I have the Bodyguard .380 and your description of the trigger pull as being like a double action revolver is spot on. I think people who don't like it are disappointed that it doesn't have the shorter, lighter trigger of a striker gun. Personally, I find the long, heavy pull comforting with it in my pocket.
100% agree. One in the chamber, no holster required, only a belt clip. That makes for a fav small light comfy piece, that actually gets carried. Micro 9s will seem like a total PITA after the Bodyguard. Add a green Armalaser and its crazy accurate. 20 yard fist sized, check. Fiocchi runs solid. Mag extensions allow a full grip, hinder carry little. Recoil is moot, its a 380.
Worst gun I ever owned. Could not hit anything and the firing pin broke. I will never buy a S&W or anything advertised by Jerry Miculek again. I now carry a LCP Max and consider it the best gun I have ever bought.
I loved my s&w .38 snubbie but I got rid of it which I greatly regret I got rid of it because I honestly couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with it as a former cop I took great pride in my shooting never scoring less than 95% only once did I shoot my duty weapon under 100% but I couldn’t for the life of me get accurate with it not a bad gun it was all me!
My LCP does fine from 7 yards and closer at rapid fire. I can routinely hit a shoe box at 25 yards slow fire. I like the heavy trigger pull for added safety of a gun that’s in my pocket even when I take a nap on the couch. I looked at the LCP II. The larger sights increase size and chances of snagging. I have one LCP at my house (in my pocket) in Oklahoma City. I keep another at a vacation home in Colorado, and a third at my brother’s house in Maine. That way when I fly to those places I don’t need to bother taking a gun in checked baggage. When I noticed Ruger discontinuing production of the original, I bought a fourth one. Perhaps I have a problem !
My Remington RM380 runs very well. I can't remember the last time it malfunctioned. It runs all ammo well. Only down side is the double action only trigger is about 10 lbs, but it is vastly superior to all versions of the Ruger LCP.
Beretta Pico is a great 380. I had a Kahr 380 before, sold to get a G43. Had to buy another 380. Never had a jam in Pico or Kahr. Underwood + P ammo !🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I prefer the Ruger LCR. It carries well in any fashion including in the pocket and it does not malfunction and if it does I just pull the trigger again.
Some people can concealed carry 4 pounds of white powder, for others, even the tiniest Glock is too big. It's not just about preferences, it has much to do with physique (and training,.. and lube).
BimmerGear It totally depends on the pocket! I carry mine in jeans and dress pants. I only have one or two pairs of dress pants where it feels unsecure in the pocket.
F.B.I. data shows that 88% of all defensive shootings occur within 25 feet or less. So, pocket pistols are fine for the majority of all self-defense situations that you're likely to be in. A concealable pistol not only adds the element of surprise, but it's extremely difficult for someone to "knock the gun out of your hand." I've seen angry mobs sneak up on a person and pull a large gun out of a guy's hands. With a pocket pistol, each of your hands envelopes the gun.
I have a P238 which is my first auto loader purchased a couple of years ago when I first got my CCW. I've live in California for over 60 years and never felt the need for anything like this until recently. All my other experience is with revolvers (little) and hunting long guns (a lot). The safety has never been a problem, probably because it is a part of operating a hunting weapon, except that I use the off hand to re-engage it. I have never had a failure, FMJ, hollow point, xtreme defender, nothing, never. I really love this gun! I understand there were problems with the P238 in the past, at a certain point they were fixed, and there are not problems with guns manufactured after that. It would be useful if anecdotal comments of 'some are good' and 'some are bad' would include the relative age of the gun. Maybe it could be narrowed down to 'all are bad' and 'all are good' depending on the age of the gun. I think this is a good choice with the xtreme defender but would trade it immediately for a P938 if they were available in California. I would recommend a P238 to anyone.
There is a Gen 1 vs Gen 2 design change which occurred sometime in 2015. Also, some of the early magazine designs contributed to FTF issues. I have a P238 and it is 100% reliable.
