My dealer finally recieved his first shipment of 5 Bodyguards today, so I was a happy camper when the one I ordered months ago arrived. Overall I'm really impressed by it as it is much more than a polymer J frame. This revolver is full of new design innovations. First off this revolver has a really great trigger out of the box, it rotates clockwise which is a change, but how it turns is the innovation. Opening the cylinder you notice the lack of the traditional hand coming out of the receiver, instead you see a star shaped piece that retracts into the frame upon pushing the new top mounted cylinder latch. This piece fits pecisely fits into the star in the cylinder and turns it, very neat. The factory grips are very comfortable even for my large hands. I was happy to see that the timing is still the S&W trademark double action where the cylinder indexes before dropping the hammer. The laser is easily activated by touching a button located on top of the module and mine was perfectly regulated to the iron sights. One tape to turn on, two taps for a pulsating beam and a third turns the unit off. The cylinder rod goes all the way into the frame when pushed and is therefore longer than your typical J frame ejection mechanism. All in all one very well designed and executed revolver. If it shoots as good as it looks and feels S&W has a winner.
My dealer was also informed by the factory that his shipment of the 380 Bodyguards is enroute and I'm hoping to get mine by the end of the week. It feels like Christmas this month.

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I really like the location of the laser since I have large hands and Crimson Trace grips on J frames usually just lights up my finger. Last photo shows it with my AirLiteTi 337.

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Nice. Let us know the range results.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Can't wait to see one in person. I have a couple of questions:

- Does it have any sort of internal lock (I get the impression from the pics it doesn't)?

- Does it have a standard round butt J-frame grip, or its is proprietary?

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Hello Cleveland, Rock and Roll

I'd like to see one in-person. The only thing I dislike at this point is the "DANGER" sticker or whatever it is on the side - is it removeable?

Congratulations and let us know how it shoots.

There are a couple on Gunbroker now for $500 buy it now price.

How does that new-fangled cylinder latch operate? Do you push it forward? Down? Up?

These really are starting to interest me. I didn't give it much thought at first but they are growing on me definitely.

The cylinder latch operates very smoothly and I like the placement, you push it forward to open the cylinder. The warning sticker peels right off. As far as the grips I don't know but I have a feeling the frame is probably different, I have to figure out how to detach them. There is no internal lock. I've seen a few on GunBroker and one dealer puts no reserve or starting price so bargains are out there. The revolver comes in a neat zippered case by the way.

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From your description the gun contains numerous innovations that make it a radical departure from Smith's traditional revolver design. I wonder: is this the dawn of a new era? Will Smith introduce more models, including models in a larger frame size, incorporating these design changes? Will these changes eventually replace that which Smith has used traditionally?

I'll be very curious in seeing a range report on this interesting new gun. I've noticed, btw, that none of the gun magazines have thus far reported on it even though the gun was introduced at the SHOT show back in January.

I was talking to a Smith rep who said that if this initial Bodyguard sells well, which I'm sure it will, that other models will be forcoming. Perhaps by the next Shot Show, look for one without the laser and look for a six shot version in 327 Magnum. He told me that they have been working on this new design for two years, but the real test will be when there are a lot of them on the street. Look at how their M&P line has taken off with all the new models, I think the same will happen with the new Bodyguards. I can't wait to get my new 380 Bodyguard, and when I do I'll post some photos for you guys.

I would buy a laser equipped 327 version in a heartbeat.

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Hello Cleveland, Rock and Roll

I'd buy one for $350 without the laser just to see if I could shoot it to death.

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Centennial Every Day

Thanks for providing the great photos of your new Bodyguard 38. Very helpful and very informative. Enjoy!!!

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Bill
Retired Airline Captain

My Bodyguard 380 just arrived at my dealers this afternoon, I'm posting a thread with photos in the semi auto section. Another great Smith & Wesson.

hey mag318, in your original post, the 4th pic shows scratches. how scratched up is it now? worse? I noticed mine has a small scratch and Im really hoping it doesnt get much worse.

any other bodyguard 38 owners having a scratching issue with the back of the cyclinder (as seen in pics from first post) ?

The scratching you see is common to all S&W revolvers, and it is a normal result from just closing the cylinder and nothing to worry about.

"I've noticed, btw, that none of the gun magazines have thus far reported on it even though the gun was introduced at the SHOT show back in January." stevieboy

I suspect that the writers, after falling in love with the Ruger LCR, are as disappointed with the Bodyguard's proprietary, thin, hard grip design, and with the heavy trigger pull as I am. Here's hoping that we soon will see a recoil absorbing after-market grip (Pachmayr/Hogue are you listening?) and that an average gunsmith will be able to reduce the pull weight to about seven and a half pounds while retaining reliable ignition.

The thin, hard grip on my Bodyguard feels really good to hold, but not much fun to shoot a lot with +Ps. The Ruger's LCR Hogue grips are far superior regarding recoil.

