[drjoker]

I have never owned a revolver before because all companies manufacturing revolvers actively work against our second amendment constitutional rights. For example, Smith & Wesson supported the Clinton gun ban. Taurus has joined gun control inc in support of the mandatory smart gun effort. Sturm Ruger said, ""no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…," and supported the Clinton gun ban. Colt currently only manufactures single action revolvers. That's why I don't own any revolvers.

However, I recently found out that an all-American company makes revolvers in the USA, Charter Arms. They make a 9mm (9x19) "rimless" revolver that can fire ultra-cheap 9mm ammo. All their guns are also reasonably priced. Their 38 special snubbies go for less than $300! Wow! I plan on buying their 9mm revolver. Is Charter Arms any good? I've never heard of them.

Do any other companies that support the 2nd amendment and manufactures their guns in the USA also make revolvers in 38 special or better calibers? I know that some companies make mini-revolvers in 22 caliber such as North American Arms, but I'm not interested in a mouse gun revolver. Any suggestions in a good defensive caliber revolver besides Charter Arms and is Charter Arms any good?

Thanks.

[Duke of Doubt]

Smith & Wesson is under completely new ownership and management. I hated S&W when they belonged to Metropolitan plc, the British company which also owns Burger King. Their 1990s deals, culminating with the HUD settlement, resulted in a consumer boycott and loss of about half their sales. Facing BK (not of the burger type), the company was sold to a group of pro-gun investors about eight years ago for a SONG. The company basically pulled out of the settlements and has been pro-gun ever since. I've bought vintage S&W guns since the buyout, and love them. I don't like the new internal locks, but mine don't have those. Get a Smith. Or a vintage double action Colt. Or both.

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Smith & Wesson is under completely new ownership and management.

Does that mean they won't be putting any more of those built in key locks in their revolvers?

[aHFo3]

Does that mean they won't be putting any more of those built in key locks in their revolvers?

We Wish...Hopefully they get the message, "NOBODY WANTS A LOCK" I typically forget to lock my house at night. I'm not going to lock my gun.

[MatthewVanitas]

According to this blog, as recently as last month Charter said there's no 9mm revolver in the works: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/20/new-charter-arms-rimless-revolver-carr/

They are, however, supposedly about to field a .45 ACP revolver and a .40 S&W revolver. They also have a very compact .32 H&R revolver (5 rounds, so should be even smaller than a 5-round .38) and just came out with some .327 Federal revolvers.

So far as more "ideologically pure" firearms companies, USFA seems to be pretty serious. They mostly make single-action firearms, and some early 20th C. semi-auto reproductions. I'm mainly waiting for their reproduction of the Colt Woodman with matching Maxim Silencer.

[mnrivrat]

Charter Arms has been around for a good long time and there guns typically are functional and very usable. They may not have the fit and finish of higher priced guns, but they are in service on the belt of many folks and they will do the job.

[hinton03]

In 2009 S&W is offering 3 snubbies without the internal lock. Hopefully we will see more of this in the future.

I personally don't like the lock, but I also wanted to take advantage of the new designs and tgechnologies that S&W is putting forward so I purchased a 327 NG with the lock. It is ugly but no functional problems from my pistol.

[Stainz]

S&W was owned by the British company Tompkins p.l.c. from 1987-2001, when AZ-based Saf-T-Hammer bought S&W. The first ILs appeared the next year. I've bought IL-equipped S&W revolvers since 9/02 - they represent over half my collection - and I haven't had a problem with them. My EDC 'pocket protector', a 642, has an IL.

Charter Arms has gone through several metamorphosis over the years. They are a less expensive alternative... as, to me, were my Rugers. I have fewer handguns these days, but they are what I want - and they are S&Ws. If it's for personal protection you must ask yourself, 'What is my life worth?'.

Stainz

[XD9WBT]

Buy a pre-lock 686 S&W.

[kimbernut]

XD9WBT has the best answer I've heard yet. Snubby if for carry,4" if for all purpose duty,6" or 8" for target work.

[Travis Bickle]

Sturm Ruger said, ""no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…," and supported the Clinton gun ban.

Old man Ruger is gone now, and there's a different bunch in charge of things. Ruger has even recently started selling hi-caps to the general public. I wouldn't feel guilty about buying a new Ruger.

If you still don't want any of your money going to Ruger, S&W, et al., you can just buy used. That way none of your money goes to the company.

