S&W Bodyguard .38 - finally bought a revolver!!

[PUCKER]

Well, my quest for a pocket revolver has *finally* come to an end (I do have a mouse gun NAA .22 Mag but I wanted something with a little more kick)!!!

I was doing some online revolver research yesterday evening, I wanted a .38 Special (or a .357) pocket revolver that did NOT have the "infernal internal lock" and I preferred new if at all possible and I really was leaning towards S&W but the lock thing has typically kept me away. I checked out some other brands - same thing, they had the idiot-lock as well, scratched them from the list. During the course of my reading a magazine review I saw some info on the S&W Bodyguard .38 Special +P, it intrigued me due to what it did NOT have, the lock, did I mention that? The price is NICE too. AND it has a laser.

I had a little time to kill last night and Academy is 5 minutes from me. Went to the store, asked the gentleman behind the counter about it and he didn't know anything about it but he said he'd check the inventory listing, it said they had one (it wasn't on display). I asked him if he'd check the safe, he got the store manager to open the safe...sure enough, there it is! Ready for the price? $479.99 - YES, that includes the laser!! You might be able to find it a little cheaper, I read on another gun site where one guy got it for $443 (not local to here though).

BTW - Bass Pro has it advertised in the "Hunting Classic" ad circular for $549, if you want to spend $80 more.

I handled the Bodyguard, it's really nice and LIGHT - I'm expecting the recoil to be a kick, going to start off with plain-jane .38 special and then work up to the +P. I told the manager that I'd buy it. I've never bought a firearm from Academy and it's been a few years since I've dealt with the process - and I recall reading some not-so-great experiences on this forum regarding Academy. This was a smooth deal, it took longer for me to fill out the 4473 (no call in BTW - due to CHL of course) than it did for the transaction to be completed by the staff. I bought a few boxes of ammo, both target and self-defense. There was no "walk of shame/don't come back in" speech, etc. It was one of the most pleasant transactions I've had. Thumbs-up to Academy (in Grapevine).

I plan on going to Bass Pro during lunch today for some target practice. I'll give a range report. Here are my iPhone pics, oh, it also comes in a day-planner type of case (note that it's my knife, it's not part of the deal):

A nice day planner, right?



Surprise surprise!!!


That's what I'm talking about!!!






Here's the info on the gun:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/ ... rrorView_Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith]

Nice price and gun for also having a laser sight. Congrats. Something about revolvers that just makes me smile. I think I like the simplicity of them. Is it the Scandium frame? What kind of rear site is on it?

[PUCKER]

Thank you, according to the S&W site:
Upper Frame Material: Aluminum Alloy
Lower Frame Material: Steel-Reinforced Polymer

Rear site is of the U/notch-type (is that the right description?).

[A-R]

Nice gun!

When can we expect a full range report?

And when do the rest of us get to shoot it?



Seriously, cool gun. Can't wait to read what you think of it.

[PUCKER]

Just got back from Bass Pro (Grapevine). This was my FIRST time to fire a pocket .38, it definitely is a different experience compared to my "luxury" Kimber. My hands are feeling it, that's for sure!

Fired 50 rounds of .38 Special FMJ mostly in 3 shot groups to get the laser zeroed. I shot at 15 feet as this is a "down and dirty belly gun" and not a target pistol. This is my first time to shoot that much with a Double-Action Only pistol. It definitely took some getting used to, the trigger pull is long and hard. Toward the end of the first box I figured out where the "sweet spot" is on the trigger, meaning I pull the trigger right until the break point and then make sure to do a nice squeeze. I was able to get my 3-shot groups to a decent size (1-1/2") and get the gun/laser zeroed. I then moved up to .38 Special +P JHP and fired around 10 rounds. I could feel the +P. I then moved to the .38 Special +P JHP Winchester Supreme Elite Bonded PDX1 that will be my carry round. I fired around 10 rounds of that and I was able to get better 3-shot groupings with the best just under an inch (all 3 rounds touching). I want to state that I am NOT an expert or an experienced revolver shooter, I'm sure that there are folks on here that can make the Bodyguard punch the same hole on a repeated basis. I can do that with my Kimber, but it's going to take alot more rounds before I'm at that point with this pistol, but after seeing what it does to the targets

So, total round count was approximately 70. I wouldn't want to shoot 100+ rounds at a time with this gun, that's for sure. It's not a plinker, it's a serious carry/pocket pistol. I had no failures, every time I pulled the trigger it went BANG! I'm very pleased with it. It's sitting in my front pocket (cargo shorts) right now. It's LIGHT.

Regarding letting others try it, sure thing, you buy the ammo!

I put around 30 rounds through my Kimber Compact Aluminum as well, 20 before firing the Bodyguard and 10 after. WOW - after firing the Bodyguard it was WIERD/STRANGE to fire my Kimber. That is the sweetest shooting pistol I own. Pix below.

This is with .38 Special FMJ, 1" grid.



Shanked a few but then I got into the groove. This is from the S&W Bodyguard snubby shooting .38 Special +P JHP Winchester PDX1.


This is the Kimber Compact Aluminum .45 ACP at 15 yards.

[cougartex]

Congratulations, very nice.

[WildBill]

Pretty good shooting for a 2 inch barrel.

[The Annoyed Man]

Good job, PUCKER. We'll have to go to DPC together some day and compare revolvers. Was this at the Academy at the 26 & the 114, across from the Walmart?

[A-R]

Hey, where's the cylinder release?

[USA1]

Hey, where's the cylinder release?

They put it up top so it's ambidextrous.

[PUCKER]

Thank you, that sounds good. Yes, that Academy.

Good job, PUCKER. We'll have to go to DPC together some day and compare revolvers. Was this at the Academy at the 26 & the 114, across from the Walmart?

[JRG]

Where's the laser? I'm not seeing one on the gun.

Joe

[JRG]

Where's the laser? I'm not seeing one on the gun.

Joe

Nevermind........I found it!!

Joe

[baseballguy2001]

I am considering one, should I get it? Would you recommend it? (I'm thinking of getting it for summer carry)

[PUCKER]

I am considering one, should I get it? Would you recommend it? (I'm thinking of getting it for summer carry)

I like and I recommend it, it's extremely light and very concealable yet still packs a punch. It's not a target shooter/plinker, though. I think it's a great value for the money. I've carried it every day, with a few exceptions, since I bought it. No regrets/cognitive dissonance from this purchase.