S&W Bodyguard 380 - Slim, small, rugged and reliable.

While I love my H&K VP9 it is impossible to carry it concealed. Having a LTC concealed carry permit I decided I needed to find something smaller and more portable. After doing some research I settled on the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380. I visited my favorite firearms dealer (Four Seasons) to get my hands on it and a few of the other options before my final decision. The reviews, feel and versatility of this gun were great but the quality build sold me. Before I share my thoughts on it I want to remind those reading of the importance of firearm safety.

I strongly recommend that anyone that may handle a firearm take the appropriate course in firearms safety for their area/state. Firearms are not toys and their ownership, use, & possession should be taken seriously. Below are just a few of the most important things to remember when using a firearm.

1. Always Keep The Muzzle Pointed In A Safe Direction
2. Firearms Should Be Unloaded When Not Actually In Use
3. Don't Rely On Your Gun's "Safety"
4. Be Sure Of Your Target And What's Beyond It
5. Use Correct Ammunition
6. If Your Gun Fails To Fire When The Trigger Is Pulled, Handle With Care!
7. Always Wear Eye And Ear Protection When Shooting
8. Be Sure The Barrel Is Clear Of Obstructions Before Shooting
9. Don't Alter Or Modify Your Gun, And Have Guns Serviced Regularly
10. Learn The Mechanical And Handling Characteristics Of The Firearm You Are Using

With that safety reminder out of the way lets talk about my first impressions of the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380. Bought with the purpose of being a conceal carry weapon its small size fits perfectly in my pocket and or IWB with out any indication of its presence.  It has an overall length of 5.25" and a barrel length of 2.75".   It's width is really what impressed me at only .842" or slightly less then the circumference of a nickel.

The Bodyguard 380 weighs in at feather light 11.85 ounces unloaded. This is about 2/3 lbs. making you forget it is even in your pocket or IWB holster. Loaded 6+1 the weight increases by 1.52 ounces bringing the max total loaded weight to 13.37ounces. That is only .84lbs. or about the same as can of Coca-cola.

The Bodyguard 380 is chambered for a .380 ACP ammo and comes standard with two 6 round magazines. Being a 6+1 round firearm means you can have 1 cartridge in the chamber and 6 more in the magazine. The two magazines are different; one with a finger groove and another with a flat butt. Having a round in the chamber always makes me nervous but the firearm come standard with a thumb safety for transport and carrying but I never trust a safety. (It locks both trigger and slide). Instead get a case that covers the trigger for carry. I also appreciate the witness hole which allows you the ability to verify the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.


The frame is high strength polymer and the matte black corrosion resistant coated stainless steel barrel and slide are well made. Both the front and rear sights are drift adjustable for windage and dove tailed into the slide. They can also be replaced should you feel the need for something like a tritium xs night sight.

Laser or no laser? The bodyguard 380 can be bought with either a green, red or no laser. I opted to choose no laser since the range of he gun is for close proximity and in a life or death circumstance I don't want to waste time with a laser. I've also read that there had been some quality issues with the lasers.

The Bodyguard 380 is a double action only (DAO) pistol versus a traditional DA/SA pistol. This requires that the trigger pull to both cock and trip the hammer/striker for each and every shot. This means that the hammer will always rest in the down position until the trigger is pulled again. It also means there is no way to cock the gun before shooting. The purpose of a DAO pistol is to avoid the change in trigger pull between the first and subsequent shots. It does have a fairly heavy trigger pull at 6.5lbs but being a pocket gun you don't want the trigger too light. (You can get a trigger kit if you want to lighten the pull)

This firearm also has second strike capabilities meaning you can pull the trigger a second time to strike the primer again. This is less important today with the improved and more reliable ammo but if faced with a situation where racking the slide isn't an option its a nice to have.  Although I do want to comment that using the second strike capabilities on a misfire should only be done in dire circumstances. Instead I recommend a TRB (Tap, Rack, Bang).

Yesterday I took it to the range for the first time and used CCI Blazer Ammunition. I selected .380 Auto 95GR FMJ. This is perfect practice ammo since its about $.36/round. or $18 for a box of 50. I appreciate that the slide locks back on the last round of the magazine like bigger firearms. I let a friend of mine try it out as well and he had a little trouble with his larger hands. As the slide kicked back it clipped his hand a little.

This isn't a range gun. This is a personal protection professional duty pocket carry pistol with a limited range and should be treated as such. It has a very solid and quality feel that you would expect from Smith and Wesson. It's slim, small, rugged and reliable. I appreciated the feel of the grip combined with the finger grove magazine better then the flat butt magazine. It's important to keep in mind if anyone knew they would be in a gun fight they might choose something different. It certainly isn't a tack driving, knock down power pistol but for the comfort of concealability that a pocket firearm like this allows its a no brainer. After all the #1 requirement for a gun fight is having a gun.