Ah sure but with due bias. In this video for instance, he mentions wanting to focus on truly pocketable pistols but completely leaves out the Seecamp 380 or NAA Guardian in 380. Both of these two shooters are built for absolute minute size and the Seecamp in 380 is known for it's quality. In another video he reviews the NAA 22 mini revolvers while mentioning their size is their biggest selling point (true) and then goes on to recommend larger pistols which completely negates the purpose of the NAA mini. Anywho, yes good info but tinged with much bias from time to time.
I recently had a local PD officer explain to me how much of an advantage a legally armed civilian with a small pocket 380 has over an assailant in a self defense encounter in that the pistol can be easily concealed yet withdrawn pretty quickly if need be. That's why of all the pocket 380's out there, I chose the M&P 380 bodyguard. The double strike capability and S&W's reputation was the deal maker for me...
Love my SW Bodyguard!! Fits great in the pocket and fires without problems. Wear it with the extended magazines.. My only issue is that my wife liked it so much she took it :-(
I loved my bg .380 gave it to my son when he turned 21 and got his ccl now I’ve got a lcp2 and love it to but haven’t fired it enough to decide if I like it better the the bg
I chose the M&P Bodyguard 380 over the G42, LCP, and LCP II after shooting them all extensively. I carry it quite a bit. Hornady CD all the way. Buy plenty of spare mags and rotate frequently. 380 mags...ALL of them...tend to wear out quickly.
@@Shinobi1Kenobi u shot lcp 2 and g42 but u ended up with the bodyguard(worst gun)? Lol. U lost your mind. Bodyguard has the worst long trigger. It shoots like shit. Lmao
@troytruong8246 lol why are you hating on someone else's preferences? I rented all these before I decided to get the body guard as well. If you've shot revolvers, then you'd probably feel more comfortable with it. The trigger itself has a very predictable wall before it breaks. Plus, the double strike capability ads a lot of peace of mind.
The thing about Kahr that i like so much is you can order replacement parts and replace them yourself. they're very easy to work on w/o having to return the pistol to them. Under the slide there is a channel clean out hole, shoot some Casey gunscrubber up in there & flush out the firing pin channel, worse case is you can easily order a new firing pin & spring on Kahr's website.
I bought a cm9 and a cw380 as a set, so I could carry depending on what Im wearing ( hot climate ). Then like a genious I didnt actually test them until the warranty had expired. It turns out there is no spring to withdraw the striker in this design. It depends on inertia. So if you dry fire either one, the striker may remain extended, and when you try to put a cartridge into battery the rim of it will catch on the extended striker. And sometimes with the CM9 it happens also after firing a round. Have to manually retract the striker by shoving it in or reaching under the slide to do it that way. Ive cleaned them up really well and will go back to the range to try again but Im really, really dissappointed and angry with myself for not trying them out before. I cant believe this design. How is this supposed to function reliably? A cleared misfire, FTF, or FTE may cause the firing pin to remain extended. I find it astounding. How have they sold so many when its designed this way? Is there a way to make it work properly?
I had a lot of light strikes with a used k9 i purchased and noticed the firing pin was barely coming through the firing pin hole. Got a new firing pin from kahr and the light strikes stopped.
@@grappler7343 NONSENSE ! If you carry a firearm then a round is to be in the chamber. I don't care how super operator you think you are, you're not going to chamber a round to deal with a threat. That Israeli stuff is pure rubbish. Use a pocket holster
This is the NAA minis review all over again. Yes the biggest reason for owning an NAA mini is the minute size but hey, here's other pistols that are larger I'd like to recommend, that completely ignores why you would own an NAA mini
If you're going to carry an LCP/LCP Custom, I would recommend using Ruger's extended 7 round mag. Helps give a bit extra grip. DeSantis Super Fly holster is a great pair for pocket carry.
Great advice. I've been rocking an LCP with a Veridian Reactor TL and pocket holster for a little over 3 years. My only complaint? Last time I drew it I didn't have to shoot it. The strobe light gained compliance way too quickly.
I too used a Ruger factory 7rd .380acp extra magazine. I used the DeSantis Nemesis model holster with the mag holder. I considered buying a add on Hogue Hand All but I did not keep the LCP ll. It's not well made or engineered. The stupid retaining pin will scuff, mar the frame. I used no lead Inceptor brand ammunition & the Winchester Bass Pro series SXT training brand. For CCW I used Underwood Ammo .380acp loads(great stuff).
