Help in shooting my Bodyguard 38 II

[HiCap]

S&W replaced my BG which was shooting to the left. It sent me a new one. It shoots left. Great groups for a snubby. Not a lot of felt recoil. I really like the piece. But what am I possibly doing wrong? I've been shooting snubbies for 65 years, and everything else you can imagine. So, I'm not a bullseye shooter but there is no reason I can think of as to why I'm pulling left.

HiCap

 

[Ashlander]

Forgive me if I start too basic. Try a few dry fires and look to see if your muzzle is moving (flicking to the left) just as you are completing your trigger-pull. If you are -- even a little bit, then we know it is not the gun. What would cause that flicking? Assuming you are shooting right-handed, you may have too little finger on the trigger (e.g., using your finger tip or the pad rather than the crease between the joints as is common with revolvers), which may cause you to push the gun left as you pull the trigger. Position your trigger finger so you pull the trigger straight back. Pull the trigger slowly -- I say "Momma Mia" as I pull to slow me down.

It's a new gun to you, so practice a few dry fires until you get the feel of it.

Now if you still think it is the gun -- look down the sights and check whether they are centered up on the gun. Handguns tend to be fairly straight-forward in that regard -- if they are centered up, they should be shooting that way.

The only other possibility gets real complicated -- a crown or forcing cone issue -- which is well beyond my expertise.

Good luck.

 

[tipoc]

Next time you are at the range have someone else (someone else who can shoot of course) shoot the gun. If they have the same problem it let's you know something. If the gun shoots well for them, or to the right, that let's you know something as well. Same thing with different ammo.

tipoc

 

[HiCap]

Ashlander, I'm certain it's not the gun; it's me. I just bought a 60-15 and it shoots dead on for me. There must be a quirk in the BG trigger let-off that causes me to pull it left. My LCR, same light weight as the BG is dead on as well. I'll try different pulls tomorrow. Oy.

HiCap

 

[Ashlander]

I love my Model 60. Good feel and weight. Small, but not too small. I have a small Kahr PM9 (9MM) that's almost too small. If I don't concentrate I push that gun to the left when I shoot -- I think rather than just my trigger finger pulling the trigger, my hand sort of collapses around the whole gun -- pushing it left. I have to consciously think just the trigger.

 

[Rodinal220]

HiCap,I sent my BG38 back to S&W for the same reason and was having misfires and sometimes cylinder rotation.I'm awaiting my replacement gun.I told S&W that I could not hit the paper with the iron sights at 15 yards.At 3 yards it was 1.5" left and 2.5" high already.I'm a decent shot.I have several other J frames from different decades including a model 60 Bangor Punta era gun with an oval shaped bore that shoots better than the BG38.
The two piece barrel system on these appear to be bored and aligned incorrectly.Only using the laser sight could I hit where I was "aiming",but only in low light conditions,cant see the ITS laser in the daylight.Grouping was good,I had no complaints.Time will tell if S&W mans up and corrects the problems or just pulls another stinker off the line.

 

[Defilade]

I just sent my BG38 back to Smith & Wesson for the exact same reason. I am not sure if they can fix it yet or if they will replace it. After reading on the forums here you can see that this must be a common problem with the BG. I liked the gun, but I really want my carry gun to shoot where I aim it. I can set the laser to be right on, but I really dont want to have to rely on the laser if I ever had to use it quickly. I will let you know what happens.

Wade

 

[HiCap]

The more and more I shoot the BG 38 the more I think the problem of Itshooting to the left is mine. There may be something inherent in the trigger let off causing a jerk to the left during the final follow-through. I'm concentrating more on holding the gun very tight and following through on the trigger pull; when I do this I get at least three or four out of two cylinder falls on the black, and the rest just slightly, 2 to 3 inches, to the left. So I'm not giving up. S. & W. did replace the first one that was shooting to the left, but perhaps it was easier to do that than to tell me to learn to shoot better.

So, for those of you who care, I will continue my quest To learn how it should be done properly. I will try to use the lessons I've learned on my 60-152 DDG 38.

HiCap

 

[Rodinal220]

HiCap.Try to remove as much shooter induced error as possible,use a good solid rest/sand bags,etc.Shoot at short ranges and increase.J frames can usually shoot better than most people think,they are just a harder platform to master well.I have a square butt model 36 that will chew the X ring out at 15 yards with wad cutters.My Model 60 Bangor Punta era gun will keep on paper but at 25 yards is about10-12", but at least its centered somewhat.
I will let you know how my replacement BG38 fairs when I receive it from S&W.

 

[HiCap]

One of the reasons I don't want to give up on the BG is the rumor that in a few months Smith is coming out with one in 9mm. THAT would be great. For me, I have a lot of 9mm, it is cheap and balistically better than .38+.

HiCap

 

[unsingle]

HiCap, I had the same problem with my 638. I had always shot 1911s and larger revolvers. One day, I look at how much my finger extended past the trigger guard. Wow. I moved my finger to the first joint on the trigger, and magically the POI moved almost over the bulls eye. A little more, and it was perfect. Give it a try, I bet you will be surprised.

 

[HiCap]

I had a left handed friend of mine, a gun smith, shoot the BG. He shot it very slowly, and the shots were perfectly centered. He did the same right handed. His comment was, as I suspected, directed to the final let off, causing the gun to pull left. He said he could feel the let off stack (my phrasing). So, I guess it is more practice for me.

HiCap

 

[GeorgiaShooter]

Sorry to hear the issues. Let me offer same advice someone gave me. Have you shot it using weighted bags at rest with a super solid foundation? Can you try shooting it also as a left handed person might? Also, don't they use something like a laser bore sighter tool to check these, can that be done to yours? I like the idea of letting others shoot it too. At a range, ask the person supervising to test fire it. They are usually trained pretty well.

Lastly I know my wife's 442 S&W 38 special is a wonderful gun but I have a lot of issues shooting it after shooting my Ruger LCR going back to that more stiff S&W pull.

BTW, I chose to purchase the 442 with crimson grips over the BG38 and I think I'm real happy for that choice, It was a little more money but real happy.

 

[DeadAye]

Sorry to hear the issues. Let me offer same advice someone gave me. Have you shot it using weighted bags at rest with a super solid foundation? Can you try shooting it also as a left handed person might? Also, don't they use something like a laser bore sighter tool to check these, can that be done to yours? I like the idea of letting others shoot it too. At a range, ask the person supervising to test fire it. They are usually trained pretty well.

Lastly I know my wife's 442 S&W 38 special is a wonderful gun but I have a lot of issues shooting it after shooting my Ruger LCR going back to that more stiff S&W pull.

BTW, I chose to purchase the 442 with crimson grips over the BG38 and I think I'm real happy for that choice, It was a little more money but real happy.

Find someone with a boresight laser (most any gunsmith?) or buy one (they're $25-30) and you'll be able to see if the sights are on or not.