Wait or Buy Bodyguard .380.

[Old cop]

Before I purchased my M&P .380 I went through a Ruger LCP and the Glock 43. Both were terrible, multiple failures and trips back to the factory before my money was refunded, or the gun (LCP) replaced. I found the CS people at Glock kind of snooty (Glocks do not fail kind of thing). I then went on the internet and had about decided on the Taurus .380 when a friend got the M&P .380 and raved about it. A trip to the gun store to "play" with the Taurus and Smith before deciding on the Smith. I put a good deal of store in Hickock 45 and the failure to fire problems. Every kind of ammo I put into the magazine fires first time, every time absent any failures. I limp wrist on purpose and mix the rounds in the mag and it still runs 100%. I count my blessings believe me, this little .380 as a keeper. It has become my EDC mostly b/c I'm lazy and it's easier to carry than the J frame.

 

[Rick_A]

This is obnoxious.

Why don't you drop a note on Hickok45, the highly-regarded pistol expert, who has regularly commented on the FTFire issues with this gun, and tell him he doesn't know what the hell he is doing.

There's a good chance I have been shooting pistols since before you two were in diapers. I know how to shoot a pistol.

If you read my post, you'll see I'm SUPPORTING this pistol, and thrilled that it might finally be reliable.

There's an issue with this gun, and you can choose to ignore it. Good for you that you got lucky with yours. Or maybe you don't even own one, but just want to come off as a S&W fanboy and armchair expert.

David

Hickock45 is a reviewer. An expert that does not make. While I appreciate his time and opinions on various firearms, it's often very basic or oft repeated info. It's mainly just fun to watch him shoot stuff with guns I like.

My comment was on the semi auto pocket pistols in general, many "unreliable" examples of which I have debunked myself. No need to take it personal.

I let my own experience guide me, not opinions on the internet. If all I had was the internet to guide me I'd own only very uninteresting guns.

 

[kevinmcc2]

Okay, let me ask one last thing. Does S&W admit that there is a problem with the gun like DB says or will they not be changing anything? If they actually do change state that are working on a new version with updated internal parts then that is gonna be my decision.

 

[Flyordie]

S&W has acknowledged the issue but the issue is that the hammer rubs against the frame of the pistol. That causes the light strikes. Manufacturing defect.

The hammer will show wear signs on the side.

 

[kbm6893]

Hickock45 is a reviewer. An expert that does not make. While I appreciate his time and opinions on various firearms, it's often very basic or oft repeated info. It's mainly just fun to watch him shoot stuff with guns I like.

My comment was on the semi auto pocket pistols in general, many "unreliable" examples of which I have debunked myself. No need to take it personal.

I let my own experience guide me, not opinions on the internet. If all I had was the internet to guide me I'd own only very uninteresting guns.

Hickock has been shooting for more than 40 years. He competed for decades. He reloads his own ammo. He's probably fired over a million rounds of ammo in his life. If you can't acknowledge his expertise, then there's nothing else to be said.

But back to the OP, I like the idea of a bodyguard, but the issues with the 380 BG are making me leery. At least for now. If I do decide to get a pocket gun, it will be the S&W 442. They disappear in a pocket, (I owned a 642 once), they are much more reliable (no spending hundreds on different types of ammo to see what works), and I already reload .38 so I have tons of ammo on hand.

Whichever you get, for pocket carry, get a good holster. One with a hook type side to it. the desantis nemesis and the Blackbawk pocket holsters have come out with the gun as I drew the 642 unless you consciously use you pinky finger to hold the holster in place. Galco makes a nice pocket holster with the hook.

 

[Rick_A]

Nothing against Hickok45, but again, shooting for decades doesn't make anyone an expert, any more than owning a bunch of cars and liking to drive makes a person an automotive expert. Most of what he mentions on guns he doesn't know is what he has gleaned off forums...which he himself admits. He does have an awesome range, which may have a little if my envy.

Folks put way too much stake in the opinions of their favorite internet gun reviewer personality.

