S&W Bodyguard .38 misfires

[jdietz]

I purchased a Bodyguard .38 last year for my wife to carry. She likes revolvers and I prefer autos.

When we take it to the range (about every 3 months) to stay familiar with the weapon we get at least one misfire on each cylinder. (I should mark which chamber to see if it is the same each time) We are shooting reloads and I use CCI 500 primers. It may be that the primers are too hard but every other firearm I have likes them.

How do you adjust the hammer spring in the Bodyguard?

Thank you in advance.:banghead:

 

[rcmodel]

Old Model 49 steel frame, or Model 38 alloy frame Bodyguard?
Or a new production one?
Regardless.

You don't 'adjust' the hammer spring on a J-Frame.
You replace the spring with a new spring from S&W or Wolff with one somebody didn't already adjust by clipping coils off of it.

But before you do that.

1. Clean all the unburned powder out from under the ejector star with an old toothbrush.

2. From then on, always point the muzzle straight up when ejecting emptys and the junk will stay in the cases and land on the ground instead of under the ejector star.

3. Make 100% sure you are fully seating the primers bottomed out in the primer pockets when you seat them.

4. Keep track of the mis-fire head stamps and see if it's all the same kind of brass doing it.

rc

 

[Waveski]

Clearly , you need to test that revolver with a variety of factory loads.

Ok , penalize me for stating the obvious ...

 

[bannockburn]

Waveski

I was thinking the same thing: see what happens with different factory loads before you start trying to "fix" the gun.

 

[Hondo 60]

I wish gun mfgs would stop using the same name for different guns.

I have a S&W Model 38 aka "Body Guard" , but they also make a current gun with the same name.

jdietz - are you refering to the new or old body guard?
The answer to your question is different depending on which one.
Can you post a pic?

Is it this one?

 

[jdietz]

It is the new model with the cylinder release on the baco of the firearm.

 

[Old Fuff]

In that case I have bad news. The new M&P Series .38 Bodyguard is deliberately set up to discourage anyone but the factory from working on it. This includes side plate screws that require a special screwdriver bit to remove them. Read the manual that came with the gun, and you will find they expect you return it to the factory for servicing - period! :banghead:

So call the company Customer Service Dept. for a pre-paid sticker.

 

[rcmodel]

More bad news then.

S&W could care less if it misfires with your reloads.

As long as it works with factory ammo, they will not do a thing to it.

rc

 

[G29SF]

The only time I had misfires like you describe, is when I was not seating my primers deep enough. A second pull of the trigger (you get what I mean) would fire.



I'm using a completely different firearm though.

 

[jdietz]

It is misfiring with factory loads also. Three different brands and not the same cylinder. I have contacted Smith and have a RMA. So I guess it goes back for service.

Thanks to everyone.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was about to say it's not the CCI500 primers since they are used in all Speer, CCI and probably Blaser factory ammo too. Every manufacturer can miss a gun that should be stopped before it goes out the door. All that matters is they make it right.

As for the naming, yes I feel S&W made a mistake too although they really aren't the same name. One is a Bodyguard J frame and the other is named the Bodyguard 38. (not bright)