S&W 638 Bodyguard: “Contact Close” by Nutnfancy04:33

This gun has been in my blood for a long time. Always wanted one from an earlier age and my love for the Airweight Smith and Wesson .38 Special revolvers, especially the Bodyguard has remained undiminished. But I still approach the review of this Model 638 critically and am candid about its limitations. Its ergonomics are hampered by its sizing for a compact and conceable POU: short sight radius, low contrast sights, small grip, no squared trigger guard (yes I still love those), and stiff out-of-the-box trigger. Also it, like all five-shooters is firepower limited and reloading under stress is very difficult. If reloading is planned, a viable system like the HKS 36 speedloader should be adopted and mastered (speed strip reloads other option). Energetic manipulation of the ejector rods should be practiced as well to aid in more positive empyting of the spent shell casings. Also the small J-frame sould be kept lightly lubricated (see S&W instructions) and kept clean in critical areas (hammer shroud, forcing cone, charging holes to aid exraction). In many ways, the small J-frame Smith is an experts gun or one it which contact distances are planned to be close. Training and practice improves the shooter’s performance tremendously. As shown in the video, the 638 Bodyguard is very accurate when shot well. About 3″ groups are achievable at 15 yards from standing position. The .38 Special +P chambering is adequate with modern loads. Expect recoil to be snappy with these +P loads; more docile and even enjoyable with regular practice loads. Tolerances are kept tight in the 638 and quality throughout is superb. The Smith and Wesson expertise in the revolver format is evident in inspection and use. Also at just 14.4 oz empty, this 638 carries comfortably. Yes several compact autos like the excellent Kahr Arms PM9 or Kel-Tec PF-9 have several more rounds of ammo, are thinner, and sometimes lighter, but there are many that would rather entrust their lives to a Smith revolver. Their reputation for durability, reliability, and value-retention is well-deserved. Deeply entrenched in the American shooting psyche, even hi-tech revolvers like the Ruger LCR have failed to diminish its popularity. These sales create more accessory options for the 638 owner: wide variety of holsters, CrimsonTrace or other grip options (keep it trim!), reloaders, and trigger kits. For maximum accuracy I still prefer the shrouded external hammer Bodyguard Airweights over the Centennial; a single action option still remains attractive for me. Also a good trigger job can improve double action hits in my opinion, keeping sight/aim disruption to a minimum on this lightweight revolver. Terry G at Impact Gun in Ogden, UT achieved perfection on the trigger job shown and discussed with this revolver. It directly translated to higher accuracy in the second stage of my fire testing with the Model 638. For its modest cost, it is definitely worth it. There are many outstanding compact handguns on the market and most are reliable, light, accurate, and easier to reload. But few have achieved the trust, mystique, and track record of the Smith and Wesson Airweight .38 Specials like this Model 638. It defies the odds and continues to serve in dangerous callings throughout the world. /////////////// Trigger job information: Impact Guns, Attn: Terry G (“Yoda G”) from TNP, 2710 South 1900 West, Ogden, Utah 84401, 801-393-2474, Extension 306, EMAIL: [email protected], (phones 888-505-3086 or 801-409-1021 too).//////////////// Great Music, used under license: youtube.com/user/bryanisms