Range Report Bodyguard 38

mag318 · #1 07-30-2010, 12:50 AM

This afternoon I went to the range with an assortment of ammunition to give my Bodyguard a workout. Ammunition included the following.
Winchester 148 grn target wadcutters
Winchester 130 grn FMJ White Box
Winchester 158 grn +P LHP
Speer Gold Dot 125 grn +P GDHP at 10 yds
Speer Gold Dot 135 grn +P GDHP at 10 yds
Federal 158 grn RNL
First off the revolver was totally reliable as a S&W revolver should be and it was very comfortable with all loads. The trigger is excellent and very light compared to your typical J Frame. One thing I've noticed about all S&Ws with sleeved barrels is that the rifling is very shallow making them more accurate with jacketed bullets. This held true with the BG also. Combat accuracy was good with all loads but the lead bullets tended to string horizontally. All the jacketed loads shot tight groups when I did my part. So from now on I'm going to use the Winchester White Box (Wal-Mart) 130 grn FMJ for practise. And the Speer Gold Dots for carry. This BG was comfortable to shoot all day with +P ammo which was surprising since it recoils hard in my Model 337. But obviously with the price of ammo so high the WWB is more practical.
At 5 yards both the practise and carry load tore one ragged hole. Moving back to 10 yards the groups opened up but were still very good for a snub nose. Using the laser though at 10 yards and the groups again were one ragged hole. The laser on both my BG 38 and BG380 were regulated at the factory at 10 yards. Moving back to 25 yards I was not shooting tight groups but keeping all rounds in the chest of my police silouettes was no problem. This is a really good revolver that is very impressive and a good match to the BG 380.
Photo 1 Winchester 158 grn +P LHP (Chicago/FBI Load)
Photo 2 Speer Gold Dot 125 grn +P GDHP

texas48 · #2 07-30-2010, 06:14 PM

I took my 638-3 to the range yesterday and I was really surprised with the accuracy of this snubby. Used 125gr Winchester SJHP +P Win 130 gr SXT +P and Rem 125gr Golden Saber JHP
+Pm had to get used to the sights and short sight radius but was able to keep all inside the chest area of the sillouete taget. With the CT laser was much more accurate @10 yds shooting 3 inch groups. Recoil was manageable but uncomfortable. Should have purchased the 405 CT instead of the 105.