J Frame: Bodyguard vs. Centennial

[bill2000]

Put me down for a Mod 38. My daily carry with a Barami Hip Grip and a T-Grip. Very secure, fast to get at and easily concealed...almost pure perfection. I say almost because I wish the Barami Hip Grip wasn't quite so smooth. Where's my sandpaper?

 

[Ed333]

because I can...?

I have a thing for snubs, I like them all, or practically all, also, my Bodyguards happen to have very smooth actions. I try not to be a collector, but to the extent that I am one, it is snubnoses which I have tended to accumulate. And I have more with exposed hammers than with shrouded or fully enclosed hammers. I don't even carry (but I shoot a lot, I take my snubs to falling plate matches, against people with race guns, I don't win on time, but I have fun), so we are probably approaching the subject from different perspectives. I just took friendly exception to what I saw as an absolute statement, and wanted to point out that 'it ain't necessarily so'.

 

[kmystry]

Amen, Brutha...!
If I'm carrying a J-frame anyway, I want any and all firing options at my disposal...hence the 438.
I have nothing against the X42 platform, I love 'em both but the 438 just rings my bell.
I couldn't get beyond the "snag-factor" with the 637, Model 36, etc. I was always getting hung up in the draw.
I think the 438 Bodyguard is the best of the bunch...for me and the way I carry and shoot.
Your mileage may vary.

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

I like them both, having one of each-no-make that two Bodyguards, I got one years ago, a 649, then I came into a spurless hammer/trigger set from a M60 and switched them into the 649, just for kicks. The action came out so smooth that I just left it that way, of course now my 649 was DAO. So I had to get another one to take advantage of the SA feature so enters the 649-2. I resisted the impluse to fool around with that one. Of course I had an old Centennial, pre M40 and the action on that is incredibly smooth and easy, but the gun was mint and so I did not want to carry it even though it isn't a virgin. So I get the 640, now there is the 40-1 so I can carry a "real "Centennial, but it looks so nice with a case hardened finish I really don't want to scratch it, so I carry my old 940 and the rest(except the 640 sometimes) sit in the safe, but I recently acquired a 940 and 640 in 3 inch, and they look good for carry, but the 940 is unfired as is the 640 so I don't want to.......................this is madness, someone help me!

 

[Ed333]

too far gone...

...(snip long recitation re various centennials and bodyguards).......................this is madness, someone help me!

Sorry, it is obviously too late....

 

[David Lee Valdina]

One more thought...

It has not happened to me, but I have thought that if I had fired a round, then single action cocked the revolver, then didn't need to shoot and lowered the hammer. The remaining rounds in the cylinder would be three live rounds, a fired round and then one live round. With a double action only, either you shoot or you don't. I currently own 2 centennials and one bodyguard, and like them all.

 

[C.S.63]

I have a 640 early production centenial (1991-2?) .38 +P+ designation!!!!
A model 36 and a 442 and I always turn to the 640 my go to carry easy to conceal and a extension of my hand I can not say more for a 640
Carl

 

[capttom]

My current j-frames are a 36 CS, 38 BG, and 642, and I recently let go of a Chief's Special with a bobbed hammer. I like the heft of the steel 36s and can shoot them better than the lighter guns. I prefer the 642 because I can get a higher grip for recoil control, but have to watch out for that thumb latch shredding my thumb. The b***-ugly Bodyguard gets 75% of my revolver carry time, though. I want to be able to shoot single action if need be. My technique for cocking the hammer is to use my left thumb so I don't have to shift my grip.

As this thread attests, others have different opinions on which is the better weapon and I won't argue, but until all fighting revolvers (as opposed to target, hunting, or fun guns) come without hammers, I'll savor the option of single action fire as afforded by my humpback.

N.B. One reason to carry the Centennial that no one has yet mentioned is because it was the first gun 007 used on an operation after his .25 Beretta was taken from. Bond chose the Smith&Wesson over the PPK when he sailed to Crab Key in Dr. No. "The brutal stumpy revolver had an extra twenty-five yards over the Walther." (pg 64, NAL, 1965) He may have gotten lots of facts wrong concerning barrel lengths and holsters, but look at what Fleming's endorsement did for the 7.65 PPK! And he could describe accurately in a few words a utilitarian pistol or a gorgeous woman.

 

[axon]

I carried this LtWt Colt Officers for 20 years.

About 10 years ago, I got a LtWt Centennial to go with my SS Chiefs Special. I liked it so much I got the titanium cylinder version a few weeks later and have been carrying that ever since.

Here's a quick and dirty pic right out of the pocket.

This is not a gun for a new shooter, but once you know how to shoot and can handle the recoil of a 12.5 oz gun firing a +P round, it's the bee's knees. To keep things light, I carry 115gr Hydra-Shok+Ps (which I don't think Federal makes any more).

axon

 

[destroyah87]

I vote for the Centenial, easier to carry and not have to clean lint out of it every week.

