S&W must listen to their customers - new SW MP Bodyguard .380

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usmarine0352_2005

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I always thought that lasers are unncessary for guns as they give away your position and could be hard to turn on in an emergency. However, I like one on my gf's gun because if she's locked in a room while calling the police because of a burglar in the dark the laser might help her. She's also far less experienced than me. It could also be used to descalate a situation if the bad guy sees the laser pointing at him and she may not have to shoot.


I just got her a Ruger LCP because it had a better laser (the laser is easy to turn on and off) and was cheaper. The laser on the SW Bodyguard is horrible to turn on and off, so bad that I don't think you could ever turn it on in time. However, I've always said if they made a SW Bodyguard without the laser it would be the one to buy. I'm sure other people have said the same thing, people who don't like SW's laser and/or people who don't like lasers in general. Well, now they have. Surprised it took so long, but it's great.

So, rather than just call it a SW Bodyguard without a laser they are calling it the new SW MP Bodyguard .380.



SWBodyguard1.jpg

SWBodyguard2.jpg

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S&W must listen to their customers...
Click to expand...

After seeing them not making the Bodyguard version without manual firing inhibitor thumb lever more available to public, which they actually do manufacture(LAPD SKU), and after being told bull**** by their CS rep over phone about 3 inch group at 7~10 yard is somehow an acceptable standard for a M&P9 which the sell to police, which customers were complaining for years, I must disagree.

I do buy their stuff because some of it happens to fit my needs, but I do not particularly like the company.
 
There's an easy fix for those laser buttons on the BG 380. All you need is a plastic shaft Q-tip, a razor blade and a quarter.

I was handling one of the new models yesterday. It appears they no longer lock back on an empty magazine. That really surprised me.
 
I didn't like the Bodyguard and the CS from S&W was terrible when I had problems with it. Sold it for a loss and will never get another semi-auto from Smith. Revolvers are in purgatory.

The laser was a good addition to the Bodyguard. And if you don't like lasers, you don't push the button. I didn't see much reason to make another firearm sans laser for about the same price.
 
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Maybe it depends on who you talk to and how you talk to them. I had a problem with my Bodyguard from the start, called them, sent it in and when it came back it had a new spare magazine with it.

I've got nothing bad to say about their CS.

I'm sure this pistol will be cheaper than MSRP at the shelves. For $70-100 less I'd get one without the laser.
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usmarine0352_2005 said:
Maybe it depends on who you talk to and how you talk to them. I had a problem with my Bodyguard from the start, called them, sent it in and when it came back it had a new spare magazine with it.
Click to expand...

It was decent when I got it for my wife's carry weapon. She started to complain the trigger was getting harder to pull. Sure enough it was. I checked the trigger against my gauge and it was above 15 pounds, which is how high that scale went. 15 pound trigger is unacceptable in a defensive firearm. I called Smith and got the run around and I must be doing something wrong for 20 minutes before I had a RMA. 6 weeks later we got it back. Dirty as sin and nothing changed according to the note saying the "trigger was within specifications for Smith and Wesson." Sold it as soon as I found a buyer.

Sorry for the thread hijack/rant. Just wanted to share (again) where S&W faltered with me.
 
The M&P Bodyguard .380 here locks on an empty mag & does come with two in a black zippered nylon case.
Denis
 
So what's the difference. Just don't turn the laser on. Not sure how making it without one would affect anything to be honest or make the gun a hot seller. It's not like the laser has to be used. I have a bodygaurd with a laser and I think I turned it on once at the range. Otherwise it never gets used. Doesn't affect the gun at all.
 
The laser on mine quit working about a year ago. I could care less about it. Its nice to see getting one without it as an option though.
 
I bet many of the "customers" were LEO, since from my reading, they were required to inactivate the laser if used as a BUG anyway.
 
A friend of mine has an early model with the laser and it was replaced under warranty because of all the problems he had with it. Never has been able to adjust in properly to point of aim and burns through batteries really fast.Trigger pull was a little heavy and stiff when new but has smoothed out considerably with use. Other than that it's been a decent BUG for him.
 
Do it properly or not at all.

The laser in Bodyguards are definitely not a case of properly done.
 
I am far less concerned about the laser than I am the safety. Maybe they should start listening to their customers about that and get rid of that tiny little lever that will do nothing but get you killed.
 
The safety's a concern for me, in that I wouldn't use it but it'd still offer the risk of accidentally activating itself.

But, in fiddling with this one, it's tiny, does not stick up much at all above the surrounding raised area of the frame, and fairly stiff.
I'm thinking it'd be extremely unlikely to get itself switched on in a good pocket holster.
Have not fired it yet, but kinda like the little critter so far, for what it is.
Denis
 
I laughed a bit at the first Bodyguard I saw... the laser was very dim and not visible at 7 yards in heavily overcast skies.
 
A quick look through the S&W catalog reveals that they could care less what customers want.

They will force whatever they like, and is cheap to make, on the buying public. :neener:
 
People who are so concerned about the safety lever on the Bodyguard have either never handled one, the safety is NOT coming on by accident, or have bought the Glock hype that safeties get you killed. Know your weapon. If they safety gets you killed its YOUR fault for not knowing how to use your weapon. I guess, there is a the third catagory also, the S&W bashers who will just bash all things S&W.
 
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