Got a bad S&W 38

[beersngars]

Just had a disappointing experiance with my new S&W Bodyguard 38. I have always carried IWB in a Milt Sparks VM2 with the kydex clips so I could tuck in my shirt over it. Well in the summer heat, it can get a little hot and sticky where the holster rides aginst my skin. In talking to a guy at work, I found out he carries a 642 in his front pocket. Wow, I never saw it. So now I need a J frame for the summer and can use my PPS in my IWB for the rest of the year.

Went to buy a 642 but of course had to look at all the other models and the Bodyguard 38 hit my eye. Not a big fan of lasers but......it's there. Buy a Desantis Nemisis holster and a few boxes of Gold Dot and am off. I got to shoot it this past Saturday and that's where the good feeling wore off. First shot..bang...next, bang...then click. I open the cylinder and see a very light hit on the primer. Close it up and try again. Same thing. Never got thru a full cylinder without at least one misfire. At least twice, the cylinder came out of the gun.The first time I thought maybe I didn't have it fully closed, but it did it
again. I had enough.

Anyone else have these kinds of problems?

Back to the store and swapped it out for a LCR with the Houge grip and night sight.

 

[k0ua]

Just had a disappointing experiance with my new S&W Bodyguard 38. I have always carried IWB in a Milt Sparks VM2 with the kydex clips so I could tuck in my shirt over it. Well in the summer heat, it can get a little hot and sticky where the holster rides aginst my skin. In talking to a guy at work, I found out he carries a 642 in his front pocket. Wow, I never saw it. So now I need a J frame for the summer and can use my PPS in my IWB for the rest of the year.

Went to buy a 642 but of course had to look at all the other models and the Bodyguard 38 hit my eye. Not a big fan of lasers but......it's there. Buy a Desantis Nemisis holster and a few boxes of Gold Dot and am off. I got to shoot it this past Saturday and that's where the good feeling wore off. First shot..bang...next, bang...then click. I open the cylinder and see a very light hit on the primer. Close it up and try again. Same thing. Never got thru a full cylinder without at least one misfire. At least twice, the cylinder came out of the gun.The first time I thought maybe I didn't have it fully closed, but it did it
again. I had enough.

Anyone else have these kinds of problems?

Back to the store and swapped it out for a LCR with the Houge grip and night sight.

Never saw a bad Smith out of the box.. ain't saying it can't happen, just never saw one.. guy that Quality Controlled it, was still hung over on Monday? I dunno..

James K0UA

 

[OrangeToys]

thats odd I've had mine for 6-7months and haven't had a miss fire or anything. Maybe it was the ammo selection?

 

[beersngars]

thats odd I've had mine for 6-7months and haven't had a miss fire or anything. Maybe it was the ammo selection?

I first used some WW white box 158's then tried 5 of the expensive 131gr Gold Dots. Same results. When I went back to the store, the manager said he had one do the exact same things but that was a few years ago when they first came out. Remember guys, the Bodyguard 38 or "BG38" is Smiths first composite frame revolver and shares NO parts with any other "J" frame.

 

[OrangeToys]

S&W should fix that for you no charge I would think. I've only shot the American Eagle 98gr (or close in gr) in mine with no miss fire or jams.

 

[beersngars]

S&W should fix that for you no charge I would think. I've only shot the American Eagle 98gr (or close in gr) in mine with no miss fire or jams.

Oh for sure. I was just so turned off that I wanted to just grab another brand. The Ruger was my second choice.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I had a similar experience with a Taurus .22HMR revolver; I was looking at the gun in the gunstore and it wouldn't function at all. Brand new; sorta turned me off on the Taurus brand.

 

[RoyJackson]

I had a similar problem with a Taurus 85 (also a .38 snubby).
I think the manufacturers lighten up the triggers on some self defense guns (such as your S&W). This is for some buyers (women mostly, I think) who cannot handle a stiff trigger pull.
The problem with lightened triggers is light strikes, such as you're experiencing. Lightening a trigger is NOT, IMHO, a good idea for a carry handgun!!
This is a repair the manufacturer should deal with, not your gunsmith.

Actually, although unfortunate for you, this is a good reminder to get a couple or three hundred rounds through any gun you expect to carry for self defense and do this as soon as possible after buying the gun.

 

[Tollster]

I think you'll like the Ruger, good choice!

 

[OrangeToys]

Oh for sure. I was just so turned off that I wanted to just grab another brand. The Ruger was my second choice.

Does your bodyguard have a long trigger pull? Mine seems like forever. But the more i shoot it seems better