432 32 HR UC or Bodyguard mod 2.0 for carry??

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Rider1300

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I am troubled making a decision on this one so I am curious to get a consensus here. If you had both which would you carry?

Given the Bodyguard is light at under a pound, holds 10 or 12 rounds of 380 and it is a semi auto. The 432 is a wheel gun, 6 rounds about the same weight. Both are accurate, and have nice triggers and sights.
Given my background I’ve always enjoyed shooting revolvers more so than autos. So, which would you choose.?
If it really matters, the Smith mod 2.0 costs around $400 and the 432 H&R costs around $650.
 
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I've owned a couple revolvers. I carried a snub nose 38 for a short time.
The BG2, once the failed quality and design issues are fixed, is very concealable and works great for pocket carry.
For a defense carry the price is less important to me to comfort, concealability, and reliability.
Is 12+1 or 10+1 better than 6? Is having an extra mag for a tactical reload better?
Is a rimmed cartridge as reliable as a centerfire?
So many firearms and so many choices.
I currently pocket carry the BG2 in Muddy River Tactical kydex.
 
I have both. I plan to qualify with both when we go to the range and then I'll be cleared to carry both "under my badge."
 
You have to weight the strengths and weaknesses of each according your personal needs, preferences, and perceived threat environment.

If multiple offender carjackings are a relatively common threat where you live, you may place a greater weight on capacity than a person more concerned with singular threats (like a stalker, or aggrieved ex). People like to say that most CC shootings are 3 rounds or less, but I don't know if there's really definitive data to say that.

If you have an excellent habit of avoiding stupid people in stupid places at stupid times, capacity may be less of a selling point.

My personal thoughts:
432:
+Resistance to neglect/lack of oil.
+Resistance to being knocked out of battery in struggle.
+Curves may be easier to conceal than hard edges.
-0.42" thicker at the cylinder
- 4.8 oz heavier for regular UC, 1.5 oz heavier for Ti version. Regular UC can get closer with lighter grips.
-Ammo availability. Unless you've got a great LGS, get used to mail ordering or handloading .32 S&W Long/.32 H&R.
- Capacity.
- More fine motor skill to reload.
+/- (personal preference) Narrower rear sight notch with XS dot sight.
+/- Many grip choices.
+/- J-frames aftermarket/accessory support is more established.
+/- Satin/'stainless) finish may be more obvious/intimidating to bad guy, particularly in low light. Some large surveys indicate that most DGUs involve zero shots fired.

BG 2.0
+ Capacity.
+ Thin.
+ Ammo availability.
+ Easier reloading.
- Loading magazines may be difficult for those with limited hand strength.
-Tiny grip may be difficult to manage with limited hand strength, or very large hands.
- Comparative lack of grip adjustability/customization.
+/- More traditional front sight blade, wide rear notch.
+/- Less developed aftermarket/accessory support.
 
I'm a revolver guy in general and a S&W revolver guy in particular. However fit of the internal action parts of late is pretty poor. Quality control is the buyer. The UC models are special order. The Bodyguard can be examined at any LGS. You should be able to find one that meets your approval.
 
I like the increased capacity of the BG 2 over a revolver. And actually bought one to replace my 432UC as a back-up.
 
For pocket carry of the Bodyguard 2.0, the Vedder Pocket Locker is the bomb diggity. IMHO, I can't understand why holster makers will make a gun-specific "custom" holster and neglect to cover the trigger guard. Vedder not only does it well but also has an excellent solution for releasing the pistol with a thumb tab.
 
I carry the 632 UC. Mine was great out of the box. I put a green Crimson trace laser grip on it. Can't do that with the auto. Now I can fire very well placed shots very quickly, without even looking through the sights, if needed. The iron sights are still accessible, unlike having a red dot on something. The laser grip doesn't add any bulk to the gun like a dot does.
 
I would choose the revolver. The heavier DA trigger is safer for CCW, especially for pocket carry. The smooth rounded shape of the revolver should make it easier to draw, especially while sitting down and wearing a seatbelt (in case you're a victim or carjacking). If you have to shoot with a compromised grip, a revolver will still function.

Whenever I hold a small pocket sized auto, my thumb tends to rest directly on the mag release button. I've had magazines pop out while carrying, and when practicing drawing and firing, small pocket sized autos.

For these (and other) reasons, my preferred CCW gun is a J frame revolver.

If you still can't decide, you could buy both.
 
Rider1300 said:
I am troubled making a decision on this one so I am curious to get a consensus here. If you had both which would you carry?