Shooting Trap - First Time

Our resident range officer John decided we had done enough pistol shooting and thought we might like to try shooting trap. In trap shooting, the targets  clay discs are launched from a machine away from the shooter in random directions. It's then the moving target you must shoot.

John graciously allowed each of us to borrow one of his shotguns and for the 20$ range fee they provided the shotgun shells and the clay targets. There would be two rounds with 25 shots each round 5 at each position.

I was given a Mossberg International Silver Reserve Over Under 12-Guage shotgun. It was certainly a heavy gun. Genti used a Stevens and Genti used a Remington 870.

I started at position 1 and as the first clay pigeon launched I did as I was told and shot as quickly as I could once the target was in my sights. While I tried my best to connect with it I missed. After a five shots at position 1 we shifted to the right. Having only connected with one clay pigeon at positions 1 and 2  I asked John for some advice and he instructed me to keep the clay pigeon in my sight even after firing. Essentially don't stop the guy to shoot. Immediately I saw an improvement in my shooting and picked of the first 2 clay pigeons at position 3. At position 4 I connected with another 2 and at position 5 I picked off just one. I guess I got too excited and wasn't aiming as well as I should have.

We took a break after the first round of 25 shots to have a bit of John's homemade soup which was delicious. After the meal break we took our starting positions for round two. John reminded all of us to follow the target even after firing. I didn't do much better this round in positions 1,2 and 3 but by position 4 I had started to figure out what I needed to do. I was waiting too long to shoot and letting the clay pigeon get to far away from me. For the next two position I vowed to fire more quickly and it paid off I  picked off 3 out of 5 clay pigeons in position 4 and 4 our of 5 in position 5.

Having triumphed in beating the competition I should have won a free lunch but since I had won during the last competition shooting the SW Model 41 22 caliber I was excluded from taking the prize today. Fliden took second place and scored the free lunch. It was a great time and I am looking forward to trying it again with a different shotgun. The Mossberg Over/Under sure did get heavy by the end of the evening.

Class A - License to Carry

As some of you may remember I began the process of getting my Class A License to Carry over a year ago. My adventure began after visiting a co-workers sportsman’s club where he officiates as the club safety officer. I took aim on the shooting range under his guidance and did exceptionally well with each of the 5 guns he had my try.

With the majority of my family already having their license I decided it was time for me to get mine. I started checking into what I needed to do to get it and I learned from another coworker that the process requires a few prerequisites before applying. As it turns out he was running the required NRA gun safety course at his sportsman’s club and suggested I enroll.

The 2-day class wrapped up the day before my birthday a year ago.  Since then I will admit it wasn’t a priority of mine to finish the process and I let the quest go idle. With renewed vigor this year I completed and submitted my application in mid-March. The waiting period in the City of Worcester is 2 months from submission to find out if your application was approved.

Waiting until Memorial Day as requested I called first thing and got the good news. Excited I swung down to the Police headquarters before heading into work to pick up my new license. Knowing exactly which gun I plan to purchase I have already ordered a new biometric gun safe and all the tools and equipment to keep it safe and in perfect operational condition.

With an expensive trip to China looming on the horizon I'll update you as soon as the budget allows the purchase of a firearm.

LTC Application & Appointment

Sample of a Fingerprint Sheet

Roughly a year ago I began my journey to obtain my LTC. Through no fault other than my own procrastination I still don’t have it. Delayed long enough I made it a New Year’s resolution to finish the process. I called the city licensing office the first week of January to schedule my LTC appointment only to discover they were scheduling 3 months out.

Flash Forward: After waiting a long 3 months, today I took the next step and submitted my application at the Worcester Police Department and got finger printed. It was a painless process and a surprisingly short visit.

I had expected a lengthy interview with lots of questions with an interrogation tone much like others I know had experienced but that wasn’t the case. After an accuracy review of my application to ensure I had completed it correctly and filling out a few forms my interviewing officer then fingerprinted me. 

The finger printing part was the most interesting to me. They did each finger individually then they did the thumbs a second time and then all four other fingers together.

That was it. Now I must wait again for 2 months while the application process is completed to find out if I will receive my Class A Large Capacity License To Carry. 

Task 97 - Getting my License to Carry (Basic Firearms Safety Course)

Under the 2nd amendment, citizens of the United States are granted the right to bear arms. After several unspeakable tragedies involving individuals not fit to possess gaining access to a firearm many are arguing for stronger gun control. While I understand the need to keep weapons from those who are not fit or of impaired mental capacity from any and all access I am also compelled to argue in favor of the 2nd amendment for those of us who are of sound mind, body and clean criminal record and capable of securing our firearms properly. 

