[sabre452]

I am looking to purchase a small frame .38 special revolver for CCW. Does anyone have any experience with guns from Charter 2000? Are they made in the US? How would you rate them against the Taurus 85 series? Thanks.

[Hkmp5sd]

Charter 2000 has a very bad reputation. About 20 or so years ago, they were Charter Arms and produced some quality handguns. Since then, they have been purchased and reorganized several times, going from Charter Arms to Charco to Charter Arms again then to Charter 2000. The Taurus would make a better purchase.

If you can find an old pre-'80s era Charter Arms Off Duty, Undercover or Bulldog, go for it.

[bpisler]

I think you would be better off with the taurus model 85,it's one of the few pistols from taurus has the bugs worked out.The charter 2000's go for $229-$249
compared to $269 for the taurus.

[Melvin]

Mine was plain and simply a piece ot crap. The second one the factory sent was only a little bit better,never again.
Melvin

[Jim March]

My comments are here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23562&perpage=25&pagenumber=3

There ARE some good (OLD) ones out there. If it has a case-color hammer, exposed ejector rod and esp. if it's an Undercover 38, it's probably a good gun. Might be VERY good. But you have to know the breed.

[swingcatt]

Charter 2k? Well, they work...sometimes - and that's about all I can say good about them.

I would recommend Taurus over them for lightweight revolvers.

SC

[fastmvr]

I have two of those 25-year-old original Charter Arms snubbies that seem to be quality guns. Bought the Undercover .38 for myself as a CCW piece, then a few months later bought the Undercover .32 (6-shot) for my wife. Both guns are still like new and I doubt if either has had over 100 rounds put thru it. If you can find one of the old ones, I think you will be happy, as I have had zero problems and their size makes them excellent for concealment. And BTW, I still have the original price tag from the .38 ---- $98............ boy how things have changed.

[Stainz]

Sabre452,

Since you are also in/near Birmingham, try the dealer who just moved to Trussville... near the H-D dealer. They have(had) the S&W 637 Airweight .38 new for $339, a pretty good price. That is a bit more than the two choices you mentioned, but worth it.

Stainz

[9x19]

In my experience, the Charter 2000s are not nearly as well made or reliable as the older original model Charter Arms revovlers.

I have four of the older models, two rimfires, two centerfires, and they are all good guns.

FWIW