[goodtime]

If you like Charter Arms, go ahead and get one. They've earned a good reputation for being reliable self defense guns. They're not range guns made to digest tens of thousands of rounds in a lifetime, but for self defense, they are good, reliable guns. Just make sure to break it in and fire at least a few hundred rounds through it - then it will have a track record with you. If it performs well, it will have earned its stripes, and you'll trust it.
I would suggest buying the 357magnum, because it is more versatile in that it will shoot 38 special, 38 special +p, and 357 magnum, whereas the 9mil will shoot only 9 mil. The 357 gives you the option of shooting mild 38's (with less power than a 9mil) or the very powerful 357 rounds (with much more power than the 9.)

[BlayGlock]

Taurus 605 .357 mag snub.

[Duke of Doubt]

BlayGlock, Dr. Joker is looking for an AMERICAN revolver, not a Brazilian job.

[woad_yurt]

Drjoker:
If it's your first, why not get a regular ol' used K-frame S&W for about $300? Model 10s are everywhere for around that price. You'll have it forever.

[glockman19]

I'd get a S&W 686, 60, 66 or Ruger GP100 or SP101.

I prefer a 4" barrel

[Duke of Doubt]

You guys are forgetting his political motives. I won't own a Ruger either, not even a used one, as another buyer will get a new one for lack of the used one I bought. But S&W has redeemed itself, and is under new ownership and new management, and has been for some time. I'd say "Snuff & Wussie" is rehabilitated.

[moxie]

Ditto what goodtime said. Get one and wring it out. The .357 mag and 44 spl. guns can be had in hammerless versions. Don't think they are being chambered in 9mm, at this time anyway.

[ArchAngelCD]

Dr,
Welcome to the forum. When it comes to gun companies you are going to get many opinions since everyone has different likes and dislikes in guns. I have guns from a few companies and like them all.

If you are going to use this revolver for HD and range work a nice used S&W M686 or Ruger GP-100 would serve you very well. If you're looking for a carry revolver a 3" K frame or even J frame would probably be better. I like several S&W J frames because they are reliable and fairly light. If weight isn't a problem there's nothing wrong with a Ruger SP101 either. Both Ruger and S&W make to quality revolvers and stand behind their products 100% so find something that feels good in your hand and that's the one for you.

[ArmedBear]

Duke, whatever his political motives, Bill Ruger has been dead for almost 7 years. His Prescott ranch is being parceled out and sold off to yuppies. Ruger sells Mini-14 20 round magazines and folding stocks to the public and has been busy developing pistols that are specifically designed to hold over 10 rounds.

And whoever wrote "Sturm Ruger said", there never was a Sturm Ruger. There was an Alexander Sturm, who was Bill Ruger's business partner until he died in 1951. Hence, "Sturm, Ruger & Co." That's why the eagle on red was changed to black at that time: to mourn the death of Bill's friend. Alexander Sturm never heard of Bill Clinton. He didn't live to see Bill Clinton turn 5 years old.

[easyrider6042004@yahoo.ca]

Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do.

I buy used guns because buying used makes the hobby affordable to me.
Buying used doesn't directly benefit the gun manufacturer (it may if the seller buys a new one) whose political leanings may or may not agree with mine.

But if I buy new, I'd buy American firearms because I believe that overall, they represent the best value for my money and I'd like to think that my money is spent in North America where I live.

[Big Bill]

drjoker - are you sure you don't work for Charter Arms?

[mordechaianiliewicz]

I owned a Charter Arms .357 of the post-2007 era. It was a nice weapon. And, if Charter is serious about auto-cartridge revolvers, I would definetly buy one. If they are't making a 9mm variant, I'd like to know why, one in a full-sized 4 to 6 inch bbl would sell like hotcakes.

As for their current offerings, I would say any of them are pretty nice.

My only issue with them is that they aren't more durable. To me, every gn that comes off an assembly line ought to be able to handle atleast 50,000 rounds without breakage of anything other than very minor parts. From what I've heard, Charter Arms are probably going to have lockup and looseness problems around 5,000 rounds.

[SweetKnuckles]

Taurus 605 .357 mag snub.


+1

Google Taurus 605 and read the raves about that little thing.

I'm a big SW fan, but a 340pd selling for $750+ is craysee loco talk.

[ArmedBear]

A 340 is craysee loco.

.38+P is a far more practical round in that size/weight of revolver, and the .38 versions are a lot cheaper, too.:)

[Jed Carter]

I would recommend the Ruger SP101, they can be had for around $400. A little more cash for a lot of gun. You can pay for quality and reliability, or not spend enough, and Pray for it.

[drjoker]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

Since I only shoot 50 rounds per gun per year, having a gun that would last more than 5000 rounds is not important to me. Since I want a small and light gun, the 357 magnum would not be as good as a 38 for me. Thanks for pointing out that Mr. Ruger is dead. I didn't know that as I stopped following the company after he betrayed 2nd amendment supporters. I do not work for Charter Arms. I did not say that they sold great guns. I asked if they sold great guns or bad guns. Thanks for the advice. It looks like I will be buying an aluminum 38 special snubbie with laser sights with my next paycheck at my local gun show.

