Question on Insight Laser-S&W Bodyguard 38

[TPM]

Hello to all. Glad to see S&W is doing so well these days, it still makes my heart soar to have it be a USA company after being owned by a foreign company for so many years who really hated and really feared hand guns. I have especially enjoyed the new products such as the S&W 15-22, which is fantastic. Well done, S&W.

I recently bought a S&W 38 bodyguard and cannot get it shoot accurately using the laser. I bought a bore laser to try to align it correctly. I have two other handguns (S&W 442 (38) & Glock 19 (9mm) which have Crimson Trace (CT) lasers added; and I can get those grip lasers to align perfectly with the bore laser, and they help the guns shoot more accurately. I used the instructions off the S&W site to align the laser with no luck. The dealer and the Insight Technology (IT) website (no one to call there-unlike CT who will talk to consumers) resources were absolutely worthless. The closest alignment I can get is to the BG laser dot to be about 10" above the bore laser (set at 25'). Anyone have any experience, thoughts or recommendations on adjusting the IT laser on the BG? I have only had the BG out once and plan to do so again this weekend. Thanks for sharing any thoughts or experience here.

 

[RAMS]

Are you saying that the lowest elevation setting is 10" high at 25 yds? If so, just to be sure you are adjusting it properly, try to ELEVATE the laser point of impact to see if it comes down. The instructions are not always written clearly.

If that doesn't do it, it's defective. Ask S&W for a free shipping label.

 

[TPM]

Insight Laser Adjustment Question on S&W Bodyguard

Sorry if the issue is not stated very clearly. What I am trying to say is that I cannot get the Insight Technologies laser dot to "match up" (overlay) with a bore laser dot. When I set a bore laser on the bull-eye of a dart board target for example, I cannot adjust the S&W 38 laser to be anywhere close to it, no matter how I try to adjust (using the S&W instructions off their website). Adjusting the bodyguard's internal laser dot moves all around the target and other, internal bore laser dot; and basically nowhere close to it. The best, closest alignment (of the two laser dots) I can get is Insight directly above the other, but the Insight is about 10" above the other (bore) laser dot. Maybe I am doing it wrong, but with two other guns using Crimson Trace lasers I can adjust both of them (other guns) with both the internal laser dots and the bore laser right on top of each other; on target. Is this not the way you would want to set them? Insight does not take consumer calls and the S&W dealer where I bought the firearm was clueless and had nothing much to say. They just say "I don't know"; then hand the gun back to me. Like many I have sent brand-new firearms back to the manufacturer in the past and waited for the return, but this is really a hassle and time lag I want to avoid, especially if it is something simple I am not seeing or doing correctly. As we all know, when you buy a new gun it is nothing but excitement and anticipation to find it, buy it, try it out, and have to carry every day; pretty much one of the last things you want is to have to send it off somewhere, be without it, play the undefined waiting game, and also wonder if you got a lemon.

 

[grege33]

I haven't shot mine yet, but I used the allen wrenches that came in the box and adjusted mine to align with my sights. I didn't read the instructions, I just turned the top and side screws until it aligned with the sights. I'll know how well I did when I shoot it at the range.

 

[SW909Dude]

I shot mine today using the laser all the time and I didn't do any adjustments and I thought it was VERY accurate.......

 

[cindykenward]

I had the guy at the range adjust mine. He just kept shooting and adjusted it that wy. I'm assuming like the gentlemen above he was alligning the laser with the sights.

 

[hotrod150]

I think that because of how recoil affects point of impact, the only way to zero a laser sight on a handgun is by shooting it. I recently bought a Crimson Trace LG105 laser grip for one of my j-frames. CT says the laser comes roughly zero'd from the factory, and they were right-- it was certainly close enough to get the shots on the paper at 7 yards. FWIW when trying to zero it, I discovered that the directions seem to be arse-backwards-- for example, I had to turn the screw CW instead of CCW as stated to move the POI in the desired direction.

 

[dsink]

I took mine to the range and shot it using the sights to start with. Once I was satisified that the sights were hitting to point of aim, I turned the laser on and used it.
After a little minor adjustment, the shots hit where the laser was pointing which is also where the sights are looking.

A bore sighter is used to get you on paper, not for doing your acutal zeroing. Take it to the range, shoot it and zero it.

 

[Michael7601]

Help. I need a set of set screws and allen wrenches for my Insight laser (.380 Body Guard) Where can I get them?
Mike

 

[locotico]

ELEVATION screw fell off

I went to shoot my BodyGuard 380 a week ago and put 100 rounds down range flawlessly.

I tried to adjust my laser sight for 15 yards.
I could not get it to get on target.

I gave up and finished shooting the remainder ammo I had.

When I get home and start cleaning my firearm. I noticed my elevation adjusting screw was gone.....

Do I have to send the firearm to S&W to replace the screw and re set the laser to there factory standards??

 

[bluethunder]

just bought the body guard and could not get good results and was using a pistol rest at at about 7 yds. Igave it to agun shop to test it and they said the laser was defective. I hate to send the gun back to S&W. I knoe it will take forever to fix. I shot it a second time with plus p with the same results
I am going to shoot my friends new body and see what the results are. he has not fired it yet and we will shoot it this week and see how his shoots

 

[joejet]

My wife got a Bodyguard 38 special many years ago, lost the manual and had a heck of a time figuring out how to change batteries in the Insight laser. The hex key (aka allen wrench) size needed to remove the one screw to access the batteries is .050". The key needed for adjustments is .035". Not sure why folks are having trouble adjusting laser ... Since my metal sights are accurate all I had to do was aim the gun and adjust the top .035 screw for up and down, the side .035 screw for left/right until the laser dot is aligned with the metal sight (eg with a mark on a wall) - at whatever distance you prefer. It takes two #357 batteries (357/303/LR44/A76, etc). If anyone sees a link to the manual, please post as I could not find it anyplace on S&W web site. Thanks