S&W Bodyguard 380 Pistol and 38 Revolver
One of the major product launches at SHOT Show was the launch of the S&W Bodyguard Series.
Smith & Wesson have applied the Bodyguard name to a variety of lightweight wheel guns over the past 50 or 60 years. The latest iteration of the Bodyguard brand again includes a light weight revolver but also, cleverly, a light weight pistol (offering something for everyone).
The Bodyguard 380 pistol and Bodyguard 38 Revolver were both designed with similar objectives in mind. Both are lightweight compacts, both are chambered in low-powered .38 caliber cartridges, both have a similar black finish and, notably, both come standard with a built-in laser sight.
The laser sight is a feature S&W will be marketing heavily. The INSIGHT manufactured lasers feature ambi control, constant and pulse modes, windage and elevation adjustment and three hour continuous operation.
S&W Bodyguard 380 Pistol
This pistol is a brand new design. It is lightweight at 11.85 ounces, although not quite as light as the Kel-Tec P-3AT which weights in at just 8.3 oz. Its polymer frame with integral laser has a cool futurist look to it.
It is double action, has an external safety and can hold 6+1 rounds of .380 ACP ammunition.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
| Capacity | 6+1 |
| Finish | black Melonite coating |
| Barrel | 2.75" |
| Total Length | 5.25" |
| Height | 4.1" |
| Width | 0.75" |
| Weight | 11.85 ounces |
| Rear Sight | drift adjustable |
| Other Features | Laser sight |
| MSRP (Price) | $575 |
| Availability | May 2010 |
S&W Bodyguard 380 Revolver
The Bodyguard 380 is a lightweight J-Frame with aluminum/polymer frame and steel cylinder. While less exciting than the above autoloader, it is a decent compact revolver. It features an ambidextrous cylinder release on top and fully enclosed hammer for snag-free drawing. The laser is mounted on the left side (laser switch is mounted on top for ambidextrous use).
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .38 Special +P |
| Capacity | 5 |
| Frame | One-piece aluminum alloy upper frame. Steel reinforced polymer lower frame. |
| Barrel | 1.9" |
| Total Length | 6.6" |
| Height | 4.39" |
| Width | 1.36" |
| Weight | 14.3 ounces |
| Finish | matte black PVD finish |
| Grip | one-piece rubber grip |
| Sights | notch-style rear sight. Pinned blade front sight. |
| Other Features | Laser sight |
| MSRP (Price) | $625 |
| Availability | May 2010 |
Guys,
The BG38 is complete garbage. 15 rounds and mag wont open…so much for a self defense weapon, it’s not even heavy enough to throw at an assailant….extremely disappointed. DO NOT BUY THIS PEICE OF S@#T! Smith and Wesson you have a may never make this up to me but you can spend the rest of your days trying you F#%^ers!!!!!
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See a lot of post about the 380 but few about the .38 Special. Yes the .38 special has reliability issues. I own one. Right now it is in the hands of the good people at S&W for warranty work. Have yet to find out the final disposition about the problem with it. The way the cylinder rotates and engages with the frame is not that of the standard tried and true design of the 642 or similar to other popular revolvers. All the gun magazine authors and famous gun blogger must be getting paid by S&W to pump the hype of how good this gun is. The price for the BG38 revolver is to much at any price. If in a gun fight and I was able to pick the gun that you would be shooting at me it would be a semi-auto or a BG38 as both may or may not fire. If S&W repairs my BG38 or replaces it and sends it back it will be sold or sit in a safe and never be used as a carry weapon. Read other posts about this gun before I bought it. A few people had complaints about it, but most professional reviews about it were good. Should have listen to the average working man that paid for his BG38. Problem with professional reviewers is that they usually get to keep the weapon or get it at a greatly discounted price for writing articles about weapons they review. Which if they told the truth like this weapon is SH*T they might not get any more in the future to review. When was the last time you saw a professional published review in a gun mag that made you say “I am NOT going to go out and buy that weapon.” Yes my point exactly.
The design of Bodyguard 380 pistol and Bodyguard 38 Revolver are same. Both are lightweight compacts, both are chambered in low-powered .38 caliber cartridges, both have a similar black finish and, notably, both come standard with a built-in laser sight.
