When it comes to EDC, a lot of folks, especially in constitutional carry states are packin’ heat. Over the last decade I’ve watched as carry guns got smaller and smaller, optimized by radical geometry that lets a little gun hold a lot of bullets. This has increased the number of people who come to the conclusion an edc pistol is the right choice for them.

The Bodyguard 2.0 is a pocket sized .380 made by Smith and Wesson.

It is a striker fired, polymer handgun that holds 10+1 in California and 12+1 in the free states. With a low bore axis, and high cut trigger guard, users can get all four fingers on the grip which really tames the recoil on this little mouse gun.

Unlike many mouse guns, such as the Kahr p380 or Ruger LCP, the design language of this firearm is that of a full sized gun.

Many .380s have a heavy trigger as a safety feature. The bodyguard has a 4lb trigger pull, meaning it is crisp and light, about as light as other polymer guns. Many small guns look boxy, weird, and.. well to be honest, lame.

Overall, conceptually, these changes turn a “get off me gun” into a very shootable, highly concealable little gun.

So what’s not to be loved? Well .380 is about half as powerful as a 9mm. Jacketed Hollow Points, the favored ammunition type for stopping threats, don’t expand reliably out of a short barrel and with the lighter charge from the smaller case.

Stopping power is lacking, both due to inadequate penetration and expansion. This makes shot placement critical.

So what’s the ideal EDC pistol? One that weighs under 1lb, holds 11 rounds, disappears under a t-shirt, or can literally fit in your front pocket? Or a glock 19 that needs to be carried on a belt, is uncomfortable, bulky, and gets in the way of your normal day to day activities – to the point that many users won’t tolerate carrying it?

This reviewer thinks he knows the answer to that question, but each person has to find what works for them.