New S&W Revolver FAIL!!!

[Edmo]

My new Bodyguard BG38 snubbie locked up on me yesterday. This is after only one month and one box of ammo since new. At least it failed during a practice session and not when I needed it for protection.

The trigger is locked to the back, the cylinder is locked up, and it will not release and swing out of the gun. I've got a warranty return request in with S&W... We'll see how they take care of business. I've never needed their service with any of my other revolvers so this is new for me.

I've owned S&W revolvers since the mid 1980s and currently have three others besides the Bodyguard. All of them are "lock-less" actions and have generally been used as hunting and hiking guns. They include a 4" Model 629 Mountain Gun, a 6" Model 686, and my first a Model 60 38 Special (non +P) snubbie. The Bodyguard beat this Model 60 in four of the five pocket pistol categories I look for: 1) light weight; 2) accuracy; 3) caliber; 4) snag free design; 5) reliability. Unfortunately, the category it lost is the most important... RELIABILITY !!

With one of my Glocks at my side I'll keep you posted on how S&W handles this recalcitrant little revolver.

Edmo

 

[mag318]

S&W will take care of you. I've had mine since they first released them and it's been troublefree through over 1K rounds.

 

[kennyb]

like anything mechanical...things happen...yes..to those wonderful plastic glocks as well...three police agencies in this area have discontinued those glocks...why?to many mechanical failures!before you sound so oppressed about sending your s&w in for repair...why not give them a chance?

 

[J D Allen]

locked up 38

I had a problem with my 40 cal. and sent it to the service center in texas. They repaired it at NO CHARGE. They will take care of the issue.

 

[Pote]

recalcitrant |riˈkalsətrənt|
adjective
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline: a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds.

I DO learn something new everyday on these forums.

 

[Edmo]

like anything mechanical...things happen...yes..to those wonderful plastic glocks as well...three police agencies in this area have discontinued those glocks...why?to many mechanical failures!before you sound so oppressed about sending your s&w in for repair...why not give them a chance?

Not "oppressed", just disappointed... Very disappointed.

I was carrying this revolver only hours prior and when I function check it after cleaning, the action grinds to a halt. This isn't a malfunction I could fix and get back into action if needed. This malfunction turned the gun into an aluminum and plastic paper weight (albeit a light one).

I will likely keep this revolver out of the carry lineup for quite a while. Maybe after many successful rounds I'll have faith in it again... Maybe, but I doubt it. It went from "smooth as butter" to STOP with no build up or warning. I guess it goes to show the "always reliable" revolver isn't quite 100% these days.

Yes I'll give S&W a chance to make this right and I'm sure they will get the repaired gun back to me in short order. At least that is the bare minimum I expect at this point. In reality, I expected a better product from S&W in the first place. Hopefully their customer service and repair shop works better than this revolver.

Not to make this a S&W/Glock, revolver/auto, apples/oranges debate, but since it was brought up I'll retort. Reference the Glock, yes anything can fail and there will always be antidotal stories discussing malfunctions of any make/model of firearm you can name. I'm not the Glock soapbox guy, but since it was brought up I'll give my experiences.

I've owned Gen2, Gen3, and Gen4 Glocks starting in the mid 1990s through today with thousands of rounds fired down range and I have never had one glitch. None...

I guess some would say my S&W revolvers have only had one more malfunction than that experienced by my Glocks. Numerically that is true, but depending on the circumstances that one malfunction could be extremely significant with dire consequences.

Edmo

 

[allglock]

I predict the bodyguard will be discontinued. It seems to be nothing but problems.

 

[Edmo]

recalcitrant |riˈkalsətrənt|
adjective
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline: a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds.

I DO learn something new everyday on these forums.

re·cal·ci·trant [ri-kal-si-truhnt]

adjective
1. resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory.

2. hard to deal with, manage, or operate.

I went with the second definition in this context...



Edmo

 

[texagun]

...three police agencies in this area have discontinued those glocks...why?to many mechanical failures!

Exactly WHICH police agencies would you be talking about?

Inquiring minds...............................

 

[StatesRightist]

The problem with Gen 4 Glocks is quite well documented. I'm sure they will overcome it, but so far the Gen 2's are head and shoulders above the following generations, particularly Gen 4's.

 

[blujax01]

As big a fan I am of the M&P polymer autofeeders, hear way too many stories like this from BG 38 and BG 380 owners. I don't know if AllGLock's prediction will come true but certainly won't be entertaining the thought of owning one in this lifetime.
I suppose as long as there are people willing to buy them, they will be available ...

 

[markush]

My new Bodyguard BG38 snubbie locked up on me yesterday. This is after only one month and one box of ammo since new. At least it failed during a practice session and not when I needed it for protection.
Edmo

I was carrying this revolver only hours prior and when I function check it after cleaning, the action grinds to a halt.
Edmo

Send it in S&W may make it right eventually.

