S&W Bodyguard .38

[Mr Wizard]

Has anyone given a range report on their experience with this pistol?
I took my new Bodyguard .38 to the range today. I bought it as a (future)secondary CCW weapon. It is my first laser equipped revolver and I was excited to try it out.
I took some reloads and a box of new ammo. I wanted to practice using the sights first before trying out the laser. I wasn't getting very good groups (10") with the reloads. Several were keyholes that concerned me, so I switched to the new ammo. No keyholes and I avg 5" groups at 30 ft. I kept hitting high left of where I was aiming. I figured it was my 50 yr old eyes, but my son had the results.
I was really disappointed with the laser. I did a preliminary zero, by following the supplied instructions, but I shot even farther left and it shut off a couple times when I fired. I tried to readjust it, but couldn't get it right, so I gave up and switched to my 1911. I always shoot better with a .45

I figure after this break in period and a good cleaning, I'll get better results next time.
Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

[Doheny]

When I've been to the range and seen guys shoot with lasers, the results have been less than impressive.

Try shooting the gun single action with a slow trigger pull to see if it's you or the laser.

Enjoy the gun!

[fonzy]

I don't think that bodyguard has a single action. Is this your first revolver? Try sights on target squeeze slowly when the cylinder spins and locks in place you have a split moment before the final pull to release the trigger, this will help your accuracy. Also dry fire it alot with your laser so you can see on target if you laser moves once you fired it (dry). I can shoot auto faily well but revolver is a whole nother world. If your right handed and it's not a smooth trigger we have a tendency to push left or pull left whatever you want to call it as we pull the trigger to the rear.

[Doheny]

/\/\ In that case, I stand corrected!

[dfletcher]

Has anyone given a range report on their experience with this pistol?
I took my new Bodyguard .38 to the range today. I bought it as a (future)secondary CCW weapon. It is my first laser equipped revolver and I was excited to try it out.
I took some reloads and a box of new ammo. I wanted to practice using the sights first before trying out the laser. I wasn't getting very good groups (10") with the reloads. Several were keyholes that concerned me, so I switched to the new ammo. No keyholes and I avg 5" groups at 30 ft. I kept hitting high left of where I was aiming. I figured it was my 50 yr old eyes, but my son had the results.
I was really disappointed with the laser. I did a preliminary zero, by following the supplied instructions, but I shot even farther left and it shut off a couple times when I fired. I tried to readjust it, but couldn't get it right, so I gave up and switched to my 1911. I always shoot better with a .45

I figure after this break in period and a good cleaning, I'll get better results next time.
Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

For better or worse I just can't, or I suppose choose not to, deal with laser sights. I'm over 50 and am just too used to looking at my front sight or at the target over my front sight - actually looking at the red dot on the target just throws me all off, I find myself "walking" the laser all over the place. For example, if I hit a little high to the left - I look high to the left as opposed to deliberately bringing the laser down and to the right. I don't know if others do that, if it's a routine error or just my bad habit. I suppose "practice, practice, practice" works though.

[Coded-Dude]

Its a hard gun to shoot. I haven't set my laser yet because I have been more focused on getting the action down and using the sights(which could use some f-ing dots). Plus the last two times I shot there was too much light for the laser to even be seen clearly. I can pull through the first action pretty quick and lock the cylinder, then I aim and fire. I'm not all that great with the snub nose revolvers yet, but will feel a lot better with more practice.

I was also amazed at how much better I was with my new 45(out of the box), than with my bodyguard.

[mag318]

My results were just the opposite with the Bodyguard 38 and I find it to be an excellent revolver. Until I bought the BG38 I was carrying Smiths' excellent Model 337 AirLiteTi. And while the revolver was a joy to carry it was no fun to shoot it. After a couple cylinders full it became downright painfull to shoot even with non +P ammo. The first thing I noticed with my BG38 was how comfortably it handled recoil. None +P ammo was very comfortable and even hot +P ammo was reasonably comfortable. I attribute this to the grip design and the flexing of the polymer gripframe. I now regularly shoot 150/200 rnds per practise session. The trigger out of the box is the best I've evre had from a J frame size Smith and the iron sites were dead on with 158 grn loads. As for the laser, it greatly aids accuracy from odd positions which in itself could be a life saver. I have over 1000 troublefree rounds thru my BG38 and carry it everday, I think S&W did a great job with this innovative revolver.

[Mr Wizard]

Its a hard gun to shoot. I haven't set my laser yet because I have been more focused on getting the action down and using the sights(which could use some f-ing dots). Plus the last two times I shot there was too much light for the laser to even be seen clearly. I can pull through the first action pretty quick and lock the cylinder, then I aim and fire. I'm not all that great with the snub nose revolvers yet, but will feel a lot better with more practice.

I was also amazed at how much better I was with my new 45(out of the box), than with my bodyguard.

I'm glad I am not the only one that has a problem with the sights.
I was telling my son that I kept losing the front sight against the black target. The orange targets were not a problem. I definitely need to install new sights if they are even available for this model yet. I know the front sight is pinned to the barrel so it's not something I am willing to replace myself. The laser was a bonus, but not my primary reason for choosing this model. The laser lens kept fowling from the crapping reloads I was using.
I enjoyed shooting it, but after 100 rds my hand was starting to hurt even with the comfortable grip.
I am going back this afternoon for some more practice. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks all for your imput.

[pTa]

I don't think that bodyguard has a single action. Is this your first revolver? Try sights on target squeeze slowly when the cylinder spins and locks in place you have a split moment before the final pull to release the trigger, this will help your accuracy. Also dry fire it alot with your laser so you can see on target if you laser moves once you fired it (dry). I can shoot auto faily well but revolver is a whole nother world. If your right handed and it's not a smooth trigger we have a tendency to push left or pull left whatever you want to call it as we pull the trigger to the rear.

It's sinble action / the bodyguard still alllows acces to the hammer/ It;'s just shieled on both sides.

[pTa]

My expperineces are with the 442/ double action only / mind yoru trigger control and shoot at 7 yards I can keep all in the black /
10 yards and over it really start to spread out

I believe the bodyguard shold shoot as well in DA as the 442 / better if its all steel

[Coded-Dude]

i'm pretty sure the BG38 is DA only - there is no hammer(unless i am blind).....you might be mistaking the ambidextrous cylinder release as a hammer.

[DNA]

Sorry to thread jack, but has anyone compared it to it's primary competition, the Ruger LCR?

Dan

[redcliff]

i'm pretty sure the BG38 is DA only - there is no hammer(unless i am blind).....you might be mistaking the ambidextrous cylinder release as a hammer.

The original Model 49 Bodyguard, as well as the model 438 and model 638's can all be cocked via a short hamer spur exposed outside the hammer shield.

Personally I have no idea if the OP's "Bodyguard 38" is one of those models.

[DNA]

OPs Bodyguard 38 is the newer polymer framed J frame.



Basically, the answer to the Taurus



and Ruger polymer offerings.



Dan

[redcliff]

OPs Bodyguard 38 is the newer polymer framed J frame.



Basically, the answer to the Taurus



and Ruger polymer offerings.



Dan

Ahh, I see, thanks for the enlightenment. I don't follow many of the new S&W offerrings because I prefer older pre-lock models. It does appear to be DAO.