It's funny, and maybe just because I'm a S&W nut, but I swear I can still feel real quality when working the Bodyguard's action compared to the LCR's action, even though I like to shoot the LCR better.

thanks. this is my first black revolver. guess I just didnt notice the scratches so much on my nickel 12-4.

Check out the cover of September, Guns & Ammo. Big exclusive article on both new bodyguards.

tlaud, I can't seem to call up the article. Is it clearly favorable about the 38's grip, trigger pull weight and recoil with +Ps, or a bit non-committal?
Thanks.

Patrick Sweeney wrote the article. He said this bodyguard is better than it's predecessor. He commented on how the trigger was better than the J-frames and the finish was practically rust proof.

Nice looking revolver. I went to pick up my new M638 today and boy was it a beaut to shoot! +P ammo was a breeze in DA or SA.

When I went to pick up my new snub I saw the new poly BG in a case and asked to see it. Everything was very well made on the gun except for one thing. The cylinder was sloppy and I mean back to front and side to side even in full lock up. Terrible cylinder play for a NIB revolver. I compared it to the Ruger LCR in the case and my NIB M638 and it was like night and day. How was yours when you first got it?

took my new BG 38 to the range range the other day. i put 120 rounds of wadcutter and +p's through it at 3, 7 and a few at about 10 yrds. it worked fine without a single hitch. didn't even have to adjust the laser sight. only casualty is my sore thumb and trigger finger blister i have today. now totally satisfied...

Nakanokalronin, the cylinder play on my BG38 is OK (average), including the B/C gap.

Has anybody measured the trigger pull weight on their BG38?

Did anybody who read the article notice that the author failed to mention the cylinder on the Bodyguard 38 rotates clockwise instead of counterclockwise like all other Smiths?

Forget about the stupid Guns & Ammo articles (how often do you read one that says "piece of ****...don't waste your money"?)
Guns & Ammo ain't the same as Consumer Reports. G&A has to rely on the manufacturers ads to pay the bills.

Check out the other "Bodyguard" thread here in this forum and read about the 2 specimens that arrived at this guys dealer with the lazers that were so off you'd be lucky to hit the side of a barn from 10 feet.

I feel S&W, in their attempt to catch up with Ruger's LCR, rushed the process along and we're going to start seeing the result of that in the form of reports of failures followed by the inevitable recalls.

mine seems fine but i haven't owned a s&w revolver (19 and 686) since the 1980's. so my recollection could be off. but from what i can remember the cylinder play doesn't seem any worse on mine.

[QUOTE=RAMS.....Has anybody measured the trigger pull weight on their BG38?[/QUOTE]

Hello....anyone...anyone...Bueller...

Has anyone tried a speedloader with the new bodyguard 38?

The sighting in procedure in the early manuals was incomplete and erroneous. S&W published this on its website:



The instructions work fine, the BG38 works fine. The BG38 finish is easier to clean than my alloy 642-1 or my blued 36.

Your opinion on the G&A article aside, the BG38 is decent firearm at a reasonable price.

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Bob

I passed the 1K round count thru my BG38 and I'm still happy with it. The more I shoot it in fact the more I like it. I wish I could say the same for my BG380 which came apart at 600 rounds. Everyone that has shot my 38 has come away impressed, Smith & Wesson has a real winner with it.

Concerning speed loaders, the same ones I have at work witha J frame work beautifully with the BG. I've used one with my new BG daily.

HC

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HiCap

Hi folks

I am interested in the model but curious if the laser removable?

Yes, and the manual specifies its removal before maintenance or cleaning. Held on by one screw and positioned by two fixed pins.

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Bob

I have had the piece back to the S&W shop twice now but I cannot get past 3 or 4 rounds without it stopping and locking up. If I had move the round to the next one then it will fire well for two or three rounds but that is it. At the moment it is not a safe piece to have for protection. I am now waiting for a response from S&W and in past correspondance they said they would get it working right. I trust they keep their word.

If you don't allow the trigger to fully reset, you can get the 'lockup' from short stroking the trigger. I've had it happen on my BG38 and on my 617. Use the search function to find other testimony on the subject. It may not be the gun.

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Bob

I have this gun with Hogue Tamer grips installed. It's awesome... totally fixes the small hard grip issue. See this thread: BodyGuard 38 replacement grip?

McTeach

Hate to puke in the punch bowl, but the BG38 was the worst handgun I've ever owned. Less than 200 rds and the timing was so bad it was shaving lead. Sent it back to S&W, the trouble returned after less than 20rds. Even on a good day, it was all over the paper even with lightly loaded 38spl wadcutters. I couldn't get rid of mine fast enough. Oh yeah, forget about a trigger job. The BG38 doesn't have the standard issue J frame trigger which means no trigger job's possible. The only way to run it in is to shoot it. If it lasts, maybe yours will lighten up. Hope you have better luck than I did.

Funny, I've wondered how well the star-ratchet interface will hold up with some debris in there, or after wearing in. Still wouldn't try one as long as they have a built-in raygun.