Bodyguard 380 - Big Features on a Little BUG - Part 1

[hawkdogie]

laser is useless in a defensive situation. you have to draw turn the laser on with your trigger finger and the put your finger back on the trigger and shoot. how nobody thought of that when they designed this gun is unbelievable.

[FirearmPatriot]

@hawkdogie Since the laser has activation switches on both sides of the gun, you can activate the laser with your non-dominant hand while drawing the weapon with practice. There can be defensive tactical situations where you may not want your laser to come on as soon as you grasp your weapon although they are much less frequent.

[PokerJones1]

That was a really great review on the BG. I have been looking for another back-up and this is definitely worth looking into. Thanks.

[MissBattleBorn]

Good review! I carry this gun...I am a slender woman and this gun is very concealable on my body. Good accuracy and dependability. The laser is worthless to me so I have no opinion on that LOL. The one issue I have is the mag popping out accidentally. The mag release is too soft and inconveniently located and my thumb sometimes hits it when firing. But overall, I agree with your review!

[ShotGunShanni]

My hubby just picked up this lil pistol and the laser quit working within a couple hours of purchase. Needless to say, it is on it's way to MA and he didn't even get to fire it! Can't wait to get her back so we can try her out!

[FirearmPatriot]

@ShotGunShanni I hate to hear that. When you get the BG back you may want to put some blue loctite on the screw that holds the laser assembly in. Mine backed out causing the slide to strike it. This bend the screw. The loctite will hold the screw in place but still allow you to remove it. Good Shooting!

[hansonmkusa]

Thank you for your review. Just bought mine and planning on shoot this weekend at the range. Can't wait to put some rounds in this 380.

[FirearmPatriot]

@hansonmkusa I hope you range session when well!

[antidonkey]

I went with the revolver version. For carrying, I want my firearm to be as simple as possible. Happy with it so far.

[FirearmPatriot]

@antidonkey You can't go wrong with a revolver.  A revolver has been my carry gun for years.

[420FlyByNight]

3 people don't know a good review when they see one.

[FirearmPatriot]

@420FlyByNight Thank you for your comment.

[HeadingDownStream]

Great review! You really covered this gun well. I just picked mine up today.

[thenowandaway]

Now that the price was dropped I'm interested, the initial price with advertised slide pin issues kept me away....

[weaponsgrade47]

looking into one

[TheGoodOlBoyzChannel]

these are very nice pistols,  would love to have one

[MockEmpire]

very cool shape

[daverunner]

I will say im not big on 380 and that looks like a nice piece but my fave is my walther ppks,,,,,, not much experience with lasers eithers.

[FirearmPatriot]

@daverunner I understand the Walther PPK is a fine weapon. The laser is very helpful in low light especially on weapons with poor sights.

[Mark1966ful]

@daverunner The laser gives the shooter the opportunity to begin to develop a two eyed sight picture.. I found that placing the laser on a quality Air soft pistol, with Blow back allows the shooter to get used to the fact that the laser in fact does move..(Unlike the movie version) and begins to train to instinctive shooting.. This as you know is imperative to personal defense shooting.. The only other thoughts.. are that the rounds can be costly.. It is a 9MM short, it is snappy

[AppalachianFreedom]

Excellent review sir! Thank you!

[blancaluzdelsol]

thanks and welcome :)

[ETHRON1]

Nice vid....might have to check out one for my wife....I like the built in laser...beats the Sig Mosquito with a center point laser she has now....

E1

[FirearmPatriot]

@ETHRON1 Since shooting the video, I cleaned the Bodyguard. This has resolved the activation issue I was having with the laser on the right side. I will be posting a video where I will be shooting the gun on the range this weekend. I will have a female shoot it as well to give you some idea of recoil. So far I like the weapon very much.

[ETHRON1]

@FirearmPatriot

how hard does the slide work...I know for us...it wouldn't be an issue...but my wife is 50 and had carp tunnel surg....so her grip isn't what it used to be...Dam doctors....ruined my day......LOL...

E1

[FirearmPatriot]

@ETHRON1 Of the 380s that I have handled the Bodyguard is the easiest to pull the slide back on. Much easier than the Taurus TCP for example. The slide is bigger than on most 380s making it ease to rack. My girlfriend has no problems using the slide.

[Mark1966ful]

@ETHRON1 There are some great hammerless revolvers out there.. S/W makes a Great one.. Very light and can be fired to conclusion through clothing,handbag ect.... The 380 Mini Sub Compact is punchy.. Pardon me for saying but I am seeing the value of a mini sub revolver, because my Honey.. simply will not be caring a holstered weapon LOL and at 105 Lbs.. Does not exude intimidation. Depending on your state and loaded gun at home, helps no one No Matter How big Hohah... God Bless

[ETHRON1]

@Mark1966ful

I thought about getting her a "Pink Lady" from Charter Arms...but the .38 spcl might kick to much for her in that short of a barrel...It will either be a .380 or 9mm with Hornady Critical Defense...or Spear Gold Dots...

Should just buy her a Judge and load buckshot......LOL

E1

[FirearmPatriot]

@ETHRON1 Shot a Ruger LCR this weekend with +P ammo. The recoil was substantial to me. The Bodyguard's recoil is very controllable. I am going to finish up the range report on it today. Then I have to send it back to S&W for repairs due to the laser screw backing out during firing. The Judge would do the trick. LOL

[1IdeaAhead]

A very useful review with many valid points on this pistol. Thanks for the time in making a nice review. I fired my friends 380 bodyguard and the laser button was also hard to activate. I enjoyed the clean break the stock trigger had with it!

[TheGuitarjerry1126]

Wow, that is some piece of power in a small package and at a bargain price! Very smart of Smith & Wesson.

Jerry

[akaWolf357]

★★★★★ Great Video

[ITHINKUREALESUK]

your a lucky man to even be able to get one, here the waiting list are so back logged it's not even worth putting in an order............ and they are a mass company. Have you tried to order more magazines? I was told you can't get them and no after market stuff has been manufactured for them yet. Seems kinda funny that all the major gun makers, can't fill the demand after advertising all the popular sub and compact models.

[FirearmPatriot]

@ITHINKUREALESUK My dealer will sell all he gets in a day. I have not tried to order another magazine. However, I have seen them advertised for around $18.00 through some aftermarket companies. I will try to order one soon. It is difficult to shoot a lot with one magazine.

[glock10mm]

@ITHINKUREALESUK My dealer has several of them, and i dont think they have had any problems getting them .they dont seem to be selling to well here for some unknown reason the Ruger 380 is way more popular.

[FirearmPatriot]

@glock10mm My dealer sold 14 Bodyguards in one day here in Kentucky. The Ruger is a lot lighter and has been around longer. My dealer has plenty of Ruger 380s even with the laser.  The Ruger with the laser runs $400.00.

[glock10mm]

@FirearmPatriot Im in TN and every one that walks in the door that wants a small pocket gun goes in there for the Ruger

[unomas58]

Very good review.S&W make excellent firearms.Look forward to more videos.Thanks and take care.