New S&W Revolver FAIL!!!

[johnsonl]

My new Bodyguard BG38 snubbie locked up on me yesterday. This is after only one month and one box of ammo since new. At least it failed during a practice session and not when I needed it for protection.

The trigger is locked to the back, the cylinder is locked up, and it will not release and swing out of the gun. I've got a warranty return request in with S&W... We'll see how they take care of business. I've never needed their service with any of my other revolvers so this is new for me.

I've owned S&W revolvers since the mid 1980s and currently have three others besides the Bodyguard. All of them are "lock-less" actions and have generally been used as hunting and hiking guns. They include a 4" Model 629 Mountain Gun, a 6" Model 686, and my first a Model 60 38 Special (non +P) snubbie. The Bodyguard beat this Model 60 in four of the five pocket pistol categories I look for: 1) light weight; 2) accuracy; 3) caliber; 4) snag free design; 5) reliability. Unfortunately, the category it lost is the most important... RELIABILITY !!

With one of my Glocks at my side I'll keep you posted on how S&W handles this recalcitrant little revolver.

Edmo

Ouch! I gave S&W two chances (642, 21-4) at impressing me with newer revolvers. Both needed work to make them shootable. I'll stick with the old stuff from now on.

 

[kennyb]

LOL #26 mike...stay tuned

 

[ladder13]

LOL #26 mike...stay tuned

Maybe I'll head over to the Glop forum and see how many KABOOMS they had today.

Is this what they call Glop Perfection?

 

[Edmo]

That looks like it left a mark!

Edmo

Maybe I'll head over to the Glop forum and see how many KABOOMS they had today.

Is this what they call Glop Perfection?

 

[photoman]

Glop Perfection. LOL

I've been shooting "Glops" for about 13 years now with 1000's and 1000's of rounds downrange all with Glop Perfection.

 

[M1Lover]

I love the way you guys keep saying that S&W will make it right - Eventually. The whole point of buying a quality firearm is to NOT NEED them to "Make it right". They should have made it RIGHT when they MADE it!
My ol' Dad used to buy Big O tires and he had problems with them all the time. They kept replacing them with no hassle. When I suggested to Dad that he should buy a set of Michelins instead, he said (with a chuckle) Well, Big O stands behind all the problems I wouldn't have had if i hadn't bought Big O's!
When you buy something to protect your life, even if only once, it damned sure ought to function as intended. Its VERY disappointing to read about S&W problems like this. No wonder the old ones are much sought after.... H

 

[allglock]

Maybe I'll head over to the Glop forum and see how many KABOOMS they had today.

Is this what they call Glop Perfection?

This must be called S&W imperfection..... LOL!!!!!

 

[allglock]

So, what's to report?

I plead guilty to being a dedicated S&W fan, that's why I'm here. If I loved Glocks so much I'd be there.

I love them both, but I failed to mention S&W in my username..... My Bad!

 

[f2]

...design flaw with this new BG38 Bodyguard action.

i like stay far away from anything new and stick with proven models.

 

[Edmo]

I love the way you guys keep saying that S&W will make it right - Eventually. The whole point of buying a quality firearm is to NOT NEED them to "Make it right". They should have made it RIGHT when they MADE it!
My ol' Dad used to buy Big O tires and he had problems with them all the time. They kept replacing them with no hassle. When I suggested to Dad that he should buy a set of Michelins instead, he said (with a chuckle) Well, Big O stands behind all the problems I wouldn't have had if i hadn't bought Big O's!
When you buy something to protect your life, even if only once, it damned sure ought to function as intended. Its VERY disappointing to read about S&W problems like this. No wonder the old ones are much sought after.... H

Amen brother!

I can't wait to get my hands on the 642 they are sending me as the replacement. Surely, it will work!

Edmo

 

[punxsutawneypete]

Years ago, probably around 1984 or so, I purchased a new Model 624 that had some real rough spots at some points during the cylinder rotation. I sent it back to the factory under warranty and I have to say they really did smooth it out and make the cylinder rotation uniform all the way through. I still have it.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Not having handled a BG38 I have no opinion on the issues reported here, but I do have a question on the "no advance" problem. On every hand ejector I shoot, my last motion in closing the cylinder involves using my left thumb to roll the cylinder counter-clockwise until the cylinder stop drops and locks the cylinder in position. Is that not possible with the BG38? If it is possible, does that not do away with this particular issue?

That does not do away with the issue described. The BG cylinder rolls clockwise, but I tried to roll it both directions when experimenting with this revolver to see if I could learn a way around this problem. I also have a habit of rolling the cylinder on the revolver after closing it to make sure it is locked.

The only time this is really an issue is when you don't have a full cylinder and you want to replace the cylinder so that the next one fires. Failure might mean disaster in a real life scenario. I could not figure out a way to guarantee that the problem did not come up. I wanted to like the BG, but after testing it, I just felt I could not get around that issue.

Because the normal 642 is less expensive, I am happy with that revolver.

 

[dwpmusic]

Quite an interesting thread. I know how the OP feels although my same type experience was with a Diamondback .380. Thought it would be a neat little BUG. After about 300 rounds of nothing but FTF and E and A and B and everything you can name I took it back. Dealer took it back, no questions asked. I bought a Ruger LCP and have been completely happy. Here's my point and I think the point of the OP. What I got from the Diamondback forum folks was "send it back, they have fantastic customer service". Fantastic customer service for a brand new pistol. What about fantastic customer service for any brand new product? It just DOES NOT leave a good taste in you mouth. You shouldn't have it. I know anything can fail that's mechanical but the taste in your mouth stays the same. And, we're not talking about johnny come latelys here folks. We're talking about Smith&Wesson. It just shouldn't happen with a new S&W. Just my 2c. I only own one new Smith with the lock. I know that's not exactly the topic here but it's a sore subject with a lot of S&W fans. No failure yet but, then again, it hasn't had that many rounds through it and it's my wife's CC gun. In all fairness, I had a trigger reset failure in my Glock36 last week. I've still got to address that.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

from what you say...probably best to simply sell it..LOL,what do you do if your car breaks a belt and leaves you stranded? sell it?

A number of years ago, I mentioned to my wife that the car needed new tires. She said, "Why don't we just trade it in?"

I had a Glock 23 that I shot 5,000 rounds before cleaning it the first time. Just couldn't get around the way it felt in my hand, so I traded it in. I guess that's why my wife wanted to trade in the car. She just didn't like it.

ECS

 

[Edmo]

The 642CT replacement for my junked BG38 is still running well. I've got several hundred rounds (we'll say 401 rounds) through it and it still goes bang. It fills the niche I intended for the BG38 and I carry it on occasion. Like most light J frames, it is accurate if I do my part.

However, S&W apparently has someone who isn't checked out on screwdrivers down in the "put-the-grips-on" section. Below is the tweaked grip screw on the 642 straight out of the box. I fixed and reblued the screw... New in the box from the factory - Amazing!!

Another somewhat satisfied customer... Based on this saga, I think my next purchase will come in a non-blue box.

Edmo

 

[dwpmusic]

Well, it's kind of like my wife tells me all the time. "Things just aren't like they used to be". And she's not just talking about guns. At my age you can well remember a lot of things that fall into this category. Hope the 642 continues to function perfectly. I've got one too.