S & W Bodyguard
- Thread starter GunLvrNLearner
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Nushif
Member
I'm just waiting for all the amazing reviews of these two S+W "plastic wonders" from the same people who hate the concept of the LCR and LCP.
CamaroLovr
Member
Ok so I have been waiting for the new .380's since I first heard about them and I finally ran up on my soon to be new S&W at academy today. Took it back to the range (we had already been out and decided to go and look at new guns afterwards) and shot a few over a hundred rounds through it.
First off, I love the feel of the pistol but I gotta say I'm kinda disappointed in it. Like the other poster said, the trigger is pretty tough and so is the safety. I can understand either one on a pistol such as this but not both. Seems pretty redundant.
Next, I had multiple light primer strikes. About fifteen out of the 110 rounds I fired. This may have been attributed to the Monarch Brass ammo I was using because I know some american guns have trouble firing some of the hard russian primers. I will buy some remington or winchester and see if the problem persists. No FTF or FTE however which was one of the main things I actually expected.
Another problem I had was the laser. After firing approximately 50 rounds the laser stopped working!!! I disassembled the gun and removed the laser unit and the batteries. The batteries were very hot and after a 20 minute cool down time and reassembly the laser still wouldn't function. I decided to keep on shooting in spite of this and after another 30 rounds or so it came back on then went off and then came back on!! It has continued to function after cleaning but now i don't know if i can trust it and I will be calling insight tomorrow since thats who it advises you to call with regards to the laser in the manual.
Anyway thats my .02. I really would like the pistol if everything worked but now I'm kinda second guessing jumpin on the first gen guinea pig bandwagon.
First off, I love the feel of the pistol but I gotta say I'm kinda disappointed in it. Like the other poster said, the trigger is pretty tough and so is the safety. I can understand either one on a pistol such as this but not both. Seems pretty redundant.
Next, I had multiple light primer strikes. About fifteen out of the 110 rounds I fired. This may have been attributed to the Monarch Brass ammo I was using because I know some american guns have trouble firing some of the hard russian primers. I will buy some remington or winchester and see if the problem persists. No FTF or FTE however which was one of the main things I actually expected.
Another problem I had was the laser. After firing approximately 50 rounds the laser stopped working!!! I disassembled the gun and removed the laser unit and the batteries. The batteries were very hot and after a 20 minute cool down time and reassembly the laser still wouldn't function. I decided to keep on shooting in spite of this and after another 30 rounds or so it came back on then went off and then came back on!! It has continued to function after cleaning but now i don't know if i can trust it and I will be calling insight tomorrow since thats who it advises you to call with regards to the laser in the manual.
Anyway thats my .02. I really would like the pistol if everything worked but now I'm kinda second guessing jumpin on the first gen guinea pig bandwagon.
rbernie
Contributing Member
I have handled several of the BG 38 revolvers, and was reasonably pleased with them. The laser is cheesy and S&W needs to rethink that farkle. The trigger pull was far better than the LCR and compared very favorably to most any J frame that I've shot. The cylinder release was interesting; dunno how well it'll pocket carry relative to a 'traditional' Bodygaurd J frame but there is no doubt that it's ambi. Locally, they're selling for $460 with an average dealer cost of $420 or so.
I'm not quite ready to put cash into one, but neither am I ruling them out as a future acquisition.
I'm not quite ready to put cash into one, but neither am I ruling them out as a future acquisition.
valorius
member
Camarolvr can you post pix of your .380 bodyguard with the laser removed?
kris7047th
Member
Picked up the .380 two days ago, and as I suspected, the trigger pull was much the same as the LCP. However, the recoil is much less and feels much better in hand. I can get three fingers on the grip, and only two on the LCP. The manual states that you should use only SAAMI spec ammo only. I spoke with S&W tech support and he advised using Winchester white box and Federal Hydroshock HP. Ruger techs will tell you to avoid foreign made ammo if it is not SAAMI.
The really nice surprise is that the S&W .380 does fit in the Raven ACR holster that was originally made for my LCP/CT last year. The S&W Bodyguard is much easier to draw than the LCP. I really got a great deal on this and I am not out any $$$ at all.
The really nice surprise is that the S&W .380 does fit in the Raven ACR holster that was originally made for my LCP/CT last year. The S&W Bodyguard is much easier to draw than the LCP. I really got a great deal on this and I am not out any $$$ at all.
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I Really like the looks of the BG .380 but i cant say id like it better than the Sig P238 i used to carry cocked and locked in my back pocket and sat on it all day and i weight 270lbs.
YAY for internal safety's!
I know id like to shoot the BG and compare the recoil, But i know the sig would win with its SAO trigger. But there has to be people who want DOA triggers and wont own the P238 because of that.
One fact is id take the BG over the LCP anyday.
YAY for internal safety's!
I know id like to shoot the BG and compare the recoil, But i know the sig would win with its SAO trigger. But there has to be people who want DOA triggers and wont own the P238 because of that.
One fact is id take the BG over the LCP anyday.
kris7047th
Member
.380 BG does have an external safety (which I don't use) Being a woman, most of our pants do not have deep enough pockets to carry that way. I personally don't like safeties. When mili seconds might count in a bad situation... I do not want to have to remember to mess with the safety. I want to IMEDIATELY fire my gun should the event deem that necessary. My holster covers the trigger guard.
My main/daily carry is a M&P9C in a Raven IWB concealment holster. A friend did a sear job, making the poundage about 4lbs. with added serrations for easier racking. The BG.380 is my BUG, or when I need the mouse gun for deeper concealment. I weigh 120lbs, small framed. CC can be tricky sometimes for me.