First thing, I love my 357 L frame with 8 1/4in barrel.Hunting Yes carrie all the time no.I have a springfield xd sub compact carrie sometimes,stayes in the truck.I want to buy the s&w bodyguard 380 cal but in stainless steel.My gun dealer says there comming?? But while I’m waitting he has let me carry the Diamondback 380. I agree bigger is better,but carrie or not carrie is a no brainner!!But also if you pull the weapon and hit air then it does no good! Shooting and practice with the weapon you carrie is the key! I feel comfortable with a pocket gun.After several boes of ammo will have no fear of where the bullet will hit if the time comes.My father says a 22lr will do the job! after blowing the head of a lizard’s head at 30yrd.It’s all in the practice and nowing the limits of your weapon.Also think of the ammo you use.Thank you all for the reading today of what you had to say!
What precausions need to be taken with the insight laser when cleaning the 38 spl bodyguard
tommy mc gourty You are right its a 38+ so if your a bad ass let me double tap you center mass & don’t cry like a Bi7ch. Then say its a pu$$y gun.
It’s in the instruction book, it can be downloaded I believe if you do not have.
anybody know how to change the batteries out for the laser in the bodyguard, and what kind they use or how to get them?
guys?all the hoo ha about suitability of a pistol’s caliber, don’t you guys realize how damm lucky you can buy a pistol off the shelf(well nearly), in fact as many as you want?me?where we come from a pistol is reserved for big shots, millionaires and well connected,(which I am not,mine was a gift from a top brass police chief relative) and in any event, only per license(yup, that’s what they do here)so I’m stuck with my post war German made Walter PPK in .380((mm kruz) but boy, does it travel with me!
Does anyone know if the internals of the .38 version is the same as a standard J-frame (not including laser, of course)?
I’m wondering if APEX’s new J-frame DCAEK kit will work with the bodyguard or not.
Thanks!
This is my first gun, and although it may be considered “ugly” to some, it is the most comfortable gun I’ve ever placed in my hands.
If the gun is not comfortable, a woman is unlikely to commit the time to practicing on a regular basis. Many guns are just too big for a woman’s hands.
I’m far away from being a proficient shooter, but I will continue practicing until it happens.
So all you shooters who find it hard to find .380 ACP: where do you all live? Chicago? Mars? Canada? I can buy .380 ball at Walmart any day of the week, and HydraShok two towns away, again, any day of the week!
What is the pound-pull weight required for this double-action only pistol (the 380 model).
I hope you put about 200 rounds thru each before you carry it and didn’t mean they are loaded and ready for when you need it?????!!!!!
I couldnt decide so I got the 380 and the 38. Got the 38 for my wife. She loves it cause its simple and light. The 380 is also simple and light. Have not shot either one and hope i never have too, but they loaded and ready.
I really hope you’re not saying that you just bought those guns, loaded them up, then fooled yourself into some false sense of security. You ~always~ have to test your carry/defense gun; especially these new ridiculous offerings from the company that now calls itself S&W. Both of these guns are already well known for their reliability issues, mix that with S&W’s terrible QC and your idea of just buying them and keeping them around as talismans…..that’s a recipe for disaster.
I LOVE my Bodyguard! (38 Revolver) Its VERY lightweight. I have to check to make sure its still “on” me. lol No one can tell I have it on me. I LOVE it. Its a beauty, feels GREAT in my hand! Very Smooth trigger. Shoots like a dream.
Well my instinct was to go with the Ruger LCR or the old stalwart hammer less 442 but the Bodyguard was the better deal at a closeout price at the place I bought it from (they are getting rid of all Smith and Wesson products). Now I regret not paying the extra 50 bucks. Now I have to rely on their good graces to work out some kind of exchange where I don’t lose a huge chunk of money. I guess I should have known looking at the thing but the money savings clouded my judgement.
Anyway just a warning for anybody considering that particular model. Maybe it’s just me.
Brent, I’ve had a similar experience with ambidextrous safeties on some 1911′s – you know the safety is on; you look down, and it’s off. I eventually came to the conclusion that Mr. Browning got it right the first time around.
After handling the Bodyguard .38, I decided a little more traditional was the way to go. I really don’t like the way the laser is activated on the Bodyguard .38; there’s no way you’re going to be able to turn it on in a draw and fire scenario. Anyway, I went with an S&W M&P 360PD with the XS tritium big dot sight, and then put a set of the Crimson Trace soft rubber laser grips on it (LG405). I love this little rig, although it’s a bear to shoot even with .38′s. It makes a great warm weather carry gun, and weighs about 1/2 of my Para PDA .45. I actually forget I have it on. The M&P with the Crimson Trace grips costs about twice as much as the Bodyguard .38, but I feel it’s considerably more user friendly, and in a high stress situation, user friendly is what you want.
