New S&W found today

[bikemutt]

It's uncommon for me to even ask to see a new production S&W revolver but this one caught my attention. First off it has no lock, it has a laser, and the cylinder release is in a novel position. In other words, Smith's marketing department has a new mousetrap and, today at any rate, they caught a mouse.

I'll follow up after I shoot it

 

[rhinoh]

That is the cylinder release on top rear?
Sure is some crappy looking plastic with the raggedy edges, I'm disappointed in S&W.

 

[bikemutt]

Yup, the cylinder release is on top. It looks better in person

The grip is also pinned. Someone has to test fire these prototypes, may as well be me, LOL.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

I've talked to people who own the Bodyguard, and they have spoke very highly of it. I've dry-fired a few, and I like the feel of the trigger. I certainly wouldn't turn down an oportunity to shoot one.

Personally, I prefer my cylendar release to be in the "old fashion" position, but I as far as function goes, I can see where having it on top of the frame would work well. Seems like it would be quick on the reload, and of course the Southpaws benefit from it.

 

[mesinge2]

Nice, I have been thinking about one of these. I eagerly await the range report.

 

[earlthegoat2]

As long as it doesnt feel like a plastic toy the way the rest of S&Ws pocket snubbies have felt like for the last 20 years whether they are made of metal or not.

 

[MartinS]

Good photos Bike, helps to define a new look for those guns with serious purpose. When I head out to the platinum digs in the Asteroid Belt one of those is coming with me.

 

[bikemutt]

The gun feels well made and solid, certainly worth the less than $500 price, and especially soconsidering the integrated laser.

Put another way, it feels more solid than my LCR. Time will tell if it holds up under fire.

 

[gamestalker]

I can't seem to say enough about the 19's / 66's, they are great pieces. I have a 66-2 and a 66-5, both snubby's, and they are accurate. I got the 66-5 for about $450 and the 66-2 for about $175 back in the 1980's.
GS

 

[PabloJ]

It looks alright to me, but one must remember little pocket light with laser pointer can be bought for <$5. Laser gun stuff with visible beam is very overpriced. The price for Crimson grip for J frame almost made if faint. It was well over $200!

 

[MikeJackmin]

I've cut my thumb on a lot of cylinder releases over the years. I'm a slow learner.

If that new design catches on (especially without the lock!) I'd be happy.

 

[bikemutt]

One thing that's puzzling to me right now is how to pull it apart. Maybe I should read the manual, probably says "no user serviceable parts inside". The grip is interesting in that its quite skinny, even for a j-frame. At first I wasn't sure about it but it let me get a hold of the gun better than any of the "normal" j-frames at the counter. I passed it around the jaded crowd at my gunsmith, most agreed the trigger was quite good.

I hope to shoot it tomorrow.

 

[Old Fuff]

I have a neighbor that has one, and she is delighted with it.

The trigger is improved, because it was designed from the start to be double-action only, not single-action/double-action, with the former disabled.

The cylinder latch may look strange, but it's ambidextrous.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Interested in hearing a range report.

Kind of cool looking; a bit of a modern look, without looking like a "rhino"

 

[bikemutt]

Range report

Took the S&W BG38 to the range today and ran some target ammo through it as well as a few rounds of the expensive Hornady Critical Defense 38+p stuff.

One concern I always have with lightweight guns is recoil. I would say that with target ammo the gun is right on the borderline of having enough felt recoil to where it's noticeable. I put probably 100 rounds down the pipe and cumulatively felt as if I'd had enough fun for one session, which I don't think is bad at all. In other words, practice is certainly feasible. +P ammo pushed it a bit over the line for me, I think 4-5 cylinders worth of +P would leave me satisfied.

What I did not like about the gun is it was very hard for me to control the point of impact. It consistently shot about 3-4" high and about 2" left. Shooting with the laser showed sharp and snappy muzzle jump from point of aim. I couldn't find any firing position that let me overcome the tendency mentioned. Maybe its the nature of the beast. The good news is that +P didn't seem to exacerbate the situation.

Being a fixed-sight gun I don't know what a person could do other than practice for proficiency with it, it's just not a grab-and-go, point-and-shoot gun, for me at least. All my shooting was done at a range of 7 yards, I would not dream of shooting at anything beyond that with any sense of confidence, for now at any rate.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Old Fuff believes that it's best to match cartridge performance (in particular recoil) with the size and weight of the handgun it's being carried in. Too many people expect too fire to much in a small/lightweight platform without getting more recoil then they can control.

My smaller snubbies, intended to be used at close range, are filled with modest ammunition that even so will do what needs to be done if I do my part. If and/or when I think I need more (think .44 Special) I go to a larger/heavier revolver.