My main/daily carry is a M&P9C in a Raven IWB concealment holster. A friend did a sear job, making the poundage about 4lbs. with added serrations for easier racking. The BG.380 is my BUG, or when I need the mouse gun for deeper concealment. I weigh 120lbs, small framed. CC can be tricky sometimes for me.
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valorius
member
If you train properly the safety will be disengaged as a matter of muscle memory during the draw. It is not a conscious "will i remember" situation, it becomes automatic.
Besides, aren't you just as likely to forget the gun, or forget to pull the trigger?
I like the BG's looks and features (safety, real sights, full function slide stop), but i wish it was available without the poorly conceived laser system.
I am very happy with my LCP and it shoots extremely accurately with the CT Laserguard i have on it.
Besides, aren't you just as likely to forget the gun, or forget to pull the trigger?
I like the BG's looks and features (safety, real sights, full function slide stop), but i wish it was available without the poorly conceived laser system.
I am very happy with my LCP and it shoots extremely accurately with the CT Laserguard i have on it.
kris7047th
Member
Disengaging an external safety is one more (IMO) unnecessary step that I prefer to not have to bother with. For me, the mouse gun is mostly meant to be a point and FAST shoot, inyourface gun. I don't have a safety on my primary gun either. The holster and my finger OFF the trigger serves as my safeties until I decide to fire. To each their own.
ps.... I do train properly with a well known instructor who taught me this.
ps.... I do train properly with a well known instructor who taught me this.
valorius
member
All my guns except my LCP, to include every gun i've ever touched in the military, all have safeties. I've owned, i think, all of 4 guns in my life time without a safety, and the LCP is one of them. One of the things i really like about S&W autos is their manual safety.
What serves as your safety if a felon wrests your gun away from you? Not your holster or your trigger finger. A manual safety in such a scenario can absolutely save your life.
BTW, your pocket pistol is capable of far more than "in your face accuracy" if you practice with it at longer ranges.
What serves as your safety if a felon wrests your gun away from you? Not your holster or your trigger finger. A manual safety in such a scenario can absolutely save your life.
BTW, your pocket pistol is capable of far more than "in your face accuracy" if you practice with it at longer ranges.
kris7047th
Member
I am well aware of the accuracy beyond *in your face* shooting. Both are surprisingly very good, and I do practice at distances. It's just that I prefer the M&P9C as my main carry... much better with double taps, consecutive shot placements etc... I do not *pocket carry*
valorius
member
You're more manly than me, my lady...i carry my little LCP because carrying a big gun ruins the silhouette of my figure.
Not meaning to give you a hard time. Welcome to the forums.
Not meaning to give you a hard time. Welcome to the forums.
kris7047th
Member
LOL!! Thank you. Actually, the M&P9Compact (and spare mag) is enough gun for me to carry concealed on my small frame and tiny waist. Also, loose blouse covering, and I always use a purse carried crossed over the body keeping my gun well concealed.
CamaroLovr
Member
Valorious i would be happy to show ya a couple of pics with the laser removed if you can tell me how to post them on here like the ones above. Its basically just got empty holes where the laser comes out on the front, on both the sides where the buttons are, and a tiny one on the right where you adjust the laser elevation and a small one on the bottom to adjust the elevation. Looks kinda odd without it but its removal doesn't affect the function.
valorius
member
It would be simplest to just email them to me, so i can post them for all to see.
Check your in box, i'm sending you a PM.
And thanks!
Check your in box, i'm sending you a PM.
And thanks!
kris7047th
Member
hammerklavier
Member
Looks like it has decent sights. I would go back and edge that paint job in black to give it more definition. Looks like that should help, though.
John Wayne
Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,133
How does the laser compare to a CT unit? I really like the looks of the Bodyguard .38, and it would probably be cheaper for me to sell my 442 and buy a Bodyguard than it would be to buy CT grips for my 442.
I know one poster said the .380 model had a laser that went out on him, but it seems more prone to doing so in that model since it's located in the dust cover where it would be more exposed to heat and crud. The .38 laser seems to be positioned well enough away from the mechanism that it shouldn't be affected by either.
Also, it looks like it might be possible to catch that ambi cylinder release on your pocket during a draw. Probably unlikely, especially given the spring pressure the release is under, but it might be a consideration.
I know one poster said the .380 model had a laser that went out on him, but it seems more prone to doing so in that model since it's located in the dust cover where it would be more exposed to heat and crud. The .38 laser seems to be positioned well enough away from the mechanism that it shouldn't be affected by either.
Also, it looks like it might be possible to catch that ambi cylinder release on your pocket during a draw. Probably unlikely, especially given the spring pressure the release is under, but it might be a consideration.
zinzan
Member
agree
valorius
member
The pressure activated CT Laserguard is IMO a far superior setup.
kris7047th
Member
Nothing to catch. Anyways, the mag release will not accidentally release. I don't draw from a pocket because womens pockets are not deep enough and materials are too often too flimsy. I have a Raven IWB ACR holster (originally made for my LCP w/CT) Fortunately, the S&W .380 fits this holster quite nicely... excellent retension. The extended belt clip allows for better draw. I also have a bellyband holster, depending which holster will be better suited for the occasion.
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kris7047th
Member
kris7047th
Member
Husker_Fan
Member
I don't quite see how the ambi release on the revolver works unless the cylinder is spring biased to swing out. I mean, the way I was taught was operate the cylinder release and push the cylinder from the right side to open. I only see the ambi release making it more difficult to open and reload.
Of course, I haven't seen anyone run one of these yet, and there may be a better way to do it. I'm probably just annoyed that they co-opted the name of my favorite J-frame.
Of course, I haven't seen anyone run one of these yet, and there may be a better way to do it. I'm probably just annoyed that they co-opted the name of my favorite J-frame.
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