Bodyguard 380 Need Break In?

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Ilm

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I purchased a BG 380 new to serve as a pocket carry. Typically I carry Sigs IWB but I have not found one that suits this purpose for me.... thus trying the BG.

I bought 50 rounds of standard range ammo and 50 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense for my first range trip.

Out out of the 50 rounds of cheap range ammo, there were four failure to fire. I just figured it was cheap.

Then I shot the 50 rounds of HCD and had two failure to eject... the spent round was in the chamber and the next round jammed the slide open.

I went back the following week with 75 rounds of HCD and my second shot was a failure to eject just like before. I thought here we go again... but then the next 73 rounds went off without issue.

I use HCD for my other guns and see it discussed a lot here.

Has anyone heard of a breakin period for the BG 380 or do you think I have a bigger issue?
 
As far as the failures to fire with the cheap range ammo, I wouldn't be too worried. I've seen and have heard of a lot of bad primers out there. Norma gets knocked a lot, but I just had a ftf Saturday with Blazer brass, and I had several ftf last year with a batch of Federal aluminum: and federal primers are notoriously soft.

The double feeds are a little more worrisome, but it sounds like the gun fixed itself. Gunk in the chamber that tied up the spent round, maybe?
 
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I have had mixed results with BG 380. I have worked on way to many of them at the shop to even justify carrying one. But everyone has different opinions. With most of them they need a deep clean and polishing done to the chamber and feedramp.
I had two out of the box that the trigger failed one with in one magazine.
But most were during COVID so I figured it was poor QC at the time.
 
I had a BG when they first came out and never had any issue. Could you have limp wristed a couple; these little light guns are sensitive to that.
 
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If it's a Bodyguard 380, send it back to S&W to have them replace it with a M&P Bodyguard 380.
 
Hellquest said:
I have had mixed results with BG 380. I have worked on way to many of them at the shop to even justify carrying one. But everyone has different opinions. With most of them they need a deep clean and polishing done to the chamber and feedramp.
I had two out of the box that the trigger failed one with in one magazine.
But most were during COVID so I figured it was poor QC at the time.
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Jeppo said:
One man’s experience…

Post in thread 'Best Pocket 380 Opinions'
https://carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/best-pocket-380-opinions.124437/post-2053988
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The original BG 380s were issued to the 5th Judicial Court DEU unit as undercovers....they were So bad they took them all back and sent them back to S&W.
 
Ilm said:
How long ago was that?
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Mine was an M&P manufactured January 2017. I haven’t forgotten the experience.
 
The problem I have had with mine is a hit and miss with the slide locking back on the last round. Tried several brands. Sent it back to S&W and they sent it back "fixed". The only thing they pretty much did was replace the Insight laser with a Crimson Trace laser which is a big improvement.
 
Tatershooter said:
The problem I have had with mine is a hit and miss with the slide locking back on the last round. Tried several brands. Sent it back to S&W and they sent it back "fixed".
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That was one of the symptoms with mine. They couldn’t fix it and agreed to replace it.
 
Tatershooter said:
It still is a hit and miss.
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If you’re interested, PM me and I’ll walk you through how I was able to diagnose the issues with mine.
 
I had two of them. Well technically 3 of them. I had one with the laser too but it got sold. I didn’t have any issues with it that I recall. I had a non laser M&P Bodyguard 380 and I shot and carried it significantly. It was reliable until it wasn’t. After 6 months or so and about 400 rounds it fell apart. I sent it to Smith and Wesson and they sent me a new one. The replacement one I shot some before I got rid of it. I had no issues with it but I had lost faith in the series because of the previous one. I didn’t want to risk my life on it
 
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I know 3 people who bought them. They all had various issues and sold them for lcp's.
Not saying lcp is better or yours won't work. Just my personal experience. For all day pocket carry i have a j frame.
 
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