I agree the 7rd is a must. Also if you haven't I put a houge grip sleeve on mine. Wow did it make a difference fits my hand perfect now. Worth the extra width as I can shoot it a lot better.
I'd love to see a Part 2 with compact size options. Bersa Thunder Plus, PPK/s, Shield EZ, RIA Baby Rock etc. What you lose in "carry-ability" puts you in the same category of many 9mm guns. But what you gain in "shoot-ability" vs similarly sized 9mm guns is interesting to think about.
I have a Ruger custom and a Sig P238 and when I need a pocket pistol I reach for my Ruger custom. Not because I've had problems with my P238, I haven't, it's always been reliable. My Ruger custom is just a great gun to carry in a pocket.
there is no right or wrong answer here, just a matter of what someone likes better, I prefer the LCP Custom trigger to the LCII trigger so much I sold my LCPII.
You are in my top 3 firearm related channels. Love your content!!! You always shoot it to us straight, after your personal experiences with a particular gun. Good, or bad. And, I respect your opinions, because I can just tell when someone has put in the work. You, my friend, are a breath of fresh air.
I pocket carry mine every day in a desantis nemesis holster. Added a magguts +1 extension giving me 7+1. Also a pinky extension and painted the front sight white. Never had a hiccup. I'll typically run 300+ rounds at each range visit. I find it a pleasure to shoot.
@@abc456f I also carry a bodyguard on and off. i have been considering the magguts +1 spring and follower. Have you noticed any difference in reliability since you’ve switched to magguts?
I like my M&P Bodyguard quite a bit, but I have put it in the safe since getting a Sig P365, except for summer days when I wear shorts. The 365 is a bit bigger, but with 13 rounds of 9mm it's got too much of an advantage for EDC.
I wonder why the Bersa 380 didn't make your list? I've owned 1 for years shoots every time I squeeze the trigger. Reliable easy to CCW and fast on the draw. I brought 1 for my wife last year she loves it lite recoil and easy to shoot.
I have an S&W Bodyguard .380 I like this pistol BECAUSE of it's "revolver like" feel. I'm "Old School", and have carried "J"s (and even "K"s! - Love me that K frame!). I actually like the relatively long trigger pull, and DAO is fine with me because I for decades was a revolver shooter, this is the "feel" I understand.
I carried revolvers for 20 years and finally realized they just don't hit as well as a semi-auto, and are not as concealable. The double action only semi-autos don't hit well either. LCP max rocks.
Maannn....Can I say how much I appreciate your video presentations? You're calm, focused, provide clear specific information, cause-effect insight. Thank you!
I own a S&W Bodyguard and appreciate the long and hard trigger pull. Keep in mind that the use of this weapon will be at a range of five feet, more or less. It is not a target shooter. This weapon will be used at a moment of extreme stress, when a light trigger pull may result in the weapon being discharged before it’s out of the holster or pocket.
I’m 60 with a dominant wrist/thumb injury. The Glock 42 is perfect for my small hands and current injury status. I can easily rack, whereas the 43 was impossible. Shooting accuracy was easy, maybe small people (5’2) with small guns don’t experience the issues that larger people tend to experience with them? I’m just glad I found something to help me secure my home should these upheavals roll into our residential area, and I can’t wait to start competition shooting and meeting all you nice A2 supporters 🇺🇸
Yes ma'am! My mom carries the 42. Pretty much for the same reasons. It perfectly fits her hands. She broke her wrist a couple of years ago and had to find something she could shoot well with her other hand while her dominant was healing. She figured she would switch back after her wrist healed but she never did.
Now that summer is here I love carrying my LCP. With the 7 round mag and one in the pipe along with the stock 6 round mag as a spare. Very light and comfortable in the pocket. I also painted the front sight orange and it glows well for a dark pistol. I love it.
@@crazeeaz the couldn't find one comment? Because everyone buys them all up or because nobody wants one and nobody sells them? I've got 5 of the kel tecs. 3 @ .32 and two at .380. I absolutely love them. Front pocket holster carry.
