sw bodyguard?
- Thread starter jwalle1
- Start date
There are two S&W Bodyguards; one is a semi auto 380 and the other is the 38 special revolver. Which one are you considering?
When I have been in the shop and handling both of these I found the 380 semi auto really iffy when trying to activate the laser. Sometimes it would come on with a single push of the button and many times it would not activate with a single push of the button on the ones that I have tried.
Bluntly I much prefer the aftermarket Crimson Trace units that have a passive on. When you grip the gun it comes on without having to do another manipulation. I run a laser on my two carry guns. Both of them are equipped with CT Laserguards with the passive on feature.
Remember that a laser is a two way pointer. The other thing about the CT is that I can loosen my grip slightly and turn the laser off. I don't want the bad guy to know that I am coming around the corner with a unit that once it is turned on points out your position.
Lasers are a nice tool but they are not the end all. Anything that is battery operated should be looked upon as a asset that can fail at any time. Learn to use not only the laser but the regular sights too.
Buying a piece of hardware is nice but nothing beats training with the tool. Take a firearms class with a local instructor. Check on his references by the way.
Good luck with whatever you find works best for you.
When I have been in the shop and handling both of these I found the 380 semi auto really iffy when trying to activate the laser. Sometimes it would come on with a single push of the button and many times it would not activate with a single push of the button on the ones that I have tried.
Bluntly I much prefer the aftermarket Crimson Trace units that have a passive on. When you grip the gun it comes on without having to do another manipulation. I run a laser on my two carry guns. Both of them are equipped with CT Laserguards with the passive on feature.
Remember that a laser is a two way pointer. The other thing about the CT is that I can loosen my grip slightly and turn the laser off. I don't want the bad guy to know that I am coming around the corner with a unit that once it is turned on points out your position.
Lasers are a nice tool but they are not the end all. Anything that is battery operated should be looked upon as a asset that can fail at any time. Learn to use not only the laser but the regular sights too.
Buying a piece of hardware is nice but nothing beats training with the tool. Take a firearms class with a local instructor. Check on his references by the way.
Good luck with whatever you find works best for you.
The laser on the revolver is still interesting to manipulate. Make sure that she tries it and can turn it on "on demand". Still prefer the passive on off of the CT units.
The Ruger LCR can be purchased with the CT grips.
Bluntly these light weight revolvers many guys think that a little light weight gun is just what the lady needs. These guns are a dream to carry but are very difficult for a new shooter to control the recoil even in 38 special.
It will open your eyes if you can get to a place that rents guns. Have HER shoot a LCR or a Bodyguard revolver, then a Glock 19, compact M&P or Shield, XDS in 9 and let HER make the call. Then again, after the purchase get some training locally.
The Ruger LCR can be purchased with the CT grips.
Bluntly these light weight revolvers many guys think that a little light weight gun is just what the lady needs. These guns are a dream to carry but are very difficult for a new shooter to control the recoil even in 38 special.
It will open your eyes if you can get to a place that rents guns. Have HER shoot a LCR or a Bodyguard revolver, then a Glock 19, compact M&P or Shield, XDS in 9 and let HER make the call. Then again, after the purchase get some training locally.
Yea sorry I forgot to mention that I was referring to only the revolver bodyguard 38 as I have no interest in the semi auto.
The only thing with the crimson trace is that they cause the price to jump a lot and the bodyguard is already at the top of my price range. (450ish)So its prob either the bodyguard with laser or LCR or similar Smith without the laser.
I do like the idea of no external hammer to snag anything so that cuts a few other models out.
As far as shooting other stuff and comparing she has shot my xdm and glock model 22 and a friends m&p, all in .40. She has also shot my friends xds in 45 and a glock 26 in 9mm. She handled them all fine as far as shooting she just doesn't want to have to manipulate a slide. Some of them such as my xdm have pretty stiff slides so that has kind of made her want to go the revolver route where it won't be a concern at all.
The only thing with the crimson trace is that they cause the price to jump a lot and the bodyguard is already at the top of my price range. (450ish)So its prob either the bodyguard with laser or LCR or similar Smith without the laser.
I do like the idea of no external hammer to snag anything so that cuts a few other models out.
As far as shooting other stuff and comparing she has shot my xdm and glock model 22 and a friends m&p, all in .40. She has also shot my friends xds in 45 and a glock 26 in 9mm. She handled them all fine as far as shooting she just doesn't want to have to manipulate a slide. Some of them such as my xdm have pretty stiff slides so that has kind of made her want to go the revolver route where it won't be a concern at all.
crapshoot
Well-known member
If the laser on the revolver is the same as the one on the semi auto, they have a fix for the difficult button engagement. I also agree that light revolvers aren't the most enjoyable to shoot especially for women and performing tactical reloads can be difficult with a revolver. My wife and I both carry the 380 bodyguard. I just installed XS BIG DOT night sights on mine.
If someone cant manipulate the slide on a G19, XD, M&P - the Walther PK380 is the easiest slide of that I am aware of for a small framed person to manipulate.
Crapshoot, do you have a link to the fix tht you are talking about? Thanks for the update on the issue.
I like revolvers, they can do things that semi autos can't, like pressing it up against someone and pulling the trigger. A semi auto's slide will move to the rear and the gun won't fire.
The biggest issue isn't the ammo capacity (I still like semi autos for that) it really is the recoil. My perception is that a LCR with just a standard 38 special recoils more than a G23 (compact 40 S&W) and substantially more than a G26. A G19 is just plain easy to shoot.
