5Wire
Member
Let us know how it works out.
S&W Bodyguard 38, any problems??
- Thread starter Marshal Sam Holland
- Start date
I recently purchased the BG38. The laser in my oppinion is ****! I have shot about 200 rounds out of my BodyGuard when the head of the hex screw that holds the laser in place BROKE and caused the laser to fly off my revolver! I have sent the laser off to S&W and they are sending me a replacement Monday 1-16-12. GoodLuck with your lasers on yours.
Well went to the range today, and after moving the laser as per the new updated S&W manual it does not shoot where the laser is pointed so I tried the Iron sights and it still shoots very high and left, if I moved it more to the right I was then able to get it center mass, let the wife shoot it as well and same results with the laser so Im gonna have to contact S&W on this one and see what they will do ??
I've had mine for two months and after two trips to range, 100 shots, not accurate at all. Too be honest I think I just need more time with it. The laser seems kind of cheap, not really up to Smith standards. The crimson trace grips on the Ruger LCP are much nicer but the Bodyguard felt better in my hand.I'm new to Smith and Wesson revolvers so nothing else about this little gun bothers me but can understand why others have dislikes for it.
Mark
Mark
5Wire
Member
Email or call S&W, they'll do what's right for you.
Yeah thats what Im gonna have to do, I will send them a email and see what I hear back from them...
5Wire
Member
Good luck with that. Mine took two trips before laser was good,
RGMoore
Member
Bought mine last summer. In the first 100 rounds the cylinder failed to rotate once and it failed to fire (factory) rounds twice. It also shot 3 inches left at 10 yards with the irons, laser was very accurate. I tried to get aftermarket grips and found out nobody makes them (yet).
Sent it back to S&W and they replaced it. I swapped it for a 642CT.
Sent it back to S&W and they replaced it. I swapped it for a 642CT.
yeah thats what Im thinking of doing if I can get S&W to either fix it, or send me another one ?? but if I do get another and it shoots straight i will keep it.. does anyone notice that the trigger guard moves around a little bit when handling it ?? I noticed mine has some movement in it..
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Edmo
US Veteran
I would have another handgun shooter fire it prior to sending it off just to verify the problem.
Sometimes with a long double action pull you can inadvertently pull the sights off target during the last portion of the squeeze. It is easy to do especially with a small light handgun. You might find that "staging" the trigger up to the point just prior to the break will increase accuracy when trying to zero the laser.
The trigger guard on mine has a slight wiggle also.
Edmo
I too just purchased a new BG38 from a local pawn shop unfortunately, I had to take the allen and tighten the laser a little to get it to make contact so the laser would come on. Long story short, I can't get the laser to tighten up and the bolt is stripped and now I'm waiting on a label and shipping instructions from Smith. I hope CT comes out with a grip for this soon. Minus the cost that would be the ideal fix to this particularly common problem.
gonzogeezer
Member
For those with unreteachable muscle memory, it probably is a pain. I find it to be a practical, concealable pocket gun. I am LH so some advantage does accrue. With five +P Hornady's loaded I think it will be a man stopper if needed. I don't like the iron sights but this isn't going to be used on targets more than 5-7 yards away anyway, and if there's time to turn on the laser, so much the better. If you need more than that, you need to be carrying a semi- auto.
Lee
Lee
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- Oct 31, 2012
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Just purchased a Bodyguard 38 new. The iron sights shoot high and to the right about 2 1/2 inches at 7 yards. Also, the cylinder failed to rotate once while shooting 50 rounds. Should I return this for warranty work or is this normal?
carloglock19
Member
I would call customer service. I picked one up a few months ago and have a few hundred rounds down range with no problems. I bought it for my girl and she shot it fairly well and this was her second time shooting a gun. I was hitting bullseyes at 7 yards no problem.
Both Correct
As a relatively new shooter and new BG38 owner, I think both posters had relevant and insightful comments.
I thought that the "3 Strikes" argument made sound points, but that they were weighted towards the experienced S&W revolver user. For a newbie, the fact they reversed the traditional rotation of the barrel is less important. We have no "muscle memory". Same for the comment re: the barrel release, seems like a logical and ergonomical place to put it. I very well might not like the release location S&W traditionally used...
We compared this revolver against the Ruger equivalent, and found the grip, with the indexed finger positions, of the BG38 to be much more positive and comfortable. The laser difference was icing on the cake!
As a relatively new shooter and new BG38 owner, I think both posters had relevant and insightful comments.
