Report: Problems with new S&W Bodyguard 380

[skip4309]

Top pic is me physically holding slide back.
Middle pic is the off set follower.
Bottom pic is slide release barely engaged.

All pics were from an empty mag inserted and the slide pulled back.

It happens with (3) different mags...one is worse than the other....

 

[Fastbolt]

If it does that when you're shooting it left-handed (no thumb to wander near the lever's outside tab and bump it when shooting right-handed), I'd return the gun and let them check it. Might be a lever spring problem where it's not strong enough to prevent the lever from lifting a little too high and partially catching the slide's stop notch during the normal "part's flutter" that occurs under recoil cycling.

 

[bg1111]

Got my new BG380 yesterday...shot 200 rds of FMJ plus 25 rds of Hornady CD...my slide will occasionally lock back. It appears the slide lock tab is missing the slot on the mag follower and getting jammed between it. Even on an empty mag this will happen the slide will not lock back. It looks like the mag follower is getting twisted (away) from the metal tab on the slide lock. Sent S&W and email and received a ticket number for repair. It happens with both factory mags provided plus another factory mag purchased separately. Anyone else have this problem....

I have the same exact problem. It's not the ammo or how you hold it as I can get it to happen by just racking the slide several times with an empty mag. Once it happens, it won't lock back no matter how many times you rack it. The follower is to the side of the slide stop. You have to pull the mag out then it may or may not lock back. You did a much better job than I taking a picture. I couldn't hold it open with one hand and take the picture with the other. I sent mine back for this problem along with a misfeed problem. They fixed the misfeed but nothing on the slide lock back. In addition I have the failure to fire problem about 10% of the time with several different brands of ammo. My fireing pin strikes are the smallest I've ever seen, far smaller than any other small primer gun. Mine is a current M&P 2014 model.

 

[offensive]

All the more reason for me to not get the new M&P model, I'll stick with its LCP replacement that has no issues

 

[bg1111]

All the more reason for me to not get the new M&P model, I'll stick with its LCP replacement that has no issues

Main reason I got one was for the 2nd strike capability. Didn't realize you needed that because it has a known misfire problem and you'll be doing 2nd strikes a lot.

 

[paratrooper1]

I just bought a BG380 yesterday. When I took it to the range, I noticed the magazines wont seat. I dont have any issues with putting it in, but it wont stay. When the magazines are empty, there isnt a problem, but when they are loaded, none seem to stay in, they just pop back out.
Its a little unnerving, considering this is my conceal carry gun.
I was shooting the Hornady Critical Defense rounds, if that makes a difference.
Any ideas?

 

[paratrooper1]

Update-even when the mags are empty they still want to fall out..
Any help?

 

[ArLEOret]

Bodyguard lever will not go to 6 o'clock position

Bought my new bodyguard yesterday in the BX. When I got home tried to disassemble to oil it and takedown lever would not go to the 6 o'clock position to remove slide. Any suggestions?

 

[paratrooper1]

Mine did that also. Just a little stiff. I used a tiny flat head and pried it. Seems the more you work with it the easier it gets.

 

[atlsrt]

Bought my wife one to replace her bersa. When we took it to the range the trigger was horrendous. I've carried a 649 bodyguard for years and this trigger is worse. Also the slide doesn't lock back when empty.

Talked to a gun smith and he said he's seen the main spring fail on them. Anyone heard this?

 

[bdmeyer]

BG 380 Laser Set Screw Brass female part fell out

I am looking at a friends weapon for him. He felt that the set screw for the laser sight was stripped. Actually, it was the brass piece that is pressed into the polymer that had pulled out. Possibly from over tightening is a wild guess. Possibly, real bad design. I also found a small cap of a pinkish materiel at the bottom of the hole that the brass piece is pressed into. (loose)

Does anyone have a suggestion for how to reseat this brass part that it might last a bit longer?

I was thinking some sort of a two part epoxy, maybe one drop, or a loctite glue that uses a two part also.

The SERIAL number begins with EBR if that means anything.

Is he likely to run into the broken firing pin from the early models?

Thank folks,
-= Bruce

 

[Rodfac]

Here's an update to my post from last November. To date, I've run 525 rounds through my BG380. I have found that while some commercial US made ammunition shows light firing pin strikes, all of it has fired after the first 50 rounds or so. As this is a defensive pistol, I feel that it should work 100% of the time right out of the box...you shouldn't have to put 100 rounds or the 200-300 Kimber insists on, to get the gun to work as it was designed.