Given the Bodyguard is light at under a pound, holds 10 or 12 rounds of 380 and it is a semi auto. The 432 is a wheel gun, 6 rounds about the same weight. Both are accurate, and have nice triggers and sights.
Given my background I’ve always enjoyed shooting revolvers more so than autos. So, which would you choose.?
If it really matters, the Smith mod 2.0 costs around $400 and the 432 H&R costs around $650.
Click to expand...
Bodyguard 2.0
 
At 82, and having shot guns since the age of 18, my carry gun today and every day going forward is a 432 UC (yes, I have a CA CCW).. It's light enough, simple to use, and has the approximate recoil of the Lone Ranger cap gun I had when I was 10.

Like other posters, I put away the beautiful grips it came with and added Crimson Trace LG-405 lasergrips, which both lightened the gun and made it more concealable. Six shots should be more than enough for any situation I'm ever likely to confront.

I've had every manner of semi-auto in almost every caliber, and the 432 UC is my favorite of them all at this point in my life and for what I may ever need it for. But, as they say, horses for courses, You should get whichever you're most comfortable with. As to ammo, I order it online and pick it up at my lgs. Mostly S&W 32 long 100gr wadcutter, which will do the job nicely. Best of luck with your choice.

I should add that there were a couple of issues with the gun when I got it, but a quick trip back to S&W took care of everything. Not a big deal. I also added an Apex spring kit.
 
The debate over semi auto vs revolver is like trying to decide which is better, a hammer or a shovel. It depends on the job at hand. I live in a small town and I'm 72 years old. My odds of being jumped by someone physically trying to overpower me or threatening me with violence are greater than the chances of getting into a firefight. If you ever post a thread saying that you're having issues with your semi auto pistol you will be deluged with responses telling you that you have to hold your pistol correctly or it will malfunction. Most of these same people feel that they will have no issues holding the pistol correctly while rolling around on the ground with an attacker or while being stomped or struck with a blunt object. I say, determine what threat you are most likely to encounter and base your decision on that.
 
I like Revolvers best. If you have both guns, carry both. If you’re going to buy one. I would buy the Revolver. You will have to decide what works best for you. If you don’t own a gun presently, you might want to try some first. The Snub Revolver will take more practice to shoot well. At least that’s my experience. I didn’t care I practiced a lot. I’m still nothing to brag about but I get by.
 
1sailor brings up an important point regarding carry. Rolling around on the ground if under attack.

I dislike the term pocket carry about any firearm other than a DAO revolver. Yeah I know you can train to use your thumb to cover a hammer to ease a draw. BUT, what on earth makes you think you're going to do that while being kicked in the ribs in the dirt? Shooting through your pocket is a viable alternative. An autoloader gives you at most one chance and if the slide is pushed out of battery, none.

Coming from a long background with revolvers I'm disinclined to stick a striker fired pistol anywhere that it points toward my own body parts. Pocket carry involves pointing at femoral arteries and other good parts. Your knee is nice to have as well.

Intense pressure causing you to contemplate drawing your weapon, much less shooting someone, is enough to toss all of your paper target practice out the window. KISS. Simple is good.
 
:( Not your fault but disappointed.
This is a Bodyguard
1753017779119.png
Not this
1753017811277.png
Dose no one at S&W have a dictionary or an imagination? ;)
 
I think that humpbacked Bodyguard was invented, named and died a model 38 before any of the parts assembly people were born themselves. That management is ignorant of S&W history is not surprising either. Product names, quality control, diminished sales due to IL, it's just a revolver who cares? A bunch of geezers stuck in the twentieth-century, who are they?
 
My wife and I have revolver options both small and light and a larger models But No interest in a 32 caliber or a snubby for carry unless all pistols are made illegal !!

MY wife carry s a p365xl as her primary CC but has a keep a couple 380s for when a dress is needed . garter belt holster works well for those . Anyhow her current 380 carry option is a ruger lcp max . Ammo for carry after watching videos and velocity testing at home is the underwood extreme defense 68gr platinum . Standard load is just over 1000fps and very light recoil while the underwood +P version manages over 1200fps . Brass looks good after shooting too . Gell test in different videos looks good along with penetration with both loads . My wife says recoil is still fine with the +P loads and feels like other normal 90 or 100gr ammo , I can't tell the difference .

Remember the ruger max is a delayed recoil design with a quality stainless steel barrel not a cast barrel as max say on other forums ! Many older design 380'sare blow back designs so pay attention to what you may be shooting faster light loads in .
 
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