I thought that the "3 Strikes" argument made sound points, but that they were weighted towards the experienced S&W revolver user. For a newbie, the fact they reversed the traditional rotation of the barrel is less important. We have no "muscle memory". Same for the comment re: the barrel release, seems like a logical and ergonomical place to put it. I very well might not like the release location S&W traditionally used...
We compared this revolver against the Ruger equivalent, and found the grip, with the indexed finger positions, of the BG38 to be much more positive and comfortable. The laser difference was icing on the cake!
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LonChaney
Member
The BG 38 one of my students had in my CCW class last month was the biggest piece of garbage I have ever seen. Trigger was awful and the sights were off. Fortunately the student brought a second gun to shoot. She never would have passed with the BG38. I haven't been impressed with any of the ones I have put my hands on.
agreed
i rarely post anything, as i use this forum for knowledge and their are people on here far more knowledgeable than me with regards to S&W revolvers, i assure you of that and their is no sense in over cluttering with questions that have already been answered on previous threads. with that being said, i have been looking at small pocket revolvers as a backup for while. i bought a bg 38 about 2 weeks ago and have to say i am very pleased with it for its INTENDED PURPOSE. this firearms is not deigned for 25yd shots, it is meant to be a self defense, close range, no other option firearm. the rotation of the cylinder is going to be virtually irrelevant, if you get down to having to reload this weapon, particularly one round in a hurry, you are already seriously unequipped to handle the situation at hand. what i carry depends on several factors, like clothing as well as what i am doing, and where i am going for the day. depending on the day, i will where clothes i would rather not to be better equipped to handle high risk situations. i do think the laser should be able to be accurate at close range, but i also think that for this type of firearm one seriously needs to practice draw, point (not aim), and shoot at 3yds or less and be able to rapidly unload the firearm with decent shot placement with all 5 rounds. as far as the ergonomics that i keep hearing complaints about, again, this comes down to the individual. if one has been carrying/ shooting J frames, or any smith revolver and most other revolvers really, for 30 + years, i would strongly advise one to avoid this firearm; not that an old dog cant learn new tricks, but you have muscle memory and habit pounded in to your head, dont change it because in a high risk situation what you have trained to do is what you most likely will do; however, if new to revolvers i find the ergonomics to be phenomenal, particularly if a lefty, which i am. overall, thus far i find this revolver to be very comfortable to carry, ergos are excellent, particularly for a lefty, and it is REASONABLY ACCURATE for intended purpose. with regards to reliability, it is too new to me and too few rounds through it for me to comment intelligently about, i will update once fired enough. at this point though, i would recommend this firearm to anyone that was new enough to firearms to need advice from me. Sorry about the long post
i rarely post anything, as i use this forum for knowledge and their are people on here far more knowledgeable than me with regards to S&W revolvers, i assure you of that and their is no sense in over cluttering with questions that have already been answered on previous threads. with that being said, i have been looking at small pocket revolvers as a backup for while. i bought a bg 38 about 2 weeks ago and have to say i am very pleased with it for its INTENDED PURPOSE. this firearms is not deigned for 25yd shots, it is meant to be a self defense, close range, no other option firearm. the rotation of the cylinder is going to be virtually irrelevant, if you get down to having to reload this weapon, particularly one round in a hurry, you are already seriously unequipped to handle the situation at hand. what i carry depends on several factors, like clothing as well as what i am doing, and where i am going for the day. depending on the day, i will where clothes i would rather not to be better equipped to handle high risk situations. i do think the laser should be able to be accurate at close range, but i also think that for this type of firearm one seriously needs to practice draw, point (not aim), and shoot at 3yds or less and be able to rapidly unload the firearm with decent shot placement with all 5 rounds. as far as the ergonomics that i keep hearing complaints about, again, this comes down to the individual. if one has been carrying/ shooting J frames, or any smith revolver and most other revolvers really, for 30 + years, i would strongly advise one to avoid this firearm; not that an old dog cant learn new tricks, but you have muscle memory and habit pounded in to your head, dont change it because in a high risk situation what you have trained to do is what you most likely will do; however, if new to revolvers i find the ergonomics to be phenomenal, particularly if a lefty, which i am. overall, thus far i find this revolver to be very comfortable to carry, ergos are excellent, particularly for a lefty, and it is REASONABLY ACCURATE for intended purpose. with regards to reliability, it is too new to me and too few rounds through it for me to comment intelligently about, i will update once fired enough. at this point though, i would recommend this firearm to anyone that was new enough to firearms to need advice from me. Sorry about the long post
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