Reviews Bodyguard 38 2.0 Revolver: Smith & Wesson Takes It Up A Notch Steven Kuo July 31, 2026 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. Most of the hype these days — and for many years now — centers around new semi-automatic pistols. Revolvers don’t get the attention that they used to, nor are there as many new products for wheelgunners. Smith & Wesson aims to change that with their latest release, the Bodyguard 38 2.0 revolver. But before we delve deeper, let’s discuss a few common discussion points about the pros and cons of revolvers versus semi-autos for self-defense. The first and most important benefit commonly cited is the simplicity and reliability of revolvers. Indeed, the manual of arms for a double-action-only revolver like the new Bodyguard is very simple, once it’s loaded. Simply point the gun at your target and pull the trigger. A DAO gun has a double-action trigger pull every time, meaning each trigger pull rotates the cylinder, retracts the hammer (which here is encased within the gun), and releases it to discharge a round. It feels the same each time, and there’s nothing for you to worry about besides pulling the trigger, not even the status of your hammer since it’s DAO — versus semi-autos with slides to rack, chambers to check, safeties, decocking levers, and so on. If there’s a dud round, just pull the trigger again and a revolver will move on to the next without delay or self-loathing, unlike your Aunt Julia. In contrast, semi-autos can malfunction in a variety of ways, with associated clearance procedures. This is great, although remember that a dud represents one-fifth or one-sixth of your entire ammo capacity. That brings us to a key disadvantage of revolvers — limited capacity, typically just five or six. Furthermore, that simplicity of operation starts to break down when you need to reload a revolver. Reliably clearing empties then either dropping in loose rounds or using speedloaders requires practice and dexterity to complete smoothly and quickly, especially under stress. Additionally, that double-action trigger on a revolver like the Bodyguard is long and heavy, and recoil goes straight into your hands; you have a learning curve to climb to shoot them well. That said, revolvers, especially snubbies, are a great little package. They’re compact, convenient, comfortable, and concealable. Their rounded shapes look more organic and can slip in a pocket without screaming “gun.” And they embody the concept of point and shoot. Given these considerations, snubnose revolvers are probably best suited for those who really appreciate the unique attributes and form factor and/or for backup guns. BODYGUARD 38 2.0 Caliber: .38 Special +P Capacity: 5 rounds Weight: 14.9 ounces (unloaded) Barrel Length: 1.9 inches Length: 6.5 inches Width: 1.4 inches MSRP: $449 Smith & Wesson has a long history of small snubnose revolvers tailored for concealed carry. The first iteration of the Bodyguard 38, featuring aluminum and polymer construction, came out about 12 years ago. The new version, the Bodyguard 38 2.0, is packed with improvements and refinements, as well as an even lower, affordable price. Bodyguard 38 2.0 38spl +p Dao Revolver – Bodyguard 38 2.0 38 Spl +p 1.875''''bbl 5rd Black $399.00 Brownells.com $399.00 Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure. Chambered in .38 Special +P, the 1.9-inch barrel is stainless steel and threaded into the one-piece forged aluminum upper frame, revised from the previous version. On top are fixed sights, with a high-visibility, non-tritium orange-dot Partridge-style, squared-off front sight held in by two roll pins and a U-notch rear sight integrated into a channel in the frame. Right behind the rear sight is a center-mounted cylinder release, so you can easily open the cylinder with either hand. Simply push it forward and push the cylinder to the left. Speaking of cylinders, it’s stainless steel with a PVD coating and holds five rounds. The extractor is full-length and enhanced from before. The lockwork is unique, rotating clockwise unlike traditional Smiths that go the other direction. Additionally, rather than a hand protruding from the frame to turn the cylinder, a ratchet drive hub in the frame has a five-pointed star that engages with the star on the ejector. Note that this gun has been spared the dreaded internal locking mechanism. The grip is polymer and lengthened for a better purchase with more fingers. It has a bit of give to it and has mild texturing on the sides. It’s removable by drifting a roll pin. There’s not much to maintenance; everything is easily accessible. To fully lubricate the gun, some minor disassembly is necessary. First, ensure the gun is unloaded, then close the cylinder. Drift the trigger guard retaining pin out from left to right. Pivot the front of the trigger guard downward. Now release the cylinder, flip it out to the left, and pull the assembly forward out of the frame. Reassembly is the reverse of the above. GOING HOT First, we checked velocities. Fiocchi 158-grain FMJ averaged 765 fps, Black Hills 145-grain HBWC averaged 688 fps, and Black Hills 125-grain +P JHP cranked it up to 859 fps. The trigger measured 11.5 pounds on our gauge and did us no favors. Fiocchi was actually the most punishing to shoot; combined with the trigger, we were happy to keep our shots in the A zone at 15 yards. We thought we might get +PTSD from shooting the Black Hills +P ammo in this little gun, but it was surprisingly more pleasant than the Fiocchi. It also gave us the best groups, just under 2 inches at 15 yards. Groups with the Black Hills wadcutters spread out a bit. With fixed sights, you need to be mindful of point of impact when selecting ammo. The two Black Hills loads were pretty well aligned; the Fiocchi shot a little high. Honestly, we can’t say the Bodyguard was a great deal of fun to shoot, between the trigger and the recoil. With just five rounds on board, our drills were pretty short. You can stomp on the gas pedal but with such limited capacity, you need to make every round count. And it can certainly do that. Murdered out in matte black, the little snubnose looks great. The contours on the aluminum upper frame are quite attractive, and the ambidextrous cylinder release is very convenient. The sights are nicely done, but we would have liked a tritium insert in the front sight. For an extra $100 at retail, you can opt for an integrated Crimson Trace laser sight. The grip is comfortable, and the increased size is very appreciated. Even bigger would be great for shooting but less so for concealment, so it’s a reasonable compromise. We’d prefer more aggressive texturing over more of the grip, but as is it provides traction without snagging on clothing or tearing up your tender belly. We measured the Bodyguard 38 2.0 at 14.9 ounces unloaded, which is quite light. It’s comfortable to pocket carry and won’t drag your knickers down to your knees. The gun didn’t fit in our J-frame Kydex holsters; users on the Internet have reported mixed results on holster compatibility. We’re sure bespoke fitments will be forthcoming soon. J-frames are popular backup guns for police departments in our area; the new Bodyguard would be great choice for officers like them. Similarly, it’s reasonably priced and practical for civilian use as well for those who appreciate the unique attributes of snubby revolvers. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
