New Bodyguard

[jnichols2]

I've been thinking of getting a .380 pistol for a couple of years now. I'm not sure it's a "need", but I do pay attention to my "wants".

I went back and forth with Glock 42, Ruger LCP II, and M&P Bodyguard. The Glock 42 is a little big, while the Ruger and Bodyguard have both good and bad reviews. Then I noted that most of the bad reviews were on older Rugers and M&P.

I did buy a Glock 42, I get them on the LE discount so I can always get my money back. Then I handled the Ruger and Bodyguard extensively, and bought the Bodyguard. It's much better suited to gym shorts while walking the dog. About six years ago I had to face down a 100 lb Pit Bull bare handed. When he realized I wasn't bluffing, he backed off. But the Bodyguard is probably better than a 70 year old with empty hands.

Academy doesn't let you try the trigger, but they had the Flat Dark Earth model $30 off, so I took a chance. I can't use the safety because I'm left handed. But like the Shield, it doesn't seem necessary. The long double action won't bother me. my other pocket gun is a S&W 642 revolver.

I'll give both the Smith and Glock a checkout at the range tomorrow. Is there a hollow point the Bodyguard seems to favor?

 

[Jeppo]

Don't forget to register for your rebate.

 

[jnichols2]

I thought all the rebates were over. Google, here I come.

Edit:
I just submitted my rebate. I was given a tracking number, but it doesn't say where to check status. The Milano page has no place to enter a tracking number.

Thank you jeppo !!!

 

[Mister X]

I've seen the Hornady critical defense round listed as being fairly reliable in the bodyguard on quite a few forums. I'm not sure that's saying much. I wanted a micro .380 myself and looked at the bodyguard, but came across as many negative reviews as I did positive. Pretty much the same with every small .380 with maybe Glock 42 being the exception, but it's too large to justify it's caliber IMO and I would just as soon go with a 9mm in a gun that size. Good luck and I hope you find one that works well.

 

[cocojo]

I just bought one under LE. Its an awesome pistol i am very happy with my choice. Trigger is not that hard to pull to much is made about triggers today. My gun has lazer and no safety. It is my favorite carry now and critical defense and fed hst are the most accurate. I just love this pistol. Got my 50 dollar rebate yesterday. Took couple of weeks.

 

[KSDeputy]

What is different about the "new" BG?

 

[jnichols2]

Hornady Critical Defense is my first choice for a short barreled pistol. Thanks.

 

[jnichols2]

What is different about the "new" BG?

I don't actually know, but I saw a couple of reviews that said "that was corrected with the newer models". Gun makers usually make small, incremental, changes as they go along. Sig Sauer makes upgrades every few months, they never announce them.

 

[Jeppo]

I thought all the rebates were over. Google, here I come.

Edit:
I just submitted my rebate. I was given a tracking number, but it doesn't say where to check status. The Milano page has no place to enter a tracking number.

Thank you jeppo !!!

You're welcome. You can spend $5 of your newfound $50 buying me a beer. If you got the email, you're golden. It seems Milano isn't involved in this round so you should see your prepaid card in 3 weeks or so.

 

[Jeppo]

What is different about the "new" BG?

Rumors say we'll see a 2.0 BG perhaps next month.

 

[jnichols2]

You're welcome. You can spend $5 of your newfound $50 buying me a beer. If you got the email, you're golden. It seems Milano isn't involved in this round so you should see your prepaid card in 3 weeks or so.

No email yet, just the web site saying it was accepted. Three weeks sounds fast.

 

[OLDSTER]

Nearly 800 trouble-free rounds of Hornady American Gunner through my BG

 

[richardw]

I have arthritis of the hands and racking can be a problem for me with many pistols and recoil can be too. I owned a Ruger Lc9s but it's recoil started to bother my hand during range sessions. I decided to go to 380, but the bad Bodyguard reports turned me away from it. I settled on a Remington RM380. It is acclaimed for the ease of racking and light recoil. I swapped out the hammer, firing pin and recoil springs with Galloway parts. That made the trigger pull smoother and lighter, and the recoil was further reduced. It eats any ammo it is fed without failure.

