S&W Bodyguard 38, any problems??

[Marshal Sam Holland]

I was just wondering if anyone has had or heard of any problems with the 38 BodyGuard with the laser built in??? I haven't seen or heard much about them..

 

[coach22]

I posted this 11-22-2011

The Model 38 and 638 are great.
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.

 

[Ed45]

I love the gun. I have 2; one NIB to keep for the collection, the other to shoot.

 

[Marshal Sam Holland]

Thanks for the replies, but it's 50/50 pro and con...

 

[ldhunter1959]

when I looked at it, I decided against the bodyguard because of extra effort to activate the laser. I will go with a shrouded 642CT (I think that is the correct model - jframe/shrouded/lightweight/Crimsontrace).
With that you get a laser that activates at the squeeze of a hand on the grip. I might would prefer to have it without the security lock, the ones without a security lock cost a bit more.

 

[BobR1]

Well I just learned several things about it that I did not know. Local dealer has one, I have never handled it. I will next time I am in the store. I never had gotten past the cylinder latch location.

Bob

 

[Tyrod]

I believe a S&W owner would be better off mounting a choice of 3 different Crimson Trace grips to a favored J frame. Yes, it's more expensive overall. But, if you shop around on the interweb, you can find deep discounts on Crimson Trace grips. As for the price of a J frame, well you might already own one. New model 442 & 642 no locks are still available and for a S&W they're cheap. I picked one a 642 at a LGS in October for $340 BNIB. S&W even offers J frames airweights with the Crimson Trace already attached.

 

[Texas Star]

Don't carry a Bodyguard in a pocket with anything else. Apart from the gun getting scratched, I've heard of a couple of guys who had a coin get stuck in the hammer recess.

Also, lint and other crud builds up in there. A pipe cleaner will get it out. Just check for it.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

I never like the laser on mine. When you remove the laser to clean the gun you realize that there is no back to the laser unit.

Rather, the internals of the laser are exposed and you have to fidgit with a small piece of metal to make sure the battery makes contact.

I just saw it as shoddy. The gun was alright...but just alright.

 

[5Wire]

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.

 

[Ed45]

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.

Good post. I have very little experience with laser sights but I like the placement of the laser on the BG38; its high on the frame.

 

[coach22]

Mr. 5Wire,

These are the opinions of someone (me), who has owned and shot J frames
for close to 50 years
and who also gets feedback daily from my customers at the gun store where I work.

My opinions were directed at the gun.
Seems like your comments are directed at ME, instead of at the gun.
If you are a fan of the gun, great. I and my customers are not.
I think you need to re read my reasons. Specially the first.

"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."

Your remarks:
"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."
"Suppose all your other revolvers were Colts?"
are absurd and personal.

Comments like those are not what this forum is for.
It's for sharing information. Not personal attacks.

 

[lyodbraun]

I have one and really like it, the only thing I think is maybe a problem is it shoots to the very far left ? and I have not been able to get the laser sighted in spot on... but will try again when the weather gets warm again or I make it to a indoor range... other that that Ive had no problems with mine, I love it, and it conceals so easy.. great gun IMHO

 

[358156hp]

Don't carry a Bodyguard in a pocket with anything else. Apart from the gun getting scratched, I've heard of a couple of guys who had a coin get stuck in the hammer recess.

Also, lint and other crud builds up in there. A pipe cleaner will get it out. Just check for it.

It seems to me that if you pocket carry any gun, it should be the only thing in that pocket. I would be so bold as to use the hated term "no brainer" for this. What would you do, ask the clerk at 7-11 to hold your gun while you dig to the bottom of your pocket for the last 35 cents to pay for your Slurpee? I pocket carry, and that pocket has my pocket holster, and the 649, and that's it.

 

[Marshal Sam Holland]

Thanks for the input...I didn't mean to get a finger pointing match going. All points are good and well taken. I have carried most types of guns for the past 35 years. I went ahead and swapped for the BG 38. It has it's pros and cons, but overall it seems to be a Smith & Wesson. By that, over the years the quality has been excellant to rather shoddy. I think the older J, K, and N frames have been some of the best revolvers in the world. As a retired law enforcement officer, I started out with a revolver and ended with fine autos. I feel that the 642/442 may be an overall better gun, but for what I need it for the BG 38 will do fine..