That said, mine's been 100% for both hand loads and all US made ammunition. Accuracy has been a surprise since day one....groups from 10 yds using a Weaver Stance run just over an inch, slow fire. The gun points naturally for me and for my wife. The sights are adequate, but I'd prefer tritium night sights (but at the same overall price for the gun). Hey, ya gotta dream right? I've enhanced the supplied iron sights visibility with some neon enamel paint from Walmart. It helps considerably.

The laser sight is still working well, tho the difficult to manipulate on/off button is still...well difficult to manipulate. In a real defensive situation, it'd be hard to imagine using it.

Overall, I like the pistol and find that it rides along more often than I'd originally planned. Front jeans pocket is my location for it, using a Galco in the pocket holster to keep the gun upright and protected from pocket lint. It also rides semi-permanently in the center console of my Jeep Wrangler and in the small "wallet and registration" bag on my bike. Available in either location when I dismount, it's protection, albeit in a sub-standard caliber, that's at hand and not in a drawer or safe at home. My choice of ammunition for carry is Hornady's Critical Defense round...100% reliable in my gun and accurate. But I too, struggle to load that last round in the magazines.

Best Regards, Rod

 

[martybee]

Here's an update to my post from last November. To date, I've run 525 rounds through my BG380. I have found that while some commercial US made ammunition shows light firing pin strikes, all of it has fired after the first 50 rounds or so. As this is a defensive pistol, I feel that it should work 100% of the time right out of the box...you shouldn't have to put 100 rounds or the 200-300 Kimber insists on, to get the gun to work as it was designed.

That said, mine's been 100% for both hand loads and all US made ammunition. Accuracy has been a surprise since day one....groups from 10 yds using a Weaver Stance run just over an inch, slow fire. The gun points naturally for me and for my wife. The sights are adequate, but I'd prefer tritium night sights (but at the same overall price for the gun). Hey, ya gotta dream right? I've enhanced the supplied iron sights visibility with some neon enamel paint from Walmart. It helps considerably.

The laser sight is still working well, tho the difficult to manipulate on/off button is still...well difficult to manipulate. In a real defensive situation, it'd be hard to imagine using it.

Overall, I like the pistol and find that it rides along more often than I'd originally planned. Front jeans pocket is my location for it, using a Galco in the pocket holster to keep the gun upright and protected from pocket lint. It also rides semi-permanently in the center console of my Jeep Wrangler and in the small "wallet and registration" bag on my bike. Available in either location when I dismount, it's protection, albeit in a sub-standard caliber, that's at hand and not in a drawer or safe at home. My choice of ammunition for carry is Hornady's Critical Defense round...100% reliable in my gun and accurate. But I too, struggle to load that last round in the magazines.

Best Regards, Rod

Rod:
I totally concur with you!
My BG380 is accurate at 10 yds and the laser is working well, but goes unused. I have 3-mags.
loaded with Gold Dots and I feel a lot safer with it than nothing at all.

mb

 

[Ysrnm]

Bodyguard failure misfire no fire beware

Fresh out of the box bodyguard 380 with fresh Remington amo. 19 minutes at the range to complete 12 shots, conservative 30 plus trigger pulls. What a pucker fest, misfire, late fire, no fire, light strike call it what you wish. Returning to S&W Monday first light. Do not take a chance on purchasing this pistol. Glock 42 tomorrow as I await my refund. Praise be we found out at the range and not in a compromising situation. Long time Smith fan, never again. Shame on me for not researching before I purchased.

 

[Ysrnm]

Fresh out of the box bodyguard 380 with fresh Remington amo. 19 minutes at the range to complete 12 shots, conservative 30 plus trigger pulls. What a pucker fest, misfire, late fire, no fire, light strike call it what you wish. Returning to S&W Monday first light. Do not take a chance on purchasing this pistol. Glock 42 tomorrow as I await my refund. Praise be we found out at the range and not in a compromising situation. Long time Smith fan, never again. Shame on me for not researching before I purchased.

 

[GWbee]

BodyGuard 380 mag dislodging when firing

I know there are a bunch of posts on this, but I think I missed if there were a fix. BodyGuard 380 uses some sort of a wire spring to hold the mag in place. I have mostly good luck shooting the gun and really like it, but occasionally the mag pops out after firing a few rounds, sometimes only barely coming loose and I don't notice it, until I fire and there's no round in the chamber (because the mag slipped down a mere 1-2mm so a new round couldn't chamber). It takes a second or two to recognize that the mag has been jostled loose by the impact of firing, and possibly the leverage downward from my ring-finger on the curve of the bottom of the mag. That could spell big trouble in a real defensive situation. Is there a way to get a stiffer spring.