I set about learning what the best ammo for 380 micro might be. There are numerous claims from manufacturers that do not hold up under testing. Ammo Quest on YouTube did extensive testing of 380 HP ammo to determine the best performing ammo. Their tests showed that most 380 HP either failed to expand or had I inconsistent expansion out of a short barrel. The exception was Precision One XTP. It expanded every time and very uniformly. The XTP bullet is a Hornady bullet (if I recall properly).

After a month of research I settled on Lehigh Defense Extreme Defender hydrostatic ammo. It is controversial, but I an confident from my research that it will outperform any 380 HP. Please note I make that statement for 380 not other rounds. also I am not looking to turn this thread into an ammo debate.

I hope that anyone who has or will purchase a Bodyguard will have a good experience, but all should know that the selection of ammo for it ought not be based on ad claims. I research life and death choices and, if I had not decided on Lehigh, I would be loaded with Precision One XTP.

 

[Nicefish]

My dad, my friend, and my wife all picked up Remington rm380's last month at a local gun store's black Friday sale - $199 with the mail in rebate of $100 we paid a net $99 (why not?). None of us can get hollow points to feed in it (at least not Federal Hydro Shocks)?!?

 

[richardw]

Y LGC gave me a box of Remington Ultimate Defense JHP when I bought the gun. It fed without a problem. I have not see any reports until now of. Failure to fee HP ammo. The Lehigh Defense Extreme Defender with its fluted solid copper bullet feeds fine.

 

[Nicefish]

Y LGC gave me a box of Remington Ultimate Defense JHP when I bought the gun. It fed without a problem. I have not see any reports until now of. Failure to fee HP ammo. The Lehigh Defense Extreme Defender with its fluted solid copper bullet feeds fine.

We'll give 'em a try.

 

[RGVshooter]

I've been carrying my M&P bodyguard 380 everyday since 2015 & lost track of how many rounds I've put thru it. I usually put around 50 rounds a month practice shooting it. My carry loads are either Federal Hydra shoks or Hornady Critical Defense. Reliability with both of those brands has been 100%. I get a occasional light strike using Monarch/PPU ammo, Remington green box too. But never the defensive carry loads. Keep it clean at all times and it will serve you well. Great little pocket gun!

 

[oldiegoldie]

I've been thinking of getting a .380 pistol for a couple of years now. I'm not sure it's a "need", but I do pay attention to my "wants".

I went back and forth with Glock 42, Ruger LCP II, and M&P Bodyguard. The Glock 42 is a little big, while the Ruger and Bodyguard have both good and bad reviews. Then I noted that most of the bad reviews were on older Rugers and M&P.

I did buy a Glock 42, I get them on the LE discount so I can always get my money back. Then I handled the Ruger and Bodyguard extensively, and bought the Bodyguard. It's much better suited to gym shorts while walking the dog. About six years ago I had to face down a 100 lb Pit Bull bare handed. When he realized I wasn't bluffing, he backed off. But the Bodyguard is probably better than a 70 year old with empty hands.

Academy doesn't let you try the trigger, but they had the Flat Dark Earth model $30 off, so I took a chance. I can't use the safety because I'm left handed. But like the Shield, it doesn't seem necessary. The long double action won't bother me. my other pocket gun is a S&W 642 revolver.

I'll give both the Smith and Glock a checkout at the range tomorrow. Is there a hollow point the Bodyguard seems to favor?

i carry Federal HST 99 g. hollow point. there have been a few negative reports of not enough penetration. i pay no attention to that. the shape of the bullet nearly guarantees reliable feeding. PMC is my favorite range ammo.

i probably carry the BG more than any gun owned. it has been 100% reliable. mine is mostly carried in a Wright OWB holster at 3 oclock.

one suggestion....hone the rails buttery smooth with a fine [very fine] stone and keep them well lubed. smooth up the ramp also.
good luck

 

[jnichols2]

i carry Federal HST 99 g. hollow point. there have been a few negative reports of not enough penetration. i pay no attention to that. the shape of the bullet nearly guarantees reliable feeding. PMC is my favorite range ammo.

i probably carry the BG more than any gun owned. it has been 100% reliable. mine is mostly carried in a Wright OWB holster at 3 oclock.

one suggestion....hone the rails buttery smooth with a fine [very fine] stone and keep them well lubed. smooth up the ramp also.
good luck

I have just the tool for honing the rails, a Spyderco knife stone. They are triangle shaped for grtting into the slide rails. I have fine and xtra fine.

