Model M&P BODYGUARD® 380
- Thread starter Vet66
- Start date
Excellent video, ^^^ very thorough. I really enjoyed my BG .380. I had a cheap Uncle Mikes pocket holster and a pack of cigarettes would leave a more noticable profile than the BG. If I were to buy another one I would definitely get one without the integrated laser. IMO the laser was next to useless outdoors and cumbersome to activate. The only reason I got rid of it was at the time .380 ammo was almost non existent during the height of the pocket pistol craz and when I could find it, you would be looking at a $10-$15 premium over a box of 9mm rounds, that just didn't make sense to me.
The first thing you should do is buy 4-500 rounds of ammo for the shelf in each caliber of firearm you own. My Bodyguard is a flawless shooter but not one you want to spend the day shooting due to the recoil from the light weight. Very manageable for a defensive piece. I'm sure if you manage to wear it out S&W will fix it.
I have the MP Bodyguard 380, no laser. I like it for what it is. A very good small conceal carry gun. It is reliable and carries well. I recommend a Desantis Nemisis Holster. Is it a pistol I want to go shoot all day at the range? No, but it serves its purpose very well. It is of very good quality in my opinion.
Nakanokalronin
New member
Never had a single malfunction with my BG380 w/laser. The one without the laser would be the one I'd buy today. I just wish they'd ditch the pointless thumb safety since it's like putting one on a revolver.
I've been very happy with mine. I've got the newer model with the CT laser. The laser is next to useless on it. The only reason I have it is the shop I bought it from was closing out the old model with Insight laser at $250 and they put this one in the case at the same price without realizing it. I recently ran a couple hundred rounds through it with some friends along with a KT P3AT. It's amazing how much better the BG is to shoot. The trigger is definitely heavier but that's the only downside. Size is nearly identical but the BG has much softer recoil and the real sights make it far easier to get accurate shots. Even the guys that had no experience with handguns were able to get good hits with it. We were all surprised when we were able to get repeated hits at 100 yards on our gong once we figured out we needed to aim about 8' high, lol. I carry mine everyday and I highly recommend it. Several hundred rounds of different fmj & jhp and I haven't had a single malfunction.
bedbugbilly
New member
I don't have one but I have shot two different ones that friends own . .
Both shot well and had no malfunctions. That said . . . I have a friend that owns one that and he is 82 years old. He seems to have issues in racking a round in as he finds it difficult to pull the slide back with his arthritic hands. If you have issues of that nature, then try one out first.
Several times I have been close to buying one . . . I have the capability of reloading both .380 and 9mm. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have an issue with .380 as far as CCW. The BG is a good pistol from what I've seen and from my limited experience of firing them. But, as I ponder adding a smaller semi for CCW - I personally would favor the 9mm shield over the BG380 . . . but that's just my preference.
Both shot well and had no malfunctions. That said . . . I have a friend that owns one that and he is 82 years old. He seems to have issues in racking a round in as he finds it difficult to pull the slide back with his arthritic hands. If you have issues of that nature, then try one out first.
Several times I have been close to buying one . . . I have the capability of reloading both .380 and 9mm. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have an issue with .380 as far as CCW. The BG is a good pistol from what I've seen and from my limited experience of firing them. But, as I ponder adding a smaller semi for CCW - I personally would favor the 9mm shield over the BG380 . . . but that's just my preference.
I shot one today (the fella next to me at the range had one and he wanted to shoot my 1911). I found it to be OK. Had no trouble at all hitting center of mass on a silhouette target at about 25ft. My only concern would be the lack of teminal energy with the .380. But then again, it's hard to get something more energetic in that form factor if you're after a concealed carry.
Best,
Best,
My wife bought one for carry purposes. She thought she'd love it. She hated it. I didn't care for it either. Recoil was pretty harsh due to the tiny grip. It was very picky when it came to ammo, and it jammed quite a bit.
She traded it in for an M&P Shield 9mm and is much happier. It's still a small gun with a small grip, but she has small hands. The recoil is much more manageable. She finds it to be more accurate in her hands as well. Again, it's still not a range gun, but is comfortable enough for extended practice sessions.
She traded it in for an M&P Shield 9mm and is much happier. It's still a small gun with a small grip, but she has small hands. The recoil is much more manageable. She finds it to be more accurate in her hands as well. Again, it's still not a range gun, but is comfortable enough for extended practice sessions.
Again, my Bodyguard has not had any issues with feed or eject however I feed my autos ball ammunition. Even while carrying concealed it uses FMJ ammunition. I carried a Chief Special or .380 as a duty or back up pistol depending on assignments for thirty plus years in a large police dept. and never felt under gunned in given circumstances....the autos were filled with ball ammo that I was confident would do the job. So once again the Bodyguard is a very small DAO pistol that feeds flawlessly (mine) weighs little, easily concealed and gives me confidence should the need to use it arises.
motorhead0922
New member
I've had my BG380 for almost 4 years now with zero firing or feeding malfunctions, including many different round nose and hollow point bullets. 492 flawless rounds. So, no, I don't shoot it a lot. But, the recoil does not bother me at all, and I make 3" groups with it at 7 yards. 2" groups with the laser. It's got Speer Gold Dots in it right now.
I had an issue with the magazine popping out while in my pocket, due to the mag release button being too tall. I trimmed it down with a knife and have not had it happen again, and it has been in my pocket almost every day.
The laser quit this year (not battery related). I sent the laser unit back to S&W and they replaced it, no questions asked, in about 3 weeks. Not that I really ever used the laser; it's part of the gun so I wanted it to work.
As for DAO, that's what you want on a pocket gun. Safety? If you don't want it, don't use it. You won't know it's there.
I had an issue with the magazine popping out while in my pocket, due to the mag release button being too tall. I trimmed it down with a knife and have not had it happen again, and it has been in my pocket almost every day.
The laser quit this year (not battery related). I sent the laser unit back to S&W and they replaced it, no questions asked, in about 3 weeks. Not that I really ever used the laser; it's part of the gun so I wanted it to work.
As for DAO, that's what you want on a pocket gun. Safety? If you don't want it, don't use it. You won't know it's there.
Dragline45
New member
I had one but sold it to put towards a Shield, great little gun and I plan on getting another. Mine was 100% reliable and never gave me any problems. With that said, I hated that stupid laser and am glad they came out with one without it. Not only does the gun look better without it, but I hated the though of owning a gun where down the road if the laser breaks I may not be able to get a replacement. Because I personally think at some point S&W will drop the internal laser model in favor of the newer M&P .380 laserless.