Took my new BG38 to the range last week. After about 10 rounds, the laser switched off. I turned it back on, and it switched off after 1 round, then back on by itself, then off after one round, then on, then off for good. One battery is 1.5v, the other 3.8-4.0v. Will a low battery cause the laser to grow dimmer, just switch off completely, or work intermittently? After testing the batteries, the laser now shines brightly. What's my next best step: replace batteries or ?
Bodyguard 38 Laser Failure
- Thread starter jlrtd
- Start date
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panamajack310
Member
Hey, I would replace the batteries...who knows how long they have been in the gun...Plus if the grips are not tight the recoil could move the batteries causing the batteries to make contact and loose contact intermitently....OR do like most of us do,,,USE THE SIGHTS...LOL
Edmo
US Veteran
After my BG38 was returned the second time, the CS guy at S&W said they had received a lot of returns on the laser...
Give them a call and I'm sure they'll fix it. At least your gun part goes bang (unlike mine)!
Edmo
Give them a call and I'm sure they'll fix it. At least your gun part goes bang (unlike mine)!
Edmo
Part of the reason I sold mine, laser failed twice. Paid for a functional gun, that only part of the features worked. I will stick with my M&P's and I'd I want a laser I will go with Crimson Trace
coach22
Member
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I've posted my thoughts on the Bodyguard 38 before.
The new Bodyguard is a strike 3 gun.
Strike 1: Placement of cylinder latch.
For someone who has never shot a Smith before,
they can learn where the new release is.
For someone who has shot Smith's forever,
muscle memory will always go to the old location, on the side.
Strike 2: To activate the laser, a right handed shooter has to reach over
the top of the gun. The hand is no longer in a shooting position
and has to be reset to fire the gun. Bad when every second counts.
Strike 3: The cylinder rotates opposite from the way all other Smith's do.
Emergency...you have time to load one bullet. Memory puts it at 1 o'clock.
Pull the trigger and the bullet is now at 4 o'clock. No bang.
Actually, there is a Strike 4 too: Other J frame grips don't fit it.
Smith reinvented the wheel and made it square.
The new Bodyguard is a strike 3 gun.
Strike 1: Placement of cylinder latch.
For someone who has never shot a Smith before,
they can learn where the new release is.
For someone who has shot Smith's forever,
muscle memory will always go to the old location, on the side.
Strike 2: To activate the laser, a right handed shooter has to reach over
the top of the gun. The hand is no longer in a shooting position
and has to be reset to fire the gun. Bad when every second counts.
Strike 3: The cylinder rotates opposite from the way all other Smith's do.
Emergency...you have time to load one bullet. Memory puts it at 1 o'clock.
Pull the trigger and the bullet is now at 4 o'clock. No bang.
Actually, there is a Strike 4 too: Other J frame grips don't fit it.
Smith reinvented the wheel and made it square.
5Wire
Member
Me, too.
Coach22's advice seems poorly considered by someone who hasn't taken the time to become familiar with the BG38.
Strike 1: Placement of cylinder latch.
Perfectly placed for ambidextrous operation.
Strike 2: To activate the laser, a right handed shooter has to reach over the top of the gun.
Placed where the offhand thumb can activate the laser using a two-hand Miculek crossover grip. The laser is a pain to reinstall after cleaning but cleaning the polymer is a lot easier than cleaning and protecting metal.
A lefty can use the strong thumb. In either hand, no more difficult than thumbing the safety on a 1911.
Strike 3: The cylinder rotates opposite from the way all other Smith's do.
Suppose all your other revolvers were Colts?
If you haven't done it in five, well, prolly shoulda practiced more or run away faster. Not to mention that a speed loader would load five at a time instead of one.
So "three Strikes" is harsh. It's a fine, entry level self defense firearm. Well made. You don't have to use the laser. Any firearm requires practice to develop familiarity. The BG38 less than most. If you want to try something really different, check out any of the HK P7 models.
coach22
Member
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Mr. 5 wire.
Let's not get personal.
FYI, I work at a gun store and am extremely familiar
with ALL J Frames. My opinions are based on fact, experience
and feedback from my customers..
You are entitled to your opinions too, but don't aim them at me.
Let's not get personal.
FYI, I work at a gun store and am extremely familiar
with ALL J Frames. My opinions are based on fact, experience
and feedback from my customers..
You are entitled to your opinions too, but don't aim them at me.
5Wire
Member
Mr Quote, I dealt with your points, not you, except perhaps for the comment about not taking the time to learn the gun as I have. I don't care where you work. I also have and trade off carrying a 642-1 and I am also quite familiar with the 36s and the 38s.
