Questions about the Bodyguard 380

[gpetrucci85]

Hi all, this is my first post in the Semi-auto section. I am a proud owner of a M&P-15 Sport. Love the gun!!

I have a few questions about the BG380-as i have read a few mixed reviews, most of which have been older however.

My fiance` currently owns a Ruger LCP w/Crimson Trace. However, she is really not happy with it. She is having a really hard time shooting it. While we understand it is not a range gun, she keeps dropping her barrel right when the gun fires, due to how far back the trigger breaks. The trigger pull is just so long and heavy for her, that she is really having a hard time even point and shooting. She does get better after a magazine or two, but she is not confident in it.

We were in our local Cabela's, and she asked to see a Bodyguard 380, and she likes the feel of it a lot better, and when she dry fired it a few times, she said it was much better than the Ruger. I'll admit, it felt better to me too, but I'm not a big fan of the bug guns.

I have read that the BG380 has had a few problems, and I would like to know if S&W has corrected them? My main points of concern are the takedown pin popping out when fireing, and the laser battery retention screw. I suppose a drop of lock-tight could help the retention screw, but I was just wondering about the newer production models and their quality control? Is the takedown pin still an issue?

She wants to trade her Ruger in for a BG380, and that's fine with me, as long as the gun she is trading for is going to be reliable. She still hits paper every time with the Ruger, she just wants something that she feels more confident in. Which is obviously very important for a personal defensive weapon. Though if she was ever at home, and in need of defense, she will always grab the AR first.

 

[Shuz]

If you haven't already done so, do a "search" on this forum using 380 Bodyguard. You'll see lots of folks just love them and have had no problems, and others have had oodles of different problems, some of which have never been corrected. Personally, I had one with FTF and FTE problems that were never addressed by the factory on three return trips. On the fourth trip I asked for, and received a full refund.

 

[Shuz]

My wife also has a Ruger LCP that i would love to have here use as her CCW. She doesn't like the long hard trigger pull either. I recently bought an AMT 380 Backup and it has a decent trigger, but now she claims the gun is too heavy at about 17 ounces.
If you find a nice light .380 ACP with a good trigger, please let me know!

 

[mike56]

Just came back from the range with my new bodyguard. Put 100 rounds through it, (50 win white box flat points, 50 federal fmj)
No issues at all. Feeding, ejection all good. Decent accuracy out to 15 yds.
100 rounds were alot at one time. It does snap some. Not a range gun for sure.

Still looking at the ammo posts here. Good arguements for fmj and penetration or new, hot hollow points for expansion.

Never went smaller than a .38 j frame in the past, but the bodyguards size/weight means there is no reason not to have it. Felt better to me than the ruger. Better sights.

will be a keeper.

 

[gpetrucci85]

thanks for the info!!! really boosts my confidence in this gun for her.

 

[Northwindtucker]

I've had my BG380 since Feb. It is very accurate once I learned the trigger. I've shot Wwb, Fed eagle, Corbon dpx, and Buffalo Bore +p GD jhp without an issue. I recently tried hornady critical def. I had 2 FTF but both fired on the second strike. Didn't like the critical def in my M&P .40, so I blamed the FTF on the ammo. I pocket carry the BG380 in a Recluse holster, which I recommend highly. I carry it with the buffalo bore.

 

[cporfe]

I just bought a Bodyguard .380 and fired it today1

I, too, was worried about the negative press in the beginning. But my gun is newer, EAV serial number. I just went over 120 rounds with it today. Mixture of White box FMJ, Georgia Arms HPs, and Magtech HPs. Absolutely no problems. The HPs were a little snappy. I bought a box of Winchester Silvertips, which are supposed to be more mild and still effective in short barrel guns. I'm going to try them next and if they feed I think I'll carry that round in the BodyGuard and relegate the Critical Defense to the all steel .380s I have.

Good shooting!

Chris

 

[Faux Paws]

Third Trip to Range with BG 380

Wife and I went to range yesterday, and between us, fired around 80+ rounds through the BG 380. One FTF requiring double strike with Blazer, no problems with Winchester white box.

We practiced shooting at 5, 12 and 21 yards.

