Thinking of a new BG 2.0

[leadhead2]

I'm thinking of buying a new BG 2.0 and would like to know some things about them. I've been reading a lot of negative things about them and would like some answers on a few points.
Have they fixed most of the problems that have been reported lately? Heard there's a date on the box that tells you when the gun was made. What date would I have to look for to be sure I wouldn't have any or few problems with it.
Thanks for any replies.

 

[JoeB51]

The date on my box is 4/05/25. My followers look like have been modified. The barrel feed ramp is polished. The frame feed ramp doesn't have the ridge. I have put 500 rounds through it ln 2 sessions with no problems. The only thing I see it doesn't like hy tec coated bullets they lead the barrel.

 

[GnarlsR2]

The date on my box is 4/05/25. My followers look like have been modified. The barrel feed ramp is polished. The frame feed ramp doesn't have the ridge. I have put 500 rounds through it ln 2 sessions with no problems...

Well... THAT is refreshingly good news.

 

[tarheel13]

The date on my box is 4/05/25. My followers look like have been modified. The barrel feed ramp is polished. The frame feed ramp doesn't have the ridge. I have put 500 rounds through it ln 2 sessions with no problems. The only thing I see it doesn't like hy tec coated bullets they lead the barrel.

My date is 11/06/24 so 5 months earlier than yours. I have a polished feed ramp with no ridge.

To the OP:
This little pistol feels great in the hand. It is a total re-make of the .380 pistol platform that feels like a much larger gun in a tiny package. Don't pay any attention to chatter about how the mags don't hold the advertised number of rounds. Of course they don't. Smith lied about it. If the "12 round mag" had actually held 12 rounds, they would have advertised it as a "14 round mag."

I suggest that you examine the pistol carefully in the LGS before you buy. Field strip it and check that the feed ramp(s) are smooth. Make sure you can reassemble the guide rod without too much trouble.

 

[GnarlsR2]

My date is 11/06/24 so 5 months earlier than yours. I have a polished feed ramp with no ridge.

To the OP:
This little pistol feels great in the hand. It is a total re-make of the .380 pistol platform that feels like a much larger gun in a tiny package. Don't pay any attention to chatter about how the mags don't hold the advertised number of rounds. Of course they don't. Smith lied about it. If the "12 round mag" had actually held 12 rounds, they would have advertised it as a "14 round mag."

I suggest that you examine the pistol carefully in the LGS before you buy. Field strip it and check that the feed ramp(s) are smooth. Make sure you can reassemble the guide rod without too much trouble.

This is good commentary.

I will add... you might want to consider Talon grips on the slide. It makes a big difference when racking the slide.

Also, inspecting the one you want to buy is a really a good idea. You may have to ask a manager to get permission to field strip the gun.

The factory sights are also a common issue and may require drifting the factory front sight or replacing them with XS Sights.

I'm still exercising the factory sights, but may be upgrading to the XS Sights.

 

[leadhead2]

I've heard the sights are a real bear to remove without a sight pusher.

 

[JoeB51]

I knew a guy 6' 200lbs that couldn't get a u joint out of a drive shaft. His 98 pound girl friend knocked it out in no time. He tried to beat it out on the tail gate of his truck she set it on the driveway it came right out. I put Mt slide in a vice that is mounted to a solid bench used a punch and 16 Oz ballpean hammer 2 hits it moved. Most of the problem people have moving things is the setup is not solid.

 

[tarheel13]

This is good commentary.

Also, inspecting the one you want to buy is a really a good idea. You may have to ask a manager to get permission to field strip the gun.

This is why I have cultivated a good relationship with the gun smith who works in a local store. I made sure he would get credit for selling the pistol. Then I asked him to load and cycle two mags of Underwood Xtreme Penetrator through the BG 2.0 to see if it would feed properly. (I knew the folks in the store would not want me handling the pistol with live ammo inside their place of business) Turned out that the UXP did not feed that well but I bought the gun anyway.

Maybe this is a good place to suggest the best ammo for the BG 2.0: You want to use flat nose FMJ because most JHP don't expand at .380 speeds. I use Winchester USA 95 grain which is a very cheap and effective .380 Works much better than round nose FMJ. One JHP that does work well is Federal Train and Protect.