I just bought one of the .38′s a week ago and after carried it for two days. I pulled it from the holster multiple times to practice drawing and several times the ambidextrous cylinder release had been accidentally triggered, causing the cylinder to simply fall open. I tried testing this out several times and I have come to the conclusion that this must be happening when I am simply wearing the weapon and taking part in every day activities. I have owned other revolvers with the standard cylinder release and never had this happen. I will be returning this weapon before I ever shoot it. I need a backup/concealed carry weapon to be more reliable than that.
Jesus Christ!, why is it that all the juveniles must make inane comments about “.380 being weak”, or “underpowered”?
IT’S BETTER FOR YOUR WIFE TO CARRY ONE THAN NOTHING!!
Can we stop the kindergartener impulse of criticizing calibers and just examine the weapon?
GLJ – I purchased the S&W 380 with Laser. Fired 2 clips, 1 with laser on.
The laser quit working. Changed batteries twice to no avail. Dealer
said to return to manufacturer. Had trouble contacting them to
get return instructions. Hope to get an exchange on laser unit.
Has anybody had this trouble?
80 % of people shot with a hand gun ( any caliber ) survive
In the US the .22 caliber has killed more people than all other calibers combined
Just FYI
i personally picked up the .380 bodyguard and love it
Donkey Kongon 05 Feb 2010 at 5:20 am link comment
Is it just me or is the Bodyguard 380 pistol’s barrel bent upwards in the shot with its slide racked back?
reading this mad me laugh then it got me worried,if a gun owner dosent know why the barrel drops at the rear while the gun cycles dosent need to own or even handle a gun……
For consue: I carry a Taurus 738, my girlfriend doesn’t like it bc of the kick for its size. I love it bc I don’t carry a purse obviously. She carries a Taurus millinium 9mm which is very comfortable for her and fits in the purse really well.
I have a question for all you experts. I am a left handed female looking for a good hand gun for self defense. Can you please reccommend one? I have a little experience but not for many years so obviously target practice is in my immediate future. Thanks so much
I have a bodyguard 380. I have put about 300 rounds through it with no problems. I have put it into service so to speak and have started carrying it in a desantis pocket holster. The holster is good, but you need to remove the trim around the inside back or the blade of the rear sight will hangup on it when you draw. This is an easy fix. Just carefully take a razor blade and remove the trim on the inside only in the area of the rear sight. Then take a match and lightly sear the inside of the holster where you have removed the trim. If it is somewhat rough, just take sone 220A grit sandpaper and lightly sand it smooth. If you do it right it will look like it came that way. I may contact desantis about this. Wayne
Tom, the point of this gun is to carry without having to worry about space. If someone comes at me and I shoot them six times and still cant kick their ass and restrain them then i’m just not a man. I like this gun because i dont like to wear a holster or baggy pants.
I recently purchased the bodyguard .380, it’s a nice weapon to conceal, I am having an issue with mine, I shot 100 rounds through it, it was great until it hit 85 rounds, the last 15 were bad, it jamed twice on me, I sent it back to smith & wesson for warranty work, if I had to do it again, I would go with the bodyguard 38, I can’t trust the .380 now
The wife just threw a Bodyguard 380 in layaway. We’ll pick it up next week and run some ammo through it while we’re there. Everything I’ve read so far sounds promising.
I carry a Ruger SR9c but recently bought the BG 380 to carry in warmer weather. It’s slim profile make for easy concealment right in the pocket of my shorts. This gun is awesome. I’ve shot over 400 rounds with no problems. Easy to take apart and clean. It just might turn into my primary carry weapon and the Ruger will be my nightstand gun.
I paid $500 for the BG 380. Pretty expensive for a pocket carry but I have absolutely no regrets. The safety feature is rare to find on small guns so this was a major plus. Perfect size too, right between an LCP and a P22.
Who of you that say a 380 or 38 sp is a wimpy cartridge will volunteer for me to shoot you.I will only hit you with a double tap to the chest.Nothing to worry about.I will only be using Corbon hollowpoints
John 2, it sounds like you have started carrying more often, but not all the time? One thing I saw a few years ago that I find helpful when thinking about how often and when to carry is to ask yourself the following:
How many days & which specific days out of each month would you choose to drop your auto or homeowners insurance?