@@crazeeazTheir runs have to be much higher than that their buildings are huge.....but for real north american arms only makes about two dozen. 380 and or .32 ever few months. So yes I am hording them with three. The .32 Naa is a really nice piece. I think the .32 naa is nicer than the newer seecamps.
I love my lcp2! Very reliable it’s first trip to the range even fires the Lehigh rounds without issue! I’ve heard nothing but good things about this gun until the whole anti .380 review as seen here. It’s a joy to carry and glad I bought it!
I like mine a lot. Not a fan of the original LCP but the improvements on the II have made a difference. It's not a range gun it's a pocket gun. I'd rather have a long deliberate trigger pull over a smooth easy pull on a pocket gun that can possibly be pointed at my junk.
@Philo Jones Yes, but then he goes ahead and compares it to the smaller, true pocket-size pistols. Nice gun no doubt, but too much size difference to be in the same group (imo).
Nope. No way in hell. Bodyguard is as big as I'll ever carry in a pocket. And if I'm coming out of a front pocket hastily to shoot someone in the lips, what the hell do sights or trigger pull have to do with price of tea in China? Because if you have time to actually aim these things you probably had time to disengage from whatever unpleasantness you were in the midst of. My opinion. That's all.
My CW380 has also been flawless through 700 rounds. My wife carries either her 42 or Bodyguard. For me the choice is easy for pocket carry when my 19 is just too hard to conceal. Kahr wins hands down.
@@moregainsmoreveins5267 I find my g43 too large to pocket carry... Can't imagine putting a 27 in my pocket. But if it works for you that's a fine option to have!
alan wake. I carried a G22 both gen 3 then got the Gen 4 for 4 years as a edc so I wouldn’t say you’re weird I get it I’ve done it but I’m just personally feeling the comfort of the pocket carry.
I owned a new Cerakote Elite coated LCP ll pistol for about 10mo. It was small, easy to carry but the slide had cycle problems(would not lock open on a empty mag). The Ruger .380acp did not impress me.
I had the original lcp and now have the lcp 2 and am accurate as I'll ever need to be with them. I CAN recommend both lcp's. They're meant to save your life, not hit clay pigeons. That's why they have minimal sights
I have an RM380. Either they are very reliable or I've been lucky. Only fired 150 - 200 rounds of various cheap ammo without a single issue so far... and it was under $200 shipped.
I also have a Rem380. Have only put 100 rounds or so through it and no issues. Only thing is the removal small pin during takedown cleaning. It goes a certain way in and out Gets kinda loose too. Dont loose it! Good gun otherwise.
Mine is excellent as well. Of course I live in a non carry state, so I don’t to worry about it getting full of lint. Though I’ll be moving in a few weeks to a ccp state. Anyone know how to simulate pocket carry so I can test the dang thing?
I paid $165 out the door for my Ruger lcp. I shoot it great. If I could get a Glock 42 for that price I would go for it, but for under 200 I'll go with the rugers.
Cory Carlson. I got the Flat dark earth framed one so I paid $25 more then you but I also own the 42 I looove to carry my LCP and my groups are more then decent at the range that I’d be using it at so it’s been my EDC since the day I got it a year ago,I’m a huge Glock fan because they just work and I carried a G22 for yeears daily and although I did it I’m sooo much happier that I can just skip my lcp in my pocket no matter if I’m in slacks or basketball shorts.
@@Evergreen1400 I also have a Glock 43, depending the shorts sometimes I can pocket carry it. I just saw a yellow two tone Ruger lcp and I almost jumped on it. I really love the size of these lcps.
Scowler. I don’t understand why a person would ever get a hi point when for not much more you could get yourself into a Ruger that you can count on and because I’m from Arizona and have friends and family that have been employed by them I know their quality control and customer service are top grade. So I agree.
I got my Bodyguard 380 at Academy for essentially $204 during Black Friday week last year. (BG and a $75 Academy gift card for $279.) Tiny thing and I love it.
I really love the trigger on my LCP2. I would trade increased trigger weight for trigger crispness any day. It is my favorite of all the polymer pocket .380s.
@@moregainsmoreveins5267 I have two of them and they have been 100% reliable for thousands of rounds each. The CW series is cheap junk, the regular P & K series guns are not. My K40 Elite is a fantastic hand-fitted gun.