Feedback on the BG38 is not limited to your customers and the BG38 is popular enough to at least cast doubt on your evaluation. Mine works just fine. It's not in the same class as the J-Frames and less potential loss were it confiscated after a defensive gun use. The BG38 is roughly the same size as a J-Frame, it's not a J-Frame, totally different. As an experienced gun store employee, I'm sure you know that.
Now, if you care to deal with my rebuttal points, maybe we could have a discussion. The BG38 is a sufficient self-defense firearm whether or not you use the laser. The cylinder release is truly ambidextrous. The direction of cylinder rotation is irrelevant given the type of gun it is. No more of a problem than a Colt Detective Special if you owned one of those, too.
2001gmc
Member
WOW! I was considering one of these till I read this.
5Wire
Member
If you were directing your comment to S&W, that's news to me in this and in your earlier identical post. You made your three strikes statements without indicating any recipient.
I did talk about the gun. You posted personally and directly at me 3/26/2012 11:18 PM. I answered your post. I'm sorry you didn't understand my response. I'll drop it if you do.
pardon my interruption guys...
i think a laser is an overkill and a training liability that can become a crutch in place of aiming and trigger control. a laser will not make you more accurate. a laser can fail. you have to zero the laster. you have to zero your sites. for me it became too complicated what with murphy out there lurking.
i actually purchased a ct LG-405, installed it, then quickly sold it. i did find out that crimson trace is a great company who gave me a lifetime supply of batteries with my purchase. which was nice, but now it's gone.
ymmv.
i think a laser is an overkill and a training liability that can become a crutch in place of aiming and trigger control. a laser will not make you more accurate. a laser can fail. you have to zero the laster. you have to zero your sites. for me it became too complicated what with murphy out there lurking.
i actually purchased a ct LG-405, installed it, then quickly sold it. i did find out that crimson trace is a great company who gave me a lifetime supply of batteries with my purchase. which was nice, but now it's gone.
ymmv.
5Wire
Member
I sort of agree with you but I think the laser is a great training aid for a couple reasons. It helps me with trigger control when I practice dry firing. I use the distal joint on my trigger finger for shooting double action. The "feel" of the trigger pressure on that joint has helped me steady up immensely and it has helped my hand/eye coordination a lot, too. So, it has helped make me more accurate.
This crosses over to live fire practice. When I shoot the BG38, I shoot at 7 yards using a six-inch bull. I empty the cylinder as fast as I can see or "feel" I'm on target. One cylinder with the laser on, one cylinder with the laser off. The same point and shoot kinetic memory crosses over to when shooting my naked 642 or 19 snubby (no lasers).
I'm sure in a critical self defense situation turning on the laser or looking for a little red dot is not going to be my first thought. Getting away from or stopping the threat is the idea, in my opinion, in that order. Hence the practice mode.
BTW setting the sights is easy.
i can see that. the hogue bantam's pluses outweigh the laser's bennies to me though.
5Wire
Member
I'm a Hogue Bantams fan myself. I've put them on 686P, 19, 547 snubbies and a Model 36. 642 has the Uncle Mike's. No aftermarket grips that I know of for the BG38.
My BG38 crimson trace laser stopped working but I have been unable to open the case to replace batteries. The allen wrench that came with the BG38 that is used to adjust the sites does not seem to fit the screw to open the case to replace batteries. I tried to do this several times and hope I did not strip the screw. I called Crimson Trace (CT) and they were not sure if the allen wrench for the sites was the same for the case. They mailed me about 5 other allen wrenches, none fit. When I called CT back the rep said I should call S&W as they are the ones who install the CT lasers on the guns that are sold together as a package. I have not called S&W yet, thought I'd put this on the forum to see if anyone else has any ideas. Thanks.
gwpercle
Member
Things that take batteries are a pain in the posterior , I have three Red Dot sights that drive me crazy as to good battery, bad battery , new battery , old battery, etc.
Go to Radio Shack and get a battery tester.....Sweet ! Now you can tell the good from the bad . It eliminates that quetion real quick .
Gary
Go to Radio Shack and get a battery tester.....Sweet ! Now you can tell the good from the bad . It eliminates that quetion real quick .
Gary
I read through this thread and have no opinion on the BG38 since I've never handled or fired one. I've carried a regular J frame, sans laser, for well over 40 years. Recently I purchased an M&P, no laser, .380. Lasers on small self defense guns don't make sense based on my street experience (things happen too fast) so that's why I don't have one and never will. Others can do as they see fit and I'm the last to judge them.
