I Carry: Smith & Wesson BodyGuard 2.0 .380 ACP Pistol in a Galco Pocket Protector Holster [Video]

In this week’s episde of “I Carry,” we have a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 pistol in .380 ACP carried in a Galco Pocket Protector holster with a CRKT Attaboy knife.

Firearm: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

Today’s “I Carry” centers around the new Bodyguard 2.0 from Smith & Wesson. Building on the success of the Shield Plus, where Smith & Wesson redesigned the grip to accommodate a double-stack magazine to increase capacity, the Bodyguard 2.0 uses that same voodoo to increase round count from the original six rounds to either 10 rounds in a flush-fit magazine or 12 rounds in an extended version. The slide and trigger guard keep the same profile as the original Bodyguard to maintain the same holster fits, in much the same way as the Shield Plus.

Sizewise, the Bodyguard 2.0 is still quite small: 5.5 inches overall length, 4 inches tall, .9 inch wide and weighing only 9.8 ounces unloaded. It’s smaller than even the SIG Sauer P365, even the .380 ACP version. It’s about the ideal size for deep-concealment use or to serve as a backup, carried in an ankle holster, for example. Now with 11 rounds on-board with a flush fit magazine and significant improvements in .380 ACP ballistics, there’s a lot less to give up when opting for something smaller than a 9 mm.

But, the increased capacity isn’t the only upgrade. The trigger has received the M2.0 upgrade, using a bladed-safety in the center of the trigger to protect against inadvertent firing should the gun be dropped. The slide has more aggressive cocking serrations both fore and aft for better administrative handling of the Bodyguard. Grip texture also mirrors the M2.0 upgrades, giving the Bodyguard 2.0 a more aggressive grip that increases purchase in the hand. Lastly, the Bodyguard 2.0 uses a striker-fired action rather than the hammer-fired system in the original. All these improvements add up to what is just about a brand-new gun – that just happens to fit holsters for the original.

Is the Bodyguard 2.0 a replacement for a double-stack 9 mm handgun? With the improvements Smith & Wesson has made to this pistol, it’s certainly a lot closer. It is both easier to shoot than the original and more capacious, which only adds to its appeal. And, there’s the similarity to Smith & Wesson’s M&P9 M2.0 series of handguns, making it ideal as a backup or deep-concealment firearm for those who prefer the M&P. In the end, choosing between a small .380 ACP pistol and a larger 9 mm comes down to the intended use, skill level of the user and external factors like the need for absolute concealment. With the Bodyguard 2.0, it’s now a lot less of a compromise, and that’s a good thing indeed.