 

[garddogg56]

Over 1500 rounds thru my BG still perfect the trigger is buttery smooooooothwas gritty till 500 rounds no FTF or FTE..Has last shot hold open that my second gen LCP didn't have

 

[jnichols2]

I've been carrying my M&P bodyguard 380 everyday since 2015 & lost track of how many rounds I've put thru it. I usually put around 50 rounds a month practice shooting it. My carry loads are either Federal Hydra shoks or Hornady Critical Defense. Reliability with both of those brands has been 100%. I get a occasional light strike using Monarch/PPU ammo, Remington green box too. But never the defensive carry loads. Keep it clean at all times and it will serve you well. Great little pocket gun!

I favor the Hornady Critical Defense for short barrels. I've heard foriegn (Monarch/PPU) ammo uses hard primers. I don't know about the remington. Right now, I have American Eagle and Winchester White Box. Anything the Smith doesn't like, I'll feed to the Glock 42.

 

[comiskeybum]

I presonally love my bodyguard and will only replace it if it breaks or they come out with a 2.0

 

[joeintexas]

I can't comment on the BG 380 but I do have the BG 38spec. I had a failure to fire on many rounds, sent it in to S&W and they replaced the firing pin. So far so good, have put 50 rounds through it and all fired. I was told that fix is standard procedure for the misfires. It was an older model so the newer ones probably have the fix in place. Aside from the misfires I really do like the little revolver, light weight, carries in pocket very well and for a short barrel it is surprisingly accurate. I imagine the BG 380 is as well.

 

[URIT]

Ammo is an important decision so here are ballistics testing results from various 380 and other handgun calibers fired from short barrel pistols:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

 

[oldiegoldie]

I had bad luck using Fiocchi .380 ammo [no problem in 9mm though]. the primers in Fiocchi may be hard....others have reported no problems.

i have read that Federal has the most sensitive primer. not being a reloader i have no first hand knowledge of primer brands. wish someone knowledgeable about primers would step up with good research data. not trying to hijack this thread....hard primers are mentioned often when BG failure to fire is discussed.

 

[Funflyer]

My BG has several hundred rounds (300+) through it without a hiccup. I carry it with Ruger ARX ammo.

One thing, if you find the magazines catch on the release when inserting them, a quick radius and polish on that corner of the mag will make them glide past the release like butter. See the last post of my BG range report. One more Bodyguard range report

 

[jnichols2]

I did submit the rebate yesterday, and have two questions.

1. jeppo asked if I had received the email, I have not.
Does this email come quickly, or after several weeks?

2. I was given a "tracking number" to track status. But it didn't say where to go for tracking?

Advance thanks to those who have answers.

 

[jnichols2]

I took it to the range today. I had another new gun, so I only shot 60 rounds, all were perfect.

I got 4" groups at 7 yards, and 6" at 10 yards. These will tighten up as I get used to the pistol.

 

[KSDeputy]

My pocket pistol is a Ruger Custom LCP, the one with a red trigger. It has a good trigger, sights, and I like it. Slips into my pocket in an Uncle Mike's cloth holster. Shoots well, is consistently accurate at distances of up to 15 yards.

 

[Jeppo]

I did submit the rebate yesterday, and have two questions.

1. jeppo asked if I had received the email, I have not.
Does this email come quickly, or after several weeks?

2. I was given a "tracking number" to track status. But it didn't say where to go for tracking?

Advance thanks to those who have answers.

So, I found 3 emails regarding my submission on a 442.

I submitted online on 11/22 and received an email immediately from [email protected]. Maybe your email went into "spam"?

I received an identical email on 11/29.

The third email came on 12/6 telling me the submission had been approved and that the prepaid Master Card would arrive in 10-15 business days.

Actually, the card arrived very soon after 12/6. The whole thing took about three weeks which shocked me.

The first email contained a link for checking the status. I never bothered to check. You might see if you can find anything at:

https://www.smithandwessonrebates.com/#/tracker?tn=InsertYour9DigitTrackingNumberHere