Picked up a new 380 bodyguard 2 days ago and hope to get out to the range this holiday weekend. Fit and finish are perfect, love the ergonomics, love the lazer. I bought a Don Hume JIT slide holster and love it. In the past I have gone IWB but due to the size of this gun I see no reason to. The muzzle sits just an inch below my belt so with an untucked shirt its almost as hidden as with an IWB holster, plus, OWB is WAY more comfortable as most of you know even with a small gun. In the past I have always carried a 9mm but found I really wanted something smaller and lighter thus going with the BD380. Yes I know there's a ton of 380 bashers out there but with good ammo I see nothing wrong with 10 to 11 inches of penetration with good expansion. A couple well placed 380's will kill you dead just as good as a 9, 40or 45 I don't care what people say. My take down lever is VERY hard to activate so I called a S&W rep and they confirmed that after the re-design from having earlier problems with the pin coming out too easily that on the new guns it's pretty stiff till break in. I actually have to pull my slide back BEYOND the locked position in order to get the pin to swivel the 90 degrees to pull out but who cares as long it's nice and snug for shooting. So far I'm loving the way this gun carries; no reason to EVER NOT have it on me. I'll post some range report stats after my first outing. At this point; good job S&W.
New BG380
- Thread starter drover
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Copnomore
Member
Drover, Try an unloaded mag in the weapon while you field strip. That will help. Some of the guys use the spare floorplate provided to help move the takedown lever. Just some tips from experience. Some guy named Harry58 will make a comment in the future about needing to turn the takedown pin to the 9 o'clock position. He is correct, they haven't changed the manual, but if you ever call them on it they will confirm verbally.
Last edited:
Harry58
Member
On the takedown, mine works better if you rotate the pin all the way to 9:00 o'clock. Also, front pocket carry is so easy with the BG380 that you may want to consider this versus either a OWB or IWB.
BigRich315
Member
Non-basher here, I love this caliber. There is alot to be said for a weapon that can truly be with you 24/7/365, disappearing no matter what you have to wear. I haven't found a BG to check out yet, but it isn't much bigger than my P3AT, so should be just as handy.
I highly suggest trying to feed it Speer Gold Dot (hopefully it will like the taste). It's a proven bullet design and the terminal ballistics are as good as it gets for this caliber.
I highly suggest trying to feed it Speer Gold Dot (hopefully it will like the taste). It's a proven bullet design and the terminal ballistics are as good as it gets for this caliber.
Texas Solo
Member
I got my BG380 about a month ago. I'd been holding off for all the "growing pains" to get worked out. Mine has been 100% through 200 rounds. It's so reliable and easy to carry that my Glock sees little action now. I have an IWB, but I mostly find myself just sticking the pistol in my back jeans pocket. Between the double action trigger AND manual safety, I think it's OK to do it this way.
FWIW, I carry Winchester PDX. Looking at the specs available, it's one of the few that gives top performance from a .380.
FWIW, I carry Winchester PDX. Looking at the specs available, it's one of the few that gives top performance from a .380.
greybeard43
Member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2011
- Messages
- 78
- Reaction score
- 15
Put it in a Desantis nemasis holster and into your front pocket. You hardly know it's there.
captorquewrench
Member
I've had a BG380 for about 3 months, I really like it for carry, but I hate field stripping. I will try the empty magazine in while I do it. Thanks for the tip.
This is the first handgun I've ever bought, and I absolutely love it. I'm new to ranges, but I've already put about 100 rounds through the pistol, and not a single problem. I understand after a lot of research that serial numbers that end the farthest from EAA...ex. EAB, EAC, EAD, etc. are the most modified and corrected from early errors like the takedown pin and laser problems. Mine is an EAP, which should be one of the latest, but the button on the right side of the gun for the laser is becoming harder and harder to press with every round fired, it seams, while the left side button is very easy to press. I've heard that cleaning the laser and button can help with this, but I've tried, and it doesn't seem to. Does anyone have any ideas besides sending the laser in for service? Thanks in advance, and I am also wondering whether there will be any OTW holsters that are plastic molded to the gun like the Glock or Sig 9 holsters will be made for the BG380?
captorquewrench
Member
Looking for that laser fix is one of the things that brought me to this board. what worked for me is here, but I cannot remember the search terms I used. Let me look a little more.
ETAA: I found the thread, try this: http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...-ultimate-bodyguard-380-laser-button-fix.html
ETAA: I found the thread, try this: http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...-ultimate-bodyguard-380-laser-button-fix.html
Last edited:
blksn955.o
Member
Great link on the button, I had not seen that in prior searching.
I picked up a .380 bodyguard about a month ago and like said the 9 o'clock is how far I have to move the take down lever as well.
At 7yds the laser was dead on for me. Took about 2 mags to get a feel for the trigger. Like a revolver you need to pull and take up all the slack...then slightly/gently squeeze the rest of the travel. By the first 50round I was getting every round in a mag within a 2.5-3in circle.
Compared to the Ruger LCP I shot...night and day more comfortable to shoot. Almost on par with my moms Walther PK380.
I picked up a .380 bodyguard about a month ago and like said the 9 o'clock is how far I have to move the take down lever as well.
At 7yds the laser was dead on for me. Took about 2 mags to get a feel for the trigger. Like a revolver you need to pull and take up all the slack...then slightly/gently squeeze the rest of the travel. By the first 50round I was getting every round in a mag within a 2.5-3in circle.
Compared to the Ruger LCP I shot...night and day more comfortable to shoot. Almost on par with my moms Walther PK380.