Back on topic, any gun can have issues. I've come across a couple 442's that were locked up out of the box. Some crack frames. Some have hammer and trigger studs break. Stuff happens.

Buy the one you like best that you shoot well.

Shooting them yourself and making your own informed decision us ultimately the best thing one can do.

Every gun has folks that hate it or have had problems.

 

[Rickgus]

S&W has acknowledged the issue but the issue is that the hammer rubs against the frame of the pistol. That causes the light strikes. Manufacturing defect.

The hammer will show wear signs on the side.

Flyordie - Just so I understand this correctly, David at one time solicited and was working with 1917-1911M, to help him find the problem with the BG's. At one point he thought they had found the problem being the hammer rubbing the frame. Now, he said S&W found the problem being the "throw of the firing pin?" Which is it, or is it a combination of the two? I'm just curious, I had some FTFeeds with mine when it was new, but never light strikes or FTFires. Let me know, and I am also curious if S&W is going to fix only those effected or is it bad enough for a recall? Thanks - Rick

 

[db4570]

S&W has acknowledged the issue but the issue is that the hammer rubs against the frame of the pistol. That causes the light strikes. Manufacturing defect.

The hammer will show wear signs on the side.

I thought I had tracked it down to the hammer rubbing. I told my S&W contact this and he did not think it was the issue, because they were on a different track: the firing pin.

To test it I shimmed the hammer out a few thousandths of an inch to keep it from rubbing, and it still FTFired.

When I got the gun back from S&W the last time, it presumably had the new firing pin, and works perfectly. When I get a chance to take it apart (dang rear sight removal!) I am going to mic it to see if the throw of the firing pin has changed compared to the original one.

I am sending my third one in for the same treatment. If this one comes back working perfectly I will consider the gun fixed, and the design updated.

As far as Hickock45, I have only only watched one of his videos, and it was him shooting the BG380. Sure enough, as he's demonstrating it, it FTFires on him. So it's not a case of something he "gleaned off the forums." My only point in mentioning this is that I think most of us, with the possible exception of Rick_A, acknowledge Hickock45 knows how to shoot a handgun, debunking the foolish "it's user error" comments from fanboys.

David

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

SO the question still remains-is the M&P a good little gun or a worthless piece o ****. I need to know a definitive answer NOW as I own one and really enjoy shooting it. Although it has never failed to fire during the break in, it DID stovepipe a round from the first magazine I fired. My erstwhile confidence in this gun is wavering due to this thread. DO I believe my own limited experience or should I believe the web and get rid of this gun before I get killed in an armed confrontation because it doesn't fire? This has got me troubled greatly. I wish I had never opened this thread-but then again it may very well have saved my life

 

[db4570]

I know exactly what you are feeling, Cajun. I was very troubled by not being able to trust this gun. But that has changed, assuming it stays fixed.

With my first BG, I had a couple FTFeeds and I think even a stovepipe. These are more troubling to me than a FTFire, because a FTFire can almost always be remedied simply by pulling the trigger a second time.

When I sent my first BG to S&W for repair, they fixed the FTFeed problem easily and it never happened again. It seems like it was a simple and sure fix for them to do. I don't think it ever happened on guns #2 and #3. They all feed smooth as butter.

The FTFire problem was more challenging, but it seems like it may have been resolved with a minor design change.

I would send yours in to fix the feeding problem, and maybe ask if they could install the updated firing pin, too. Again, I'm not 100% sure they changed the firing pin until I measure it, but it can't hurt to ask.

Also, you might disassemble and clean your mags, as a couple guys here suggest.

The only way you'll trust the gun completely is after a couple hundred rounds without a problem. I have 110 rounds through mine since I got it back, and I am 100% confident in it already.

Hang in there with it. It's a great gun!

David

 

[McE]

Hickock has goliath hands. No amount of experience will allow him to properly run a tiny 380.

