strike issue by smoothing up the rails

 

[martybee]

I like the idea of a spacer at the base of the hammer spring to aid in compression.

 

[dixie-cup-dan]

it's light striking again!
I put about 40 rounds through it today and had 4 light strikes with CCI blazer ammo, but that wasn't the bad part about today's shooting experience.

The freaking thing basically exploded in my hand today. The take down pin blew out the side and split my thumb open. The entire upper portion of the gun was on the ground, as I held only the frame in my hand. At first I thought I had really hurt myself, but it was just a small flesh wound despite scarring the **** out of me.

Never again!. I'm done with this gun. I do like S&W, but this gun is garbage.

 

[Funflyer]

it's light striking again!
I put about 40 rounds through it today and had 4 light strikes with CCI blazer ammo, but that wasn't the bad part about today's shooting experience.

The freaking thing basically exploded in my hand today. The take down pin blew out the side and split my thumb open. The entire upper portion of the gun was on the ground, as I held only the frame in my hand. At first I thought I had really hurt myself, but it was just a small flesh wound despite scarring the **** out of me.
Never again!. I'm done with this gun. I do like S&W, but this gun is garbage.

Glad you're okay, could've been worse. Was it a kaboom, or just the TD pin breaking allowing the slide to come off? Some people have reported having problems inserting the TD pin. They don't get it seated properly or hooked on the spring all the way which could cause it to bind and break. Pictures?

 

[Jeppo]

I guess S&W would like to examine that gun.

 

[oldiegoldie]

certainly glad you weren't injured....don't blame you at all for losing faith in the pistol. make sure Smith hears about this. enough is enough.

thinking of ordering a pair of these when taking my BG to the range. sarc off.

 

[gonerydin]

it's light striking again!
I put about 40 rounds through it today and had 4 light strikes with CCI blazer ammo, but that wasn't the bad part about today's shooting experience.

The freaking thing basically exploded in my hand today. The take down pin blew out the side and split my thumb open. The entire upper portion of the gun was on the ground, as I held only the frame in my hand. At first I thought I had really hurt myself, but it was just a small flesh wound despite scarring the **** out of me.

Never again!. I'm done with this gun. I do like S&W, but this gun is garbage.

Can I have it?[emoji3]


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[dixie-cup-dan]

Glad you're okay, could've been worse. Was it a kaboom, or just the TD pin breaking allowing the slide to come off? Some people have reported having problems inserting the TD pin. They don't get it seated properly or hooked on the spring all the way which could cause it to bind and break. Pictures?

Just the TD pin blowing out. I'm not sure if the pin broke, as I couldn't find it. A pic wouldn't really show anything other than you can see that the spring that the TD pin fastens to is bent out a bit and the polly looks a little bulged around the slot that the pin fits into.

The injury is just a small cut and some bruising, but when it first happened I thought it was worse because of all the blood.

 

[martybee]

Just the TD pin blowing out. I'm not sure if the pin broke, as I couldn't find it. A pic wouldn't really show anything other than you can see that the spring that the TD pin fastens to is bent out a bit and the polly looks a little bulged around the slot that the pin fits into.

The injury is just a small cut and some bruising, but when it first happened I thought it was worse because of all the blood.

dixie-cup-dan:
I feel your pain! I also have been getting light strikes with my BG380!
I have over 1500, rds. through my BG380. It is one of the original issue BG380's with the Insght Laser®. The laser has been replaced by S&W, (Crimson Trace®).
Up until now, no issues w/gun. At about 1,350 rds. the weapon began to exhibit "Light Strikes." I now get them about 8% of the time! Other then the LS, I love the way it handles and shoots, but I have no longer have confidence in the gun! It is not my CCW. (All rds. were at my LGS&R). Mostly ball ammo. The defensive rds. that I have shot, have not displayed any LS.
Needless to say, I am pondering the idea of putting it up for sale! I have the Shield 45 that I now shoot at the indoor range and it is every bit as good as the BG380! I though the Shield 45 would be difficult for me to shoot (I'm going on 86 years.) but it is as easy as the BG380! That little pocket gun is very snappy!
I'm hoping S&W comes out with a Small Shield 380 which I believe would be so much nicer than the hammer fired .380.
Until then, I will continue to shoot and enjoy my Shield 45 and 9mm.
Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[Old cop]

I feel your pain matrybee b/c I really like the gun too but when I lose confidence in a carry gun that's it. I've carried a J frame for well over 40 years and never had a problem related to reliability. The newest one is a 340PD which is about the same weight as the LCP I p/u on sale just prior to the LCP II coming out. During my 30 year LEO career I had to my service revolver in the line of duty more than once and it save my butt so some of my revolver "love" may be emotional, but I know it will work when/if needed.

