I got an S&W Bodyguard .380

H

halfmoonclip

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Feb 4, 2011
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Yinz boys didn't throw enough shade on this gun to talk me out of it. There was a used/like new at my local shop, marked down a little, so I thought to give it a try. It was complete with rug and papers, including the manual for a Ruger LCP. ;)
Got it home, field stripped it; looks a quality piece. It's chassis construction, with a steel insert for the rails and FCG pinned in a poly frame. The sights are big and useful, and the first coat of orange is drying on the front sight.
It is generally the same size as an LCP, and it fits perfectly in a Alabama kydex for the that gun. It is noticeably heavier.
The trigger is long, and offers a restrike, but smooth.
I'm hoping it is more pleasant to shoot than an LCP; they are rappy buggers, and the second generation slap my trigger finger.
So we'll see; not in it for much, and I've faith in Smith customer service.

Moon
 
My buddy has the one with the built-in laser. The battery cover came loose and jammed up the gun so bad, I thought we were going to have to cut it in half to clear it. We did finally get it freed up. He removed the cover and batteries just to be safe, and it runs fine now- though without the laser.

The trigger IS pretty dump-truck like, however. 😉
 
Mine shoots accurately and reliably…once I got used to the trigger and used OK ammo. Yes, I am spoiled by glass rod like triggers in 1911’s, but I shoot a lot in 686’s and 625’s. S&W did no favor on most of the 380 triggers. A blowback 380 will be snappy to some degree - hopefully you like yours!
 
Of my little 380s the most comfortable to shoot is the Remington RM380 with the BodyGuard next, then the Beretta Pico (grip too slim) and the LCP was simply the worst of the lot in every way.
 
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Recoil on the Bodyguard is tolerable. Some of the older versions have slightly better triggers; still a longer pull but much lighter. Have owned mine almost 10 years, no FTFs. Slim profile is easy to conceal. Use the extended floor plate magazine to help control the recoil.
 
halfmoonclip said:
Yinz boys didn't throw enough shade on this gun to talk me out of it. There was a used/like new at my local shop, marked down a little, so I thought to give it a try. It was complete with rug and papers, including the manual for a Ruger LCP. ;)
Got it home, field stripped it; looks a quality piece. It's chassis construction, with a steel insert for the rails and FCG pinned in a poly frame. The sights are big and useful, and the first coat of orange is drying on the front sight.
It is generally the same size as an LCP, and it fits perfectly in a Alabama kydex for the that gun. It is noticeably heavier.
The trigger is long, and offers a restrike, but smooth.
I'm hoping it is more pleasant to shoot than an LCP; they are rappy buggers, and the second generation slap my trigger finger.
So we'll see; not in it for much, and I've faith in Smith customer service.

Moon
Click to expand...
Is the mag catch still plastic on the new ones?
 
rabid wombat said:
My mistake - sorry
Click to expand...
No biggie. Straight blowbacks have two problems, from their high slide velocity. What we feel as recoil is the slide coming to an abrupt stop against the frame, and the cartridge stack is challenged to rise quickly enough to feed. Blowbacks are much simpler to make.
jar said:
Of my little 380s the most comfortable to shoot in the Remington RM380 with the BodyGuard next, then the Beretta Pico (grip too slim) and the LCP was simply the worst of the lot in every way.
Click to expand...
A buddy has/(had?) a Pico; we were amazed that you could hit things, but it really had the trigger from hell. (His is currently down with a broken trigger spring, and Beretta no longer supports this model. He's been checking scrapyards for a truck spring as a replacement. ;) )
The LCP's claim to fame was always extreme small size, and reliability. But hey, nice gun to shoot...said no one, ever.
I'm hoping the BG is at least tolerable, so it sees more shooting. The size is right.
JohnMc said:
Is the mag catch still plastic on the new ones?
Click to expand...
No. It felt like metal, and I put a magnet on it at home. Even the chassis is steel.
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
No. It felt like metal, and I put a magnet on it at home. Even the chassis is steel.
Click to expand...
That's good, the plastic mag catch is why I sold my first gen one. It had eroded to the point where it wouldn't hold a mag in properly. There were aftermarket ones listed on a website but they were always out of stock.
 
rabid wombat said:
Mine shoots accurately and reliably…once I got used to the trigger and used OK ammo.
Click to expand...
Was there anything specifically it didn't like? I'm spoiled with the 365 and G42 for being omnivores.
I'll pop over to the range after lunch, just for a test hop. I reload .380s, and Hornady XTPs are my current .380 carry ammo.
Moon
 
Well, hell. I scooted down to the range briefly (literally, 15 minutes), and fed the little bugger a fast 60 rounds of my handloads and Hornady XTPs. It wants to be charged briskly with the XTPs, but it ran reliably with them, as well as the 895'sec handloads.
I tried it with 7 rounds, and my standard check against limp wristing (firing one handed.) It just ran, and it is nearly as pleasant as the G42. My pinky (under the magazine base plate) took a little beating, but nothing unreasonable.
I put up a B29 (half scale) silhouette, and kept virtually everything inside the 8, despite rapping the rounds through rapidly.
The big, orange painted front sight was easy to find in a hellfire hurry.
So I am pleased; LCP size (and thus far, reliability), without the LCP discomfort. BTW, the trigger is only slightly heavier than the LCP, and has a much more substantial feel.
So I'm happy as a pig rolling in poo....and happy to be back to carrying a S&W. Really surprised these aren't more popular.
Moon
 
Wife and I have one that's worked well for us....virtually zero jamming issues and a grip feel that allows for accurate shooting. It's a pocket pistol in our use, carried when larger options are just not feasible. Best Regards, Rod BTW, ours is a laser model & that function is virtually unusable due to button position.
 
Rodfac said:
Wife and I have one that's worked well for us....virtually zero jamming issues and a grip feel that allows for accurate shooting. It's a pocket pistol in our use, carried when larger options are just not feasible. Best Regards, Rod BTW, ours is a laser model & that function is virtually unusable due to button position.
Click to expand...
I've avoided lasers on about anything; they multiply/display my jitters, and would rather avoid 'gun' and 'battery' in the same sentence. Glad your pistol is working for you; mine serves the same purpose.
First rule of gunfighting, "Have a gun".
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
I've avoided lasers on about anything; they multiply/display my jitters,
Click to expand...
Yep...same here...But I did find that one a friend had installed on a Smith M-637 for his wife useful...it was a Crimson Trace and we used it for teaching trigger manipulation...any jerking was immediately evident and it allowed the shooter to concentrate on a good let off while building speed in DA work. Rod
 
jar said:
I like my cat as well.
Click to expand...
LOL. One of the guys in our snubby league uses a laser, and we accuse him of tormenting cats in his spare time.
I can see using the laser as a training aid, if the newb doesn't get too discouraged by the dot dancing around.
Moon
 
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