For most folks the answer would be none, I don’t know when some idiot without insurance might hit me or might slip on my sidewalk and sue me. So why would there be some days or times out of the month that you would choose to not carry.
Two days ago a 40 year old McDonalds employee was shot and killed by her husband at work here. That McDonalds has never had so much as a fight at it that I am aware of and it has been open a long time. Fortunately, the guy didn’t decide that he needed to kill everyone else there too. He shot his wife and then just walked out. It can happen absolutely anywhere, anytime.
Captjack101 – The eraser trick sounds like a try, but can a gun smith file
the release down to make the pull lighter?
Just picked up my bodyguard, went to the range and wow! Laser was right on at 30′. nice tight groups. No jams, no feed issues, no problems at all! My only complaint is the trigger. Really long, heavy pull. The guy shooting next to me as really impressed. I think he may be buying one. I’ve carried a Colt Mustang for years and this puts it to shame in terms of accuracy. I LOVE it!!!
I just purchased a S & W 380 pistol & was wondering if they will ever
increase the clip length to hold one more finger?
My gun knowledge is very limited…..someone please tell me the difference (if there is any) between a .38 round and a .380 round.
Thanks!
Well, im totally a 45 acp guy. I carry a full size 1911 in my carhart in the winter and a glock 36 in the summer. And my wife has a small frame body. All she can carry is a ruger lcp. We got shooting about 2-3 times a month. She knows how to use it. Its all about skills. She does tight groups with that little 380. I would mess with her even is she had a 22
Yup, I got my butt handed to me on another site for criticizing a guy who said his primary carry gun was a .380. Got into the whole argument about how it doesn’t matter what guns you own, only what gun you have on you.
I realized I was a bit of a hypocrite, since I had an arsnal of big bores all locked up in a safe most of the time and he was carrying his “poor ballistics” .380 every day.
Went out and bought a Kahr 380 shortly after and have been carrying alot more. I have had other small cal guns over the years, as I’ve been always looking for the perfect pocket pistol, traded in a PPKS for the Kahr since it was not exactly comfortable to carry in a back pocket.
Alot of choices now in the pocket pistol class, looked at the Smith 380 at the gun shop, it did feel real nice and at first I thought the laser was a good thing, but now I’m not sure, maybe as a previous poster said it’s a gimmick that may of ruined a great gun???
They have had some issues with the first group of Bodyguard .380 pistols, but the problems seem to be fixed with the EAB serial numbers. I put about 120 rounds of through mine last weekend, 2 different brands of ball and one hollow point, without a problem. I never had a .380, nor a laser. It was a fun gun to shoot, and surprisingly comfortable for my hands. Small and thin, but the shape design is easy to grip. At about 21-24 feet it was pretty accurate for me alternating between sights and laser. I like it, better then any other of the small pistols I have gripped. With the safety and or a pocket holster, this thing can literally go anywhere.
Recently purchased the S&W Bodyguard .380 – what a “Sweet” Pistol! Took it out last weekend and shot 200 rounds through it with no problems! This is an ideal pistol for a lady to carry. I had been waiting for another brand to release a pistol, but got tired of waiting almost 2 years now. A friend recommended that I take a look at this pistol for CC. I was very impressed with the S&W and decided to give it a try. I’m glad that I made the purchase as so many of the smaller pistols are hard for a lady to pull the slide back….I was able to do so on this one with no problems. Ladies carry what you are comfortable with, as any gun is better than no gun.
A lot of negative post on the S&W Bodyguard .380. I’m buying one for my wife. Laser and a smoother recoil than her S&W .38. The 38 is troublesome for her wrist so this will be an ideal CCW sidearm. Maybe packs less punch but if I’m on the receiving end of seven rounds I’m not going to stick around and debate the issue. Would you?
I am thinking about purchasing a S&W .38 +p revolver. But I have been reading may posts on the web about problems with the 380 auto. Does the revolver have any known problems?
The barrel isn’t bent. In the Browning-type short-recoil semi-auto pistols, the barrel has to tilt in order for the upper locking surface(s) of the barrel to clear its corresponding engagement surface(s) in the slide.
Donkey Kongon -
“Is it just me or is the Bodyguard 380 pistol’s barrel bent upwards in the shot with its slide racked back?”
NO WAY!!!
I am a retired police detective and former police range officer. I purchased the body guard revolver after doing some research. The reason I picked it over the Ruger was because Ruger’s bore axis is higher above the grip (More felt recoil).
