I just purchased 38 Bodyguard a couple months ago. I'm a S&W revolver fan and currently own 2 other S&W revolvers, have owned several others in the past. I bought the M&P Bodyguard as a pocket gun because it's light weight and has a laser at a decent price, and also because it's a S&W. The gun feels good in my hand and it shoots well, I really do like the gun for the most part.
Now onto the problem. If I stage the trigger (about half pull) and then let off the trigger the cylinder will lock or catch in between chambers. I found this out on the range a few weeks ago by accident. I started pulling the trigger to fire and out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw someone run out on the range (actually someone's paper target blew off the stand and was tumbling across the range). I had the trigger pulled about half way (cylinder rotation half way between chambers), when I saw movement on the range I released the trigger, when I saw it was just a target blowing around I went to continue firing and the trigger and cylinder were locked between chambers. I had to actually physically move the cylinder either forward on backward to resume firing.
I carry a revolver for self defense for one main reason, when I pull the trigger I'm pretty dang sure it's going to go bang, if it doesn't I can keep pulling the trigger until it does.
I don't consider this to be a HUGE issue with the BG but I do consider it to be a possible deal killer for me. There's no excuse in this day and age, to have any firearm that locks up after staging and releasing the trigger.
Have any of you other BG 38 owners experienced this, maybe it's just my gun?
I'm not sure I can put this gun into service knowing this happens but I don't really feel right about pawning it off on someone else either, so I'm stuck with a gun I don't trust? Do I sell it back to a dealer for a huge loss? What are my options with S&W? As far as I'm concerned this is an engineering defect but I don't think S&W will see it that way.
Looking for input before I contact S&W.
Thanks.

These things aren't well thought of.

Controls in the wrong place.

Buggy action.

In your situation, I'd get rid of it and eat the loss.

I sure wouldn't use one for sd.

That's a quick $150 loss on a gun I otherwise like, but you are absolutely right, I can't use it for SD. The trigger is just not reliable. I can pull it half way and lock the cylinder, I can not reset it all the way and it will lock. There are just too many glitches. I have read a couple posts and watched a video of similar issues with cylinder lock up and trigger resets and S&W has basically written it off as "that's just the way it is". Very disappointing for a company who has built their reputation on quality and customer service. I'm getting ahead of myself, I should see what they have to say first.

The action that's on your revolver has been used only on that revolver.

The problem you experienced is in the buggy design.

If you want to use it as a range gun, that's fine.

Just don't depend on it for sd.

I'd prefer to get whatever I could out of it and use the money for something else. At least I wouldn't have money tied up in a revolver I can't rely on for it's intended purpose.

Did you contact S&W? If so what was their response?

Did I read that SW says "that's the way it is?" I just got one and I suddenly remembered this thread. Any Smith feedback?

I have a model 637 & model 60. Both work fine, I would advise you to get another J frame revolver instead of the one whose design creates those type of problem. Do not carry it for self protection, unless it works fine with a complete trigger pull.

hostler,
After reading though your description, I went and thoroughly checked out my brand new 638 Bodyguard that I had just purchased last week. I could not reproduce the hang-up you described with my revolver, so I strongly suspect there's something internally wrong with yours. Possibly a call to Smith & Wesson Customer Service and a factory adjustment will correct your problem.

Side note: When shooting double action, I find it best not to "stage" the trigger, but to pull straight through while keeping the sights on the target.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

I've had quite a few 38's, 638's, 649's, et al. apart in my time. I certainly never saw anything inside one of them that looked any different from any other J-Frame. Please enlighten me on the difference in design between these and any other J-Frames.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Folks: the 38 Bodyguard isn't a j frame.

It's Smith's partially Tupperware revolver.

Different action than a j frame.

Lots of issues.

To clarify a couple of things, I did not contact S&W, I'm pretty sure it's just a flaw in their engineering and not a problem with my specific gun. S&W did not say "that's the way it is". That was me saying what I think S&W would say because I doubt they will admit to or correct an engineering problem.
And finally, we are discussing the M&P Bodyguard, not the J-Frame based Bodyguard (638, etc).
The whole thing is different inside, different springs, different trigger mech, different cylinder lock up. The cyl. even rotates backwards.
I have a J-frame, a K frame and had an N frame, I've had Ruger revolvers, and I've never had one where I could lock the cylinder up by just staging the trigger and releasing it. this is something the engineers should've caught, IMO.

Thanks for the clarification.

Maybe it's time for Smith & Wesson to come up with some new names to go along with new design introductions?

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Why after all these years would S&W want to reinvent it's wheel.

I have a BG38 as well as 3 J-Frames and an LCR and have found them all to be reliable carry guns. I have about 500 rounds through my BG38 with no problems.

I have been trying to replicate the problem you describe and I can't seem to make it lock up in 20-30 tries.

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