My MP Bodyguard .380 groups low & left

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Becida

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Hello!
This is my first time here & I have a question..

I have a S&W MP Bodyguard .380, I bought it used. The front & rear sights are in dovetails so they can be moved.

The gun groups to the lower left every time I shoot it, I tried a different .380 (Ruger LCP Max) and they were grouped in the area I was aiming so I'm guessing it's not me.

How do I fix this?

Thanks.

p.s. FWIW I feel funny finding this forum just because I do have a problem, but I guess that's the way it works. :)
 
This is very common with Shields and BGs. Both of my M&P Shields in 40 and 45 shot left, but not terribly low. I simply drifted the front sights a little at a time until the point of aim was the same as to the 15 yard point of impact with the ammo I use.

Expect lots of advice on grip, trigger control, and ammo choices - drifting the front sight actually works.
 
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Thing is, it could be you, it could be the gun. Many fixed sight handguns do not hit to POA. Low left group placement is also a common sign of a right handed shooter jerking the trigger.

I would try a few more range trips, concentrating on my grip and trigger pull. If group placement doesn't change for the better, then take advantage of those drift adjustable sights. Whether it's the gun or you, you need to have those sights adjusted so you hit POA.

I have a similar issue with single action revolvers with the Colt grip. Always shoot left, and I know it's me because if I take the time to reposition the grip in my hand from what feels natural to a grip that doesn't, my groups usually center.

So what I do is draw and grip the gun in a comfortable manner (little finger curled under the grip) and place my right thumb against the left side recoil shield. Not a "proper grip", but it works for me.

Larry
 
Drift the rear sight in the direction you want the group to move.

Point of impact can be raised by filing the front sight.
Lowering POI is more difficult.
 
The instructions on both my Shields specifically say to drift the front sight, not the rear.

ri1JlsJ.jpeg
 
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Try aligning your POA with the right post of your rear site. This might solve your the issue of your shots going left without need to move the sight. Got that tip from some poster on this forum and it worked for me. As far as your shots hitting low, I don’t think the factory sights can be adjusted for elevation.I have that issue and just aim higher to compensate. In my opinion these BG2 sights are poorly designed and compensation should not be necessary. Otherwise I am satisfied with the gun.
 
Move the sights. This, BTW, is easier said than done. They are very tight. Often, they make a horrendous 'graunch' when they move. Hurts nothing.
No idea why the manual only wants the front moved. Move them both as needed.
Part of the problem is the goal-post sized rear sight opening, which makes consistent windage and elevation difficult.
Get the sights aligned, and make sure the front sight is to the height of the rear.
Moon
 
Becida said:
Hello!
This is my first time here & I have a question..

I have a S&W MP Bodyguard .380, I bought it used. The front & rear sights are in dovetails so they can be moved.

The gun groups to the lower left every time I shoot it, I tried a different .380 (Ruger LCP Max) and they were grouped in the area I was aiming so I'm guessing it's not me.

How do I fix this?

Thanks.

p.s. FWIW I feel funny finding this forum just because I do have a problem, but I guess that's the way it works. :)
Click to expand...

Before you start drifting sights, shoot some groups with your gun restrained or fixed as solidly as possible. Use weighted bags or a tripod with a V yoke. Properly positioned and held, you should be able to eliminate most of the human variables - mainly hand and trigger control - and see if it's you or the gun. Your groups should be tight and tell you if sight adjustment is necessary.
 
My rear sight was clearly visibly off to the left of center, terrible quality control. Not the front. I had it drifted back closer to center and it's pretty decent now considering the usage this gun is designed for. I will bet you anything it's not you its the gun.
 
My BG 2 shot low left .I drifted the rear sight right .Oh no voided my warranty :eek:

For the elevation I use a combat hold , placing the front sight dot on the bull as opposed to a 6 o'clock hold

With this gun I actually prefer this. Kind of ignore the rear sight and your eye will center it like a aperture sight.

Works for me and much faster on target
 
Before you do anything, do this drill: Gun unloaded, aim at a target, focus your vision on the front sight, and pull the trigger as you normally would, observing the front sight's motion. 90% chance you will see it move down/left. This tells you... it's you.

If so, practice your trigger pull, repositioning your trigger finger and doing whatever other grip modification it requires to make that sight stay put throughout the trigger stroke. This exercise will improve your shooting of all handguns.
 
Aw, nonsense. Unless the rear sight is pushed so far in one direction that it's hanging off the frame, the factory would never know.
On reflection, the rear sight holds the backplate in place, so perhaps that's why the admonition.
If someone removes the backplate, and then the firing pin, and then fouls up the firing pin safety...there would be an issue. Hence the warning, written by the legal department
Moon.
 
The language is really plain.

What I don't understand is what good reason there would be to drift the rear sight with difficulty against the factory instructions when there is plenty of less difficult adjustment in the front sight (which is designed to be moved as per the manual).
 
biku324 said:
The language is really plain.

What I don't understand is what good reason there would be to drift the rear sight with difficulty against the factory instructions when there is plenty of less difficult adjustment in the front sight (which is designed to be moved as per the manual).
Click to expand...
If the rear sight is noticibly visually off center as it was in my case, why would I move the clearly centered front sight to compensate? And what was the difficulty, one strike with a brass punch and hammer?
 
biku324 said:
That 'graunch' is the sound of your warranty being voided. :)
Click to expand...

I void the warranty of every gun I get by shooting handloads almost immediately. I have never had it stop a firearm manufacturer from refusing to service my gun even when I mention handloads (as well as factory loads) during the conversation. The tech people can usually pick up when someone knows what they are talking about when explaining things before getting an RMA. I can see where there would be a problem if you tell them you get feeding problems after running a dremel tool over the ramp, or that your gun blew up with your handloads and you want a new gun and a million dollars for the damages. But some minor fiddling hasn't been a problem for me.

ImDrRich recently sent a gun off with aftermarket sights and got them back when S&W returned the gun. S&W surely could have surmised that the sights had been "graunched," but the problem didn't relate to the graunching, and they fixed the gun. BG 2.0 returned from S&W Service

YMMV
 
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