I love shooting mine. Back in 2019 when you could get those cheap 500 rd packs of monarch steel case .380, I put several through it. It's surprisingly reliable and accurate. I only had 1 light strike/hard primer per 500 rounds of that cheap monarch. It even feeds Underwood Xtreme Penetrator which is what I carry with. The only ammo I've had reliability issues with is the Sig Sauer Elite Performance fmj with the flattened nose. It just doesn't feed that stuff at all.
My love for the 380 began over 40 years ago with my AMT Backup. This pistol traveled all over the country with me on back packing, climbing and hunting trips. When the LCP came out I was the first in line to get the same ballistic punch while carrying half the weight. Now my Glock 42 is in the rotation also and has never jamed. I find plenty of self defense load options, but Critical Defense are hard to beat. Thank you for the great video!
No sights, finicky, heavy, difficult to repair. I had one, the .32. Beautiful little guns, better conversation pieces than a tool to trust your life with.
Funny how many reviews leave out the Bersa .380cc. I've carried this in my front pocket in a sleeve, for years and although not a mini pistol, it fits well and holds 8 rounds but due to it's slightly larger size, I shoot well with it. Under $300 most places.
As a Pocket gun enthusiast that has been shooting them for over 10 yrs. I will agree, the LCP ll trigger is a atrocity. The most stupid trigger in a pocket gun I have seen. And dangerous. I love the Kahr, yes, super smooth shooing, mild etc. But the real workhorse and one of the most reliable guns I have ever owned is the Beretta Pico. Just a marvelous well designed gun. Stainless steel construction and able to keep on trucking when most others have hit the dirt, especially the LCP which is so over rated. And also the Pico is extremely MILD to shoot. Easy to tear down, replace grips, work on and clean. Yes, there is a learning curve, but once learned pays off with huge rewards.
For deep carry or a back up gun, I'd suggest a M&P Bodyguard .38spl(non laser), a 442/642 no lock, or a Ruger LCR snub in .38spl +P. You can press the J frame directly next to an attacker if needed & no issues with feeding, cycle. Snubs are small, light to carry concealed too.
Scott Patterson I agree , it’s not a target gun for sure but the stats indicate a CCW encounter is up close and personal. You don’t have to be a marksman
"Pocket gun" is a fairly arbitrary designation to begin with, so if you don't want to lump the G42 into that category, I get it. It's smaller than what I'd consider a "subcompact," so pocket gun is the next logical designation. The P230 is longer, taller, wider, and weighs 50% more than the G42, so maybe that's not the best example of a pocket pistol either.
@@LuckyGunner My main argument against including the G42 in this video lineup is that it's virtually the same dimensions as a Ruger LC9s, and just 3oz lighter. In which case we know from your outstanding tests that it would make very little sense to choose 380acp over 9mm in terms of performance. I would like to see the G42 stacked against bigger 380s like the Shield 380EZ and the Walther. Bigger 380s definitely have a place and they are a bit of a neglected market.
I mean I can put my Shield in my pants pocket depending on what pair I'm wearing. Technically not a pocket pistol, but it could be one. Chris is right. It's a pretty arbitrary designation in the first place.
@@hoovdaddy0505 Yes I have pocket carried my shield and my G27 (too heavy) but if I have to pocket carry it's either a Kahr PM40 and more recently just my Bodyguard. I recently purchased a Sig P365 and I'm waiting for a pocket holster to be delivered.
Sold both my 1st & 2nd design LCP's and picked up a G42, Love that pistol !! With that being said, I have never been without a gun and have never felt under gunned when I carry .380
@@JohnW-yv6yp yes it is a carry option as I have people who carry the Makarov and CZ82 and 83 in 380acp. It was mentioned that he would do a performance review as other YT but have yet to show any quality videos in this format presentation.
I like how confident and opinionated you are. It is refreshing and entertaining and your so professional about how you say it. I like your videos. Keep it up. I would love to see a video on firearm trends, and past and future firearm technology disruptions… (e.g., 1911, polymer style). I feel like firearms have to way behind where they can when compared to the progress we’ve observed with computers, cars, and mountain bikes. What is next? Who is bringing it? What will make the world safer for my kids? The fact that you mention in another video that people are shooting 50 year old walthers and Makarovs over current offerings is a case in point. I’d like to see bigger scope of discussion beyond comparisons. Maybe you guys can bring it?