I don't know if it's more common to not run a revolver through a workout before carrying it or not. But I personally would not trust any gun enough to carry it, pistol OR revolver, before putting several hundred rounds through it! Certainly way more then a box of 50...20? Your post illustrates why!

 

[StatesRightist]

Send it in S&W may make it right eventually.

I don't know if it's more common to not run a revolver through a workout before carrying it or not. But I personally would not trust any gun enough to carry it, pistol OR revolver, before putting several hundred rounds through it! Certainly way more then a box of 50...20? Your post illustrates why!

You are dead on, 400 rounds is minimum.

 

[Edmo]

Send it in S&W may make it right eventually.

I don't know if it's more common to not run a revolver through a workout before carrying it or not. But I personally would not trust any gun enough to carry it, pistol OR revolver, before putting several hundred rounds through it! Certainly way more then a box of 50...20? Your post illustrates why!

I guess more is better, but the next guy might say shoot at least 500 or even 1,000 rounds before it has proven itself... What if it fails at "several hundred rounds" + 1? I guess everyone has their break-in rules and rituals to make them feel comfy.

I've always associated the break-in period with handguns being a pistol thing, not a revolver issue. Some semi-auto pistols have parts which might need to wear into each other for the gun to function properly.

Are we now saying S&W quality is such that their revolvers require several hundred (on edit read: 400) rounds to make sure the parts work together?

Edmo

 

[StatesRightist]

We're saying anything mechanical can fail and that anything that you may need to save your life should be extensively tested before you trust it.

Semi's need broken in, revolvers do not, unless you are talking about the trigger smoothing out. I'm not suggesting revolvers need broken in, but rather do the prudent thing and verify it works as it should by doing a large enough number of events to verify it's dependable, nothing mechanical is 100% certain.

 

[MR.G]

I had the same thing happen in 1980 with a new Colt Cobra. Tested the gun with a couple hundred rounds, cleaned and lubed it. Kept it loaded for PD. I was showing the gun to a friend and it locked up tight. Even some of the best revolvers fail. Didn't turn me against revolvers though.

 

[willy]

I sure hope S&W makes it right for you.
And I hope you are happy with it when you get it back.
(Because I don't need anymore competition from other buyers horning in on my used S&W no-lock revolvers )

 

[Edmo]

I sure hope S&W makes it right for you.
And I hope you are happy with it when you get it back.
(Because I don't need anymore competition from other buyers horning in on my used S&W no-lock revolvers )

Thanks willy!

We'll see... I'm sure they'll make it right. I'm still waiting on the email/shipping label from S&W.

I don't think I'm in the market for another wheel gun anytime soon. They apparently require too many rounds to get it good and broken-in (sorry, couldn't help myself!).

However, if I find a used USAF model 15 just like I carried back in the day I'd have to get that one.

Edmo

 

[kennyb]

Not "oppressed", just disappointed... Very disappointed.

I was carrying this revolver only hours prior and when I function check it after cleaning, the action grinds to a halt. This isn't a malfunction I could fix and get back into action if needed. This malfunction turned the gun into an aluminum and plastic paper weight (albeit a light one).

I will likely keep this revolver out of the carry lineup for quite a while. Maybe after many successful rounds I'll have faith in it again... Maybe, but I doubt it. It went from "smooth as butter" to STOP with no build up or warning. I guess it goes to show the "always reliable" revolver isn't quite 100% these days.

Yes I'll give S&W a chance to make this right and I'm sure they will get the repaired gun back to me in short order. At least that is the bare minimum I expect at this point. In reality, I expected a better product from S&W in the first place. Hopefully their customer service and repair shop works better than this revolver.

Not to make this a S&W/Glock, revolver/auto, apples/oranges debate, but since it was brought up I'll retort. Reference the Glock, yes anything can fail and there will always be antidotal stories discussing malfunctions of any make/model of firearm you can name. I'm not the Glock soapbox guy, but since it was brought up I'll give my experiences.

I've owned Gen2, Gen3, and Gen4 Glocks starting in the mid 1990s through today with thousands of rounds fired down range and I have never had one glitch. None...

I guess some would say my S&W revolvers have only had one more malfunction than that experienced by my Glocks. Numerically that is true, but depending on the circumstances that one malfunction could be extremely significant with dire consequences.

Edmo

from what you say...probably best to simply sell it..LOL,what do you do if your car breaks a belt and leaves you stranded? sell it?

 

[RGMoore]

My BG38 had problems in the first 100 rounds. I sent it to the factory and they told me it was unrepairable. I bet they tell you the same thing. Since their is a "trust" issue with a PD firearm, I replaced it with a 642CT. I frankly like it a lot better than the BG. The laser on the CT grips is automatic or you can tun it off, you don't have to reach over with your thumb if you want it. The cylinder release is in the same spot as every other revolver, not up on top. You can buy aftermarket grips for every other J frame, I couldn't find anybody who makes aftermarket grips that fit the BG.
Best of luck whatever you do.