I've always wanted a revolver, but never owned one for political reasons. Revolvers are reliable. If you have a bad round of ammo that doesn't fire or misfires, you just pull the trigger again (or cock the hammer) to chamber another round. In an auto pistol, a bad round will be complicated to clear as you'd have to rack the slide and if you get a stovepipe, then you're just s.o.l. Now, I can have a revolver thanks to Charter Arms. Yay!

BTW, I currently carry a Glock 19 with a pagerpal when I wear bluejeans and a Kel-Tec P3AT when I wear thin pants. The Kel-Tec is holstered in a inside the pocket holster. The Charter Arms will replace my Glock when I am in a low-crime area. Yea, I know that Glocks are not made in the USA, but I bought it before I became politically conscious. I would probably buy a Kahr arms 9mm if I made the purchase now as it is smaller for concealed carry and made in the USA. You know, a year from now, you will not remember the buck that you saved by buying cheap foreign crap. But you will miss your job after you get laid off because it got outsourced overseas. I don't believe in protectionism because it is unAmerican to limit the FREEDOM of my purchases. However, I do believe in personally making socially conscious purchases. That is what I choose to do with my FREEDOM to buy anything I want.

Much appreciation,
DrJoker.

[little miss]

I just pic up my first revolver;taurus tracker 357 and its a dream;) by the way my name,well its what i named my first HD sporter1200 sweet,

[Duke of Doubt]

ArmedBear: "Duke, whatever his political motives, Bill Ruger has been dead for almost 7 years."

Are you sure he's still dead?

[Stainz]

If your desires are for a CCW, check out the thread here titled '642 Club Part Deux'. Without a doubt, the S&W 642 is a fine choice for a CCW. Mine is in my pocket (Had to go get it - I just changed pants!) as I type. I bought a LNIB 642-2 several years ago - to go with a Mika pocket holster. It supplanted my 296 (Similar looking but larger 5-shot .44 Special.) in a Mika holster as my EDC. As the 296 only carried well in 75% of my britches, and the 642 carried well in all of them, I became a 100% 'carry' person.

BTW, I hope your experience with the KelTec is better than my b-i-l's - which mirrored most of my experiences as a public range RO several years ago. They were not very dependable. When my wife wanted a jean's pocket protector, I sold some a gun, etc, to fund her new Seecamp .32. Whatever you choose to carry, you should have the skills to use it and the faith that it will function reliably in an emergency.

The 642 is +P rated - even if you aren't. BTW, mild 148gr full wadcutters will reliably ventillate internal organs, even if they won't shatter a pelvis. The +P Speer 135gr Gold Dots are well received while my choice, the venerable 'FBI Load', like the Remington R38S12 158gr LHPSWC +P, is a well-documented stopper from a snubby. Remember - it must be carried to be effective. It doesn't have to be really comfortable, either - it's intended use is to save your bacon.

Now, if you want a plinker... get a 617 (.22 LR rimfire)!! I finally did last September. It really is just about as much fun plinking with it as my .38-.44-.45 revolvers - and a lot more frugal to plink with - and I reload!

Stainz

PS New 642/442 revolvers seem to run $420-$450 around here.

[moooose102]

oh, come on now, for your first revovlver, you NEED a 500 S&W MAGNUM! that way, you can prove how macho you are. but seriously, a .22 or (depending on your uses) 38/357 6" revolver would be a great choice. start out w/38 wadcutters, and progress from there. i would stick to a major usa made revolver though. but that is just my opinion.

[bikerdoc]

Used ruger security six, good value for the money.

[Bellevance]

Freedom Arms. (Save your nickels.) ;)

[ArmedBear]

Are you sure he's still dead?


Maybe he faked his death so they could sell off his ranch during the recent Arizona real estate boom.

[hicksdm]

I would find a used GP-100 or SP-101 and not look back. Have had mine for years and wont look back. Ruger makes some fine sturdy guns and I love 'em.

[lev83]

As far as revolvers go I would say it would be hard to beat the older S&W 586/686 in the dash 0-4 range. But if you were looking for a snub nose 38 as a CCW gun I would recommend Rossi without reservation.

[spickus]

"According to this blog, as recently as last month Charter said there's no 9mm revolver in the works:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/20/new-charter-arms-rimless-revolver-carr/

I'm confused..... FTA: The first caliber on offer will be .40 S&W which will be followed by .45 ACP 3-4 months later and 9mm Parabellum (that will also be able to chamber .380 ACP) 3-4 months after that. All will be able to handle +P ammunition.

I guess it will chamber .380 in case you find 9mm too inexpensive to shoot.