Let’s be upfront about this: this review will be a bit biased. I admit it. I own a S&W Bodyguard 2.0. I bought the review gun when I did that piece a year or so ago. The gun just seemed to nestle into my hand almost perfectly, and it behaved well when I shot it.
Plus, its 10- and 12-round capacity magazines were a big draw. I know I’m not the only gun writer to like this gun… when it came out in July of last year, many gun writers and YouTubers jumped on its bandwagon. S&W has hit one out of the park, according to several of us hacks.
How so?
Let’s answer that by looking at the one we have in front of us today —a Performance Center version, with a muzzle compensator slot cut into the slide and barrel, which was released this past July. It’s the same gun as the one I bought, except for the added compensator. The slide has one compensator cut in its top and two on each side, just behind the muzzle. (I think those are there more for shaving a couple of ounces off the gun, and for looks. They’re not lined up with the top barrel cut.)
First, some numbers for you…
Specifications
- Width 0.88 In
- Length 5.85 In
- Height 4 In
- Weight 11.8 Oz
- Caliber 380 Auto
- Size Micro
- Capacity 10,12
- Action Striker Fired
- Barrel Length 3.1
- Grip Polymer
- Sights Ameriglo® Night Sights
- Optic Ready No
- Safety None
- Color/Finish Black
- State Compliance CO, DE, IL, VT
- Threaded Barrel No
- Barrel Material Stainless Steel
- Frame Polymer
- Laser No
- Number Of Magazines 2
- 10lb Trigger No
- MSRP: $549
Other features include some interesting sights. You have a rear notch that is serrated, and an Ameriglo night sight up front.
The muzzle compensator and front sight. These are not your average “380-pocket-pistol” sights, but are very useful.
Speaking of the non-compensated model, I took a couple of “family photos” to compare the relative size of each pistol. The 12-round extended magazine is in both. I keep that magazine in the gun… it doesn’t add to the bulk, and it provides two more rounds over the flat-based mag.
(I didn’t get them lined up perfectly, but you catch the drift.) The comp’d one isn’t much longer than the non-comp’d version.
The trigger is flat-faced and breaks at 6 pounds.
Also, the mag release is easily reversible. Hawk-eyed readers will see that I’ve reversed it on my gun in the “two-guns” photos.
The slide has some engraving…
Here’s the barrel:
Note the compensator cut near the muzzle.
“Mug” shots…
The grip texturing is just right… not too little, not too much. It’s more aggressive on the front and back than on the sides. The gun fits my hand extremely well. Even the extended mag base plate is textured.
At The Range
I remember when I first got the Bodyguard 2.0. I ended up keeping that one, as I mentioned, because I was impressed with how it shot and felt in my hand. This one is no different.
I set up some targets at about 10 yards and brought out three .380 loads: all 95-grain FMJs from Aguila, MagTech, and S&B. I know some folks who carry a 380 with FMJ rounds for penetration, as they don’t trust JHP bullets to expand at 380 velocities. Plus, the ammo is a bit cheaper and more readily available around here.
Did the muzzle compensator cut help? It sure did. The gun didn’t come back quite as hard, or the muzzle rise quite as high, as my “normal” one does. Also, the trigger was helpful. This is progress for S&W, because in the past, some of their smaller carry guns didn’t have such great triggers. I’m glad to say that’s not the case anymore.
At any rate, here are three representative targets.
Aguila. It shot high left with the sights as issued.
MagTech. Again, high-left.
S&B. A bit lower but still left. If I were keeping the pistol, I’d move the rear sight to compensate. At least the bottom two groups could mostly be covered by the 2-inch black center, with one flyer each. The gun is accurate enough for its purpose. As with all guns, you’d need to experiment to find a load that it liked. I used a center hold.
Field-Stripping
One very handy feature on this 2.0 Carry Comp is its takedown lever. There are no Glock-style tabs… my fingers are not good with those. Instead, pull the magazine and empty the chamber. Then, lock the slide back. Turn the takedown lever downwards 90 degrees and release the slide. After you pull the trigger, the slide will come off the front of the frame. Separate the barrel and spring, and clean away. Reassemble in reverse order… It’s easier than several other pistols I could name.
Concluding Thoughts
The .380 has grown in popularity in recent years as a carry caliber. With new technology and bullet construction, it has been “ramped up” to a considerable degree in terms of effectiveness. You can still buy pocket 380s all day long with 6-round magazines and crappy triggers, but why? For just about the same bulk, you can have one with a 12+1 capacity, a good front night sight, a notched rear sight, great grip texturing, and wonderful controllability.
For a street price of around $499, you can get a gun that could conceivably go with you almost every time you leave home, in your pocket. (Just please use a pocket holster.) Insert the 10-round magazine to carry, and place the 12-round magazine in another pocket or mag carrier. The .380 is nothing to sneeze at, and this latest gun from S&W in that caliber is one of the finer ones on the market.
If you’re in the market for a pocket .380, check out this “tiny M&P”, as I affectionately call it. It bears no resemblance to any other tiny 380 that S&W has ever made, and the “M&P” comparison is welcome in this case. It looks like someone put a full-size M&P in the dryer, and it shrank. Things could be worse than that.
Check one out… You might like it. At least I did!
Where To Buy
Read the full article here
