S&W BG380 is back from factory...again

[Alpha2]

Just got it back today. Word is that the firing pin now has a longer throw, to solve, finally, the light-strike, FTF issues. The last time it came back, there was no improvement at all.
Should be able to go to the range tomorrow to see if it actually makes a boom noise without needing three trigger pulls.

[Zman]

Hmmm...is this an issue overall or just yours? I have been breaking in mine (my wife's) and the couple of FTF's I attributed to 23 year old reloads.

My primer strikes looked ok ... What did yours look like?

Thanks,
Rob

[esizer]

Hmmm...is this an issue overall or just yours? I have been breaking in mine (my wife's) and the couple of FTF's I attributed to 23 year old reloads.

My primer strikes looked ok ... What did yours look like?

Thanks,
Rob

I could have sworn I heard some watercooler talk a few years back about these having a difficult time with "harder" primers. I could be way off base though.

[Alpha2]

My primer strikes were barely visible. At least two, many times 3 pulls to get them to go off. It wasn't related to hard primers. Half dozen brands, types of ammo. On the up side, many times a very slight impression on the primer would actually set off the round. A BG380 that I transferred to a student had exactly the same issue, later s.n. That's two for two in my personal experience.
This is a very common issue with the BG380, especially the early model. There was an issue with mag release for some also. I didn't have that problem. Those that did generally had the issue go away with use.
On the early (laser) model, the laser attachment screw could back out and lock up the slide.

[Alpha2]

61430

[ray1970]

Hope they got it fixed for you.

I was doing some research on pocket sized 380's recently and pretty much decided that if I get one it will most likely be the LCR. Seems the biggest majority of Internet complaints about them are that the trigger pull is kind of crappy. Seems most of the other makes and models have various reports about failures to feed, extract, eject, etc.

Oh, and I read this stuff on the Internet so you know it's all true.

[ray1970]

61430

That's pretty weak. My plan of attack would have been to measure firing pin protrusion and go from there. If I wasn't getting sufficient protrusion I'd probably pull and inspect the firing pin. If it looked OK I'd check the firing pin channel for debris or defects.

I know you opted to send it back to the factory for repairs and that's perfectly fine. But I'm more of a hands-on type of person. If I have anything that isn't working correctly I like to find out why and if I can correct the problem I will.

Let us know if they corrected the problem after you have a chance to shoot it again.

[Zman]

I haven't seen either of these issues (have non-laser), so that a positive. So far has been a very capable little weapon.

Thanks for your feedback.

Rob

[DireWolf]

Hope they got it fixed for you.

I was doing some research on pocket sized 380's recently and pretty much decided that if I get one it will most likely be the LCR. Seems the biggest majority of Internet complaints about them are that the trigger pull is kind of crappy. Seems most of the other makes and models have various reports about failures to feed, extract, eject, etc.

Oh, and I read this stuff on the Internet so you know it's all true.
The new model LCR is pretty sweet and has a way better trigger than the older model....damn if it isn't a snappy little thing though....

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[ray1970]

The new model LCR is pretty sweet and has a way better trigger than the older model....damn if it isn't a snappy little thing though....

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My bad. Typo on my part. Could have been me, could have been one of my mobile devices. I meant LCP for pocket carry. Not LCR.

But I will agree. The LCR trigger pull is pretty nice. At least on the couple I owned.

[DireWolf]

I just realized I did the same thing when I saw this, was referring to the LCP (380 semi) :)

I ran couple mags through one of the new models recently and was really nice, but waaayyyy snappier than my LC9 (old model)

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[Alpha2]

I had already taken the BG380 down, as I suspected there may be some debris limiting the firing pin. No such luck.
At the range yesterday, it FTF's the first and fourth round, FTF'd numerous other rounds with different types of ammo. The Hornady ammo went off every time, but the primer strikes were still pretty faint. The new Ruger ARX or ATX or whatever it's called, failed every time. ( The re-branded copper/polymer bullet stuff). So, still light strikes across the board.

As to the LCP, yes the later model is WAY better than the early model. Better sights and much better trigger. And both my wife's early one and my later one have been totally flawless. Every round. The LCP is also smaller than the BG380, and I can't tell a difference in "snappyness" between the two. They're both easy to shoot.