Shopping for a second snubby. have a 642 with no issues, but looking for a winter beater (parka/car/pack) .
See these new bodyguard snubbies with lasers already on them. price seems reasonable for new. Not sure about that top release though.

Any one have or fondle one?

i had one for about a month...out of the box it was a great gun with no machanical issues. just wasn't heavy enough for me. plus the grip didnt fit me good like i had thought, felt like a Mule when shooting .38 +P's. sold it and bought a model 60, much better IMO.

I like mine just fine. The top release is easy to get used to. It weighs about the same as a 642 and its accuracy is easier to realize with the laser. It's not a target gun but it's just fine as an easy to carry and to use self defense revolver.

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Bob

I regret buying my BG38. I still have it just because I haven't found anyone that wants to trade a 442 or a 642 for it.
The laser is a joke. The switch is difficult to manipulate, especially at any speed. The laser isn't known for its durability either.
The trigger pinches my finger at times.
The grips are okay but there are no other options at this time even if you don't like them. It will probably be awhile before any kind of aftermarket grips are offered also. Especially considering that the grips are held on with a roll pin.
None of my leather J frame holsters fit the BG38 very well either. Some of the nylon ones are okay.
The top mounted cylinder release is an okay feature but not anything that yields a great advantage in reloading.

My suggestion is to buy something else. I think S&W still has a $50.00 rebate on 442s and 642s and since you already have a 642............

I've been very happy with my Bodyguard 38. IT has the best factory trigger I ever felt on a J frame sized Smith. The grip shape and material make shooting even hot loads comfortable. I have let 5 friends shoot my BG38 and they have all gone out and bought one after the experience. The laser is perfectly positioned should you choose to employ it and the laser makes hitting easy from odd positions. I think this is a great revolver and predict it will be one of S&Ws more popular revolvers.

oneminute, good luck getting an even trade. You may not like the BG38 but it is entirely suitable to its purpose and less expensive than the options you cite or for Ruger's equivalent. A good choice for people new to shooting and to carrying a concealed firearm. Collectors and target shooters might like the all alloy or steel variations.

A little practice and the laser switch is no more trouble than a 1911 safety. I am curious, however, on comment on the laser's durability. The gun hasn't been around long enough to evaluate one way or the other. Insight is a very well established company with an excellent reputation for its products.

As far as price choices are concerned for new firearms, Bud's Gunshop has the 642CT for $649, Ruger LCR for $587, and Bodyguard 38 at $499. (I have no affiliation with Bud's but they're a good source for tight pricing.)

How much do want for yours?

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Bob

I suppose like anything opinions vary but I really am at a loss to decide which one of two guns to buy. Do I buy the new Bodyguard with the laser that some like and others hate? Or do I buy the 442 which has a proven track record and many people praise. Which is the easiest to carry? How does the recoil compare? I don't want to regret my purchase. What's a guy to do?

Tried it and preferred the Ruger LCR. Found it easier to use and easier to shoot accurately. Dave

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Time Wounds All Heels

I was recently injured in a car wreck and am in a wheelchair for a while. I was carrying my model 49, and found that even that felt a little heavy. Some other issues became apparent making me re-evaluate my opinion of laser sights on a handgun. Was at a local Academy Sports picking up a grandson's birthday present when I spotted the BG38. It was extremely light. The grips fit my hand perfectly. Yeah, I wish the laser switch was easier to reach, but I have found it to be no problem with
practice. After thinking about it overnight, I picked it up. $479.00 and tax. It is Smith's entry into the polymer revolver market. The lock work has apparently been completely redesigned. This ain't your Daddy's Smith and Wesson! The cylinder turns clockwise, like a Colt. I have shot Winchester 125 gr +P's with no issues. I have loaded it with 125 grain Nyclads for carry, and probably won't shoot much +p in it. I like this little gun very much, so far. I am interested to see just how well this new generation of J frames holds up. Only time will really tell.

I've enjoyed my BG38 so far. But that being said, I haven't spent much time with it. I've shot 50rds through it and dry-fired it probably 50 times as well. I plan to get it out again this weekend for range time.

I haven't had any problems with the laser. It was easy to zero with WWB FMJ, then adjust to Gold Dot Short Barrel JHP after. I left it alone once it was set for the carry load.

I just bought one 2 weeks ago and had the same questions about the top release. However, after shooting it for a short time I began to ask, "How come they're not all like this?" It would truly be a lefty's dream.

Not the most comfortable thing to shoot but that's not why you'd buy one. As long as it goes Bang when it's supposed to, what's not to like?

I mean, who cares if the trigger isn't great? Who cares if the grips are perfect? It does what it's supposed to do very well.