A friend of mine who is still on duty bought a Ruger and we took them to the range. He is trying to sell the Ruger so he can buy the S&W. The only criticism I have is the trigger over travel after the sear breaks. It pulls your shots off. I tried an old bowling pin shooter’s trick and super glued a pencil eraser behind the trigger on the frame and trimmed it with an exacto knife. Pre pencil eraser groups at 7 yards were around 3 inches and at 25 yards were approx. 5 inches (from a rest). After the pencil eraser was installed the 7 hard group had 5 shots touching each other and the 25 yard group shrunk to approx. 3 inches.
Its not one of my top priorities but I plan on having an allen set screw installed in the trigger as a permanent alteration.
Oh, for those interested, I meant to include this with my earlier comment http://www.tactical-life.com/online/tactical-weapons/israeli-mossad-22-lrs/ if you have any doubt about training trumping caliber.
Carl on 3/17 said it very well regarding caliber and training, “I’d give a well trained shooter with a .22lr better odds than an untrained one with whatever caliber.” Fact is, the Israeli Mossad and Sky Marshals used the Beretta 70 autoloader in .22lr with deadly efficiency for years.
I would not advocate that the average person go out and buy a .22lr for personal defense, but, the fact is the person that trains effectively on a frequent basis with a .22, .380, .38, etc… is going to have a better chance in a self-defense situation than the person that goes out and buys the best 1911 money can buy and only practices once or twice a year with it.
The 380′s have their place. Down here in the Florida heat, not to comfortable to be packing any of my 9′s or my Colt officers model. I have the LCP and just slip it in my pocket. With a smaller pistol you are more likely to carry it.
Remember the old saying ” A 380 in the pocket is better than a 45 in the glove box!”
Checked the pricing on these today at a local gunshop in Tulsa, OK (Sports world).
.38spcl = $479.00
.380acp = $440
Will probably pick one up during tax season. Just not sure which to buy. I re-load for both so it really doesnt matter as far as amo cost is concerned.
The “stopping power” crowd needs to read the armed citizen column in American Rifleman or USCCA magazines each month. There is story after story of attacks being stopped by “wimpy” rounds like .22LR, .25, .32 etc. Do they drop instantly? No but in every case they flee even after one hit from a .22 … Never have I seen an account where a BG went on fighting. They simply turn and run and are usually arrested later when seeking medical attention for their gunshot wounds.
Get real people, we’re not doing drug raids etc like the police. These mouse gun rounds will work for our purposes.
As far as the new S&W .380, we are talking pocket pistols here. Currently at home, I have a S&W Mod 36 .38, an older 380 and two 12 gauge shotguns, both tactical. Other weapons that could do in a pinch as well.
Carry a Kel-Tec P-32 everyday, religiously, because of its light weight and conceal capabilities. As well as its pointing and shooting ergonomics for my hand. The arguement over calibers has some merit but must be taken into context. Nothing will stop someone instantaneously, accuracy and placement is everything. Have seen people shot to hell and still dragging themselves along the ground and fighting back. Think that some of the negative comments come from the “spray and pray” crowd. Think that I might buy the S&W Bodyguard 380. It has the features that I like, in a compact package, in an effective cartridge size. Will just have to “feel” it out to know if it’s the pocket 380 for me.
The various comments, judgements of various rounds is interesting, but subjective in many ways. Will a 40 or 45 have more stopping power than a 380, 9, 38, 32. or 22? Oh yes. But any of those rounds, well placed, will do the job. Have any of you seen what a 380 will do to a 5-6″ pine tree? Or a 32 for that matter. Rounds on target is the answer to the caliber question.
They ruined the Bodyguard .380ACP by only offering it with the laser. The laser is hard to engage and who the hell is going turn on a laser when your life or another person’s is in danger? It’s just a stupid ploy by the company to jack up the price of the pistol to their benefit. I would have bought this gun right off if it didn’t have the laser, but now I am looking at the Ruger LCP and the Taurus TCP.
just picked up the .38spl Bodyguard yesterday. First impressions are: lightweight, nice feel (can get a good high grip on the gun), cool cylinder release, long ejector rod for more positive extraction of spent shells, smooth trigger, easy operation with one hand.
I haven’t shot it yet, but I can’t wait to see if my first impressions are right/wrong!
