Anyone own a S&W .38spl Bodyguard?

[pbearperry135]

My sister asked me if I could change the laser batteries in her .38 Special Bodyguard. I did it for her and took my first hard look at it. Outside of being quite light and easy to carry, it completely turned me off. I hate the location of the cylinder release, the trigger pull is heavy and clunky, and if you wany to take the grips off you need to remove a roll pin instead of a screw. Also, unless you are a S&W gunsmith, getting inside of it to deep clean it seems impossible. I was wondering if anyone has anything positive to say about it?

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Not sure what you're writing about. The .38 Special will indeed have a cylinder release and a long heavy trigger pull, but the grips ("stocks") are held on with a screw. And getting inside is dead easy if you have decent tools. Did you really mean the M&P .380?

Update: oops I distracted myself about the laser. Being anal I decided to visit S&W's web site to edumacate myself and am now baffled. What the hell is this?

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/m-p-bodyguard-38-integrated-crimson-trace-laser-compliant

 

[scaatylobo]

My sister asked me if I could change the laser batteries in her .38 Special Bodyguard. I did it for her and took my first hard look at it. Outside of being quite light and easy to carry, it completely turned me off. I hate the location of the cylinder release, the trigger pull is heavy and clunky, and if you wany to take the grips off you need to remove a roll pin instead of a screw. Also, unless you are a S&W gunsmith, getting inside of it to deep clean it seems impossible. I was wondering if anyone has anything positive to say about it?

If your refering to the original S&W model 38 Bodyguard = then your not describing the gun that I know as such.
Own a few S&W snubbys and they are double action for a good reason, safety and designed for S/D at bad breath range.

 

[trackskippy]

I believe hes referring to this.....

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/m-p-bodyguard-38-integrated-crimson-trace-laser-compliant

I saw one at a shop here a while back. Didnt do anything for me. Im more of an old school Smith sorta guy.

 

[burrhead]

This is what the real thing looks like.

 

[unspellable]

I have one of these. It's primary virtue is that it's such an oddball for a S&W that you have to have one as a curiosity.

P.S. Beautiful it ain't.

 

[pbearperry135]

This is what the real thing looks like.



View attachment 1230622

I wish this was the revolver my sister bought. Perfect in every way!

 

[toxophilus]

I had one and it was very accurate, however I kept having to send it back to S&W because the trigger kept locking up once when in actual practice use and two more times when practicing dry firing with snap caps.

On the next to last return trip they damaged the hell out of the frame and caused severe scratches, gouges etc.

After they refinished it and I got it back it went down the road on a trade in for something else, I had installed the Hogue tamer stocks on it which made it a pleasure to shoot but I just can't trust a tool that may lock up on me when I really need it.

PIC of some of the damage that S&W repair department caused on the last trip back to fix the trigger locking up...

 

[Old_Grouch]

What the hell is this?

I have a theory. Pure speculation, mind you.
I think a S&W engineer designed this as a joke and slipped it into the boss's in-basket. The boss didn't realize it was April 1st and forwarded it to production.

 

[unspellable]

Did S&W really make it? Or did they farm it out? Not unheard of, I have a Mauser revolver that Mauser didn't make. Last gun show I watched a guy buy a High Standard revolver that was made by Dan Wesson.
WE can't knock it too much, Ruger has a plastic revolver too.

 

[Old_Grouch]

WE can't knock it too much, Ruger has a plastic revolver too.

Yes, Ruger does have one. I had a Ruger, my wife has one, and I have handled the S&W. Your statement though (please take this in the lighthearted manner it's intended) is a bit like saying we shouldn't make fun of the French Chauchat because Browning made an automatic rifle also.

 

[Pat Riot]

I had one and it was very accurate, however I kept having to send it back to S&W because the trigger kept locking up once when in actual practice use and two more times when practicing dry firing with snap caps.

On the next to last return trip they damaged the hell out of the frame and caused severe scratches, gouges etc.

After they refinished it and I got it back it went down the road on a trade in for something else, I had installed the Hogue tamer stocks on it which made it a pleasure to shoot but I just can't trust a tool that may lock up on me when I really need it.

PIC of some of the damage that S&W repair department caused on the last trip back to fix the trigger locking up...

Wow! That’s just downright ridiculous. I thought the hacks in the Performance Center did some, and I am being nice here,…shoddy work when the same gun comes back to them a second time…and a third.
I will never buy a PC Smith again.

 

[Old_Grouch]

I will never buy a PC Smith again.

I am a S&W fanboy BUT.........
My recent (last 10 ish years) experience is that the Performance Center puts out guns that are almost as good as what the production line used to produce.

 

[funnelcake]

I recently traded for one. Only S&W revolver I have as everything else with a cylinder is Colt stuff (ok, one Ruger). I wanted an additional pocket gun but this a revolver.

Apparently it’s been back to the mothership once already. Hoping to get out with it this weekend - will report back.

 

[Boom Vang]

That model is not S&W's finest hour. Naming it after one of their best models is a further disgrace.

 

[Riomouse911]

This is what the real thing looks like.



View attachment 1230622

Beat me to it!

Mine is nickel plated (center), hanging out with a Ruger SP 101 and a new Colt Cobra.



Stay safe.

 

[Jim Watson]

Utterly different action.
Cylinder turns clockwise
It does not have a conventional hand, there is a splined disc in the breechface that engages the extractor.
Top cylinder latch.
Ugh.

 

[Haywood]

Back in the days when I worked in gun shops, and that new style bodyguard came out with the integral laser and the weird cylinder release on the top nobody wanted them. We were stuck with one for quite a while till finally someone bought it. Never ordered another one. At that time the 642 was the top seller. My favorite was always the 442.

 

[CajunBass]

I looked at one at the gun shop. The gun shop guy told me "You won't like this."

He was right. But I can say I've seen one.

 

[Speedo66]

They were competing with Ruger for most misshapen revolver, it was a draw.

 

[Targa]

What I can say about them is that the Bodyguard, as goofy as it is, is a noticeably better shooter with a much better trigger than the 642. That was my experience anyway which is irrelevant, I don’t like either one of them.

 

[Jim Watson]

I was at SHOT when the Ruger came out.
Trigger was smooth but sometimes hanging up after three days of dry firing.

 

[Armybrat]

This is what the real thing looks like.



View attachment 1230622

Or this one…