Would It Be Wise to WAIT to Buy a Bodyguard 2.0?

[GnarlsR2]

2.0

Not a malfunction in about 400 rds. Shoots a bit left but I haven’t played with the sights yet, nor have any intention of changing them. To me, it’s a close up situational gun not a target gun.
It is light, small and easy to carry. The recoil is snappy but not punishing, for me. I have somewhat large hands but have no issue with gripping the gun.
Others opinions here vary.

"The recoil is snappy but not punishing, for me. I have somewhat large hands but have no issue with gripping the gun."

Same for me. 2 of range buddies used the word "snappy" the first time they shot it.
It definitely does not shoot like my KelTec P17 22LR.

I've had no failures so far with nine (9) different ammo at 250+ rounds.

 

[ladder13]

How’s it compare to the 1.0? I know the trigger is lighter but I mean feel and recoil between the 2? My 1.0 has been flawless and it’s shot almost nothing but my own reloads. Don’t shoot it more than 7 yards and it’s mostly yank and crank to simulate self defense shots. They all land in a paper plate. Good enough for me.

I have never owned the original though I thought about it for a number of years. A J frame was sufficient for me, until it was replaced by a P365, and then S&W came out with the BG 2.0 with the extra capacity, slim profile and light weight.

Correction,
To add, my P365 is my second choice. It was my first until the 2.0.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I have never owned the original though I thought about it for a number of years. A J frame was sufficient for me, until it was replaced by a P365, and then S&W came out with the BG 2.0 with the extra capacity, slim profile and light weight.

Correction,
To add, my P365 is my second choice. It was my first until the 2.0.

"...my P365 is my second choice. It was my first until the 2.0."

Same here... I wanted to pocket carry, but my P365 Micro was just not comfortable in my pocket.
I bought the BG2 and it is comfortable and highly concealable in my pants pocket inside a Muddy River Tactical kydex.

 

[agksimon]

How’s it compare to the 1.0? I know the trigger is lighter but I mean feel and recoil between the 2? My 1.0 has been flawless and it’s shot almost nothing but my own reloads. Don’t shoot it more than 7 yards and it’s mostly yank and crank to simulate self defense shots. They all land in a paper plate. Good enough for me.

I shot a backup gun match against a friend who has a 1.0, against my 2.0, we then switched guns and tried again. We both agree there's no comparison between them. He immediately ordered a 2.0

 

[pedropcola]

Man these threads are hard to read. You have one guy saying if you aim with the front sight all the way left and then all the way right it will hit 8 inches apart. So what? I assume you are attempting to make some point about the width of the rear sight but that is a silly point since you (or anyone else) has never taken what you consider “good” sights and purposely performed the same silly test. Why would you? If you aim left it will shoot left, if you aim right it will shoot right. This isn’t confusing.

As for your gunshop, I have trouble believing the owner of that shop is so stupid. How would you feel walking into a gun show and discovering some idiot is cycling live ammo through a gun? You would walk out. Quickly. Once again, hand cycling ammo isn’t the litmus test you think it is. Second off, don’t go to gun stores that are that wildly complacent as to allow that in the store. Good grief. That’s just basic safe gun handling.

That guy posted that video of hitting 8” steel plates at 25 yards. It’s not that hard with this gun. The sights are fine. In fact they are pretty good in this class of gun. The huge angst seems to be the width of the rear sight. Have you guys actually tried shooting groups at distance or are you just believing everything you read? Go do it. If you can shoot good groups at distance with other guns you will do it with this one too.

Was there anyone else in the store when the employee started loading and unloading a firearm over and over? Yikes. Find a smarter gun store. lol

 

[tarheel13]

Man these threads are hard to read. You have one guy saying if you aim with the front sight all the way left and then all the way right it will hit 8 inches apart. So what? I assume you are attempting to make some point about the width of the rear sight but that is a silly point since you (or anyone else) has never taken what you consider “good” sights and purposely performed the same silly test. Why would you? If you aim left it will shoot left, if you aim right it will shoot right. This isn’t confusing.