 

[martybee]

I feel your pain matrybee b/c I really like the gun too but when I lose confidence in a carry gun that's it. I've carried a J frame for well over 40 years and never had a problem related to reliability. The newest one is a 340PD which is about the same weight as the LCP I p/u on sale just prior to the LCP II coming out. During my 30 year LEO career I had to my service revolver in the line of duty more than once and it save my butt so some of my revolver "love" may be emotional, but I know it will work when/if needed.

I think you have a very unique and fine piece in the 340pd! Small CCW in a 5-shot J-frame 357 magnum!
Congrats!

 

[jim46ok]

No genius, .........Do you understand now, or does it need to be broken down more in a way that you can?

Obviously you are no dummy, Dan.....but you may consider a little more congenial response to those more seasoned here than you or I. Welcome, let's help each other out....

 

[6strings]

When the first one`s came out i bought one `cause i liked the laser design of it , but it started having LS issue`s somewhere around my 300 to 400 rounds fired mark , i couldn't figure it out and talking to S&W back then was a joke so when the M&P version came out and was getting good reviews i traded my old one in on a new one , And , at less than the same rounds fired mark as my old one had it started having LS issue`s worse than the old one ! I was getting 3 to 4 LS`s in every magazine i tried to shoot , but the funny thing is it would shoot the first 3 or 4 mags with no problem , i really was PO`d about this and got back online and seen im not the only one again with issues ! So because i really like this little excuse for a pistol i bought the Galloway trigger kit for it and installed it without the hammer spring because i could hardly pull the trigger with it installed , while i had the slide apart and the firing pin out i polished the firing pin channel and lightly deburred and polished the pin and the blocker bar (i guess its called) and reassembled , now after 150 rounds that varied of different brands i had on hand i only had 2 LS . I dont know what did it , the trigger kit or the polishing but i did notice that when watching the hammer as it is released from the trigger pull ( dry fire with a snap cap ) that it travels in a sort of right to left kind of arc ( i went and looked at a few more at a couple different gun stores and it seems a common thing ) and im wondering if the hammer is skimming on the inside of the slide somehow when things are heated up that's causing LS issues or maybe the blocker pin isnt being lifted high enough ? When you break down the pistol completely and take a good look at how the pistol is made and how it functions you`ll see that it "should" work as designed and reliably at that ,,, im just trying to understand why it doesn't and fix it . I have gotten a little closer i think , from listening to everyone else`s experiences and what they are trying. Thanks for posting your experiences !!!!

 

[lmacrichter]

Mine had every problem that you have ever read about. I sent it back to S&W and when they returned it I traded it on a Sig. Best move I ever made on the small 380s. Glad I did and never looked back. My P238 would shoot rocks if you could load them.

 

[dixie-cup-dan]

Mine had every problem that you have ever read about. I sent it back to S&W and when they returned it I traded it on a Sig. Best move I ever made on the small 380s. Glad I did and never looked back. My P238 would shoot rocks if you could load them.

I've been looking at the P238. People complain that they're too much, but I have no problem paying that amount for a carry gun. I've never understood how someone could spend 2k on a custom over-under shotgun, but refuse to spend less than half of that on a carry gun that your life may one day depend upon.
At the end of the day, I have 5 guns that are designated as defense weapons, and I trust all of them with my life.

-My home defense guns are a plane Jane old cop style Remington 870 in the closet, and a CZ-P01 in the night stand. Both guns are as reliable as it gets.......100%

-My woods/camping gun is a S&W model 66 .357 mag. It's accurate, flawlessly reliable, and with a 6" barrel pushing 200 grain cast loads, it will stop any four legged creature in my part of the country.

-My daily carry is once again a $200 Kel-tec p3at with a crimson trace. It's ugly, but it goes bang every time and it carries easier than a wallet. The bodyguard has been retired.

-My SHTF gun is a century arms American made AK47. it's been perfect through a couple thousand rounds of garbage ammo.


The only gun on that list I wish to replace is the Kel-tec. While it's reliable, I just can't be satisfied with it, as it looks and feels like it was built by 10 year olds in Taiwan. That's why I picked up the bodyguard in the first place. Well, the BG is going byby, so these are what I'm considering to replace the Kel-tec.

S&W model 642
Sig P238
Colt Mustang
Kahr CW380

Thoughts, opinions, and experiences with these guns would be appreciated (Particularly in regards to how they pocket carry).

 

[comiskeybum]

Don't forget The LCP2 for that list.

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