 

[Wee Hooker]

"Put me down for a Mod 38. My daily carry with a Barami Hip Grip and a T-Grip. Very secure, fast to get at and easily concealed...almost pure perfection. I say almost because I wish the Barami Hip Grip wasn't quite so smooth. Where's my sandpaper? "

Have to agree, My main carry gun is a mod 60 (no dash) with bobbed hammer and hip grip. I LOVE the hip grip concept ( for any J frame) but find it a bit smooth and small. I really wish they would make a rubber over molded or Checkered wood version!

 

[BlackSky]

You can put me down for a Centennial vote, airweight at that. I beat the recoil issue of a +P round in an airweight buy going with 32Mag.

 

[N_itis]

I prefer the only configuration that was originally conceived as a lightweight pocket gun (ie. offered as an aluminum frame "airweight" before being offered with a steel frame)...the Bodyguard. Love those M38s.

 

[CTM]

Airweight Centennial for me (442 no lock). Perfect pocket gun, no snag or hammer jam worries.

I think the controllability issue is way overplayed on the airweights...+P rounds are childs play IMO.

I also have no need for SA action on a pocket SD gun...I'm sure I won't take the time to pull the hammer back in a defensive situation.

Besides all of the above... the bodyguard is just plain fugly!

 

[Glock 'em down]

You can put me down for a Centennial vote, airweight at that. I beat the recoil issue of a +P round in an airweight buy going with 32Mag.

I love these boots. I need a set of these for my Bodyguard.

Airweight Centennial for me (442 no lock). Perfect pocket gun, no snag or hammer jam worries.

I think the controllability issue is way overplayed on the airweights...+P rounds are childs play IMO.

I also have no need for SA action on a pocket SD gun...I'm sure I won't take the time to pull the hammer back in a defensive situation.

Besides all of the above... the bodyguard is just plain fugly!

Yeah, you're right about that. But it's kinda like an ol' English Bulldog. They're so ugly, they're cute.

 

[Jitterbug]

Hi new to the forum, but a longtime S&W fan.

I've tried them all and when the wife said she wanted to get a CCW and her own gun I took her to the local shop to check them out for her self.

Personally I like the ability to fire single action. But after much thought I figured a newbie with their first gun might as well learn to shoot double action only, especially if she ever needs to use it. She agreed and went with the 442, which I just installed some CT LG-405's on, man they are really nice! I'm rethinking my thoughts on CT's.

We haven't been to the range yet. I suggested she might want to dry fire practice with it, she has a couple hundred "dry fires" now and with the laser it is helping her to learn trigger control, a few houndred more and I think she'll be ready to go.

First loads are going to be some Independence 130 FMJ's, the lightest load I could find at the local gunshop. I saw some 148 wadcutters but at twice the price.

I started her out on a Ruger MKII and she worked her way up to a Kahr PM9, she's also fired my 1911's a Compact .45 and a Commander in 10mm as well as a nasty little G27 with hot loads. So I think she'll be able to handle the little J frame.

I'm looking at a S&W 613 Hi Viz as a "trainer, shooter and range gun" for her, but we were not able to find one with the 3" barrel. Man they sure are pricey! I see Smith also had an all steel 617 and maybe that would work in a pinch. Any other suggestions on a good .22 trainer would be appreciated, we are on a tight budget.

I sold a 4" K22 not to long ago and I'm now kicking myself over that one!

I CCW auto's now, but working with her new 442 and CT's I'm really impressed and the dryfire drills bring back DA memories. I carried an old 49 and 36 as well as a Cold Detective special many years ago.

This 442 carries as well or better then my Kahr with a Desantis Nemisis and is much faster from pocket draw.

I'm already cooking up reasons why she should let me carry her gun!

 

[sipowicz]

If you smoke a pipe, go with the bodyguard.

 

[Glock 'em down]

If you smoke a pipe, go with the bodyguard.

Yeah, I agree. That pic is not mine, but rather an internet image.

But I thought it was a "classy" looking photo.

 

[CTM]

Yeah, I agree. That pic is not mine, but rather an internet image.

But I thought it was a "classy" looking photo.

I gotta agree also, (nice pic)...and that gun looks pretty good with the wood stocks.

 

[TMann]

Any other suggestions on a good .22 trainer would be appreciated, we are on a tight budget.

I sold a 4" K22 not to long ago and I'm now kicking myself over that one!

I, too, wish that there were more good quality, but not super-expensive .22 revolver options. The used Smiths and Ruger seem to command higher-than-expected prices due to their scarcity.

This 442 carries as well or better then my Kahr with a Desantis Nemisis and is much faster from pocket draw.

Interesting that you should say that, as I have recently switched to J-frame revolvers for pocket carry. (I own a 442 and a 640.) There is something about the shape of the revolver that lends itself to being drawn from a pocket. The block shape of a semi-auto grip, (even the small ones,) seems more prone to getting hung up when being drawn from a pocket.

TMann