Smith & Wesson's J-framed Bodyguard revolver has a production history that spans more than seven decades. It was originally introduced in 1955 as an aluminum-framed, 5-shot .38 Spl. with a shrouded hammer. Various blued-steel and stainless-steel configurations would be introduced over the next half century. But in 2010, the Bodyguard received a major design overhaul, including the incorporation of major components made from polymer. And by 2014, it officially became a member of the company's M&P lineup.
The Bodyguard 38 2.0 incorporates polymer, aluminum and stainless steel components.
In April 2026, Smith & Wesson launched the latest version of this revolver, dubbed the M&P Bodyguard 38 2.0. Like the first version in the M&P series, it uses a mix of stainless steel, forged aluminum alloy and polymer components to keep it light weight and more affordably priced. But key changes have been introduced to improve the shooting experience. Going forward, I'm just going to call this new revolver the Bodyguard for the sake of simplicity.
The latest Bodyguard (right) compared to a classically styled Smith & Wesson Model 632.
This subcompact revolver follows a fundamentally different construction approach compared to the more classically styled, lightweight J-Frames like the Model 637 Airweight shown in the photos. The Airweight has a one-piece aluminum receiver, trigger guard and grip frame. It serves as the housing for the stainless steel barrel, cylinder assembly, controls and the grip.
The textured polymer grip is just long enough to support the little finger of the shooting hand.
The Bodyguard also has an aluminum receiver. However, it sports an integral barrel shroud only. The monolithic trigger guard and grip frame are a separate component made from a lightweight polymer that is attached to the receiver via a pair of support screws. The 1.875" stainless steel barrel is inserted into the beveled, integral aluminum shroud. This “outer barrel” also supports the double-pinned front sight and it has a hollow underlug that shields the ejector rod when the action is closed.
The cylinder release is an ambidextrous polymer slider located below the U-notch rear sight.
The first generation of this revolver left the factory with a typical set of carry revolver fixed sights consisting of a serrated ramp front sight and a milled-in square notch rear sight. For the 2.0 version, the front sight has been upgraded to a large orange dot. The rear sight is still milled into the frame but it is now a U-notch shaped to couch the dot on the front sight. I like this sight configuration because it is quicker to acquire and more intuitive to work with for close-quarters defensive situations. Like the first generation, this Bodyguard is also available with an integrated Crimson Trace laser sight for an additional $100.
The front sight sports a large, easy-to see-round red dot.
Among the more noticeable features of the Bodyguard series is the uncommon ambidextrous cylinder release. Most double-action revolvers have a push or pull release on the left side of the frame. This model has a deeply grooved polymer slider set on top of the frame just behind the rear sight. It's relatively large and deeply grooved making it easy to press forward, towards the muzzle, with the thumb of either hand. Personally, I would prefer to see a slider made from a metallic alloy for added durability but apparently the polymer works well enough to warrant its continued use.
This revolver can be safely fired using hotter .38 Spl. +P loads.
The cylinder assembly is made from stainless steel and treated with a matte black finish that matches that of the aluminum and polymer components. The 5-shot cylinder is fluted but not as deeply and distinctly as some models. When the cylinder swings out, you can see a bullet-shaped, stainless steel detent mounted to the frame that provides added support for the cylinder yoke.
This version of the Bodyguard fits neatly into most existing J-Frame holsters.
The rounded polymer trigger guard houses a deeply curved, smooth-faced steel trigger. As one can surmise from the position of the cylinder release slider, the hammer of this revolver is fully internalized. Because of this, the trigger is double-action-only (DAO), meaning the trigger will have a fairly long and heavy pull each time the gun is fired. However, Smith & Wesson improved the 2.0 version of the Bodyguard trigger to make it much more pleasant to work with. Instead of a rough feel and a cantankerous pull weight of 12 lbs. or more, like some DAO wheelguns, this trigger is smooth and clean with a listed pull of 8 lbs. The trigger of the gun I worked with was just a bit lighter with a pull of 7 lbs. according to a Lyman digital trigger gauge.
The improvements to the trigger and sights were clearly evident during the range test.
When it comes to small revolver grips, hand size, personal preferences and shooting experience levels are all going to play a role in determining whether or not a particular grip is a good fit for you. This Bodyguard's grip gets several things right. Its contouring and size are hand filling without being bulky. It's just long enough to support the little finger of the shooting hand which makes small revolvers like this one easier to control. The smooth (no finger grooves) front strap and side panel texturing are bonuses as well.
Test loads included standard pressure and +P defense-grade loads.
If this grip was made from rubber it would be an ideal fit for the gun. But instead, it is injection molded from a hard, light-weight polymer. It is certainly going to be durable and light weight. But it lacks the grippy purchase rubber provides and it does nothing to mitigate felt recoil. It is adequate for the task but better options are available.
The small, lightweight .38s have always landed on the more peppy side of the felt recoil scale. The Bodyguard is no different. Guns like this would not have the long and storied history that they do if they were unshootable. But they do require a bit more work and dedication to master than some platforms. And ammunition selection is important if you need to manage the recoil.
The best individual 5-shot group of 1.37" was fired using the Inceptor ARX load.
This particular gun proved to be utterly reliable with all of the ammunition tested and experienced no malfunctions in the course of testing. The benchrested performance testing consisted of firing five 5-shot groups into paper targets posted at a distance of 7 yards using three different loads. A Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph was used to measure the average muzzle velocity for 10-shot strings. The ammunition used for this portion of the test included a fairly sedate Federal American Eagle 130-gr. full-metal jacket practice load. The .38 Spl. +P defensive loads topped with lighter bullets, like the Hornady 110-gr. FTX and the Inceptor 77-gr. fluted poly-copper solid, can provide a useful balance of performance with more manageable levels of recoil. Here are the results:
Smith & Wesson's J-Frame revolvers chambered in .38 Spl. have been a mainstay of the American self-defense market place since the 1950s. They are compact, light weight, reliable and easy to use. Some gun gurus have been declaring the demise of small revolvers for personal protection for years now. But the fact that this and other gun makers continue to produce and update them is a clear indicator that they are not going anywhere any time soon. This version of the Bodyguard is currently listed for a suggested retail price of $449. For more information, visit smith-wesson.com.
