Gunsmithing Tips to Re-assemble Your Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380

While the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 is easily disassembled for gun repair or cleaning, these tips from gunsmith Kevin Muramatsu will help make reassembly even easier.

In 2011, Smith & Wesson introduced two subcompact pistols with the bodyguard name. The first was a small 38 Special revolver which came from the factory with a laser mounted on the right side above the cylinder. Both this revolver and the bodyguard 380 semi auto pistol had frames made from polymer, both are double action only, and both are quite small.

The Bodyguard 380 has a laser integrated fully into the frame under the barrel in front of the trigger guard. This is the first gun mass-marketed to the public with a laser that is part of the whole rather than an accessory, and even better at a street price of under $400, making it a very affordable firearm with perks included. This gun is a very viable deep concealment pistol or can be used commonly as a back-up.

Smaller than the palm of the average man’s hand and holding six rounds of .380ACP, the Bodyguard 380 is easily disassembled and maintained. Here are a few tips to make it even easier.

1. When reinstalling the firing pin, the firing pin will have to be depressed slightly in order to install the firing pin retaining pin. Simply place the firing pin into its channel with a flat at the rear facing upward. Use the firing pin safety to hold it in place. Insert the firing pin retaining pin into its hole on the right side putting gentle pressure on it as you push in the firing pin from the rear. This will allow the firing pin retaining pin to be pushed fully back into place.

2. Note the flange grooves in the trigger. When reinstalling the trigger into the receiver, make sure the three flanges on the trigger pin line up with the corresponding slots in the trigger.

3. The loop on the trigger spring fits into a slot inside the hole in the trigger pin. Be sure to align it with the long leg of the spring pointed up and to the front.

~These tips are from Gun Digest Book of Automatic Pistols Assembly/Disassembly.