 

[JoeB51]

This is why I have cultivated a good relationship with the gun smith who works in a local store. I made sure he would get credit for selling the pistol. Then I asked him to load and cycle two mags of Underwood Xtreme Penetrator through the BG 2.0 to see if it would feed properly. (I knew the folks in the store would not want me handling the pistol with live ammo uhinside their place of business) Turned out that the UXP did not feed that well but I bought the gun anyway.

Maybe this is a good place to suggest the best ammo for the BG 2.0: You want to use flat nose FMJ because most JHP don't expand at .380 speeds. I use Winchester USA 95 grain which is a very cheap and effective .380 Works much better than round nose FMJ. One JHP that does work well is Federal Train and Protect.

Interesting I ran a mag of UXP through mine with no problem. Did he shoot it through or hand cycle. I have found hand cycling shows problems that don't exist during live fire.

 

[geeollie]

This is one of those...."well my BG 2.0 works just fine" posts. It is meant to encourage you. But, may not mean yours will work the same.

My BG 2.0 has shot Underwood 68 gr Xtreme Defender as well as older Lehigh 85 gr Xtreme Penetrator without any problems. So far 80 rounds of Underwood XD and zero issues.

I have shot X-P with 10 rounds in the 10 round magazine and in groups of 2 DEEP, 2 XP, 2 round nose, 2 flat nose Winchester, 2 Precision One XTP mixed in the 10 round magazine. I mix them all up and shoot as fast as I can pull the trigger. After several magazines of this mix, my BG 2.0 is still 100%

My MGW Ranger Master did move the factory sights, but it required a large amount of "uuggaa" to get it to go. And boy did it make a terrible sound.

Don't give up. Feeding round by hand may not work while actually shooting them just might. My Sig P365 does not work well when hand cycling but is 100 % when shooting.

 

[tarheel13]

Interesting I ran a mag of UXP through mine with no problem. Did he shoot it through or hand cycle. I have found hand cycling shows problems that don't exist during live fire.

Yes, you are exactly right and that's one reason I bought the pistol anyway. He hand cycled and there were several problems. But gel tests I have seen since then have convinced me that Winchester USA Flat Nose works as well as UXP. And costs about 1/7th as much.

 

[geeollie]

The few gel tests I have watched show that the flat nose Winchester penetrates 30 to 50 inches consistently. Is this the same penetration range that you are seeing?

 

[tarheel13]

The few gel tests I have watched show that the flat nose Winchester penetrates 30 to 50 inches consistently. Is this the same penetration range that you are seeing?

In this test, the Winchester penetrates 19 inches when fired from a barrel the same length as the Bodyguard 2.0. The longer penetrations you mention are probably from a longer barrel than the 2.75" BG 2.0 He is shooting through four layers of cloth which is the FBI standard. He has done other tests showing consistently that flat nose penetrate better than round nose and provide more channel disruption. This is true in 9mm as well.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv2KKgy_efY[/ame]

 

[geeollie]

Thank you for posting that.
I've seen this fella do other tests but not this one.

 

[tarheel13]

Thank you for posting that.
I've seen this fella do other tests but not this one.

He has the fake accent and tries to sound like a rube. But he knows a lot about a variety of firearms, ammunition, and terminal ballistics. I suspect he is a trained engineer.

 

[GnarlsR2]

There a so many posts with different experiences with ammo.

My BG2’s chamber feed ramp has been polished.

I have had no issues with Winchester PDX1 Defender 95gr BJHP, Sig Sauer Elite Performance JHP 90 gr, Hornady Custom XTP 90 gr, Hornady Critical Defense FTX 90 gr, Federal HST JHP 99 gr, PMC Bronze FMJ 90 gr, Magtech FMJ, 95 gr, Winchester FMJ Flat Nose 95 gr, Sig Sauer Flat Nose.

I am not concerned about over penetration with a 380.

 

[leadhead2]

Does S&W ever put these on sale?
I usualy buy from Rual King or Dunham's.

 

[tarheel13]

Does S&W ever put these on sale?
I usualy buy from Rual King or Dunham's.

The MSRP is $449. The price you usually see online and in gun stores is $399. I have not ever seen these on sale at a lower price. Certainly not likely with sales as strong as they are.

 

[JoeB51]

They came out about last spring and S&W is having a hard time keeping with sales. You're going to have wait till sales slow down.

 

[Beju]

Does S&W ever put these on sale?
I usualy buy from Rual King or Dunham's.

They go for as low as $350 online, but after shipping and an FFL transfer fee, you might as well get one that you can personally inspect from Rural King for $400 with no transfer fee.