Smith & Wesson (S&W) Bodyguard 380 Lightweight Sub-Compact .380 ACP Pistol with L3 Insight Technology Laser Sight for Civilian Concealed Carry (CCW) and Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Back-Up Use

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By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com

All photos contained in this article were shot by DefenseReview.com, and are copyrighted. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. The photos were shot with a Canon PowerShot S90 10-megapixel digital camera (still camera with video capability).

November 14, 2011

Since we just mentioned the Smith & Wesson (S&W) Bodyguard 380 lightweight subcompact "pocket" pistol in our previous piece, we might as well do a quick piece on it, as well. Competing against the Ruger LCP and Kel-Tec P3-AT .380 sub-compact pistols, the S&W Bodyguard .380 pistol looks to be another viable sub-compact sub-9mm pistol for ultra-concealment, and size and weight in a self-defence/CCW (concealed carry) semi-auto pistol must be kept to a minimum while still maintaining adequate close-range terminal ballistics.

While Ruger offers the LaserMax Centerfire visible laser sight (red) as an upgrade option for the Ruger LCP pistol, the S&W Bodyguard 380 pistol comes with an L3 Insight Technology laser sight (red) as standard. Like th LCP, the Bodyguard 380 has a 6+1 ammo capacity. It weighs 11.85 oz (335.9 g) vs. the similarly-configured/outfitted Ruger LCP-LM's 9.90 oz., giving the LCP-LM a slight advantage in the weight department.

DefenseReview photographed the S&W Bodyguard 380 and Bodyguard .38 Special Revolver together at SHOT Show 2010, and both seemed like nice pistols, however we have no idea how reliable the Bodyguard 380 semi-auto pistol is. That said, GunBlast stated the pistol was 100% reliable with the 9 brands of ammo (including one handload) they fired through it, although DR doesn't know the round count. Regarding accuracy, the pistol just needs to be combat accurate, but reliability in a pistol of this is paramount, as it is in any combat or self-defense/concealed carry (CCW) pistol. The Bodyguard 380 is a save-your-ass gun, so it had better go "bang" every time.

If you'd like to read some hands-on shooting reviews of the S&W Bodyguard 380 pistol, The Survivalist Blog, GunBlast, and Firearm Patriot have nice write-ups on it.

Several years ago (November 2007), DR received an email message from S&W's President and Chief Operating Officer Leland Nichols offering himself and "members of his team" to be a resource for us, and stating that "whatever you need from us to support your review of our products and communication to your customers is available. Please feel free to contact any of the team members I have listed below." Since that time Ernest Langdon, one of the S&W team members Mr. Nichols mentioned and whom we like, has left Smith & Wesson and gone over to ReconRobotics, so we're going to try to get in touch with some other members of the team if we can to see if we can get some Smith & Wesson products in our hands for some hands-on range reviews of our own at some point. We'll probably contact S&W's Director International Sales and Director of Defense Product Development (Programs), Joe Bergeron, first, since we already know him.

Smith & Wesson (S&W) Bodyguard 380 pistol features and specs:

Model: BODYGUARD® 380 Caliber: .380 Auto
Capacity: 6+1 Rounds
Barrel Length: 2.75" / 7.0 cm
Frame Size: Compact
Action: Double Action Only (Hammer Fired)
Front Sight: Stainless Steel
Rear Sight: Drift Adjustable
Grip: Polymer
Overall Length: 5.25" / 13.3 cm
Weight: 11.85 oz / 335.9 g
Frame Material: Polymer
Material: Stainless Steel w/Melonite® Finish
Finish: Matte Black
Purpose: Personal Protection, Professional/Duty MSRP: $399.00 USD

Smith & Wesson promotional video for S&W Bodyguard 380 pistol:

Video review of the S&W Bodyguard 380 pistol by Haus of Guns:

Company Contact Info:

Smith & Wesson (S&W)
2100 Roosevelt Avenue
Springfield, MA 01104
Toll Free: 800-331-0852 (USA)
Phone: 413-781-8300 (International)
Domestic Fax: 413-747-3317
International Fax: 413-731-8980
Email: qa@smith-wesson.com
Website: http://www.smith-wesson.com

L-3 Insight Technology Incorporated
9 Akira Way
Londonderry, NH 03053
Toll Free: 866.509.2040
Fax: 603.668.1084 Email
Sales: Sales.Insight@L-3Com.com
Email Customer Service: Service.Insight@L-3Com.com
Commercial Website: http://www.insightlights.com
Mil/LE Website: http://www.insighttechnology.com (L-3 Warrior Systems Division)

© Copyright 2011 DefenseReview.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without receiving permission and providing proper credit and appropriate links.

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Smith & Wesson (S&W) Bodyguard 380 Lightweight Sub-Compact .380 ACP Pistol with L3 Insight Technology Laser Sight for Civilian Concealed Carry (CCW) and Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Back-Up Use by

About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.

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