Smith & Wesson has just upgraded its classic defensive snubby with the Bodyguard 38 2.0.
Snub-nose Smith & Wesson revolvers have been a staple of self-defense for a very long time, and one of the go-to models is the Bodyguard 38. While the last incarnation of this revolver has been discontinued, Smith just gave it a facelift and replaced it with the new Bodyguard 38 2.0.
Firstly, let’s talk about what’s stayed the same. It’s still a 5-shot, double-action only .38 Special +P snub-nose revolver. It still has a 1.875-inch stainless steel barrel, and it still features an aluminum alloy upper frame and polymer grip module to keep the weight at a minimum. The base model weighs a scant 14.2 ounces unloaded. Also, it still has the neat center-mounted ambidextrous cylinder release.
The new features of the Bodyguard 38 2.0 may sound insignificant, but they should make a noticeable difference when shooting it. Namely, the sights have been improved. Now, instead of a simple black front post and a rear gutter sight, the 2.0 has a bright orange dot front sight and a U-notch rear sight integrated into the gutter. Secondly, it features an enhanced boot-style grip that should go a long way to help absorb the recoil from defensive +P loads. Finally, the extractor rod has been improved to help kick out cases a bit more smoothly.
Like its predecessor, the new Bodyguard 38 2.0 is available either with (MSRP: $550) or without (MSRP: $450) an integrated Crimson Trace laser.
For more information, visit smith-wesson.com.
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