S&W 38 bodyguard or S&W 351 PD?

[plom]

My wife want to replace her old S&W mod 36 Lady smith. She would like something very light and despite our recently bad luck with the last S&W we got, she want a S&W revolver...

I had a S&W Bodyguard 38 but she never had the chance to try it, I replaced it very fast with a model 360.
I have a model 351 cal 22 mag. She like it.
She want a very light model since she is going to carry it in a purse sometimes.

Is there any experiences with the Bodyguard 38? I know this model is quiet new but how is the reliability of this revolver?
She prefer a reliable 22 mag with 7 shots than an unreliable 38...

 

[Technosavant]

I have a BG38.

Generally, it seems to be just fine- mine shot way to the left, and after sending it back to S&W, they replaced it with a new gun that has been just fine (seems there were some where the barrel was installed wrong, wrecking the frame).

The plastic frame, lighter trigger (than the 642), and slightly altered geometry helps it to shoot just as well as the 642- I get the feeling that the 642 has a greater capacity for accuracy, but the BG 38 manages recoil a bit better and thus is every bit as accurate when fired from a regular standing position.

It's a decent little revolver- it is pretty easy to tell it is built to a more value oriented price point than the all metal revolvers, but I have no reservations that it would deliver quite nicely if I had to rely upon it in an extremely adverse social situation.