 

[hardknocks]

380

Hello all
My 5 year old lcp has over 900 rounds through it.
Around 8 or 9 types of ammo 3 different hollow point brands never one failure of any type.
I can mix 3 brands of ammo in a mag and it just works.
The first lcp I owned was a big bad jamming piece of junk ruger failed to fix.
Never had a bg 380.
With the small 380s it can go either way it seems.
That's all I have to say about that.
Good luck
Mike

 

[kbm6893]

Spending a few hundred on ammo to make sure a 300 dollar gun works just seems silly to me. The slight difference in weight for 2 more rounds of a less powerful cartridge over a .38 +P just doesn't seem like it's worth it to me. I love the idea of the BG 380. It really does vanish in the pocket. But the airweight J frame is only a hair heavier and it is far more reliable. That's what I'm going with.

 

[tobimaru]

My Bodyguard 380 was reliable from the factory and unmodified. M&P edition, no-laser, 2014 build.

I didn;t like the factory trigger so I chose to fit it with an aftermarket RTK adjustable trigger, trigger bar, increased rate hammer spring + washer, reduced power blocker spring, reduced power firing pin return spring, and hardened tool steel firing pin.
Some of these parts help with light strikes (which I never experienced with MULTIPLE ammunition FMJ & JHP alike). I've also tested a few magazines of "+P" 380 ammo as well, no issues.

I have 3 magazines for the BG380 and they all work and lock the slide open. When they're brand new they are stiff, but no surprise there.

The hammer riding against the slide doesn't seem to be an issue for my BG380. Mine is not PERFECTLY centered, but I don't think an of them are. I've not had a FTF or feeding/ejecting problem at any point. I have a thread here documenting the changes I made to the pistol in full with pictures and info.

 

[Flyordie]

Flyordie - Just so I understand this correctly, David at one time solicited and was working with 1917-1911M, to help him find the problem with the BG's. At one point he thought they had found the problem being the hammer rubbing the frame. Now, he said S&W found the problem being the "throw of the firing pin?" Which is it, or is it a combination of the two? I'm just curious, I had some FTFeeds with mine when it was new, but never light strikes or FTFires. Let me know, and I am also curious if S&W is going to fix only those effected or is it bad enough for a recall? Thanks - Rick

A friend had a BG380 with a 12-13lb trigger pull. Had the "rub issue". Yes, the firing pin has been modified to increase throw. That was another issue.

 

[Protected One]

I have put 1100 rounds through my bodyguard - the original design Bodyguard .380 with the Insight Laser. It has fed and fired all different brands of ammo, but the steel case stuff (Federal) sends metal fragments into my face so I don't shoot it any more. It has been reliable, accurate, and ultimately concealable.

If you're looking for a gun that has no negative comments in forums or web searches...you will be walking around unarmed!

 

[db4570]

...steel case stuff (Federal)...

Federal is nickel plated brass, not steel.

David

 

[RV4driver]

MyBG380 had numerous light strikes. Many brands and types of ammo. The one I transferred to a customer had the same issue, much later S.N.
Mine went back to Smith, came back unchanged. It went back again last week, as I'd heard about the firing pin upgrade.
Hoping for the best, as I really like the sights/grip/trigger compared to the LCP. My LCP and my wife's LCP (earlier version) have been flawless since round one. The LCP is smaller by a bit, but they both fit in the Hunter leather pocket holster. They make one for each of the LCP and BG, but my wife's LCP fits better in the BG380 version and my LCP fits better in the LCP holster, go figure.
I did put an aftermarket hammer spring in my BG, just so I could shoot it, and it 'was about 11lb 6oz pull. With the original Smith spring, it averaged 9lb 4oz pull. That 11 pounder was enough spring to set off whatever I put into the gun. That is one long, hard pull for a light gun this size. Don't even get me start on that limp-wristing stuff.

 

[Protected One]

Federal is nickel plated brass, not steel.

David

Go to Walmart and see for yourself.

 

[richiecotite]

there is always the 642 that also fits in the front pocket.

This.

Shot placement is key and all that, but 38 is ballistic ally superior to 380.