As for your gunshop, I have trouble believing the owner of that shop is so stupid. How would you feel walking into a gun show and discovering some idiot is cycling live ammo through a gun? You would walk out. Quickly. Once again, hand cycling ammo isn’t the litmus test you think it is. Second off, don’t go to gun stores that are that wildly complacent as to allow that in the store. Good grief. That’s just basic safe gun handling.

That guy posted that video of hitting 8” steel plates at 25 yards. It’s not that hard with this gun. The sights are fine. In fact they are pretty good in this class of gun. The huge angst seems to be the width of the rear sight. Have you guys actually tried shooting groups at distance or are you just believing everything you read? Go do it. If you can shoot good groups at distance with other guns you will do it with this one too.

Was there anyone else in the store when the employee started loading and unloading a firearm over and over? Yikes. Find a smarter gun store. lol

I actually agree with you that the stock BG2.0 sights are fine. That was the point of the 8" difference at 7 meters when the front sight is somewhere between the left and right posts of the rear sight. It says that "at the worst" if you can put the front sight between the rear posts while it's aimed at COM of the target, you will do some damage. Technically, you will be within 4 inches of COM. And if you have time to line up the shot you will do even better.

Yes, there were others in the store both times the pistols were cycled. Both times the pistols were pointed in a safe direction. In most gun shows I've been to, there is no safe direction where you could cycle a firearm. These guys are plenty smart and there was no danger to anybody. As to the importance of hand cycling, I am aware that it is only a qualification test. If it hand cycles, it will probably cycle under fire. That's what I was looking for. Failure to hand cycle proves nothing.

 

[pedropcola]

Fair enough. If I was in that store I would have left. That isn’t a safe practice in a store. At all. You and I have different definitions of safe.

I get your point about the sights now. I misunderstood your post, my bad. I agree the sights are not only fine they are pretty good in my opinion. Tiny guns usually have crappy sights. These are far from that.

 

[Bon Vivant]

Seeking advice from wise forum members!

I have never owned a 380. I am a big fan of pocket carry and my usual daily carry is a LCR or Hellcat in my front pocket.
I don't NEED a new pocket carry gun, but I picked up a Bodyguard 2.0 in my LGS a couple weeks ago, and I LOVED it!

Since holding one for the first time I have watched a lot of videos and read many articles and posts. I joined this forum to learn more about the Bodyguard 2.0.

Many people have had no issues, but there do seem to be an unusually large number of complaints about the Bodyguard 2.0.

QUESTION: Do you think S&W will iron out the frequently reported issues (feed ramp burrs, RSA problems, TS going from too tight to too lose, misaligned sights, etc.) in the next year or so, OR are these issues here to stay because they are caused by poor QC?

All replies appreciated!

Just purchased the 2.0 the other day and every complaint mentioned is on mine. Sight drifted to right, TS so tight broke a nail trying to move it, impossible to load 12th rd, brute force to lock the mag in place, and hard racking. Most might be fixable by S&W but I dont see how the mag issues will be solved even after 500 rds. It was supposed to replace my SIG P365 SAS as an EDC which is flawless, but looks like the 2.0 will be back up only now.

 

[Brian Parrish]

I enjoyed the thread!
I did not get a BG2.0 because I have other small .380 ACP pistols I enjoy.
I am very glad for the OP who got one and it works for him.
This pistol is designed to accommodate believers in the gun-fighting doctrines generally accepted in our current day.
Here follow some, and please correct me:
Any caliber 380 or above is fine.
Any gunfight will be at 3 yards, and will involve 3 shots and be over in 3 seconds.
Appendix carry for speed and concealment, hence the particular design of the BG2.0 slide especially for women.

 

[tarheel13]

I enjoyed the thread!
I did not get a BG2.0 because I have other small .380 ACP pistols I enjoy.
I am very glad for the OP who got one and it works for him.
This pistol is designed to accommodate believers in the gun-fighting doctrines generally accepted in our current day.
Here follow some, and please correct me:
Any caliber 380 or above is fine.
Any gunfight will be at 3 yards, and will involve 3 shots and be over in 3 seconds.
Appendix carry for speed and concealment, hence the particular design of the BG2.0 slide especially for women.

