Why the S&W Bodyguard 2.0 Needs an Optic
It’s 2026 – every concealed carry gun should be able to take an optic. Optics are proven to help most people shoot more accurately, especially at speed, in addition to getting on target quicker. The Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp is a fine gun – even better than its older brother, the Bodyguard 2.0 – but it's still a “get off me gun.”
For self-defense, it’s best at extremely short ranges, but the addition of an optic can change that for some people. It can take this from a “get off me gun” to a primary carry choice, because it adds accuracy and range to a gun that otherwise wouldn’t have it without some serious training.
The Monsoon Tactical Approach
After I sent the slide and optic to Monsoon Tactical, it was only a couple of weeks until I received it back. The process was seamless and bypassed all FFL transfers, since it was just a slide.
I was lucky to talk to Vinny DeYarmon, owner of Monsoon Tactical, to go through what makes his solution unique. He explained that most shops offering an optics solution for the Bodyguard 2.0 are doing it through a direct mount process. Monsoon Tactical is the only company to offer a plate system for the gun.
DeYarmon explained that the backplate on the gun is held in by the rear sight. When you direct-mount the optic, this results in a dongle being used to capture the firing pin spring, but that spring is never fully captured the same way as with the original part. After months of research, Monsoon figured out how to make a plate system that doesn’t affect the backplate or the firing pin spring.
The plate system has other benefits as well. First, you get more modularity and it's easier to service the optic. Secondly, a traditional RMSc mounted optic mounts flush to the plate, and the plate then tapers in, making it appear more OEM and less of a mess with an optic awkwardly hanging off the slide. Thirdly, and maybe most importantly, the hardware goes through the plate and screws into the slide, providing an additional layer of recoil support.
Choosing an Optic
I had a bunch of optics lying around the house, but one seemed more appropriate than others for this gun. The Shield Sights OMSsc is the smaller brother of a more traditional RMSc dot. I chose this red dot for a couple of reason, one of which was the unique open-top hood that the optic employs. The hood and the tiny footprint of this optic caught my eye at its SHOT Show 2025 debut. When we recently reviewed the OMSsc in a standalone article, it just confirmed my decision to use it on the Bodyguard.
Still, the OMSsc presented some unique challenges that your typical RMSc optic won’t. For starters, it’s smaller than the RMSc plate. It works, through DeYarmon wasn’t about to reinvent the wheel and make a new plate for me, since this was the first OMSsc optic he had encountered. The result is that the plate is oversized for the optic, which looks a little wonky but does the job.
The point is: now, I get to swap out optics as I see fit with many different compatible RMSc optics, whereas a direct-mill solution would mean this optic is my only option. I do need to take off the slide to change batteries. No matter what, this small optic barely adds any weight to already easy gun to pocket carry.
Increased Accuracy
I don’t claim to be a great shot, but there is no doubt I shoot optics better than irons. That wasn’t always true, but now I want a gun that at least gives me the option to add optics. My first trip to the range with this new setup reaffirmed that shooting optics is not only better, but also makes this gun substantially better, especially under any sort of rapid-fire sequence.
Since I reviewed and own the original Bodyguard 2.0, it was easy to compare how much the spread would open sans optic in a rapid-fire situation. The optic held up exceptionally well, and the open-top concept really helped home in on the center and keep my focus.
I often hear people naysay the comped handgun, claiming the flash makes follow-up shots difficult. I would argue, at least in this instance, that the downside of any flash from the comp was easily negated by the optic keeping me on target.
More Rounds and Reliability
At this point, I need to break down this gun for a good cleaning. I’m approaching 1,000 rounds with no cleaning, which includes around 300 rounds of DoubleTap, 100 rounds of Blazer FMJ training ammo and a box or two of Federal Punch since adding the optic. It’s a testament to the reliability of this S&W.
This little pocket pistol is a tank that just wants to feed and hasn’t experienced a hiccup yet. I’ve had no stoppages or failures to report other than a failure to lock back from time to time, which could be as much user-generated as it is a fault of the gun. I feel confident carrying this gun whether in the pocket or AIWB with a QVO Tactical holster.
The optic also helps extend the handgun’s range. I can make hits reliably at 25 yards with this optic and a slower pace of fire. While I can still get on target with the irons only at that distance, the hit rate isn’t nearly as high.
Does Optic Weight Matter?
My one concern with adding an optic was the weight of the optic slowing down the slide and thus impeding the function of the gun. That is one reason I chose the OMSsc, since it's one of the lightest optics on the market. DeYarmon assured me that this hasn’t been the case, though.
“With the amount of material we remove and replace on top of the gun, I haven’t seen any issues,” he said. “The Bodyguard is small, but it's the right kind of small. The plate and optic aren’t enough weight to stop it from running.”
On his Bodyguard, DeYarmon runs a Vortex Defender Solar Enclosed Micro Red Dot, which is substantially heavier at 1.3 ounces than the mere .52 ounces of the OMSsc. He hasn’t experienced any failures, diluting fears of a heavy optic slowing the slide. His experience also shows this gun is built to run.
Conclusion
The Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp only improves with the addition of an optic, and the Shield Sights OMSsc has proven to be a discreet little optic that elevates a great pocket pistol even further. If you’re looking for a perfect new pocket pistol, the Bodyguard Carry Comp is an excellent choice. If you’re looking to stretch the distance and increase accuracy, Monsoon Tactical is a great place to start.
