[mingo]

Charter Arms has a new gun on the market that shoots 40 S&W without moon clips of any kind. The pit bull 40 is actually a 5 shot BUG....however for those that favor this round like me....it's nice to see and on my near term wish list.
Made in America with a lifetime warranty. What do you think?
.The home page also has a gunblast link.
http://www.charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Pitbull_74020.html

mingo

[StrawHat]

Being an ACP fan, I am waiting for the 45 ACP version.

[lathedog]

I got a little excited by the news of the new design that can extract rimless cartridges. Then I thought harder and realized that elimination of the moon clip is a step backwards for me. I really like the fast reload and the ability to keep the ammo clipped together as a convenient packet. Also the brass is in one place to pick up out on the range.

I agree that the 40 s&w revolver is great for someone who wants a same-caliber backup gun for a primary autoloader in 40 s&w. But I would prefer that the charge holes headspace on the case mouth so I could load without clips if I had to, but be able to use clipped ammo as a preferred method.

I have several S&W, a Colt, and a Taurus that use moon clips and they are much easier (my opinion) to load, empty, reload, etc, than other revolvers I own or have owned in rimmed calibers that use single load or speed loaders.

My questions (maybe Charter Arms' website addresses these, but I looked and did not get answers) on the new revolver:
Can it be cut to accept moon clips (ala TK Custom)
Will Safariland and/or HKS make a speed loader for it?

If you buy one please shoot it a lot then post a range report. Shoot it at the range, and use as a BUG in IDPA, then shoot it some more. Work it hard and let us know please.

[2wheels]

lathedog raises something I haven't thought of before... With these guns, can you get speedloaders that will work with these rimless rounds? Obviously I doubt traditional speed strips will work.

I guess not having an easy reload wouldn't matter so much if it's used only as a BUG.

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I want one as a BUG for my XD-40. I'm sure some sort of speed loader will be made eventually for it.

[mingo]

Thanks for taking the time to reply... I'm thinking the same thing as you 2wheels, that as a BUG the need to speed load isn't really a issue, and it's only 5 rounds anyway. Just sayin.

I'm with you too 527...I have a number of S&W 40 auto's and it just makes some good common sense to have a BUG in the same caliber. I know that alot of compact auto's are available in 40. It's just a nice little option for me. Handgunner Magazine said they are available for around $342...so keep your pencil sharp and don't pay over $350 I'm thinkin.

mingo

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Oh yeah, one thing about these guns is that you can reload them therotically by thumbing rounds out of a autoloader's magazine. There's the speed loader you guys are looking for. ;)

[Psa1m144]

pretty cool... may be just the BUG I've been looking for

[EVIL]

These would have been great before I aquired .357s and started reloading for them. This gun was supposed to come out 2 years ago. No speed-loader kind of detracts from carrying this as a primary - and it is on the big size for a bug (G 27 maybe a better option?)

I think the niche is for folks who generally only have one handgun cartridge - .40 S&W and want a revolver in that caliber with out having to get another chambering to stock. The reason I originally bought a .40 S&W is because I couldn't find any ammo for 9MM & .45ACP in the 2008-2009 ammo shortage. I am thinking seriously about divesting myself of this caliber. Maybe I will hang on to one...I don't enjoy shooting it as much as .45ACP, .357 or 9MM.

How do other folks feel about the "felt-recoil" of the .40 in a wheel gun? I find it to be "snappier" than .45ACP in an equivilent-sized semi-auto. For me it, requires more training on follow-ups than other calibers. I am interested to see if some one posts a range report on THR ...