Not how I would have put it.
1. Pick the pistol for the purpose you intend. BG2.0 is fine for concealed carry (especially pocket carry) and short range.
2. Circumstances are unpredictable. Run away if possible. If you can't run away, use what you have as well as you can.
3. A pistol you carry is more useful than the one you left at home.
4. Not sure what you mean about the BG2.0 slide design. I think it needs a more grippy surface but lacking that, try Talon grips for the rear of the BG2 slide.

 

[New2S&W77]

I actually agree with you that the stock BG2.0 sights are fine. That was the point of the 8" difference at 7 meters when the front sight is somewhere between the left and right posts of the rear sight. It says that "at the worst" if you can put the front sight between the rear posts while it's aimed at COM of the target, you will do some damage. Technically, you will be within 4 inches of COM. And if you have time to line up the shot you will do even better.

Yes, there were others in the store both times the pistols were cycled. Both times the pistols were pointed in a safe direction. In most gun shows I've been to, there is no safe direction where you could cycle a firearm. These guys are plenty smart and there was no danger to anybody. As to the importance of hand cycling, I am aware that it is only a qualification test. If it hand cycles, it will probably cycle under fire. That's what I was looking for. Failure to hand cycle proves nothing.

Another one or two folks get it... Awesome!
You wrote of almost exactly what I found out too. S&W built the BG2 for a certain reason and completed the mission.
Below is what I found out and shared in several posts in this forum....

"My opinion is S&W likely factored in the BG2 philosophy of use so I tested what I thought they were thinking and below is what I found out. Pocket-mouse-guns' uses are close up, get-off-me firearms intended for one second acquisition. I feel S&W was thinking about this when it comes to the larger "U" notch in the rear, I'll explain....

If found in an unfortunate situation of needing to utilize the BG2 for what it's built for, you may appreciate the rear "U" notch size. At first I recoiled at its canyon like size as well until I thought about it and did a little test.
Using a pistol rest 10yds. away from the target, I centered the front sight equidistant to both rear posts and basically shot out the 10x portion. Then pinning the left side of the front sight to the inside of the rear sight's left post... just enough to not allow light to be seen and fired 5rds. resulting in a nice group landing ~5" left of bullseye X. Repeating the same on the right side of the front sight yielded the same results ~5" right.

Our brains/eyes are wired to naturally center the front post, and we train that way. With that understood, having a center-to-center spread of 10" at 10yds. is ideal given a potential high stress, life defending situation.
My point is this... yes, I want to be as perfect as possible at the range by taking my time but real life won't be the same."

 

[New2S&W77]

Man these threads are hard to read. You have one guy saying if you aim with the front sight all the way left and then all the way right it will hit 8 inches apart. So what? I assume you are attempting to make some point about the width of the rear sight but that is a silly point since you (or anyone else) has never taken what you consider “good” sights and purposely performed the same silly test. Why would you? If you aim left it will shoot left, if you aim right it will shoot right. This isn’t confusing.

As for your gunshop, I have trouble believing the owner of that shop is so stupid. How would you feel walking into a gun show and discovering some idiot is cycling live ammo through a gun? You would walk out. Quickly. Once again, hand cycling ammo isn’t the litmus test you think it is. Second off, don’t go to gun stores that are that wildly complacent as to allow that in the store. Good grief. That’s just basic safe gun handling.

That guy posted that video of hitting 8” steel plates at 25 yards. It’s not that hard with this gun. The sights are fine. In fact they are pretty good in this class of gun. The huge angst seems to be the width of the rear sight. Have you guys actually tried shooting groups at distance or are you just believing everything you read? Go do it. If you can shoot good groups at distance with other guns you will do it with this one too.

Was there anyone else in the store when the employee started loading and unloading a firearm over and over? Yikes. Find a smarter gun store. lol

Many posts are hard to read and leave me scratching my head.
The sights weren't exactly centered on 4 copies of a BG2 in our family. All I did was drift the front a little left and the rear a little right and presto... the sights were just about perfectly centered and I'm disappearing the 10X at 10yds.

