As a long-time pocket-pistol enthusiast, I've handled and tested a variety of makes and models of micro-compact pistols. It's no mean engineering feat to shrink a semi-automatic while keeping it reliable and useful for personal protection. Looking back across a century or so of development, the results have been mixed in regard to their features, performance, reliability and shootability.
Some of the more recent micro .380 ACP pistols have represented impressive improvements of the pocketable platform, like the Ruger LCP Max released back in 2021. These models successfully incorporate the features gun companies have developed for the popular “micro nine” 9 mm pistols but scaled down even more to suit the size and pressure levels of the more diminutive .380 ACP cartridge. Just a few months ago, Smith & Wesson joined the next-generation .380 ACP movement with the release of its Bodyguard 2.0 series. The initial photos and descriptions looked promising. But after putting it through its paces at the shooting range, it turned out to be even better than I had hoped for.
Smith & Wesson has updated its Bodyguard series with a new 2.0 version.
Compact Size (The Right Way)
Essentially there are three ways to make a small pistol. The first one is to take an existing model and crop the barrel and the grip. This is how many of the compact and subcompact pistols were developed. Although this is simple in regard to the engineering, the resulting guns are technically smaller but tend to be relatively chunky for pocket carry.
Next are the purpose-built pistols. They are built from the ground up to be pocket sized and usually succeed at being petite. It’s not uncommon for past members of this class to be kind of weird. They operate reliably and carry easily enough. But the trigger might be exceptionally heavy, the controls are “unique” (to put it gently) or the grip shape is just not the best fit for typical hand sizes. As a result, they are anywhere from unusual to downright uncomfortable to practice with at the shooting range.
This semi-automatic is essentially a reduced-scale M&P pistol.
The third option for building smaller guns is often overlooked, but one of my favorites. Basically, an existing model is used as a starting point and then its dimensions are scaled down to form the new pocket pistol. Years ago, Colt's Manufacturing did this with its Government Model .380 ACP. They basically tossed a .45 ACP 1911 pistol in the wash and let it shrink in the dryer. The result was a miniaturized 1911 that was familiar to operate and comfortable to shoot.
The Bodyguard 2.0 (right) compared to the Colt Government Model .380 ACP (Left).
Smith & Wesson did the same thing with the Bodyguard 2.0. They took a 9 mm M&P pistol and just scaled it down into a .380 ACP. The slide is just 0.75" with a 2.75" stainless steel barrel for an overall length of 5.5". The height is 4", with the flush-fit magazine, making it a good fit for pocket, purse or in-the-waistband carry.
The controls are lifted from the M&P series models.
"Big Pistol" Features
For those who know Smith & Wesson's M&P polymer-framed, strike-fired pistols, the Bodyguard 2.0 will be familiar, although noticeably smaller. In the process of compressing this pistol, the company was careful to keep the tactical features folks prefer in the larger models. But you don’t need to be an M&P fan to appreciate what this gun has to offer.
The U-notch rear sight is paired with an orange ringed tritium front sight.
The stainless steel slide features deeply cut forward and rear cocking serrations and a durable matte black Armornite finish. The barrel has a half-circle witness hole cut into the top of the chamber to allow for visual confirmation of the state of the chamber. Due to its size, incorporating an optics-ready slide, an accessory rail on the dust cover or interchangeable back straps is either not practical or possible. But the key touch points and the grip frame do have the M&P's effective aggressive molded-in texturing. The layout of the controls, including the left-side takedown lever, slide stop and magazine release button is straight out of the M&P playbook. This model is available with or without an ambidextrous thumb safety lever.
Unloaded this pistol weighs in at 11.5 oz.