Dino Nucci I totally see your point, but if most people are looking to buy there’s a good chance these will be the majority of the options they will find at most gun shops unless they are seeking out something different just to be different. If people want a budget option there are some decent milsurps on the market but a lot of these are getting to be the same price or cheaper than some of the milsurps. Other options from lesser known brands tend to lack a lot in reliability. Although the Beretta Tomcat, Kel Tex P3AT, and Seecamp might have been cool to see as well.
Practice makes perfect bro. Train Train Train. You can make ANY gun work with training. Heck....with practice, you can shoot very well with a $150 Cobra .380.🤢🤮🤮🤮 I don't recommend it....just saying. 😏
It just sounds wrong. The one I've shot didn't have a bad trigger, although I never put a trigger gauge on it. It was nearly as easy to shoot as the Glock 42.
You forgot the "Sccy CPX-3 380ACP or the" Sccy CPX-4 380ACP" It's a double action striker fire and it comes with 3 mags, 1 with a pinky finger rest and 2 flush mags. And it's a 10+1 and you can find them for $250.00 and Under. And you can get it with or without Safety's.
Wrong. I have the Glock, the Ruger LCP 2 and the Kimber Micro (not mentioned). I practice with ALL regularly and have NEVER had a misfire, failure to eject, stovepipe or any other issue. Saying these guns are unreliable is pure CRAP!!
Wow. I love the LCP 2!! Mainly due to the trigger being better than the LCP/LCP custom. I absolutely hated the G42 (HUGE size for what it is and a real POS spongy trigger) To each his own I guess.
Yes. Just kidding, when my hands get weaker I'll probably get a bigger .380, but maybe the Shield 380EZ. Right now I'm happy with my Bodyguard 380. But as long as I can handle it, my Shield 9 (2.0) is my favorite if I'm not pocket carrying. It shoots like a bigger gun.
Lcp max is the best in line. I was not optimistic about the gun until I visited shooting range. Flawless, low recoil, magazine capacity 10 rounds, super compact so that I barely feel it on me. Genius engineers designed it. And I don’t understand people who carry 9mm, really why? You want your bullets penetrate walls and car doors? So then why load hollow point cartridges? 380 is center fire, has very low recoil, it is more easier to handle and carry.
How I reliability tested my M&P Bodyguard using 95 grain FMJ two mags each: Limp wristing, hold 90 degrees left, hold 90 degrees right, and hold 180 upside down... No malfunctions... Read somewhere to avoid import ammo as it may have hard primers. I only use Hornady Critical Defense and Speer FMJ. About 500 rounds total now no malfunctions.
Circular File I will second the advice to be careful about hard primers. Me mothers bodyguard will only run Hornady ammo reliability. She now has a LCR
My BG has been 100% so far with over 100 rounds through it--Am. Eagle, Lawman, and Fiocchi FMJ and Hornady American Gunner XTP and Fiocchi Extrema XTP JHPs.
P238 is my favorite 380 that I own. I have no idea what you’re talking about, I’ve literally never had and problems with mine. Everything sig makes is high quality
I like the style of the 238! It seems a better fit than other little guns. I think 1911 fans prefer it because we are used to hitting that thumb safety on the way up to the target. We love that trigger! With the variety of colors and finishes, you can pick one that looks like your 1911 just had a baby!
Rev. Gunn. I have both those as well ,my gf actually carries the 42, I’ve been carrying my LCP exclusively for almost a year now as a edc so we go out almost weekly and put quite a few rounds through them and although the sights are what they are my groups are not bad at all and I have had absolutely no issues.
As a backup I carry a North American Arms .380 Guardian. This little .380 is built like a German tank with its all stainless steel construction and it also has a stiffer trigger pull ( 10 lbs. ) that allows me to pocket carry it without the worry of a negligent discharge, plus it holds 6 rounds in the magazine plus one in the chamber giving me 7 rounds. This little Beast shoots every time I squeeze the trigger and as a backup gun I wouldn’t carry anything else!