 

[5Wire]

Mr. 5Wire,

These are the opinions of someone (me), who has owned and shot J frames
for close to 50 years
and who also gets feedback daily from my customers at the gun store where I work.

My opinions were directed at the gun.
Seems like your comments are directed at ME, instead of at the gun.
If you are a fan of the gun, great. I and my customers are not.
I think you need to re read my reasons. Specially the first.

"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."

Your remarks:
"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."
"Suppose all your other revolvers were Colts?"
are absurd and personal.

Comments like those are not what this forum is for.
It's for sharing information. Not personal attacks.

You are misguided about the BG38 regardless of how many years of OTHER small guns you've owned and shot. You gave your opinions as if they were facts. I pointed out contrary opinions and gave examples from the point of view of an owner of a BG38 (as well as 36s, old Bodyguard, 642—which I also carry), and by showing that new tricks can be learned by old dogs, clockwise (like Colts) or counterclockwise.

The "you" in my post was a generic you, as in "you pays your money and takes your choice." My only personal observation was that you, coach22, must have been unfamiliar with the BG38 in that you had not taken the time to think out it's manual of arms, nevermind practiced with the gun. To me, that makes your opinion less than useful for someone considering buying a BG38 and insulting to those of us who have already done so.

You, coach22, are probably a really nice guy. I'll bet you have a really nice store, too. I have no need to attack you and I did not. I just countered your strongly worded 3-strike opinions with some of my own.

 

[mag318]

You'll be happy with your choice of the Bodyguard 38 as I was with mine. This revolver is a radical departure from older J frame Smiths with several innovations. I bought my first J frame in 1966 and have owned and carried several. I really like the placement of the cylinder latch and find it easy to adopt to. Mine shoots to the POA with 158 grn loads and it has a great trigger. The laser is very easy to activate should you decide to employ it and it is a good addition to a handgun such as this. What impressed me most about the Bodyguard was how comfortably it handles recoil. Most J frames, especially the light ones are very unpleasant to shoot accept with the lightest loads. The BG38 on the other hand is quite comfortable even with hot +P loads allowing for longer practise sessions. S&W did a great job designing the grip and the polymer grip frame soaks up recoil well. I've been carrying mine everyday for over a year and have over 1K troublefree rounds thru it. I also own a Ruger LCR but much prefer the Bodyguard.
Being a traditionalist I still love my original Model 60 but the BG38 has replaced it as my carry gun.

 

[5Wire]

I have one and really like it, the only thing I think is maybe a problem is it shoots to the very far left ? and I have not been able to get the laser sighted in spot on... but will try again when the weather gets warm again or I make it to a indoor range... other that that Ive had no problems with mine, I love it, and it conceals so easy.. great gun IMHO

If you have one of the early BG38s, as I do, the laser sighting instructions were incorrect. S&W published the correct method on their website:

You can fuss with this method without shooting the gun. Just make sure the gun is cleared and run through the steps as published above to get the little dot near where your fixed sights (and experience) tell you where the point of impact would be. Confirm with live ammo later.

Newer BG38s evidently had this procedure done at the factory and were more or less point of aim out of the box with fine tuning left to the new owner.

 

[Edmo]

I was just wondering if anyone has had or heard of any problems with the 38 BodyGuard with the laser built in??? I haven't seen or heard much about them..

I just recently bought one and love it! I have put around 100 rounds through it so far and it runs great. Much more accurate and easier to run than my older Model 60 snubbie.

Here is my review from another post:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/225790-new-bg38-bodyguard-i-like.html

Edmo

 

[lyodbraun]

Thanks 5Wire, I thought I had adjusted it to where it should hit but I think I had the elavation to low, I followed those new directions and hopefuly It will hit where that red dot is on the target now.... will try it out maybe Monday if the GunRange is open LOL...