Also, I have no dog in the fight in the on-going caliber bashing here. I carry .38spl, 9mm, .40S&W, and .45acp. All will get the job done, if I do my part.
Any big bore guys carry Very Pistols. I think they are 1.00 caliber and fire very hot loads.————jim————-
I purchased their bodyguard .38. Although you may feel it is a toy and cannot do much damage? How about five rounds of Hornady 185 grain +P hollow point in the mid section? Small, light, easy to carry and does have knock down power. Great with a Bianchi CCW holster with finger break strap, sweade on the inside for fast draw, Randy from Ohio
All the people that say that .380acp is not enough to stop an attacker please remember that this thing holds 6+1 rounds, so shoot until the threat is over. If you think one shot of a 9mm or .45acp will stop a person, think again. Hand guns are poor one shot stoppers compared to a rifle.
Get yourself a Kahr PM9, PM40, or a slighty larger PM45.. They are much better self defence pocket guns, then the tiny, anemic 380`s.. I can easly put them in a front pocket of a pair of jeans.. and they disapear.. you cant see them.. Revolvers are to “thick” because of the cylinder..
Slim is what you want.. http://www.kahr.com
I read the comments saying that “they should have made it in a full 9mm” and can not help but laugh. Do you have any idea of the differences in pressures and forces involved in a 9mm vs .380? The parts on the new batch of .380s are simply too small to handle full 9mm loads (at least with currently available materials).
Glad to see some of these making into people’s hands. I’m interested in hearing good and bad as I consider the Bodyguard .380 vs. the Sig P238
My wife is new to CCW. She has a M&P 9c that she likes, and it fits her hand well, but she finds it to be too bulky for her to conceal well, given her size and wardrobe style. She refuses to carry in her purse, which I agree with, as it is all to easy to have a purse stolen. While she does not mind changing her dress style, we can’t afford a new wardrobe right now, so she is looking forward to picking up a Bodyguard 380. I will be much happier with her carrying a 380 than deciding it is too much hassle to try to conceal something bulkier.
Just purchased two of the 38+p bodyguards, one for the wife and one for myself. Very pleased thus far, they’re light weight and are easy to carry in one’s pocket. I’ve gotten tired of carring the Glock 27 for my off duty firearm so we’re going to give this a try. If your worried about the stopping power of these rev. S&W does have a 500 they offer.
Hey Charlie, are you talking about the gun or something else?
I just a couple of weeks ago bought the 380. I have not had an opportunity to actually shoot it yet, but let me tell you it has about $400 worth of cute. It feels really good in your hand, the trigger pull seems a bit long, but it really is cute. If it will fire, I guess that will be a plus. I’ll get back to you on that.
I own several Smiths. My 30 yo “bodyguard” and mid-size revolvers have the smoothest actions (trigger pull) I have ever experienced (excluding the 2 oz Jewell trigger on my benchrest rifle). My first year 4006 semi had a crappy trigger pull out of the box. Cost me $120, back in 1992, to have a gunsmith work his magic but 4006 is now very smooth. As we all know, smooth actions are one key to revolver accuracy. So how are new .380 and .38 from S&W? Butter? Sand?
46 rounds, what a joy that would have been to carry. I was an MP in the army stationed in Germany in the seventies. Obviously we carried .45′s, you know the ones that felt like you were carrying a baby on your hip by the end of your shift. They only issued us five rounds period. We had to get extra clips and rounds and hide them in baggies in the gutters so we had some firepower when we went out on patrol. If we got caught with them we would have been screwed but the alternative to not have them when you needed them out weighed that. They even had a saying for how to fight with only five rounds. Two to fight and three to flee. And don’t forget in close quarters the .45 makes a mean club.
Now someone get on and say: Five rounds, I used to dream of five rounds, I went to war with two rounds and I had to share them with 4 other guys, and we had a stick for backup.
well i look at all this and i think man… i carry a 40 m&p and a 380..
i think thats the best choice in my opinion.
I go for my mp 40 first and if im behind my pov and im exchanging fire and i use all three clips or my 40 jams for some un lucky messed up reason i will atleast have something else in my pocket besides my hand!! I just dont like the revolvers thats all..
also you could have a cannon and a .22 but the .22 will be more effective if you miss with the cannon!! hehe my point is they tough me at the acadamy to shoot center mass and thats what counts. stopping power?? most of us carry in total 3 clips or more holding 15 shots and one to get you started if you cant stop someone with 46 bullets RUN!!