My hope is that folks remember this simple little mnemonic to aid sight alignment. With reference to bullseye, drift your iron sights in the following direction.
F- Front
O- Opposite
R- Rear
S- Same

 

[pedropcola]

Yup. With this tiny gun I can stack rounds on top of one another out to mid distance (10-15 yards). At 25 yards it is easy to keep everything inside a paper plate with again I stress, a tiny gun that is ridiculously easy to conceal. I challenge tiny gun users everywhere to do a side by side and compare. It’s not close. These are best of breed tiny guns. If you can’t drift a sight to center POI then look in the mirror because you are a large part of the problem.

 

[agksimon]

Yup. With this tiny gun I can stack rounds on top of one another out to mid distance (10-15 yards). At 25 yards it is easy to keep everything inside a paper plate with again I stress, a tiny gun that is ridiculously easy to conceal. I challenge tiny gun users everywhere to do a side by side and compare. It’s not close. These are nest of breed tiny guns. If you can’t drift a sight to center POI then look in the mirror because you are a large part of the problem.

 

[pedropcola]

Yup

 

[GnarlsR2]

Another one or two folks get it... Awesome!
You wrote of almost exactly what I found out too. S&W built the BG2 for a certain reason and completed the mission.
Below is what I found out and shared in several posts in this forum....

"My opinion is S&W likely factored in the BG2 philosophy of use so I tested what I thought they were thinking and below is what I found out. Pocket-mouse-guns' uses are close up, get-off-me firearms intended for one second acquisition. I feel S&W was thinking about this when it comes to the larger "U" notch in the rear, I'll explain....

If found in an unfortunate situation of needing to utilize the BG2 for what it's built for, you may appreciate the rear "U" notch size. At first I recoiled at its canyon like size as well until I thought about it and did a little test.
Using a pistol rest 10yds. away from the target, I centered the front sight equidistant to both rear posts and basically shot out the 10x portion. Then pinning the left side of the front sight to the inside of the rear sight's left post... just enough to not allow light to be seen and fired 5rds. resulting in a nice group landing ~5" left of bullseye X. Repeating the same on the right side of the front sight yielded the same results ~5" right.

Our brains/eyes are wired to naturally center the front post, and we train that way. With that understood, having a center-to-center spread of 10" at 10yds. is ideal given a potential high stress, life defending situation.
My point is this... yes, I want to be as perfect as possible at the range by taking my time but real life won't be the same."

“S&W built the BG2 for a certain reason and completed the mission.”

My experience with the BG2 is different.

The long list of quality control issues and design failures is described and discussed in 10s of 1000’s of posts since S&W released the Body Guard 2.0 for sale one year ago.

For the use as a self-defense, spontaneous short distance encounter, the rear sight is nearly impossible to pick up quickly. The tritium front sight is useless in the dark. Who was the “expert” at S&W that came up the tiny dim faded red color for a front sight? What other pistol has a trigger safety that is wider than the trigger?

For a “point-and-shoot” event, focusing on the sights is not likely. In any case, at any distance, I prefer the sights on my P365 in the photo.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours, including research, YouTube videos, reading 1000s of posts, personally gunsmithing it to fix the guide rod spring assembly, drifting front sight, adding Talon grips to the slide that is ridiculously difficult to rack, all to correct the out-of-the-box failures on my BG2 to get it to a condition to be my first choice RAT (Reliable And Trustworthy) defense pocket carry pistol.

Fortunately, the barrel feed ramp had been polished before I bought it and it has been flawless with 9 different ammo types at over 250 rounds so far.

No... S&W did NOT complete the mission for me.

 

[tarheel13]

I’ve spent hundreds of hours, including research, YouTube videos, reading 1000s of posts, personally gunsmithing it to fix the guide rod spring assembly, drifting front sight, adding Talon grips to the slide that is ridiculously difficult to rack, all to correct the out-of-the-box failures on my BG2 to get it to a condition to be my first choice RAT (Reliable And Trustworthy) defense pocket carry pistol.
No... S&W did NOT complete the mission for me.

I bought mine a little later and the problems weren't quite so bad. But in general I agree that Smith should not be selling such a promising pistol with such poor QC. You are correct..... we were left to "complete the mission".