I have the Bodyguard 2.0, the LCP Max, a newer LCP (better trigger), and an ancient LCP (long double action trigger).

Like you, Im not a fan of the Bodyguard. Mine IS reliable though. And yes I think it is the best of the bunch. But I still prefer the older LCP pistols or even the LCP max.

Try different ammo. Get some Gold Dots. They are hot and reliable in everything. Make sure its lubricated. Store the mags fully loaded in your safe, to break the springs in. I agree these mags are the hardest mags I have ever had to load in my life. I consider the 10 round mag to be a 10 round mag and the 12 round mag to be an 11 round mag.

Picked up some Federal Punch 85gr yesterday. Just tried to hand-cycle some through it, not going to waste time heading to the range otherwise. No dice. It won't even chamber them 50% of the time. Hanging between the feed ramps. And creating setback in the rounds too - I measured one at nearly 2mm of setback after attempting to chamber it.

Will be in touch with S&W shortly.

I had that happen with CD Lite 9mm in a G43.
My 9mms get 9BP and the hypothetical.380 will get ball, vetting with JHP or gimmick bullets is not worth it to me.

^^^ That's a "gimmick" bullet if I ever saw one.

We have the BG2 Carry Comp and bought it because it is going to be an IWB discreet summer carry pistol and like the sights better than the standard. I can’t say the comp does much of anything but ours has been 100 percent reliable after the first 50 rounds. In the first few magazines, we had a handful of rounds that required us to tap the back of the slide to return to battery. The magazines weren’t as bad as the reports I’m hearing but I use Uplula loaders. The trigger is one of the best in the house and the little gun shoots flat and accurately. My neighbors LCP Max by contrast has a horrible trigger kicks like a mule and he struggles to find paper at 5yds. It is definitely a better pocket pistol than the BG2 and I can make hits with it but not tiny groups like I can with the BG2. I would make the same choice if o had to do it all over, it is one of the best 380 pistols I have ever shot. We have roughly 1k rounds through it with close to 200 rounds of HP ammo and settled on the Speer Golddot ammo for SD. The HST would likely work but has a longer OAL and it ran flawlessly with the GDs so we stopped on those since we had an inventory already.

To be fair, I have many pocket options which include a Seecamp in 380 so the LCP Max as a pocket pistol wasn’t as needed in my scenario.