I live in Boston Massachusetts and have driven the 100 miles to S&W in Springfield. A friend suggested that we go to the performance center and fire the Sigma and M&P semi- autos I was interested in. I didn’t like either but fired everything else I could get my hands on. The price for the range time and gun rentals was very reasonable and the people there were great and knowledgeable. Since I went I have purchased a S&W 686 4′ revlover and a Sigma 9mm.
The reason I’m giving you a little bit of history is that I have a lot of respect for S&W, just not for the new Bodyguard .380, not the .38 revolver. S&W makes, in my opinion, some of the finest revolvers in the world. They just seem to drop the ball on semi- autos, including my Sigma which I bought for $300 with the rebate.
The Bodyguard .380 looks fierce but its a .380 that I feel I would have to load with Corbons to make it an effective gun. It looks like a toy with a laser that’s right under the barrel taking a beating with every shot. The optics must be taking a pounding too and would be prone to failure. This couldn’t be a gun that you take to the range and pass a couple hundred rounds through for break-in. It would have to be a carry and defend weapon only, break it in with a few clips and stick it in the small of your back. I hope I’m wrong and I will shoot it but I’m already seeing bad comments about it here and on other sites. I feel you can never have enough guns, now there’s one less to buy.
Where in Knoxville TN could I buy the. 380 or is there a place. If not what is a good website to order from cause I realty want one.thanks
I purchased a .380 from S&W and it broke after 60 rounds. The trigger would not reset and the Insight laser stopped almost immediately. I have a friend that purchased one about the same time and his laser stopped working after 1 day. Smith has a good gun here but obviously some kinks to work out.
LOL @ Kevin!
Well done!
Thank you S&W for your inadequate contribution to firepower in the new Bodyguard .380 and .38. The life of a criminal is bad enough with every cowboy / girl carrying a hand cannon that could make the common robbery / rape an uncomfortable if not deadly experience. Staring down the barrel of a .45 a few times has given me pause in my chosen profession to the point where I almost sought gainful employment. But now that you, and every other manufacturer of handguns has jumped on the pc bandwagon and started churning out these cute little guns by the wagon load, I have reconsidered my quest for a job and have rejoined the ranks of the criminally employed. No longer will I fear the dark alleys and parking structures that used to be my home. Instead I will count the minutes until twilight so I can once again patrol the areas where you shouldn’t be and I am. If I encounter you and you pull your insult to ballistics, I will try not to laugh before I take your money, your gun, and your pants.
Yours Truly
A Concerned Criminal
PS: Do they come in Pink?
Debate aside, my local big box sporting goods store got one of each in today. 380 was only 459.00. 38 was 489.00. Considering the factory installed laser, that seems fair at retail. Heck, I even bought a box of 380 at my local wal-mrt last week. Of course, this is in the state where our governor shot a coyote while jogging with his dog with an LCP. I am not looking to buy one just yet, but I gotta say the grips were very nice compared to the other popular pocket guns. Also, I do like the semi design with its shrouded “hammer” and second striker capabilities. More often than not, the first few from the factory for a new design seem to have bugs – for all brands, and I dont care to be the one giving them feedback and what problems show up (peening etc…) With bad guys in my area wearing body armor for home invasions and gas pump holdups, I’d rather evade if possible and “carry a big stick”. Fireamstactical. c o m. is also a great resource for the debate above, but to me – that’s what it is – a debate. I get the feeling most of you folks have not had the displeasure of observing an actual gunshot wound of any caliber at it’s creation or in it’s aftermath. CNS hit or not, a sucking chest wound really does, well suck.
Anyways, they are hitting the shelves now.
My typing is a little lame, ‘shot’ should be SHORT
Just got back from the gun shop I deal with. Price for the .380 is $435+tax but I was told the gun is in very shot supply.
Both my Bodyguard 38 and 380 arrived at my dealers this week and to sum them up in one word “WOW”. Both are impressive pistols, the 38 has some real innovations such as doing away with theframe mounted hand to rotate the cylinder which no rotates clockwise. The revolver feels great in the hand with a very smooth trigger and the laser set up works well.
The Bodyguard 380 has features not found on the Ruger LCP or the Kahr P380 ( I own both). Besides the built in laser it features both a slide stop and a nice thumb safety. This pistol feels better in the hand than either my LCP or P380. I’m looking forward to shooting them both.
also…………………… that is not an ugly snubbie.
if i shoot you in the center of your chest with +p 38 specail hollowpoint from a snubbie u will die. end of story……………………… you guys are funny.
