By Mike Schoby
It’s not a secret; I like small pocket guns, and I generally always have one everywhere I go. I rotate through them like socks. I will indiscriminately carry a KelTec P32, Taurus 22 TUC, Seacamp 32, Beretta Tomcat, or various Smith J-frames. Recently, the Smith & Wesson Bodygaurd 2.0 has moved into the rotation and may receive more use than the rest combined…for several reasons. It trumps about everything else for its size, weight, capacity and shootability.
The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 is a micro-compact .380 ACP pistol built for two purposes: easy carry and always-available, simplistic defense. It’s not glamorous. It’s not a range toy. It is, however, exactly the sort of tool you want tucked away when everything else goes to hell.
S&W Bodyguard 2.0 Features
The Bodyguard 2.0 is a refresh of Smith & Wesson’s original Bodyguard pistol, now streamlined and more in line with their M&P family of firearms. The original Bodyguard had a single-stack, six-round magazine. The 2.0 started from the ground up with a modified double-stack magazine, better ergonomics and improved grip. Of all the pocket pistols I carry, it easily has the best sights—Tritium front dot combined with a generous U rear.
Bodyguard Design & Build
This pistol is built small. Very small. It weighs only slightly more than a Field Ethos Vice tin filled with ALP pouches and fits just about anywhere on your body, including places that would make a P365 blush. The front and rear straps of the grip are textured aggressively, which is a smart choice considering its size and the potential for sweaty hands in a high-stress moment.
The DAO (Double Action Only) trigger is heavy and long, as expected in a pocket pistol without a manual safety (though one version comes with one). It’s a feature designed to prevent accidental discharges—not for target work. Think “deliberate squeeze under duress,” not “hair trigger on the range.” However, it does have a solid back wall due to an integrated trigger stop.
The slide is stainless steel with a black Armornite finish, and the polymer frame keeps the weight down to 11.8 ounces unloaded. Loaded, of course, it weighs more as this compact gem holds 10 rounds in a flush magazine and 12 rounds in an extended magazine. It can also be had in more color combinations than a United Colors of Benetton catalog. But in the end, all variants employ a no-frills, minimalist approach that sacrifices nothing when it comes to reliability.
Performance
At the range, the Bodyguard 2.0 delivers what you’d expect from a subcompact .380: snappy recoil, manageable with a two-handed grip, and a minute-of-thug level of accuracy at 3–15 yards. Beyond that, the short sight radius and DAO trigger start to limit practical accuracy. But again, this isn’t a long-distance tool. This is for when someone is aggressively in your space, or about to be.
Reliability is solid. In testing with a mix of Fiocchi Range Dynamics, Defense Dynamics and the new Covert X, the Bodyguard ran without issue. That’s crucial—if this thing stutters in a life-or-death situation, it fails its sole reason for existing.
Carry & Concealment
This is where the Bodyguard 2.0 shines. It vanishes under light clothing, fits in a pocket holster with ease, and doesn’t require a dedicated belt or carry setup. For people who need a gun right now and don’t want to mess with a full-size rig, this is a solid option. It also makes an excellent backup weapon for the ultra-paranoid, multi-gun, multi-mag carry crowd.
It’s not the most comfortable shooter due to its small size, but comfort at the range is a trade-off for comfort in daily carry.
The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 isn’t trying to be a jack-of-all-trades. It’s not a Glock 19. It’s not even a Springfield Hellcat or Sig P365. What it is, is a rugged, dependable, minimalist self-defense pistol that disappears until you need it most.
If you want a concealable gun that’s built for real-world carry, the Bodyguard 2.0 is worth a serious look. It may not be your favorite gun to shoot, but it just might be your favorite gun to have when you really need one.
Price: $400-$500.
Pros: Compact, light, reliable.
Cons: I bet a baker’s dozen 32s would fit into the flush mag. Smith, any thoughts on a Bodyguard 2.1 in 32 ACP?
