WT Forums

(EDIT): Read this first post if you like, but be sure to read my last post on this thread. This little gun is nice at first, but isn't nearly as good as it looks.

With my wife's recovery from Chemo, we've been taking walks of late, and she gets a little worried about both the 2 and 4 legged vermine as it's usually dusk or after dark by the time we take our walks. I've been carrying my little Colt .380 Mustang, but with it's exposed hammer, it's tough to draw from a pocket, and pretty wimpy in the power department. I'd first thought about a Taurus Judge, but these are far from concealable in warm weather. So Friday, while looking at them, I came across the S&W 38 Bodyguard.


At only 14oz it's really light and easy to carry. A 5 round cylinder keeps it low profile, and the lack of an exposed hammer makes it lightning fast from a pocket. It can take .38 special +P loads, which is much more powerful than my little .380, even with HP. The little built in laser really adds to the accuracy of this small wheel gun. Price was only $447.


The laser is turned on with a small button on the top of the laser unit. Not easy to get to on the draw, and the traditional thumb piece used to open the cylinder, has been replaced by a top mounted slide that is easy to access and use with either hand.



I took it out to the range this weekend, and ran 100 rounds through it. It groups well, about 2\" off hand at 7 yards, but the iron sights, (Fixed) are off by about 4\" high and left of the point of aim. In the target below, the first group was fired iron sights, off hand at about 7 yards and shows at the upper left edge of the green backed \"Shoot-n-see\" Target.


I adjusted the laser using the first group to produce the small far left group, then another adjustment to pull it to the left edge of the 10 ring.

On the down side, this little revolver has a brutal kick, expected as it's so light weight. It is also Double Action Only, (DAO), and the trigger is really hard. I haven't used trigger weights yet, but wouldn't be suprised to see it come in around 8 lbs. Trying to hold this tiny pistol still through the full trigger pull takes some effort, and I found that even I had a hard time not squeezing the whole hand when trying to fire fast from the pocket. Many shots pulled low.

In the long run, this is a very potent gun in a very small package and like most Bellyguns, not designed nor intended for high accuracy. In the event of a late encounter with a would be mugger or gangbanger, I have little doubt that I can hit repeatedly at the close ranges envolved in such exchanges, with or without the laser sight. It also would be more potent against coyotes that are finding their way into our local parks, and who have little to no fear of humans.

As colder weather is coming, I will be able to carry a bigger gun, and thinking ahead about that, I also picked up a Blackhawk Sherpa holster for my Kimber. It's a paddle mount holster that fits 1911's both with and without a light rail, which is great because I have one of each. I worked with this holst a little this weekend as well and once I got used to the retension catch button, found it to be one of the best holsters I've ever used.


This is my handgun family.
From Left, Colt .380 Mustang +2, the new S&W 38BG, Ruger GP100 .357, Rock Island .45 Government, Kimber Tactical Entry II .45 Auto, and the Beretta VerTec 9mm.

Same line up but in their holsters

The pocket holster works with both the .380 and the new S&W. The Ruger, Rock Island and Beretta all have Fobus paddle holsters, and the Kimber in the Blackhawk.

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Don't know about your wife, but I know I feel safer, now. Hope her recovery continues.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

In my earlier post, the one that started this thread, I couldn't have been happier with this small, light weight wheel gun.

HOWEVER, things change. Over the past couple of weeks, I fully read the manual and was shocked to find that the revolver is a fully sealed unit. There was no illistrated parts breakdown of the internal parts, because ONLY S&W is allowed to do any maintenance on the gun. That kind got under my skin a little, as I like to know what is going on inside of a gun, so I'll better understand how to keep it going in a pinch. This is the only S&W I've ever experienced that is built this way, and I am not at all happy with it.

I didn't have a chance to clean it after those 100 rds of ammo, until this weekend. After cleaning, as I do with all of my guns, I ran it through a quich function check. As with a function check with any other revolver, I first cleared the gun, then checked the CYL to ensure it was locked, dry fired it watching for the flash of the firing pin in the head space, and insuring the cyl. rotated and locked in place when fired. Release the trigger and check the cyl. is still locked. Then repeat this for all 5 chambers.

Half way through, the trigger failed to fully return to the forward position. I tried pulling again and nothing. I tried wiggling the cyl, and still nothing happened. I tried to open the cyl, but that was locked up too. I tried thumping the cyl, and frame with my hand and whacking in on a chair 6 different ways from Sunday and still no joy. This is now a 14oz laser aimed paper weight.

With no way into the guts of this thing, I had no choice but to take it back to Gander Mountain, who of course would not take it back, not even in trade, but for $50 shipping was all too happy to ship it back to S&W for repair.

So, once I get it back, it's going up for sale so I can try to get some of my money back, but there is no way in hell I'm depending my life, nor my wife's for that matter, on this little piece of sh!t. My confidence in this model of pistol is totally gone, and my confidence in S&W is really shaken. I've carry S&W's for years, both in the AF and since, but if this is the way they build them these days, I'll stick with Ruger or Taurus from now on. I've owned several Rugers and still have all but one that I've bought over the years. They are built like tanks and last forever.

So, as for my earlier post, \"NEVER MIND!\"

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

I hereby recind that \"safer\" feeling. Other thanyou taking the necessary steps to ensure the family safety.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

Why did you needto pay Gander Mountain to ship it back to S&W? You are able to send and recieve guns you own across state lines to and from the manufacturer and shops for work without dealing with an FFL as long as they are shipped via private carrier.

Hell, when I had issues with my .380 BG, S&W sent me a shipping label and told me to go to FedEx with it. You sir, got played by Gander Mountain, and I would complain to the manager post haste.

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3 Branches down... 2 to go!
Put on your tinfoil hats, the black choppers are coming, and I'm calling them in.
Former DCC OA-10A T/N 80-278

SH!T

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option