Both calibers and both time proven and used through two world wars along side the 45. ACP. The new strides made these days in better powder kaing higher velocities and alloys much more dangerous then our great grand fathers day. One could aurgue ballistics all day however being I am still alive after being shot several times doesn’t mean I would releash the chance to have it happen again.
No gun of any caliber will save your life unless you learn the correct way to use it then practice, take some defense classes that provide realist training then practice more and then hope to God when something does happen, you see it coming becuase criminals don’t wait for you to see them coming they blind side you or come when your sleeping.
Wow, this is a tough cynical crowd. I like the look of both of these guns. I had a Kahr P-40 and it was awful. First time I shot it the clip dropped out. Back to the manufacturer, had to wait weeks. got it back and it started doing the same thing. Also the Kahr was still relatively heavy to carry, it flopped around on a ankle holster and stuck too far out on an inside the belt holster. Both of these look like excellent pocket pistols to me. Give S&W some credit. Lighten up.
As I live in England, I’m not allowed a handgun and even if I were allowed I couldn’t use/carry it for self defence. So I carry a large calibre house brick in a sock. Mind you it is hard to conceal down the front of my trousers (thats pants in Colonial speak)………
Simon_The_Brit, LOL, are you sure that they have not yet banned large caliber bricks?
Gee, I wonder why professional hitmen prefer 22cal revolvers. I believe it is because they know where to shoot the target, which is at the base of the skull in the back or the soft spot on the temple. A 22 isn’t very loud and doesn’t create a scene, You get perfect penetration and the bullet acts as a pinball and richocets through the brain and reeks havoc. You put a .380 in the hands of a trained assasin and you will get a fatal shot. A .380 will get the job done. It is just like everything else, You have to know what you are doing.
Give me one of the guns above and I can effectively protect my self. If you rely on a random shot to stop someone, then you had better go back to school. If I only had a pen I could protect myself. That is why I carry a tactical pen. It looks like a regular pen, except it is made out of metal, has an extremely sharp point and has a large flat head so that I can put my thumb on top and drive it into the target at just the right spot on his torso…Placement, placement, placement…Did I mention it’s the placement?
I carry a Smith & Wesson older model 380 with extra clip. Yes, I hear all the talk about stopping power. But, I can conceal this weapon, on a regular pull over shirt, which would show a 9mm or .40 cal. Nothing more uncomfortable, than someone in a retail situation, gawking at your shoulder and thinking,”is that a weapon, under his shirt” I like the new .380 with built-in laser sight. Price will be a factor.
Where the “Bodyguard” name is concerned I see myself sticking with the J-frames where it’s a nickname, not this new .38 where it’s part of the model name. A polymer frame in a semiauto is one thing, I’m not ready to accept polymer as part/all of a revolver frame.
If you are not prepared to put to quick ones to the ocular cavity with either of these two handguns, then you don’t need to purchase either one. All other hand waving mumbo-jumbo aside, these calibers need to be applied to the CNS or forget it as a stop in the tracks cartridge. Want center mass two tap stop, move up in caliber and foot pounds of energy,..
When is the .380 coming out anyway? It’s supposed to be this month right?
I don’t get it. People are so down on the .380 when it is infact a reliable BACKUP gun. I’d rather have a pocket .380 as an emergency backup weapon than any other small, compact gun. Yes, the .380 isn’t like a .45 as far as “stopping power” is concerned but it IS effective with proper shot placement. Stopping power is a stupid, ill informed word that is completely irrelevant. You could hit a non-crucial spot on a person’s body with a .45 and still get killed before they go down. Or iwith a couple of well placed .380 rounds a person will drop. It’s all about WHERE YOU HIT, not the SIZE of the bullet. Hell, assassins used to use .22′s! Any gun can be very deadly with the right person behind it. I know for a fact I could drop any of you with six quick shots out of my NAA Guardian 380 as fast as I could with my 9mm or a 1911.
Thank heavens! I’ve been waiting for someone, anyone, to come out with a reliable compact revolver with a built in laser sight that isn’t a Crimson Trace. I like laser sights. I like a revolver for carry. I hate, hate, hate the cheap feel of Crimson Trace grips. Some nice Hogue grips on a Bodyguard may finally be the gun I’ve been hunting for years. It sure doesn’t hurt that I’m a big S&W fan already.