 

[Don Crowe]

Took my Bodyguard .380 to the range for the third time and mine had a major problem. The take down lever backed out after firing about 100 rounds today and the slide, spring, guide rod, and take down lever blew off the gun. I was left holding only the lower with the mag in it. I picked up the pieces and put it all back together and the only way to keep the take down level from backing out was to put my finger next to it. If I would take my finger away it would continue to back out after firing several rounds. Called S&W and told them my story and I got the shipping label and just took it to FedEx. The CS person had heard the story before and they don't know a reason why it is happening. The way I see it is the take down lever is being moved by recoil when the slide is open and will drop all the way down and out of the gun. There does not seem to be enough tension on the take down lever on my gun as it moves easily on slide open or slide lock.

I have a new Bodyguard and had to send it back to S&W for the same lever issue but I had an additional issue. S&W uses a form of EDM to rifle their barrels. The lands were ok but the grove was so rough it looked like they were put in with a hammer. They replaced the frame for the lever issue but did nothing about the barrel. I am sending it back for the third time tomorrow with pictures. Hopefully they will put in a new barrel this time. We are not dealing with the old S&W. They didn't even take the time to remove the casting parting line on the top of the barrel.

 

[M29since14]

Fresh out of the box bodyguard 380 with fresh Remington amo. 19 minutes at the range to complete 12 shots, conservative 30 plus trigger pulls...

Well, I hate to complain too much on the internet unless I am pretty sure I am not the problem. My BG380 returned from S&W a couple weeks ago. The "light strike" fail-to-fire malfunction was the issue. S&W sent it back with a piece of paper enclosed that said, "Replaced firing pin and spring." It was a little dirty, so I am pretty sure they tested it and it probably worked OK for them... ?

I have had it to the range twice since then. It has misfired both times, but it is not quite as bad as it was. So far I have tested with RWS, Winchester, Remington, and Magtech ammo. Only Remington has not had a fail-to-fire. (This was the same before I sent it to S&W for repair.)

I hate to say it but I think I am done with this one. I have had two, both with the same problem. It is a nice design and I do like the little gun, but I think this is a two-strikes-and-it's-out deal. I am not springing for a third one and I don't think sending it back to S&W is going to accomplish much.

I can't recall having a single fail-to-fire with the previous mini-.380s I owned, a Kel-tec and a Ruger, shooting the same ammo. Those were both trigger-finger pinchers, but they did go bang every time. Since I don't want to go back to either of those two, I guess my only alternative to bailing on the BG is to continue testing with Remington, and maybe look around for some Federal ammunition. Will do that before making a decision.

 

[Rickgus]

M29 - Sounds like you had better luck with Remington than I did. We had several FTFeeds with Remington UMC FMJ. I was rather disappointed with our first range trip with the Bodyguard. My LCP shot them with no issues. We have since moved on to the PMC Bronze and have had no issues. I have also heard the American Eagle has faired well in the Bodyguards! Good luck in finding the right ammo. - Rick

 

[M29since14]

Thanks for that. I saw PMC Bronze .380 FMJs Sunday and then neglected to buy a box before I departed.

I do not handload .380s and cannot find any factory ammunition except my old stash of Hydra-shoks that might have Federal primers. I consider those too expensive to experiment with at this point. I have my eyes open for American Eagles. Surely some will come along soon.

For now, the Remingtons have been the best I've tried. They came in the proverbial 250-round "value pack" container (Green and white, IIRC). Nickel cases. Fairly recent production - maybe within the last year or two.

I can stand a failure to lock the slide after the last round, and the slide flying forward when the mag is inserted. I don't have these problems but I know others talk about them. "Light strikes" are just intolerable.

S&W has forgotten more about making defensive handguns than most of us have ever learned. Why they have this problem with so many guns (not just the BG380) amazes me. I'd gladly put up with with a couple more pounds of trigger-pull weight, if that is what it takes, to make the gun fire every time. It makes me wonder if they are working to specifications that do not take into account the variation of the ammunition being used... or if it is a combination of faults with both gun AND ammunition? Likely both, I suppose.

The Winchester FMJ-FN ammunition I mentioned earlier in this thread says "Made in USA" on the box, so I guess it is domestic production - unless someone is being cute and meaning they assemble the cartridges here with components made elsewhere...