Wife, who is shorter than average height and has small hands, hated the long pull her first time (last week). It takes practice to learn where the trigger breaks.

Yesterday, she was much more comfortable with the action of the pistol, and shot very well using the iron sights.

Firing from low/mid chest height, elbows tight to her torso, using the laser, she absolutely drilled the center out of the Shoot N-C targets at five yards.

She did have some bruising on fleshy area between thumb and pointer finger of trigger hand due to recoil. We'll work on that.

Getting the take-down lever in and out for field stripping can be a royal pain until you get the hang. Use a wooden chop stick to rotate it out. Whatever works to get it back in...

Confident enough to use this gun as every day CCW.

Greg

 

[wingnuut]

i brought my bg380 to S&W for the take lever the tech took the magazine and used the plastic bottom to push the lever to the 6 oclock position!

 

[Faux Paws]

A Pearl!

Thanks for the tip, Wingnuut.

It was tough, eating Asian food with only one chop stick.

Greg

 

[Lost Lake]

I only have about 300 rounds through my BG380, but never a problem. Just Saturday my son and I were playing around and he had my M&P 9c and I had the BG380 and he ran through a magazine and then on my turn he challenged me to shoot out the eye of the woodchuck target at 20 feet.... I cheated and turned on the laser, but even so, I was just as shocked as he was when I put that eye out on the first shot...

My BG is a nice pocket gun that has eaten hollow points, cheap ammo, expensive ammo, just anything, and it hides in the pocket of shorts really easily.

 

[Frederickcr]

I'm a newbbie. I got my first BG 380 and took it to the range today. I ran 100 rounds with Fiocchi, and RWS, both were great without a problem. I love this gun. Both my friend Mary and I are new to this but were very impressed with the accuracy of the gun. The only down side is the long trigger pull.

 

[Texas Solo]

I've been carrying a BG380 for about 6 months. I have about 200 rounds of mixed ammo through it without a single failure.
I carry the Win PDX1. Hot stuff!

Don't worry about the take down lever falling out as that was corrected. My serial number is a later one, and all is fine. It's actually tight to get out.

Just give that little laser screw a snugging up when you field strip the gun for cleaning. I guess you could loctite it, but it really isn't necessary.

 

[offduty]

Had mine for a over a year now. 300+ rounds with no problem, knock on wood. Love the gun as it conceals nice. Was worried about small caliber but when clothing does not allow larger caliber it better than nothing and thats why I bought it.

 

[TANKDVR50]

Bodyguard 380 question

Friend has a relatively new bodyguard 380. Sent it back to S&W for minor repair...now you cannot put a mag in without depressing the mag release button....and he says there is now a second recoil spring that was intertwined with the original when he got it back fro S&W.

Anyone know of a recall/fix from S&W on these two issues?????

 

[AlexII]

i brought my bg380 to S&W for the take lever the tech took the magazine and used the plastic bottom to push the lever to the 6 oclock position!

Thanks for the heads up. I had this problem, now fixed!

 

[Linejudgemick]

I went to Cabela's to look at one of these today. I have an M&P9C that's a little chunky. I also own a Beretta Nano that will "almost" fit in my pocket, but is probably better suited for IWB depending on what I'm wearing. So, I thought I'd look at a BG380, because I've never really looked at the 380s. My first impression was - wow is it small!!! I'm not sure I could imagine a full featured pistol, let alone one with an integrated laser being that size. The only downfall for me was how "right-handed" it is. I don't think I could get comfortable operating it, but it did seem like a nice pistol.

 

[The Tourist]

But my gun is newer, EAV serial number.

I also have a Bodyguard, and after reading your post, I checked my serial number.

Mine has a EBS prefix.

Since 'B' is after 'A,' am I to assume that my model is newer?

 

[canyonken]

Friend has a relatively new bodyguard 380. Sent it back to S&W for minor repair...now you cannot put a mag in without depressing the mag release button....and he says there is now a second recoil spring that was intertwined with the original when he got it back fro S&W.

Anyone know of a recall/fix from S&W on these two issues?????

My serial number is EBR5xxx. Out of the box - My gun had the double coiled recoil spring. I have to push the mag release to insert mag. No problems here.