SW Bodyguard 38

[NewbieDave]

Anyone handled one yet? I'm in the market for a snub nose pocket... narrowed down to Ruger LCR or SW Bodyguard. I can get the Smith for about $400 and LCR just $40 less... but the Smith comes with a laser.

Pros and cons?

[bigbob76]

Anyone handled one yet? I'm in the market for a snub nose pocket... narrowed down to Ruger LCR or SW Bodyguard. I can get the Smith for about $400 and LCR just $40 less... but the Smith comes with a laser.

Pros and cons?

Check the specs for weight and decide how much weight you want in your pocket. Way back when God's dog was a pup I carried a Model 60 in my pocket. Now look at the difference in weight for something like the Smith 340PD.

[Sturnovik]

Anyone handled one yet? I'm in the market for a snub nose pocket... narrowed down to Ruger LCR or SW Bodyguard. I can get the Smith for about $400 and LCR just $40 less... but the Smith comes with a laser.

Pros and cons?

You looked at the 642 by chance? I know a few people who love having the concealed hammer so no junk gets in and doesn't snag. And a good look.

[ojisan]

I've handled both, shot neither.
No front of cylinder / crane lock-up on the new Bodyguard.
The crane locks only at the rear of the cylinder with the little nub in the middle of the rotating star.
Very disappointing, lots of crane / cylinder play in the sample I examined.
I do not consider a rear-of-cylinder-only lock-up to be acceptable in any revolver.
Get the "older" 442 / 642 / 340 / 360 etc.

The Ruger LCR does not have the crane lock like the SP100 / GP100 / Redhawk design that I like so much.
But it does have the older style end-of-ejector rod lockup at the front that the Bodyguard lacks.
I understand the Bodyguard has a longer ejector rod travel for better ejection of fired cases due to the lack of the front lock-up.
I prefer the cylinder be locked firmly in place at both ends for carrying and firing.
I would rather accept a shorter ejector rod travel if it allows a firmly locked cylinder.

[FUBAR]

Didn't like the cylinder release placement on the Bodyguard. Get 442.

[ptgarcia]

I have a Bodyguard 38 that I just bought last month. Going out next weekend to shoot it for the first time.

The Bodyguard was a better fit in my hand than the LCR, and being that I'm left handed I like the location of the cylinder release. It also fits in my wifes tiny hands and is easy for her to operate, also.

Overall it feels and looks like a nice revolver but I have no clue being that its my first hand gun.

[sker13]

I find the LCR to be superior in every way. Better trigger. Better pointability. Basically I can get 48 out of 50 wad cutters inside the 8 ring silhouette target at 15 yards. I did not shoot the bodygaurd as well. Lots of fliers. Since they aren't really fun to practice with I went with the one I shot better out of the box. The Ruger will be lucky to see 100 rounds a year. I didn't want the laser. I like the cushy houge style stock grip with finger grooves . I did get a high viz green front site though.

[sker13]

I have a Bodyguard 38 that I just bought last month. Going out next weekend to shoot it for the first time.

The Bodyguard was a better fit in my hand than the LCR, and being that I'm left handed I like the location of the cylinder release. It also fits in my wifes tiny hands and is easy for her to operate, also.

Overall it feels and looks like a nice revolver but I have no clue being that its my first hand gun.

I don't think your wife will enjoy shooting it very much...Maybe she will...But I doubt it.

[RedFord150]

I don't think your wife will enjoy shooting it very much...Maybe she will...But I doubt it.

This is probably true. My wife discovered early on that tiny little revolvers have a lot of recoil and are generally harder to shoot accurately. She prefers the heavier .357 mag revolvers with .38 loads.