Don't buy a screwdriver then bitch it isn't a pipe wrench.

I shoulda saved the targets. I've been practicing by shooting all five shots as fast as I can pull the trigger at seven yards using the laser. That little dot tells ya the truth and most of the shots are within three or four inches of each other even under rushed conditions.

It's a nice little gun.

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Bob

Had mine a few months and really like it. 70+ rounds down range so far.

I have the 642 with CT Grips and it's great - had it for years. My brother recently purchased the .38 Bodyguard with laser and loves his. If/when I ever get another .38 it'll be the .38 Bodyguard but I'll always consider my 642 a keeper too.....

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For God and Country

I put 20 more rounds through mine this afternoon. Without using the laser, it was shooting to my point of aim perfectly. The range was 7yds. More than satisfied with my little BG38 so far.

I'm still waiting to hear from someone with a high count (1000+) BG38. I'm curious about the durability and reliability.

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Centennial Every Day

I'm up around 600 with no problems or change in point of impact from point of aim. Trigger is getting smoother too.

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Bob

Maybe I'm wrong, but I took it that he was willing to trade his BG for a standard 442 or 642 without CT.

I was at a Cabela's yesterday and the salesman was showing a guy the BG and had a helluva time getting the lazer to turn on. In fact he couldn't get it to come on until another salesman came over and figured it out. I'm not dissing the gun whatsoever, just stating what I witnessed. It looked like a nice piece from what I saw of it.

I have just over 1000 rounds thru my BG38 and it is as tight as when new. I too had questions about durability and I can tell you mine has held up well. There is no evidence of flame cutting on the frame and the lockup is just as tight as when I bought it. This revolver has exceeded all my expectations.

Could be but then it's not value for value, just a preference.

I posted in another thread that I had to return my BG38 because the laser switch actually came out of the housing and there was no way to reinsert it. The same unit was way off POA to POI out of the box and only because of the corrected instructions on S&W's site was I able to sight it in.

The BG38 was returned a week later with a replacement laser unit in place and the old laser unit in the box. POA to POI was about the same at seven yards and the laser switch is easier to operate than on the original. I don't know if there was an engineering change on the sight or if my first one was just defective for some reason but the new unit works just fine and, as usual, S&W service was first rate.

The overall reliability of the BG38 remains to be seen if 1000 rounds or more is the benchmark but the reliability to go bang so far is 100 percent. That's as reliable as my laserless 642-1, so if the laser doesn't work at some point, I doubt I'll be worse off than if I had been using my 642.

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Bob

I haven't shot my BG enough to give any feedback but if you decide against one consider the J frame "PC super tuned" guns from Davidson's. (gallery of guns.com).

According to their listing they have the 442, 637 and 642, 178034, 178024 and 178025. They are listed with the PC guns but are not marked PC.

Check prices with the instant quote, they're on sale until the end of the month plus qualify for the rebate.

I have the 637 and I'm impressed with the action.

Bob

I would buy one if they would sell them without the laser. Would be super-cheap without the laser and fun to test with a few thousand rounds.

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Centennial Every Day

I bought mine two months ago, I don't even know its on my sometimes its so light. I've put 300 rounds through mine and haven't had a single problem!! the only weird thing that I have encountered is when I used colt ammo...the ACP round, they're pieces of **** and one got stuck while ejecting. The minute I loaded other shot in there it was fine again!

How do you get Colt ACP ammo in the BG38?

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Bob

It was not the ACP load, it said ACP on the box. It was colt .380 ammo, my father in law bought it from cabellas it wasn't brass it was like zinc or tin and the casing was silver. Moral of the story, don't use colt ammo. (I am new in the community and don't really know what ACP is sorry)

I have had one for a few weeks now and while it is a nice feeling gun it has issues that I hope can be worked out.

Cons

The laser is not bright enough side by side with a CT laser there is no comparison. Shooting this past weekend on a overcast day at 7 yards you could not see the Insight laser while you could clearly see the CT.

Laser is very hard to activate quickly a grip switch would have been much better

I had one FTF where the cylinder failed to rotate.

Sights are off shooting at 7 yards the gun was hitting 2 feet low. Gave the gun to another shooter and he had the same experience.

Pros

Easy shooting gun the recoil is very manageable with +P loads

Smoothest trigger I have felt from a factory gun

Easy to carry

I will get more range time with it next week so I am not giving up on it yet

You are referring to the BG380 semi auto chambered for 380 ACP. This thread is about the BG 38 revolver chambered for .38 special. Honest mistake but note you are in the revolver forum.

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Dave