I’ve been toting this Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 off and on for the last few weeks. It’s a top-to-bottom re-think of the original Bodyguard 380 and it’s pretty much better in every way than version 1.0. Some scoff at carrying a .380 when you could be carrying a 9mm (or a .40, or a .45, or a 10mm). But modern .380 personal defense ammunition has been much improved over the last decade so carrying 10 (or 12) plus one rounds of good .380 JHP is a valid self-defense option.
This Bodyguard 2.0 is loaded with Barnes TAC-XPD, which I’ve tested in the gun to ensure it’s reliable. That is, of course, something you really should do with your carry gun.
Every pistol is partial to certain brands and some clearly don’t play well with some loads for whatever reason. No matter what your choice in personal defense ammo may be — Critical Defense, V-Crown, Gold Dot, HST, Golden Saber, HTP, PDX1 Defender, Hydra-Shok, yadda, yadda, yadda — buy enough of it to shoot at least a few magazines before relying on it in your everyday carry gun on a regular basis. Your life may well depend on it.
So tell us, what ammo do you carry in in your EDC gun? And how did you choose it?
I have the very same gun (new purchase) loaded with Federal Hydra-Shok Deep, and it shoots them just fine. I’ve used this round in several other .380’s that I own and never had a problem.
Probably the best all around hollow point for 380 if penetration to FBI standard is desired. Underwood has a few options I wouldn’t have an issue with for 380 as well. Typically use either 9 or 357 (either one) and don’t have absolute favorites really.
It depends, if I am on the M/C I carry a Beretta Pico loaded with Norma copper HP. If driving or out in public areas, I carry the Sig P320 Stainless with Hydrashoks.
“…if I am on the M/C I carry a Beretta Pico loaded with Norma copper HP.”
I’m real curious, what was your motivation to use the Norma Copper vs. a standard copper-jacketed hollowpoint, the solid nature of the Norma providing a higher velocity and no expansion due to its monolithic copper construction, giving a deeper potential for penetration?
It looks like the round is the same one in that Lehigh ammo released a number of years back with that ‘Philip’s head screwdriver’ tip that can’t get clogged…
Use the phillips heads in the 68 grain for some 9 and 357 sig. In either case it seems to split the difference between fmj and average hollow point while allowing for some level of pistol armor penetration. Some of the other Lehigh defense copper rounds are also interesting (controlled fracturing and maximum expansion)
I have Underwood loaded with those Phillips screwdriver tips in the little Taurus 380 that rides in my ankle rig, or sometimes in my pocket. The LCR and Walther 9s both like Sig 124 gr V-Crown. The 445 likes 300 gr XTPs, but I have to be careful unleashing that beast in public, because it will pass through 3 average houses and assorted contents before going to ground.
It’s a +P hollowpoint load for my LCR in .357, and Federal nickel-plated (the round and brass) ‘Punch’ .22 lr in my NAA Mini-Revolver, both carried daily…
*Pssst!*
Hey, Dan –
If you ever go back to your usual, regular EDC, that ‘Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0’ would make a dandy prize for the first annual ‘Shooting News Weekly’ article submission contest.
(Just say’in… 😉 )
I buy 2 or 3 different types for a new pistol, 100 rounds each. Shoot 3 mags for reliability, grouping and point of aim. The winner goes into the EDC mags, loser on the shelf in case of emergency. I’ve never had reliability, feeding, or grouping issues, but some loads shoot closer to point of aim than others, and that’s ultimately the deciding factor. My .40 likes HST, my Sig 9, surprise surprise, likes V-Crown, and my .45 likes Gold Dots. As a rule, HST generally seems to hit closest to point of aim, though not always.
Hornady Critical Defense in the Shield. Hornady Critical Duty in the P89.
.380 ammo with short barrels is tricky. I’ve been using Underwood solid copper defender.
9mm 124 gr HST. I still have a few tactical HST boxes from when such things weren’t that expensive.
If I was in the market for a new .380, I’d look at the Bodyguard 2.0.
Norma’s 9mm MHP …. terminal ballistics are excellent with expansion to nearly 1″ in diameter and it shoots well out of every pistol that I carry.
Speer Gold Dot GDHP. It gets the job done at close range. It will blow up a gallon container filled with water.
The article touted the benefits of the tiny .380 with the new and improved jacketed hollow point (JHP) ammo.
I have a friend who packs a 45, because it is the biggest commonly available handgun. My preference is a bit different: I prefer 122mm. Sure it is a Soviet 1950s design, is only a single shot and requires a three-man crew to use it. Another drawback is that it is just a wee bit hard to conceal carry in a crowd. But just think of the benefits. The respect you would get in a crowd of punks. The bad guy will not be inclined to argue when it is pointed at his chest. Or his car. Or his house. Even if it is five miles away. And missing the target by two inches does not matter.
So I am in no way going to pack a puny .380, or even the little .45. Give me a 122-mm howitzer D-30 2A18.every day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/122_mm_howitzer_2A18_(D-30)
Rats, at some 3 tons it’s too heavy to tow behind my Pilot.
I just bought some bullets