With the argument in full swing I decided that it was as good a time as ever to get my License to Carry (LTC) just in case the rules change or it is made so difficult that getting one is nearly impossible. In the state of Massachusetts getting a LTC is not a simple process. In fact it is a multi-stage process that starts with taking an 8-hour safety course which will educate you on proper gun use if you didn’t already know it. The course ended with an exam and range test. In order to receive your certificate you must pass all portions of the class. The range test is where you get the opportunity to fire a pistol under the supervision of trained, certified, and licensed individuals who will evaluate your skills and competence. Only if they are comfortable with you will they sign your certificate of completion.

Only after completing and passing such a course can you apply for a LTC. The application process also has significant rules and criteria to ensure that they are not given out to anyone unfit to have one. In the state of Massachusetts you must complete and submit an application in the town/city where you live. Often these applications must also include letters of recommendation from people who can and will speak for your competence and mental health. 

The application process also includes an interview with the Firearm’s Licensing official who will review your application. Then you are checked using the Massachusetts Instant Record Check System (MIRCS), are photographed, and fingerprinted. Next they check with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) all before a thorough background check using State and National Systems. Your fingerprints are submitted to the Massachusetts State Police Identification Section (SIS) to check for any state and national fingerprint based criminal records.

Once all this information is gathered it is then up to the Chief of Police or Licensing Officer to do a final review and approve your eligibility for a LTC. If approved the application is then submitted to the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) where it is again reviewed. Then Licenses are batch printed by DCJIS and returned to the Licensing Officer for Issuance.

As you can see it is not a simple process. Having a LTC doesn’t mean you must carry a firearm. It simply allows you the ability to do so and to use it for any and all legal purposes. Firearm’s are readily accessible and many are sold under the table and in back rooms where proper identification and background checks are not performed. Owning a firearm without the proper license is against the law and punishable by jail time and fines. While not easy to get it is mandatory and those rules should be adhered too. After all these rules are designed to protect.

It is the individuals who possess firearms illegally that are the problem. Taking the course and going through the very difficult and intensive review process demonstrates a persons’ willingness to obey the law and follow proper procedure. Only after receiving your LTC or a Firearm’s Identification Card (FID) are you able to purchase a pistol or other firearm. Additionally if you buy a firearm legally you must also purchase safety apparatus such as a trigger lock or other device designed to keep the firearm away from those who should not have access to it.

Before deciding if I should take the necessary steps to get mine I started by talking to a few of the guys at work who are members of their local sportsman’s clubs. As it turns out two of them are the resident safety officers for their respective clubs and in that capacity offer and teach the Basic Firearm’s Safety courses. Before enrolling in one of their classes I thought I should visit the clubs and see what they are about. I also wanted to visit one of the ranges to see if my interest would translate into a passion for firearms. As you read about in an earlier post I went to the Wrentham Sportsman’s club and took the opportunity to fire a good selection of firearms with good friend and co-worker John Dennis. I had a blast and as it turns out I am a pretty good shot. 

With that experience I decided to move forward with taking a Basic Firearm’s safety course. My other co-worker told me that he had a class at his club coming up very soon if I was interested. I checked the state list of certified courses before signing up and enrolled in the NRA Basic Pistol Course at the Medfield Sportsman’s club. A friend of mine who also had an interest decided to take the class with me. The class was taught over the course of three days with a range day culminating our training and certification. 

The course was led by NRA Certified instructor’s Mark McFadden and John Meincke II. The coursework was a bit dry and most of it for me felt like common sense. Having grown up in a home where guns were present my parents had already instilled upon me an appreciation for their power while always cautioning me of their inherent danger if not properly handled. 

The first two days were classroom learning where we went over all the chapters in the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting. At the end of the second day we had a final review of the information before taking the exam. The exam was 6 pages and 50 questions. Questions 1-20 were multiple choice and 21-50 either true or false. I scored a 98 on the exam having only gotten one wrong. It wasn’t that my selection was incorrect it was that another was the best answer. Everyone in our class passed although a few by the skin of their teeth.

It certainly was a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life. All the other students were very nice and the other members we meet couldn’t have been more inviting, friendly and open about firearm ownership. You could tell that the culture of this club was safety first and fun second. Knowing that they all took safety importantly helped getting everyone more comfortable. They were all willing to show you their guns and couch you on proper handling while talking about their passion.

Our final day was the range day. It was here that our instructors kept a very close eye on us to ensure that we were following range safety rules and operating and handling the firearms properly. To satisfy our range requirements we had to demonstrate proficiency and proper handling with two different firearms. First was a semi-automatic Ruger, Mark 3, 22LR, Target model, 6” barrel. It is less about the gun then our proficiency with a semi-automatic.

The second firearm we had to demonstrate proficiency and proper handling was a revolver. Specifically this one was a Ruger, Security Six, 357 Mag revolver, 4” barrel. After firing a both types of firearms provided our instructor was satisfied that we were both competent and of sound mental health.