Jwalle1, I'll send you a pm. Good luck on your decision.
Crapshoot, do you have a link to the fix tht you are talking about? Thanks for the update on the issue.
I like revolvers, they can do things that semi autos can't, like pressing it up against someone and pulling the trigger. A semi auto's slide will move to the rear and the gun won't fire.
The biggest issue isn't the ammo capacity (I still like semi autos for that) it really is the recoil. My perception is that a LCR with just a standard 38 special recoils more than a G23 (compact 40 S&W) and substantially more than a G26. A G19 is just plain easy to shoot.
Jwalle1, I'll send you a pm. Good luck on your decision.
crapshoot
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: Clay34
Crapshoot, do you have a link to the fix tht you are talking about? Thanks for the update on the issue.
No link. My 380BG laser was very difficult to engage. The gun shop I purchased it from co tacted S&W and they mailed me new buttons free of charge. This helped a lot. I like the fact that the laser buttons are recessed so it won't accidentally turn on like the ones that come factory with the lcp.
Crapshoot, do you have a link to the fix tht you are talking about? Thanks for the update on the issue.
No link. My 380BG laser was very difficult to engage. The gun shop I purchased it from co tacted S&W and they mailed me new buttons free of charge. This helped a lot. I like the fact that the laser buttons are recessed so it won't accidentally turn on like the ones that come factory with the lcp.
coyotewillie
New member
I've got the 442 Airweight with the CT grips. I got the CT grips so I could use it as a nightstand gun. While I like the gun, the trigger pull is heavy, very heavy! I don't know how much comparison there is between the Airweight and the Bodyguard, but I'd have your wife check out the trigger pull before you buy. Greg
Originally Posted By: coyotewillieI've got the 442 Airweight with the CT grips. I got the CT grips so I could use it as a nightstand gun. While I like the gun, the trigger pull is heavy, very heavy! I don't know how much comparison there is between the Airweight and the Bodyguard, but I'd have your wife check out the trigger pull before you buy. Greg
Bluntly, one of the nicest features about the LCR is the fantastic double action trigger pull with the new cam design. The other big plus of the gun is the light weight for a carry piece. The gun is a nice product, just not for a beginner who might be recoil sensitive. Most guys that I know don't like shooting that thing, but it's a dream to carry.
Bluntly, one of the nicest features about the LCR is the fantastic double action trigger pull with the new cam design. The other big plus of the gun is the light weight for a carry piece. The gun is a nice product, just not for a beginner who might be recoil sensitive. Most guys that I know don't like shooting that thing, but it's a dream to carry.
Roger London
New member
Too me, the weak leak on those guns is the laser, unless the ones on the revolvers are better than the ones on the autos. On my 380, the cheesy little contacts under the rubber buttons just fell off. I think gun oil dissolved the the "glue" or whatever was holding them on. S&W replaced it, but I still don't think the lasers they use are anywhere near the quality of a crimson trace. If the laser is the main draw, I think I would look toward something else. The gun itself has been awesome though. I'd probably just ditch my laser if it didn't leave a big unsightly hole in the frame.
crapshoot
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: Roger LondonToo me, the weak leak on those guns is the laser, unless the ones on the revolvers are better than the ones on the autos. On my 380, the cheesy little contacts under the rubber buttons just fell off. I think gun oil dissolved the the "glue" or whatever was holding them on. S&W replaced it, but I still don't think the lasers they use are anywhere near the quality of a crimson trace. If the laser is the main draw, I think I would look toward something else. The gun itself has been awesome though. I'd probably just ditch my laser if it didn't leave a big unsightly hole in the frame.
That's why I installed bigdot night sights. The laser is my back up if needed.
Dove tailed sights is why I picked the BG over the keltec and lcp.
That's why I installed bigdot night sights. The laser is my back up if needed.
Dove tailed sights is why I picked the BG over the keltec and lcp.
coloradocat
New member
My wife runs the 38 bodyguard your talking about,she handles the recoil well but they do have a pretty good pop because of thier weight.the. Laser took her a little practice to get good at turning it on every time but her shooting confidence increased n 5x.she can shoot with sights but when I showed her how to just trust the laser and your bullet will hit. She became so much faster and shot multiple rounds in half the time to shoot with sights.I taught her she needs to know how to shoot without the laser in case of malfunction, but when the laser is on you can see her confidence and how comfortable she is while shooting.people that shoot all,the time don't need lasers but for people that are not all that comfortable I think they are a great confidence boosterP
GC
Well-known member
The .38 Special Airweights don't need +P type loads to be effective for their job designation. Plain old 148 gr. flat faced target wadcutters work well from the little alloy J-frame guns without much fuss. Buffalo Bore has a 150 gr. hard cast full wadcutter at standard velocity of about 850 fps from the 2" barrels and will penetrate deeply and cut a full caliber hole all the way through. That's my pick of a carry load for my M38 S&W.
Originally Posted By: GCThe .38 Special Airweights don't need +P type loads to be effective for their job designation. Plain old 148 gr. flat faced target wadcutters work well from the little alloy J-frame guns without much fuss. Buffalo Bore has a 150 gr. hard cast full wadcutter at standard velocity of about 850 fps from the 2" barrels and will penetrate deeply and cut a full caliber hole all the way through. That's my pick of a carry load for my M38 S&W.
That there is just purdy!
That there is just purdy!