The flat-faced trigger is fitted with an integral blade safety, and it's housed in a rounded trigger guard which is noticeably undercut where it meets the grip frame for improved shooting hand comfort. The trigger feel is typical of polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols, meaning it has a somewhat mushy take up with a firm stop before breaking cleanly and then coming to rest against a little stop molded into the trigger guard. The trigger's arc of travel is a short 0.5" with a trigger pull of 4 lbs. 8 oz., which is about a pound lighter than the average 9 mm striker-fired semi-automatic. This would be a desirable trigger to work with if it was installed on a standard-size pistol. But for a pocket pistol, it’s a top-notch option that's just about as good as it gets without custom work!
The gun arrives with a 10-round and 12-round magazine.
Double-Stack Ammunition Capacity
A modern polymer-framed pistol would not be complete without the increased ammunition capacity made possible with the use of modified double-stack magazines. The Bodyguard 2.0's grip frame is only 0.88" wide. Nevertheless, there is room in the grip for either a 10-round magazine that fits flush to the base of the grip or a 12-round extended magazine which has a polymer collar that serves as a grip extension. It's not uncommon for this type of grip extension to slide up and down on the magazine's body. But in this case, the collar is locked into the polymer base plate to ensure it won't move around unless it is intentionally removed with the base plate for cleaning. It's a nice touch that other manufacturers often overlook. This pistol ships with two magazines, one of each size.
This version of the Bodyguard is easily disassembled for routine cleaning.
Top Notch Sights
Micro pistols of the past have often been lacking when it comes to usable sights. Options have often ranged from vestigial to literally no sight system at all. This pistol's sights are noteworthy because even though they have been reduced in size, to match the dimensions of the slide, the dovetailed metallic sight set still presents a nearly full-size sight picture. The front sight houses a tritium night sight with a bright orange ring around it. The drift-adjustable, serrated rear sight features a wide U-shaped notch. This sight configuration is designed for quick acquisition at close-quarters distances, and it works nicely.
A Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph was used to measure bullet velocity averages for 10 shots fired per load tested.
Impressively Shootable
It's no secret that pocket pistols chambered in .380 ACP can produce snappy levels of felt recoil. In fact, it's not uncommon to hear shooting sports enthusiasts report that pistols chambered in larger calibers can be more comfortable to work with than some of the .380s. This is due in part to the micro pistol’s light weight. In addition, pistols with too-small or odd shaped grips can be more challenging to hold on to which in turn contributes to shooting-hand fatigue.
This model proved to be utterly reliable with all ammunition tested.
The Bodyguard 2.0 weighs in at just 11.5 oz. with an empty 10-round magazine inserted in the grip or 11.8 oz. with the 12-rounder. That's lightweight for almost any caliber of pistol. But the key difference with this little gun is the grip's length, contouring and texturing. Yes, the recoil is still pronounced, but the grip lends a level of control that neatly counters the wrist-bending, fatiguing quality that some micro pistols exhibit. In other words, if given a choice of .380s to shoot, this would be one that I would be willing to practice with on a regular basis.
The smallest 5-shot group of 1.22” was printed using the Hornady load.
My opinion of the Bodyguard 2.0 was further improved by its reliability. The gun sent for this evaluation operated flawlessly from start to finish using both provided magazines with a variety of practice and defense-grade .380 ACP loads. Formal bench-rested accuracy testing was conducted at 7 yards using Barnes Tac-XP, DoubleTap Match and Hornady Critical Defense ammunition. A Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph was on. Here are the test results:
Whatever the future may hold for defensive handguns, there will most certainly continue to be a demand for the exceptionally small pistols that can be carried and concealed more easily than the larger caliber options. Although the demand for pocketable .380s is not nearly as high as it was a few years ago, it's encouraging to see companies like Smith & Wesson continue to upgrade its .380 ACP offerings for those of us who want to use them. The Bodyguard 2.0 is an impressively well balanced and shootable micro semi-automatic deserving of closer consideration by those who are looking for a defensive pistol in this class. The series currently includes three models available for a suggested retail price of $449. For more information, visit smith-wesson.com
Watch B. Gil Horman's video review of the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0.