The night before he had asked if we had any requests for firearms to try out at the range. I requested to try was my instructors Sig Sauer p226 .40 S&W. One of the tricks he taught us was to always load a semi-automatic with one less round then it was capable of handling. The reason is that it can be difficult to load the magazine when filled fully. After firing I decided that it was my favorite of the three. I really enjoyed this gun’s power and control. I also asked him to demonstrate taking the gun apart and proper cleaning of the firearm since I will need to be proficient in order to keep whatever I purchase clean and in good working order. 

We received our certificates of completion. Signed and dated by our instructor. It was a great experience and definitely educated us on general safety and proper handling of firearms. I feel far more prepared today to become a pistol owner then I did before.

The next step is completing the application. I downloaded the application right form the Police Department website of the Worcester. Immediately I had to pick which type of license I would like to apply for. There were really only two different licenses to pick from; Class A & Class B. I opted to request a Class A License to Cary – Large Capacity for a few reasons. First a Class A license would allow me to carry anything capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Most semi-automatic firearms have the potential to hold more than 10 rounds in many clips. Secondly, a Class A license would also allow me to carry “concealed and loaded on a public way” where a Class B would forbid such action. The last big difference is that a Class B would mandate that the firearm be locked and unloaded in the trunk at all times while being transported.

These significant differences in my opinion severely inhibit my 2nd amendment rights to bear arms. While I do not plan to carry a firearm having the legal right to do so is something that was preferable to me.

The next section was simple personal information. These items are most definitely the criteria they use to run background checks. The third section pertains to citizenship and criminal activity. As a citizen who has never been arrested or even in the slightest amount of trouble nothing here concerned me. The fourth and last section is the most important section. It requires two people to be references. I opted to select my friend and safety course instructor another co-worker who had first taken me to the range.

My instructor has been a member of the Medfield Sportsman’s club for the past 33 years. He was both president and a member of the clubs board for many of those years. He is one of three NRA Certified instructors and one of 3 NRA Range Safety officers of the club. He has also has also been the past chairman of the Rifle Range and is the current chairman of the contest committee. He is also the club champion for half of the years he has been a
member.

The second letter comes from a retired US Marine Corp and current member of the USCG Auxiliary. He is also the range safety officer for the Wrentham Sportsman’s club and had held numerous other position during his tenure at the club.

Both individuals I feel know me well and are well positioned to judge my abilities and competency with a firearm. I also feel that they are the most suitable to decide if I am fit to own a firearm. With the approval of my family and others who I respect and admire all believing that they are comfortable with me owning a gun I am ready to submit my application. Wish me luck.

 

Task 44 & Task 97 - Visit the Gun Range (Wrentham Sportsman's Association) & Getting my License to Carry

While working I meet many interesting people. Often those people come from different walks of life then I and provide insight into the unique fabric of our country. Once such individual, John, who I have known for 7 years is a former Marine, engineer, now corporate safety officer at the company. His life experiences and wisdom have made him one of the more interesting characters at our lunch table. 

At 75 years old he is more active than many people my age and is more fun to be around. Being a retired military guy he has a great appreciation for guns and belongs to the local sportsman’s club and often talks about club competitions and his passion for firearms. He also happens to be the range officer at his club as well.

All those stories of course have piqued my interest and made me curious about getting my own license to carry. Both my parents and my brother have their licenses to carry and I thought perhaps I should visit the range.

John of course offered to take me and allow me to try out a variety of handguns from his collection. He decided on 5 different guns he would bring so I could see which would be a good fit for me. We set a date for my visit and right after work I met him at his house. 

A short drive across town and after singing into the club’s range book we headed over to their multi stall range. Before starting John reviewed the club’s safety rules and tested my knowledge of gun safety. Satisfied that I understood the importance of safety and the club rules we took each gun out 1 by one. Each time he reviewed the gun’s safety features and its operation. After reviewing all 5 guns we set up our target and he carefully watched me to ensure that I was properly handling, loading, and firing each.

Between each gun we retrieved the target and reviewed the shots. John provided a great feedback and recommendations that were invaluable to me tightening up my shot. We spent a little less than 2 hours at the range and from it I learned how much fun it was. 

After finishing up we removed all the ammunition, clips, and put away all guns together in their proper cases. Once everything was properly put away we next cleaned up the range by putting away the targets and sweeping up and properly disposing of the empty shells. 

John made sure that I understood that while shooting guns can be an enjoyable experience safety and knowing what these tools are capable of is the most important thing. You have to constantly be aware of how you handle, discharge and store guns at all times and be aware of others around you at the range. Mistakes happen but with guns there is no room for mistakes and the rules and safety procedures are there to make sure they don’t happen.