Anybody have experience w/Charter Guns??

[Duckster]

:rolleyes: I went to the gun store looking for a shotgun, but spotted a .44 Special Charter Revolver. It looks real nice and well made and a great price, around $350. I would use it for a stow gun (Kept in truck for emergency purposes). Does anyone have experience with these Revolvers or knowledge of them. They are made in America:D
Also, does anyone have experience with .44 Special rounds and there effectiveness???

[Whirlwind06]

Most people say that they are a "carry a lot, shoot little gun". Because they don't stand up to heavy use. My .38 went back to the factory twice before I sold it. On the new ones they offer a lifetime warranty. IMO at $30 a time to ship it back pretty soon its not that great of a deal.

[calzoom]

I'm also in the market for a Charter Bulldog.
I do carry lots and shoot little.
My "out the door" price is $300 or less.

I think Charter is a sleeper. Everybody hates em. Kind of like Taurus. So too bad for them too good for me.:neener:

[PX15]

FWIW:

I bought a new Charter Arms Undercover (38 spec) wayyy back in 1970 or so. It was an excellent little revolver. It was as accurate as my Colt D frames, or S&W J Frames. Because of the hammer block you could carry a round under the hammer, safely..

I read where the later incarnations (Charco, etc.) were iffy. I don't know anything about the new revolvers, but it seems $350 is a bit pricy for this firearm.

At $350 you are probably pretty close, pricewise, to a J-frame snubby, and there are a zillion used ones floating around, or even perhaps a nib pre-lock could be found on places such as GunsAmerica.

But, if you want a small 44, Charters probably the best deal in town.

JMOFO

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

[MCgunner]

I had a .38, didn't stay tight, sold it. Want a good quality revolver for bottom dollar, IMHO go with a Rossi.

[MICHAEL T]

I had a undercover from first company and it was a fine pistol. Also had the 44 bulldog . Was a good pistol also as long as you didn't mind the recoil :what: It had plenty of that.
44 spl is a good SD round I would like another.

[calzoom]

Plus one on the Rossi. I see on thier website they are again offering the 357/38 snub. Mine is brushed Stainless. The new one is high gloss. They keep chainging their model numbers, it seems.:uhoh:

[Duckster]

I appreciate your thoughts and input. What is a fair price? I was looking at the .44 SP Bull Dog Model.

[Walkalong]

Love my old .44 Bulldog 3" barrel, no lug, Pachmar grips. Very accurate and dependable.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238967

For more Bulldog stuff with pics.

[GRIZ22]

I have had 2 Charter 38s a "newer" one and an "older" one. The newer one shoots okay buy I think a Taurus is better. The older one is really nice good trigger, etc wwhich I would rate at least equal to a Taurus but not a Smith, Colt, or Ruger. Perhaps the older ones were made better to try and steal more of the Smith and Colt crowd when they were introduced. Just my observation.

A 44 spl that you would shoot in the Charter (the gun might take hotter loads I don't know how you would do) should be better than a 38 not quite a 45. My opinion, you could research charts and studies.

[calzoom]

IF you can get out the door for under $300. I would say it's a deal, for Stainless, NIB.

[Bergerboy]

That price is def. a bit high for a Charter Arms. I've handled their .38's and .357's and they were impressive guns for the money.

[longhorngunman]

SOG has the new .44 bulldogs for $275. I've been interested in one as well, good truck or "bathroom" gun. MKS Supply owns Charter now. Same company that has the Hipoint pistol line, that's a good thing, there Customer service is top notch.

[PX15]

longhorngunman:

If the MKS Supply would support the Bulldogs with the same excellent lifetime warranty, super customer service as they do the HiPoint line of firearms I would buy one myself...:D

I've kinda always liked the Bulldog 44, but the reputation of the firearms manufactured AFTER the original Charter Arms Co. went belly up was iffy at best.

I think a Charter Bulldog backed by HiPoint with a quality lifetime warranty and great customer service would be very desirable..

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

[Whirlwind06]

MKS supply doesn't own either Charter arms or Hi-point. They distribute both of those lines. MKS is a distributer.

[SteelyNirvana]

Have you looked into the new Ruger super redhawk alaskan in .44mag?. I've been throwing around the idea of getting a bulldog also but after seeing the alaskan I think I'll it'd be a better choice. Besides its a 44mag gun which means it will also fire .44special loads, and you know you can trust the ruger name/quality.IMO its kind of like why would you by a gun chambered in .38 instead of by a .357 and having the best of both worlds?.Use the 44spcl for target practice and the 44mag for getting down to business.

Brian Craig

[calzoom]

I sure have considered the Redhawk! Again.

I had one in the early 90's. With the BBL chopped to 3 inches it would be way heavy for me to pack around.

I had a 629 3" Smith as a woods gun for years. Ended up going with a G-29 and never looked back.

I've probably slipped over the edge wanting a Charter. It's just an old fantasy from about "86 or so when I saw my first one with that big hole in the BBL.

Looking at the Ballistics a 357 would do the job. But I have 357's.

And you know how it is when you get a new gun itch!!!:D

[raghorn]

I have a .38 Undercover "2000" model that's functioned flawlessly, it's a great little gun. I've only shot .44 spl from an Anaconda, so I expect that experience was a bit different from what you're asking about.