Compact carry guns—mainly the small .380s—fill a definite niche in the firearms market. Honestly, I don’t really like these guns. They’re tiny, often have snappy recoil, use (relatively) expensive ammo, and seem to be an afterthought for many manufacturers (though I’ll give credit to the old SIG P238 and Kimber Micro series—they’re solid).
Despite my dislike, these guns serve a purpose. Sometimes deep concealment is needed, or someone prefers lighter clothing over a larger carry gun and holster. I understand that. I’ve been there. I carried a Ruger LCP in my front right pocket, but didn’t enjoy shooting it so I never trained much with it and eventually stopped using it entirely.
Sadly, whether due to bad marketing or poor sales staff, these small guns are often marketed to women and new shooters. They’re so small in size and caliber that many noobs are drawn to them. They’re easy to conceal, but the reality is, these guns can be difficult for new shooters and women to handle effectively. They can be hard to manage and not enjoyable at all to shoot. We need better options.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp
Despite my concerns, I’ve been looking for a new pocket gun to carry during the summer. My usual carry is a P365X, which I know isn’t very big, but I still want another option. A couple of years ago, when I was still working at the gun counter, Smith & Wesson (re)released the Bodyguard, but this time as a completely new model, the totally redesigned Bodyguard 2.0. And honestly, it took me by surprise.
Traditionally, manufacturers approach the production of subcompact guns in a couple of different ways. One method is to make one of their larger gun model smaller, which can feel awkward (think GLOCK 26). The second approach is to create a small gun with unusual proportions (think Ruger LCP). Smith took a different path with the Bodyguard 2.0—they scaled down to a small gun, but did it proportionally. They made a subcompact pistol with the right relative dimensions. When done this way, the pistol still feels natural. It doesn’t feel awkward in the hand. It remains small, but not as tiny as the LCP or the old Bodyguard. The 2.0 fits comfortably and feels good in your hand. Pretty striking, right?
The Bodyguard 2.0 was the starting point. Smith & Wesson recently introduced a Carry Comp version, with, you guessed it, a slightly longer slide to accommodate a port at the end. Perfect. Now several optic manufacturers are making slim optics to fit the Bodyguard 2.0. One example is the Viridian RFX1 Custom (more 0n that later).
First Look
Here are some raw impressions after having had the pistol for less than a couple of weeks.
- How it feels: Surprisingly good. Again, this goes back to my point about scaling. It feels good in the hand, even though it is a smaller gun.
- Texture: To my liking. It has the same feel as the latest versions of the Shield and M&P, making it a big upgrade over earlier models. I like it.
- Sharp Edges: Since this is a carry gun, Smith has gone to great lengths to round the edges. I’ve yet to find a hot spot while appendix carrying.
- Grip angle: Slightly more vertical than a GLOCK, which I prefer. There’s also a noticeable beavertail, something that’s desperately needed on smaller carry guns, especially if you have large hands. The recoil impulse linear, rather than vertical, which is partly attributed to the comp, but the ergonomics help.
- Trigger Pull Feel: The trigger is okay. While an improvement over Smith’s hinged trigger, I’ve never been a huge fan of their striker-fired triggers. I’d say it’s fine. The BG 2.0 has an integral trigger stop built into the trigger guard, which is a positive.
- Sights: The Carry Comp models come with Ameriglo sights, which I’m a big fan of. However, I opted for the Viridian RFX1 Custom, which requires drifting out the rear sight to mount the optic.
- Controls: Perfectly acceptable. The mag release can be switched to the right side for lefties and it has the same texture as the grip, which I like.
- Packaging quality: Basic…it’s a cardboard box.
- Package Contents: In addition to paperwork and the lock, the pistol ships with 10- and 12-round extended magazines. I bought a second 12-round mag.
Features
The Performance Center Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp from Smith & Wesson advances the micro-compact pistol concept by combining concealability with thoughtful performance enhancements. At its core is the Carry Comp system, which utilizes the company’s PowerPort to vent gas upward and reduce felt recoil.
The handgun features a 3.1-inch ported stainless steel barrel with an Armornite finish and a stainless slide treated in Performance Center Gray Armornite, providing durability suitable for carry use.
Ergonomics features include a slim textured grip, a redesigned slide with aggressive serrations for easier manipulation, and a flat-faced trigger. Ameriglo Protector sights—featuring a blacked-out rear and LumiGreen front night sight—complete the package, which includes both 10- and 12-round magazines and omits a manual safety for a streamlined defensive setup.
First Shots
I haven’t put a lot of rounds downrange yet, so this isn’t a full review, but so far, I really like it. I’ve shot its predecessor and the Ruger LCP, and neither was fun to shoot. The 2.0 Carry Comp is a different story. The ergonomics and shape feel like a regular pistol…just smaller. For this range trip, I brought a couple of boxes of Blazer Brass and a box of Sierra hollow points. For carry, I’ll be using Hornady Critical Defense. I’ve had no malfunctions or issues to this point.
In short, the gun impressed me. It shoots flat and the compensator really works well. I never felt the gun was too small, especially with 12 rounds on board.
I also really liked the Viridian optic. It’s a bit narrower than RMSc footprint optics, but it functions well on this gun. I’m not usually a green dot fan, but this one worked fine for me. Sometimes green messes with my eyes—I have an astigmatism in each eye—but it didn’t matter here. For now, I’m running a C&G holster that I picked up at my local brick-and-mortar store. It works for now, but I’ll be looking for better options.
Zooming Out
Ultimately, the Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp is shaping up to be one of the most thoughtful entries in the micro-compact market. By scaling the pistol down, Smith & Wesson created something that’s not only easy to conceal but also genuinely shootable. The Carry Comp porting, reduces muzzle flip. The addition of the Viridian RFX1 Custom offers a surprisingly practical optic on such a small gun without any major modifications. It’s still early, but after just a few weeks with it, this compact pistol will be my new summer carry choice.
I’ll be carrying this daily for a while, run a lot more rounds through it, and report back. I’ll also share more detailed thoughts and experiences on the RFX1 soon.