I got a new pocket carry!

[CC Italian]

Went to the Pasadena gun show and looked at several handguns to replace my Bersa .380cc that I sold to my girlfriend’s father along with all my .380 ammo yesterday. After narrowing it down to a revolver it came down to 4 models. S&W 637 and the hammerless model (I forgot the number), ruger LCR, Ruger SP101 2 1/4 barrel .357 mag and finally the S&W .38 special bodyguard. Well after quickly getting rid of the 637 and the LCR because I couldn't get all three fingers on the grip I was left with the SP-101 and S&W Bodyguard. I really wanted the .357 and I already have an SP-101 in .32 H&R so I know the quality is top notch but in the end I went with the bodyguard. I wanted a pocket carry and the SP-101 was just too heavy for pocket carry. The bodyguard is new in box and I paid 399.99 before tax. Went to Academy and they were selling them for 479.00 before tax just an hour ago. I know this is a new model but it’s a Smith and I know they stand behind their product. Anyways I picked up a box of Hornady 110 grain FTX .38 Special +P and hope to see what it can do at the range tomorrow. Pics to come soon.

[Winchster]

Good deal. I just picked up an LCR in .357 today and the SP101 is in the mail. Congratulations on the new gun.

[maisano]

I have the bodyguard and love the very long trigger pull takes awhile to get use to.

[cougartex]

Congratulations. Safe shooting.

[cbunt1]

Sounds well thought-out to me and it sounds like you're well armed with it.

Enjoy, and let us know how you like that new bodyguard. I find the concept intriguing...don't know if I can justify another snubbie for myself, but I sure do like 'em!

[CC Italian]

A little update, finally took it to the range. I put 60 rounds through it. 50 rounds were Winchester white box 130 grain .38 Special non +P and the other 10 were the Hornady 110 FTX .38 special +P. Interestingly enough even though the +P ammo had more recoil I had tighter grouping. Well I have limited experience with snub noses, my previous being Ruger SP-101 and S&W 642. Surprisingly it is much easier on felt recoil then the 642 but of course much more felt recoil then an SP-101. I shot yesterday and my hand is a little sore today. It feels like shooting 300 rounds of Double Tap through my Glock 20. I don't know how some of you guys practice with a 14 oz .357 mag! I would think your hand would feel like jelly after 50 rounds.

Anyways grouping was tight at 3 yards as expected but quickly goes down hill at further distances. At five yards I had a 3-4in group and 7 yards seemed more like 4-6in group. I tried at 15 yards just to see even though I know this is not meant for a snub nose. Aimed 10 shots center mass and the shots varied about 8in from the center at the most but 2 were dead on, all Targets were silhouettes.

As for the insight laser that comes with the gun I have mixed feelings. I found using the laser little or no help being that the bodyguard has sights with a high enough profile for 7 yards. They were much bigger then my Bersa .380cc sights. Now at night in a dark area I can really see its benefit. The laser is great for quick acquisition of a target or threat. I think acquisition of a threat in your home would be quicker then night sights but the obvious down side is that the BG knows exactly where you are.

Well I set out to replace my .380 Bersa cc with a pocket carry that has acceptable stopping power and is utterly reliable. 5 rounds of .38 special +P should do the job. As for its accuracy I would say that for a close encounter with a BG it would do fine. I would never use this as my main carry but that was not my intention. I wanted a small pocket carry that goes bang every time when I can't dress around my other guns.

[PUCKER]

Congrats! You got a GREAT price too!

[The Annoyed Man]

I don't know how some of you guys practice with a 14 oz .357 mag!

We don't. We practice with a 13 oz .357 mag. 14 oz guns are for wussies.

[CC Italian]

Funny TAM, and to think some of the guys I know complain about a .45 or 10mm with recoil. I can only imagine shooting a .44 mag or one of those .454 Alaskan defenders in a snub nose. God I bet that hurts your hand after only a few rounds!!

[lonewolf]

Hurts me just looking at them........

I just have no desire to fire one of those super dooper hand cannons. Too heavy to throw, either......

[NcongruNt]

A little update, finally took it to the range. I put 60 rounds through it. 50 rounds were Winchester white box 130 grain .38 Special non +P and the other 10 were the Hornady 110 FTX .38 special +P. Interestingly enough even though the +P ammo had more recoil I had tighter grouping.

I've found Hornady's bullets to be very nice for accuracy. The Critical Defense ammo (I'm assuming that's what you're talking about with the FTX bullets) was actually developed specifically for short-barreled handguns, so they will give you a considerable engineering edge for tighter grouping in a snubby over standard plinking rounds. Hornady makes excellent carry ammo, and I keep .380 XTP rounds in my LCP.

[CC Italian]

FTX, yes the critical defense. I also have a little assortment of JHP ammo on the way. 110 grain FTX non +P, 110 grain Winchester silvertip non +P, 125 grain Black Hills +P. I saw that Stephen Camp did a review on snub nose ammo a while back. Found the 110 grain silvertip interesting but ballistics tests I have seen on the internet say 10-11inchs of penetration. That’s a little shy of the FBI recommended. I would like to see what the new Hornady FTX +P and non +P do with the 110 grain.

Edit: Stephen did review the non +P FTX, I forgot and thought it was the XTP only. 850fps from his 1 7/8 snub. They advirtise 1010fps on thier website. I am guessing the +P is good for 900+fps being that it is advirtiese at 1090fps. This review from Gun and Ammo says 818fps for the non +P in a bodyguard. http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/lase ... rds?page=3