The Saga: Bodyguard 380 FT Fire Part VI

[db4570]

You all may be getting a bit weary of the saga with my Bodyguards. Imagine how I feel.

A quick review:

BG380 #1: Four trips back to S&W for FTFire and other problems, S&W finally replaced with a new one.

BG380 #2: FTFire Winchester white box and Federal Hydrashok.

Installed new Galloway firing pin and hammer spring, anticipating it would solve, once and for all, my FTFire problems. While the gun was completely disassembled, I gave it a deep clean with #9 solvent, and the lightest whisper of lube with #9 oil. I paid particular attention to the firing pin and channel, keeping all lube off them completely.

Went to the range tonight and it ran like a champ for the first 30-40 rounds. Then started FTFiring about 1 per mag. Shot a mix of Win and Rem white box, and it FTFired on both, but more so on the Win. Also tried a mag of Blazer, after hearing they had "hard primers", but they ran fine.

If anything the gun is worse now after I did the Galloway stuff.

I have noticed ONE consistent thing with these guns, over the months I have been testing them with hundreds of rounds of ammo. After getting it back from S&W, or in this latest case, after a thorough tear-down and clean, the guns performed perfectly for the first 30-50 rounds. Then they would start FTFiring.

At first I thought this was because I happened to be running the Rem first, and the Win later in the session, and it didn't like the Win. But I mixed the brands at the beginning of the session tonight, and they both ran fine, until after about six or seven mags. The Win still gives it more trouble than anything else, though.

Maybe it's super finicky about being clean.

I hate to say it, but I think I am done with the Bodyguard 380. It's too weird that this happened with both guns.

I may reconsider after sleeping on it, and decide to torture myself further. I was so happy to get the new replacement, and enjoyed doing the tear-down and Galloway upgrade. It's odd, but I have an attachment to this gun. Maybe because there is nothing else like it, and I thought I had found my perfect EDC pistol.

David

 

[shawn mccarver]

A self defense pistol should not be that finicky. If it will not run 100% out of the box, without anything more than a wipe down and some oil, it is unacceptable. Get rid of it, and get a reliable pistol.

 

[Magload]

You might completely de oil it and run it dry long enough to test it. Don

 

[ocinsomniac]

I hate to say it, but I think I am done with the Bodyguard 380. It's too weird that this happened with both guns.

Welcome to the 0 for 2 Body Guard Club. Our motto is "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!"

 

[kbm6893]

Well, my mind is made up. No Bodyguard for me. I know some have been flawless, but too many have not, and I'm not gonna spend a few hundred bucks on expensive 380 ammo to find out.

It's too bad. It's the perfect pocket gun for me. Just googling bodyguard 380 malfunctions turns up dozens of sites with similar complaints. Just don't get how S&W can make such a ****.

 

[Old cop]

I gave up on the LCP & Glock 42 after a similar experience, and I really wanted to like those pistols. Give up and move on, there are other models out there that will suit you just as well.

 

[Rickgus]

David - Many have offered suggestions to you, but you continue to use Win and RemWB (whatever that is, I think you mean UMC). I can't speak for Win ammo, but the UMC I had nothing but problems with it, never again. Replacement pistol shot 30-50 rounds flawlessly? Capt Ron has mentioned magazines getting dirty which could be an inherent problem with firing numerous rounds at one range trip. Are these the original magazines? Have you checked those after the first trip to the range? You jumped head first into buying and installing after market items for a new replacement pistol when you should have been on the phone calling Smith. If they can't make it right with a Bodyguard, they need to offer another model or refund your money so you can buy something you can start enjoying and depend on! I don't like being outspoken but you seem to be trying to take this on alone. Time to move on! It's your pistol, but it's Smith's problem to make this right!
I hope the next post, The Saga: Bodyguard 380 Part VII tells us Smith has replaced with..............or Smith is refunding my money! Good luck David, at this point you truly deserve it! - Rick

 

[CaptRon956]

How about

"The Saga: Bodyguard 380 VIII" ...Defining the purpose of why carry a small pocket pistol, understanding their limitations and finally admiting to expecting too much from a pistol no bigger than a red delicious apple.

 

[db4570]

How about

"The Saga: Bodyguard 380 VIII" ...Defining the purpose of why carry a small pocket pistol, understanding their limitations and finally admiting to expecting too much from a pistol no bigger than a red delicious apple.

What, exactly, am I expecting that's "too much"?

Have I ever complained it's not as accurate as a tournament 1911?

Have I ever said it kicks too much?

Have I ever complained it's too small for my hand?

I've never even complained, like everyone else, about the heavy trigger. Because I don't care.

I'd say I have ONE VERY reasonable expectation for it.

I expect it to go "BANG" when I pull the trigger.

Only a corporate fan-boy would excuse a gun that doesn't fire.

In case you believe it's impossible for such a small gun to work properly (despite numerous other tiny guns working just fine for the last century), I have three letters for you:

L

C

P

Stop blaming the victim.

