Took a look at the new Bodyguard .38- UNIMPRESSED!

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings,

I stopped at my local Sportsman's Warehouse and took my first look at the new Bodyguard .38 DAO revolver. Needless to say, I am severely underwhelmed. Though I am a metal gun fan, I will say nothing against the polymer frame- my beef is with the mechanics of the weapon.

In the "rest" position, the cylinder side-to-side, rotational and endshake slop was INCREDIBLE. In the "firing" position, things were little better. I would guess the cylinder gap was on the order of 0.015". One of the key advantages of the S&W system over the Colt was the forward support of the ejector stem to minimize looseness of the cylinder. Let's just say that all this is lost with the new Bodyguard. My old 60's Colt Agent with an untold number of +P through it is much, MUCH, tighter than the brand new S&W product. To top it all off, the new clockwise cylinder indexing system sometimes would not advance to the next station after closing the cylinder. Really, the only things I could say positive about the weapon was that the finish, weight and handling characteristics were quite nice...

They also had a new .357 S&W 360 in case which allowed for a direct comparison. Let's just say there was NO comparison- the 360 exhibited minimal cylinder play, no endshake, and a nice tight cylinder gap. There would be no question that I would pay the extra $50 to get the 360 over the Bodyguard- even with the Bodyguard including the laser sighting system.

Take Care,

Hunter

 

[Triggernosis]

I don't understand the new polymer-framed revolver. I mean, why bother with polymer when it's not any lighter than the aluminum/scandium models? Oh, yeah - the polymer is cheaper to produce.....

 

[Gary7]

A barrel to cylinder gap of 0.015" is actually quite tight--too tight. Did you mean 0.15"?

 

[jazzman452]

I looked at one at my local gunstore. I couldn't believe it, I just shook my head and walked away. I thought is this what I will have to buy to get a nice small carry revolver. Yesterday I went to a gun show here in Cincy and found a very nice model 10-5. Sure it's bigger and heavier but I can be proud carrying it, not so sure I could say the same thing with the new Bodyguard. I think I would take the Ruger LCR over the Bodyguard.
Jim

 

[.455_Hunter]

I looked at an LCR a couple of months ago. Though also loose, it was better than the Bodyguard.

 

[perchjerk]

I bought a bg a few months back at a gunshow and while ill agree the cylinder play is a bit sloppy, my gun shoots great, carries great, is accurate and has very managable recoil. Until mine gives me a reason to not trust it, it is my number on carry piece.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Hi perchjerk,

Have you ever had the weapon fail to advance after closing the cylinder? This happened twice to me with the gun at Sportsman's.

 

[mag318]

I bought one of these when they first came out and like it much better then my LCR. After 4 range sessions and over 700 rounds thru it, I'm very impressed with S&Ws latest revolver. First the thing is extremely comfortable to shoot, even with hot +P loads. This revolver is much more pleasant to shoot then even my steel framed J frames. The laser was spot on right from the factory and makes shooting in low light very easy. As far as the cylinder skipping, you just have to make sure the racthet star is indexed after closing the cylinder and this will never be a problem. Smith & Wesson is going to sell a lot of these revolvers, they are remarkable little guns that you have to shoot to truly appreciate.

 

[perchjerk]

Mag is right about star ratchet. When closing the cylinder just give it a slight turn to put it in place and ull have no problem.

 

[timbo813]

I read that one advantage of the polymer frame is that it reduces felt recoil.

 

[stantheman86]

Polymer revolver? No thanks!

What ever happened to steel guns?

Everyone wants a gun that weighs 2 oz. but can take 100,000 rounds of .357, at some point, somethings gotta give. A poly frame revolver seems like an answer to a question that was never asked.

 

[twomoons]

my impression is that as much as sw hit a home run with the mp semi autos,
the bodygaurd just will not be as successfull.
most complaints i here,from everyone , are all covered here.in this thread
the lcr is selling better than the bodygaurd.
the tiny on off button for the red dot has really turned off a lot of people. the first red dot system that is not grip activated,and not really reliable in the guns we have seen.

 

[stantheman86]

A revolver that has to be "hand indexed" after closing the cylinder could cost someone their life.

Not everyone trains a lot or is a handgun shooting expert like many of us here, the "average Joe" who buys a Bodyguard and throws it in the sock drawer, and forgets to "index" the cylinder, or doesn't know he has to, might need it to shoot an intruder and hear the loudest click you could ever hear......

 

[GyMac]

I looked at one at my local gunstore. I couldn't believe it, I just shook my head and walked away. I thought is this what I will have to buy to get a nice small carry revolver. Yesterday I went to a gun show here in Cincy and found a very nice model 10-5. Sure it's bigger and heavier but I can be proud carrying it, not so sure I could say the same thing with the new Bodyguard. I think I would take the Ruger LCR over the Bodyguard.
Jim

I have nothing against the BG, but I wish had a S&W Model 10 snubnose. I just don't care about the BG.

 

[mag318]

As far as indexing, the exact same skipping thing can happen with any double action revolver. I have a habit of closing the cylinder on all my revolvers with the top chamber lined up with the barrel then turning slightly to insure the bolt has engaged the cutout.
I happen to like the placement of the Insight laser button, it's very easy to press with your thumb. The trouble with the grip buttons on CT lasers is that they're always going to be activated when you grip. If you don't want it on you first have to turn off the button on the bottom. With the BG38 if I don't want the laser on I simply don't hit the button. I like this system better as it gives me a choice.
I've let several friends fire my Bodyguard and everyone was amazed at how the new grip design absorbs recoil.

 

[bk43]

I don't follow the technical stuff so don't know what the "firing" and "rest" positions are. I do know that I
got one of the new guns and don't see anything the OP is talking about. Perhaps I just don't understand all that technical stuff enough to realize how bad my gun is.

In passing, I would never close a revolver with the cylinder not in register, ie. a charge hole aligned with the barrel, so all the talk about that issue doesn't mean much to me.

Bob

 

[Evil One]

Maybe I'm strange... but I automatically rotate the cyl as soon as I close it.
So yea... would be a non issue for me.


Jim

 

[mtime7]

I have a aluminum body guard and love it. As far as these new polymer guns, I will haft to pass, and just stick with buying good quailty used guns made the way guns are suposed to be made

 

[camper]

I really like mine and it is a great shooter with minimal recoil.

 

[sheriffoconee]

Well, no one thing is going to please everyone. I have an affinity for steel handguns, especially blue steel Smith revolvers....I own other handguns, but the handguns I am proud of generally are Smith revolvers. The new polymer version doesn't appeal to me, but if Smith wants to compete, they can't ignore the realities of the buying public, which puts a premium on plastic and lasers.....
To each their own.