Revolvers usually have stiff triggers.
The little S&W snubbies are known for having a stiff DA trigger pull to ensure reliable ignition. They can be lightened a little, but messing with the action may void your warranty
Ruger spent a lot of engineering time and $ getting that right.
I did handle a double action S&W that had been "worked" many years ago, and could believe I could come to like it. No idea what the work cost, he was just showcasing his work.
Single action revolvers are the only ones that interst me. Semi autos in the 1911 style or Glock are mey self defense preference.
Send it back to Smith & Wesson. It seems to be a common issue.
Your Bodyguard’s trigger pull is working as intended. This is a gun made for use at near contact ranges. Inside of twenty feet. It’s just fine as it is right now for a self defense gun. I have a friend who bought one and didn’t like it. He loaned it to me to get my opinion but I found I actually liked it. He then wanted to make a trade with me but I ultimately turned him down.
If it were ME who wanted a .38 snub-nose revolver for CCW — and I don’t — I’d try to find a vintage 5-shot S&W Model 36 Chief’s Special. There are so many out there in great condition. The ones made in the ‘50s and ‘60s have really nice fit and finish. I’d get the Nickel because it’s a little easier to clean. Their only downside is that they hold their value and people want all the money they can get for them. Only reason I don’t have one is that I don’t want to pay what they cost. Only reason I wouldn’t carry one is that I have a compact .45 that I trust.
My advice to you is to just learn your trigger, double-action only. If there’s one thing to say about someone who chooses a small revolver for self defense is that their pistol is absolutely going to work when needed unless somehow their assailant can grab the cylinder to prevent it from turning. I prefer bigger sidearms because they’re easier to get a handle on when you need to grab it and anyone in a self-defense situation can pretty much count on having to grapple and fight hand to hand with an assailant.
The Dept I use to work for in the 80's had one and the guy could tune a Md 66 real fine ;-)
Ed
26 replies on a technical firearms question at 2:00 am. Only on FR!
try practicing with it.
Show it a picture of Hillary.....
But now I see that Wolff Gunsprings sells reduced power springs, so no lopping required anymore.
https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH%20&%20WESSON/J%20FRAME/cID3/mID58/dID263
What I also found is that the more I shot it, the sweeter the trigger pull became. So shoot it, shoot it, shoot it. Now you don't have to shoot it as much as I shot my 36, but the more the better. While I was stationed in Pensacola(4 yrs), I tried to shoot 50 rds every week.
I know I shot over 5,000 rds thru it. Shooting it really smooths it out.
Was it a used gun when you bought it?
If so pull the grips and give the mechanism a good cleaning and oiling.
I haven’t ever even handled a Bodyguard, but I’ve done a number of action jobs on S&W revolvers in the past. The quick fix to lighten it up a bit is to relieve some of the tension on the mainspring.
On the older DA revolvers, there was a screw in the front of the grip frame that can be backed off and/or have it ground down as the tip presses against the mainspring, at least a K and N frame revolver. I think the bodyguard is a J frame and has a coil mainspring, but I haven’t fooled with one of those in 25 years. I do have a J .22/32 kit gun that I reworked 30 years ago that has a very nice trigger.
You might also see if Wolff springs has a replacement mainspring for it to lighten the trigger.
Keep in mind that if you lighten the mainspring too much, it will misfire due to light primer strikes. I think I just clipped the main spring on my kit gun and it is probably 6 pounds DA.
Another old school practice tip is to dry fire with a coin on the flat of the barrel until you can pull the trigger every time without it falling off. I’ve shot so much both DA and SA that it is just muscle memory for me, 100 rounds a week for 35-40 years will fix a lot of problems.
You are the proud owner of a small Smith and Wesson revolver. As everyone has said, it’s intended to be a short range gun. It’s also intended as a pocket revolver. Every ounce taken off the trigger pull puts you an ounce closer to a negligent discharge in a pants or coat pocket or purse in the case of a female.
There is a cure, though! Get a good set of snap caps and dry fire the gun (in a safe location) 3,000 times. That will smooth up the trigger nicely without lightening it much. It will also help develop the muscles you need to accurately shoot the small S&W.
The other solution is to trade it on a Ruger LCR. Ruger redesigned the revolver trigger just to give a decent pull on the gun.
I’m a Smith guy, so I’m not trying to sell you one. But if you don’t want to do the 3,000 or 4,000 trigger pulls, you are better off with the LCR than a negligent discharge.
bmfl