Current Charter Arms compared to S&W and Ruger

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peacebutready

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On another thread a poster wrote "Charter is currently producing the best guns ever to wear that name" Where do current Charter Arms revolvers stand in terms of quality compared to S&W and Ruger?
 
I have friends with Charter revolvers and are pleased with their shooting, but they all complain about fit and finish, I guess you get what you pay for, but they seem to shoot well. I love my Rugers, but I've done some polishing and spring changes to get the guns I want to depend on. DSCN0452.JPG
 
Some years back I was looking for a .38 Special revolver for the wife of a friend of mine. She wanted to get her concealed carry license and didn't like what he had for her to choose from. So I went to the local gun shows and found that S&W still made some of the best small frame revolvers in terms of overall fit and finish, no cylinder play, and a decent trigger. The Ruger offerings were both well made but the LCR was too light and the SP101 was too heavy. At the time I rated Charter Arms just a bit below S&W in overall quality but certainly worth the asking price. Taurus was not in the running being two (or maybe three), notches below Charter Arms; most had considerable cylinder play and heavy, unrefined triggers.
 
My problem is Charter Arms is they only make snubbies. I have and carry a snub nose revolver but they are not something I really desire. I would get far more use out of a full size revolver. I would love to have a Pit-Bull in 40S&W with a 3 to 4 inch barrel. Most of their stuff is 2.5 inches or shorter. They only offer two or three models with a longer that 2.5-inch barrels but not in cartridges that interest me.
 
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I own three Charters .. They are functional... Strong for there weight and size ... They are light .. They go bang ... and Charter offers great customer service...
My two Charter 38spl are both Alumium framed and weigh a scant 13oz ... Both utterly realiable... good triggers ( not great) but consistent ...

image.jpeg image.jpeg
My Charter Bulldog and SP101 357 are very similar in size .. Cept the cylinder of Bulldog is bigger...
Weight of the Bulldog 22oz
the SP101 weighs in at 25oz
 
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They have the factory and the know how and are supporting their investment profitably with a line of inexpensive guns made to a slightly lower standard than Colt, Ruger and S&W. So why not clean up the product some and put it on the market to compete head on with the big boys? Not instead of their current business model but in addition to it. IOW a higher end line under a different name based on the same competent models they already make. I would think that the improvement in fit and finish would be cheap to do compared to the higher value the guns would show in the marketplace. Supposing you could “clean up” a Bulldog for $50 or less of hand labor and quality control expense. Wouldn’t that net $200 more in the market? Seems to me they are letting their manufacturing expertise go to waste.
 
Great thread; Smithwise vs Coltwise, a red dot on a Ruger Old Army, and great honest input!

I have also been thinking about a Charter Arms. Wanted one in .327 but they stopped making those so was looking at a .32 mag Undercoverette (not a great name). However, I'm with mcb in wanting something with a longer barrel as those only come in 2in.

I do appreciate them making some rather unique items. I think it was their Boomer that was in .44 mag with no front sight, DAO, and ported. Not a common design but I appreciate them doing it!

Need to find some in my area to check out soon. Thanks again to the OP for starting this thread and everyone's input as they have been on my mind.
 
A bulldog is on my short list. I want overly impressed with my 642 compared to other revolvers. The Rugers are tanks, but heavy. I'm thinking a CA is in my future.
 
My problem is Charter Arms is they only make snubbies. I have and carry a snub nose revolver but they are not something I really desire. I would get far more use out of a full size revolver. I would love to have a Pit-Bull in 40S&W with a 3 to 4 inch barrel. Most of their stuff is 2.5 inches or shorter. They only offer two or three models with a longer that 2.5-inch barrels but not in cartridges that interest me.
OK, saw this gun but regretfully didn't handle it, and saw it at a shop 1000 miles from home :(.
9mmChartArms.jpg
It's 9mm!, something that would be cheap to shoot as 9mm is the cheapest centerfire ammo going, and no moon clips :what:.
A perfect range gun for me...
I emailed Charter Arms because it doesn't show on their site, they stock and sell them.
I want one but want to handle one before I order/buy it :thumbup:
Anyone else seen/handled this gun?
:D
It's listed on Buds and Guns America
Edit: Link: https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/415003672
 
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image.jpeg I have had this Charter 44spl for several years ... Great revolver...
Charter have alot of offerings
22LR ,22mag ,32 H&R ,38spl,357mag,44spl,45 colt , 41 mag
9mm,40 S&W & 45acp
You just don't see that ... Charter uses 3 frame sizes ..small (j frame-ish) ,Bulldog (Colt D-ish) and XL (K frame-ish )
 
Charter does offer revolvers with 3", 4.2", and 6" barrels. I am looking at the catalog as I type. That doesn't mean that they are easy to find, but they are listed in the catalog.
 
Charter does offer revolvers with 3", 4.2", and 6" barrels. I am looking at the catalog as I type. That doesn't mean that they are easy to find, but they are listed in the catalog.

Do they do any if their rimless revolvers in 3, 4.2 or 6? Specifically the 40S&W?
 
Stand as a good value while still being USA made.

Weight matters for carry.

Charter does with a stainless steel frame what takes S&W to do with an aluminum frame. Full SS doesn’t have a finish to flake off.

Charter does with aluminum what it takes S&W to do with a scandium alloy... Plus you can have a color option. But no .357 in that weight with CA so a good part of the price difference is the .357 Mag ability there I suppose.

Charter does with a 4.2” barrel what a full steel .38 snubby would be from others.

My CA UC is my favorite carry. It has become my only carry. Lol. I have already traded some previous carry’s in.

The money you don’t spend for a higher priced gun you can direct toward a nice holster or two and try a different grip.
 
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I would love to have a Pit-Bull in 40S&W with a 3 to 4 inch barrel. Most of their stuff is 2.5 inches or shorter. They only offer two or three models with a longer that 2.5-inch barrels but not in cartridges that interest me.

I know they make a .44 special with a 4" barrel.


Charter uses 3 frame sizes ..small (j frame-ish) ,Bulldog (Colt D-ish) and XL (K frame-ish )

This is interesting and good to know. Thanks.
 
Actually I had asked Charter about 3" and 4" barrel revolvers just recently. They responded "We only carry one 3 inch barrel, its a 44 Bull Dog model number 34431. Now the 4.2 inch barrel - .44 Bull Dog model number 74442, .357 Mag Pug 73542, Undercover .38 6-shot model number 73860, Pathfinder .22 mag model number 72342, Pathfinder .22 LR model number 72242, Pit Bull .9mm model number 79942. Hope this helps"
 
Actually I had asked Charter about 3" and 4" barrel revolvers just recently. They responded "We only carry one 3 inch barrel, its a 44 Bull Dog model number 34431. Now the 4.2 inch barrel - .44 Bull Dog model number 74442, .357 Mag Pug 73542, Undercover .38 6-shot model number 73860, Pathfinder .22 mag model number 72342, Pathfinder .22 LR model number 72242, Pit Bull .9mm model number 79942. Hope this helps"

Probably has something to do with Canada. There's some rule or law about a barrel needing to be 4.2".
 
I have had several. They are ok but nothing special. Resale value is pretty low. The 38 normally sells around $150-200.
 
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