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.

Uplula's are addictive. I think I have five or six of them.

quote:

Originally posted by sigarmsp226:

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:
get an uplula

This is the solution to your problem. Same thing occurred with me several years back. Bought one and after using it, I now own five. Two for pistols, two for AR’s, and one for M1A

And I thought I was the only one who has five or more Uplulas! I have one hanging on my Craftsman double stack tool box, one in a safe, one on the pegboard above the workbench, one on the table in the center of the garage where I usually load mags, and the last one in the safe where I keep the ammo. And, an Uplula AR loader handing on the tool box and a smaller one for 380s etc. also hanging on the tool box.

I was afraid I'd get one and misplace it, so I dove in for quantity, most in different colors but some in plain old black.

Bob

So I got one of these Bodyguard 2.0 380 ACP for my mother, who is 80, and the safety was way too hard for her to manipulate, the magazines are definitely super tight, and the gun was nice I guess but I traded it for a P232 with 2 magazines and am very happy with the P232.

My mom went back to the P238 I got her that she loves.

I was thinking the double stack might be impressive but it really wasn't a very user friendly gun, and the controls and magazines are definitely very hard to operate/load.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
^^^ That's a "gimmick" bullet if I ever saw one.

The “Punch” is just an ok choice. Not so much a gimmick as it is a Taylor Swift song of bullets.

I bought quite a few .38 “Punch” rounds from the LGS at a good price. They compare with cheaper end ball rounds in J and K frames.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
It is off my shopping list.
Hard to load, hard to rack.
Whacks my thumb joint and slaps my trigger finger.
If I get a small auto it will be a Glock 42.

I agree 100%. Unfortunately I didn’t realize these things until after I bought it. Oddly enough, I bought it at Academy Sports and the salesman gave me all kinds of goofy discounts so it didn’t cost much, about $430 out the door. But then I had to trade it off for $300 at another door.
It just didn’t work. There is such a thing as too small, although better slide cuts would have perhaps made it possible.

I just got one. I like it, the feel and size. The guide protruding past the barrel didn’t make me very happy. Contacted S&W. Told me it was normal and dismissed me. I ordered a Galloway guide rod. Should be here tomorrow.
I have an LCP and LCP Max. I like it just it just feels awkward in my hand. I just really like the way this Bodyguard feels and shoots. I can live with carrying ball. Although, Glaser Powerball has proven to do well. YMMV

My BG 2.0 reliably feeds Hornady XTP and Underwood Extreme Defenders with no issues. I don’t bother with any other rounds for carry on a mini .380. These two rounds have proven to be the most consistent examples of .380 to have good penetration through the mini .380s. The XTP will expand some (nothing spectacular but will expand) and penetrate sufficiently. Extreme defenders don’t expand, supposedly “disrupt” tissue, but regardless of that they will penetrate sufficiently without over penetration.

Gold dots, HST, FTX, etc have not proven to be consistent with expansion nor penetration. The testing of .380 has been practically beaten to death on YouTube. Yes, a lot of backyard yahoos, but some of the testing was done very well with proper controls.

I’ve been on a 32 cal kick lately, fun to reload, shoot and carry, revolver of course.

The main gun is a S&W UC in 32 H&R mag, simple, easy to shoot & carry. Yes I realize one may not be ideal for those that frequent more questionable areas.

I’m still testing a new to me gun I bought recently, a Charter Arms, 3” revolver in 32 mag. I wanted to try the 3” barrel. I realize the Charter Arms isn’t a S&W, but so far it’s workable. The trigger isn’t as smooth. It is kinda a way to scratch an itch at 1/2 price of an $800 gun.

I do have one gun in 327 Federal, in a lighter gun it’s like shooting a 357 mag in a 3” revolver. I think full power 32 H&R mag loads are the sweet spot.

Anyway, just putting out an option besides the smallish semi-autos.