David

 

[Rickgus]

David - Everybody wants what you want, you to be happy with a Bodyguard you can depend on, without issues! You seem like you won't be happy with anything else, so why don't you go after Smith and Wesson and tell them what you expect! You paid good money for your Bodyguard, so why don't you cast the blame on Smith! Tell them everything positive you feel towards the Bodyguard and ask them if getting a handgun from them that won't fail you or your loved ones is too much to ask. Your file should be plenty thick at this point, so I do not believe that they would ever think you are asking too much from them! YOU just have to make that phone call! You still have faith in the LCP as most of us do, ask Smith why they can't live up to that same reputation! This forum is here to help our fellow members, not to "blame the victims" as you put it! - Rick

 

[kbm6893]

How about

"The Saga: Bodyguard 380 VIII" ...Defining the purpose of why carry a small pocket pistol, understanding their limitations and finally admiting to expecting too much from a pistol no bigger than a red delicious apple.

The gun should fire reliably, period. People work hard for their money and to lay out hundreds of dollars and get something that is not reliable is unacceptable. I don't own an LCP but I hear it is extremely reliable. Google Bodyguard 380 malfunctions and you get dozens of hits.

I almost bought one a few weeks ago. Gun shop owner told me to buy the LCP, which he had for cheaper. What does that tell you?

 

[Rickgus]

The gun should fire reliably, period. People work hard for their money and to lay out hundreds of dollars and get something that is not reliable is unacceptable. I don't own an LCP but I hear it is extremely reliable. Google Bodyguard 380 malfunctions and you get dozens of hits.

I almost bought one a few weeks ago. Gun shop owner told me to buy the LCP, which he had for cheaper. What does that tell you?

Kbm - I own both, and in all fairness to David, I think the Bodyguard has many features that I wish the LCP had. My Bodyguard was not failure free out of the box. It had many failure to feeds and ejection problems. We took it back to our LGS we bought it from and he looked at it, shot the ammo we were shooting on our first range trip and then fired several brands that he keeps in his store. He eventually convinced us that our failures with our new purchase were related to ammo and not any defect with the pistol. I guess you could say we got luckey with our Bodyguard. If it had turned out being a defect in the pistol, I would be the first to send it back to S&W as many times as it took to get it right. This would not be my problem, nor is it David's problem. He needs to stay on them until they throw their hands up in the air and say "we've done all we can!" I don't think that will ever happen; they will eventually find out what is going on. Tough thing is, David said 30-50 flawless rounds before it started acting up. Smith needs to get the whole story that David has given us. If they get the pistol back without the whole story, they won't shoot that many rounds and will say "no problems found!" As far as my Bodyguard goes, I think I am good to go for right now, but if that bad boy starts acting up again, it WILL go back to Smith! I do not have any love attachments to any of the handguns that I own!

 

[kbm6893]

The bodyguard has the features I want that the LCP does not, which is why I would prefer the Bodyguard. I like the slide lock open on empty mag and the manual safety. I like the better sights, too.

But none of that means anything if the gun is not reliable. And trying a dozen different brands of ammo to find the right one is expensive. A new gun should fire with all factory ammo.

 

[CaptRon956]

I almost bought one a few weeks ago. Gun shop owner told me to buy the LCP, which he had for cheaper. What does that tell you?

All that tells me is if the sales guy said ___ is better, then you would buy ___ just because he said so.

If you google LCP malfunctions you would also get plenty of hits, if you really want to have some fun try googling your health symptoms. Point is, if you want to find good reviews, you'll find them just as easily as looking for bad reviews. You can find good & bad reviews on pretty much anything online.

All I know dude is my M&P bodyguard goes bang 99.99% of the time and for a small pocket pistol, I find that incredibly reliable.

 

[kbm6893]

All that tells me is if the sales guy said ___ is better, then you would buy ___ just because he said so.

If you google LCP malfunctions you would also get plenty of hits, if you really want to have some fun try googling your health symptoms. Point is, if you want to find good reviews, you'll find them just as easily as looking for bad reviews. You can find good & bad reviews on pretty much anything online.

All I know dude is my M&P bodyguard goes bang 99.99% of the time and for a small pocket pistol, I find that incredibly reliable.

Why would a gun shop owner push you towards a lower priced product? I'm certainly no rube when it comes to guns. I know my stuff. I don't take a clerks word as gospel. He's just a good guy who has to deal with his customers complaints regarding the BG and was trying to save me a headache. I buy lots of stuff from him so he looks out for me.

And I think 99.99% is fantastic. Glad you got a good one. But just by judging by the posts on this forum, the BG is problematic. I'm a member of the Ruger forum too and don't see nearly as many negative posts about the LCP.

I would much prefer the BG. But I'm not ready to spend several hundred dollars trying to find the ammo it likes.

 

[Rickgus]

The bodyguard has the features I want that the LCP does not, which is why I would prefer the Bodyguard. I like the slide lock open on empty mag and the manual safety. I like the better sights, too.

But none of that means anything if the gun is not reliable. And trying a dozen different brands of ammo to find the right one is expensive. A new gun should fire with all factory ammo.

I couldn't agree more. I bought my LCP the same month as the Bodyguard, and on our first trip to the range with both, the LCP was flawless, no hiccups! That to me is a very comforting feeling to get with a new gun right out of the box with no issues!