New Product Highlight: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

If you want a pistol that skirts the line between compact and full-size, you’re spoiled for choices. Manufacturers are churning out all kinds of practical pistols like the Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro and Springfield Hellcat Pro.

But those are all making compact pistols bigger; what if you want something smaller? What if you want a softer-shooting round than 9mm?

Enter the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 — an all-new micro-compact that keeps the original’s .380 ACP cartridge but changes just about everything else.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 Specs & Features

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

$399

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$399 at Kygunco

• Kygunco (See Price)
• Palmetto State Armory (See Price)
• GrabAGun (See Price)

Prices accurate at time of writing

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• 25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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So, what’s new on the second generation Bodyguard? Everything.

Let’s start at the core of this pistol: the firing mechanism. Gone is the heavy, long, double-action trigger and hammer-fire action. The Bodyguard 2.0 gets a modern striker with what is sure to be a vastly improved trigger.

Next up is capacity. Instead of having six rounds in a grip that’s too short for even the smallest hands, you’ll get one 10-round magazine and one 12-round magazine with this pistol. That extra real estate will improve your grip, but the 2.75-inch barrel remains just as easy to tuck out of sight.

The updated grip texture and slide serrations should make the pistol easier to control and manipulate. The tritium front sight is visible day or night.

You can spec the Bodyguard 2.0 with or without a manual thumb safety.

The whole pistol is just 5.5 inches long, 4.1 inches high, and 0.88 inches wide. Smith & Wesson’s Bodyguard series is meant for maximum concealment and self-defense in close quarters, so this pistol doesn’t come with an accessory rail or an optic-cut slide.

Unlike Smith & Wesson’s flagship M&P9 pistols, the Bodyguard series shoots .380 ACP. We have an in-depth comparison of .380 vs. 9mm, but the gist is that .380 ACP is a lighter-recoiling alternative for small pistols.

It sacrifices some stopping power to be easier to shoot, which makes it popular among people who might struggle with the snappy recoil of a subcompact or micro-compact 9mm.

The original M&P Bodyguard 380 (which you can still buy) has a simple value proposition: it’s miniscule. You could easily carry one in a pocket holster. The stubby grip and long double-action trigger make it challenging to shoot well, though.

The Bodyguard 2.0 is a massive step in the right direction. It’s larger without precluding it from deep concealment, more modern, and vastly improved in the ergonomics department.

Smith & Wesson lists an MSRP of $449 for the Bodyguard 2.0.

What do you think of the new Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0? Let us know below. For more tiny handguns, check out our guide to the best pocket pistols for concealed carry.