Opinions on S&W 380 Bodyguard and Tarus TCP

[TOM BECKWITH]

Family members considering the following two 380 pistols for CWP pieces. Would appreciate opinions and recommended alternatives. My CWP is a Para P-13 and not real excited about 380s, but they want to stay with "pocket size pistols".

S&W 380 Bodyguard auto with lazer

Tarus TCP 380 auto.

 

[chessail 77]

Taurus has some quality control issues and it is hit or miss when you buy one......both have a lifetime warranty but with the S&W you are much less likely too have to use it....

 

[TripPowers]

The taurus pt111 is not too bad It's small enough for a pocket & shoots 9mm I'm fairly happy only had it jam once & that's when my girlfriend shot it ( limp wrist ?) . I'm a huge fan of older s&ws but the new ones (ive read on here ) seem to have as many issues as much as other companies ... But yeah a Taurus seemed to be hit or miss .

 

[filmit]

I've always been gunshy of Taurus. When I was a dealer it was the most returned line of handguns that I had to send back for repair issues, many of them being new guns that never made it into a customers hands before being sent back. To be fair though, most of the problem Taurus guns I saw were revolvers.

I read enough good reviews of the TCP however that I decided to gamble the $200 on it. It has some features I liked over the Ruger .380, including better sights and the slide locks back on an empty mag. It's been a great little gun, no issues at all and I think it's reliable enough to count on for a cc gun. Which I wouldn't say about most Taurus products.

 

[dfhawkins]

My wife and I have been carrying S&W BG380s for the past 2 years. Although we also carry M&P compacts and Shields, sometimes pocket carry is the only reasonable option. The Bodyguards are functional, dependable (over 800 rounds) and concealable in a pocket holster or IWB. We carried Keltec 3ATs for the three years prior. The Taurus TCP is of the same design (I have no TCP hands-on experience so YMMV). Unlike the P-3AT and LCP, the 738 has a last round hold-open feature so that the slide is locked back on an empty magazine. Taurus also added another feature normally only found on larger pistols: a loaded chamber indicator can be found just above the extractor.

Go with the S&W BG380. It's made in the USA, not Brazil!

 

[Florida J Frame]

Check out the Ruger LCP. It's easy to carry and mine has been 100% trouble free. If you ever need it Ruger's service is top notch.

 

[o3rugby1]

I carry the BG380 all the time and it has well over 500 rounds with out a failure on any spectrum. The laser in my opinon is a novelty, kind of nice to have but functonaly it is hard to operate. I use a nemisis pocket holster.

 

[Linejudgemick]

I have a TCP and like it. I chose it over the Bodyguard because I didn't want the integrated laser and very heavy trigger. So far I've been impressed with its accuracy and function. Its fit and finish is better than some, but I wouldn't try to put it in the same league as my Smith, Beretta, or Rugers. BTW the TCP is made in the United States, not Brazil.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

Thanks folks - will share with them.
T

 

[Wee Hooker]

Taurus has some quality control issues and it is hit or miss when you buy one......both have a lifetime warranty but with the S&W you are much less likely too have to use it....

Agreed. Been There - Done That. Three of the five Taurus I've owned went back to the factory. One after it blew up in my hand on fist firing. That was 9 years ago and the last time I'll own anything from that company never mind stake my life on one of their products. p.s. Good luck finding accessories for the Taurus too.