Compact Carry: S&W Bodyguard 2.0

I have a tense relationship with small compact carry handguns. Pistols like the Ruger LCP, Glock 42, and the Smith & Wesson BG380 irk me. Now, I’m not saying they don’t have a place. Sometimes deep concealment is necessary, or somebody would rather walk around with lighter-weight clothing than be weighed down by a larger carry gun and accompanying holster. I get it, they have an appeal. I’ve even owned a Ruger LCP that I’d carry with dress clothes or gym shorts. But I didn’t enjoy shooting it, which means there wasn’t much training done. In my experience, these are not the best offerings for new shooters, yet many people—mainly women—have flocked to them because of their size and diminutive caliber. Hard truths hurt. These guns might be the worst, juxtaposed to a large caliber handgun, for women and new shooters alike. While a small caliber, the gun’s low mass and lack of ergonomics make them difficult to shoot. There must be something better.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

As the article’s title suggests, there is something new. The BG380 (as it was usually called) was a top seller, regardless of lackluster performance. People just wanted a small “pocket” pistol (many models even utilized a built-in laser! You know, because the sights were that bad). Smith eventually pulled the older model as they designed and tested an updated version. They took what people wanted in a smaller handgun, namely improved ergonomics and increased magazine capacity (the BG380 held six rounds), and set out to build the “best” compact carry gun.

Let’s start first with the dimensions. The new BG380 2.0 is 7/8” thick, 4” tall, and 5.5” long, with a barrel length of 2.75”. For comparison, the older model was ¾” thick, 4.1” tall, and 5.25” long. The barrel length remains the same. Overall, not a huge difference, however, the 2.0 model adds size in the right spots to give it the edge. The increased width and length give the pistol a comfortable feel that’s inviting compared to its predecessor. Moreover, the capacity has increased to 10 rounds in its flush magazine and 12 rounds in the extended. In the words of 45, that’s Yuuggee. Other upgrades include a flat-faced trigger (like the one in the new M&P 2.0 models) and an aggressive slide design that has serrations that run the full length giving you positive slide manipulation surfaces. As Smith puts it, “Introducing Smith & Wesson’s next generation of micro handguns—the Bodyguard 2.0. This new handgun seamlessly combines being lightweight and small with unparalleled performance. Enhanced features like a new ergonomic profile that allows for better control, a striker-fired flat-face trigger for improved accuracy, a reversible magazine release, and increased capacity make the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 ready to fit your needs.” Better yet are the sights (they aren’t so bad that you need a laser, Ha!). This is in the form of a blacked-out U-notch rear and what Smith calls a Bright Dot front sight with a Tritium insert. Much better.

Final Thoughts

This will sell. The market needs a reliable and shootable “pocket pistol.” Time will tell, but from everything I’m reading, this one will achieve that goal. It falls in a nice niche under the Shield EZ. I’m guessing like most Smith pistols; the gun can be had with or without a manual safety. Options are always good. One of the better parts about the original BG380 was its price, this one is no different. MSRP is $449.00 but the street price will be $399.99. This makes it very competitive with other offerings such as the Glock 42. This gun will be released by the time you are reading this article. My only complaint is that it’s not optics-ready and there isn’t an accessory rail to attach a light. It’s 2024, and that should be standard.