NIB Charter Arms Pathfinder 22lr

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Tallball

Tallball

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I have had a lot of trouble trying to find a 22lr short-barreled revolver that I can shoot well.

After several other attempts I bought a Ruger LCRx 22lr for a very reasonable price and couldn't shoot it worth squat.

I own three other Charter Arms revolvers (32 H&R magnum, 44 special, 45acp) and shoot them well. The triggers feel kind of... it's hard to explain... toy-like... mildly cheap and gritty... but they are easy to shoot.

I found a vendor who was closing out their business and getting rid of everything cheap, so I paid $310 for a brand-new Charter Arms Pathfinder in 22lr. The trigger feels good and I think I have finally found a short-barreled 22lr that I will be able to shoot well.

I will probably carry it OWB when I stroll around my BiL's large country property. Does anyone have suggestions for a holster or particularly well suited ammo?

Charter Arms Pathfinder 22lr

Charter Arms Pathfinder 22lr

 
I think I would look at Stingers (or the hottest .22 available) or heavier/slower stuff like some of the 45gr or 60gr stuff that is out there now.

That said, what shoots well in it is key.
 
I compared a Pathfinder to the Ruger SP101 in 22lR, and I can say that the lock-up of the Pathfinder was tighter than the Ruger.
 
Charter Arms made a leather holster for their unercover's that fits my pathfinder really nice. As for ammo, if you find that the pistol shoots low, try some CCI velocitor's . Worked right well at getting mine to shoot point of aim
 
ontarget - If the trigger on mine is typical, I would definitely recommend them. Also, from what I've read and from my personal experience with the 45acp, their customer service is excellent.

Sarge and Ohen - I will check their website for the leather holster. CCI makes my favorite 22lr ammo. I prefer handguns that are able to digest anything well, but if it only wants to eat velocitors or stingers, that's what I'll shoot through it.
 
I may take this thread as s sign.

I was poking around my LGS yesterday with a bit of money in my pocket to spend. I've been thinking about a .22 DA for light walks in the woods. I haven't owned one since I had a Taurus over 10 years back that suffered from light strikes.

They had a 4" CA Pathfinder in the case. I almost bought it but decided I didnt need it right now. Might have to go back today and look again:)
 
I have a Charter Arms 357 (5-shot) & I like it quite a bit. A compact 38/357 w/a 3.5" barrel is very handy. It is accurate, has a good trigger & DA action is smooth. I practice with 38 Sp. WC but I load factory 357 -125 grain JHP when I carry it . I limit practice w/the hot stuff to avoid problems but I contacted Charter Arms & asked them if too many of those hot loads could damage it. They assured me the gun was built to take them & to fire away as much as I wanted. I still don't overdo it but its nice to know the manufacturer feels good about their product.
 
Fiv3r said:
I may take this thread as s sign.

I was poking around my LGS yesterday with a bit of money in my pocket to spend. I've been thinking about a .22 DA for light walks in the woods. I haven't owned one since I had a Taurus over 10 years back that suffered from light strikes.

They had a 4" CA Pathfinder in the case. I almost bought it but decided I didnt need it right now. Might have to go back today and look again:)
Click to expand...

I did the same thing more or less. Picked up the 4.2” charter arms 22 on a whim. Really like it. Only thing I’d do different if I could is make it an 8 shot. Otherwise it’s just perfect. No regrets.
 
I still haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Hopefully I can do so next weekend. I've dry-fired it with snap caps a fair amount and the trigger is pretty good, especially SA. The fixed sights are shaped very well. If it shoots as good as it seems, it will probably be one of my favorite revolvers.
 
I just purchased a CA pathfinder same as the op but mine is used. very happy with it but it shoots low.

I find if I put the seam where the bottom of the front sight meets the barrel centered in the rear sight, it is right on.

I only gave 250$ out the door for mine. I made the mistake of showing it to my mom and she has been trying to trade me out of it.
 
I gave up on double action .22 revolvers last year, they're just not good at any price. Charter Arms may be the sole exception, but I can't accept just 6 rounds of .22 in a revolver that can hold 8 rounds.

I've decided single action is what to get if you want a .22. Reloading any swing out .22 revolver will still be a time consuming process, so the only advantage of them is the DA trigger, but I feel with good training you can get use to pulling the hammer back on a single action after each shot. You could fan the revolver also.

Heritage makes bird's head .22 revolvers with a 3 inch barrel, but only in 6 shot models. I do wish they'd make them in 9 rd models.
 
Interesting comments, TTv2.

I have several models of Smith 22 DA revolvers (63, 317, and 43c), and I am very satisfied with them. And my Ruger LCR 22s are great shooters as well. I am sorry you have not had similar good luck with 22 DA revolvers.

BOARHUNTER
 
Boarhunter said:
Interesting comments, TTv2.

I have several models of Smith 22 DA revolvers (63, 317, and 43c), and I am very satisfied with them. And my Ruger LCR 22s are great shooters as well. I am sorry you have not had similar good luck with 22 DA revolvers.

BOARHUNTER
Click to expand...
It's not that I haven't had any luck, it's just that semi auto .22's have treated me just fine. I picked up a Taurus PT-22 metal frame last year to practice point shooting and as a cheap trainer for the LCP's I have, but I'll tell you that Taurus is really reliable. Some issues here and there, but they appear to be mag or ammo related, not gun related.

For what a .22 revolver offers at twice the price if you want one that holds over 6 rounds, it doesn't eclipse what pistols do. If the goal is low recoil, then .32 S&W Long in a .327 LCR is 6 rounds with bullets that weigh more than twice that of .22 and naturally have better triggers due to centerfire is the way to go.
 
I bought a early charter arms 6" path finder in .22 mag with adjustable sights, it looks like a lighter 3/4 size S&W K .22 revolver. I have had no problems at all with it and its accuret to, it lover cci maxi mags.
 

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I am waiting for the 32 H&R "professional" to be out for a while, and then pick one up. I think it will be my first revolver purchase.

I would hope to see Charter arms offering more revolvers with four and six-inch barrels.
 
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TTv2 said:
Yeah, the SP101 is the worst revolver Ruger makes.
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they are made for a purpose and do it well... a durable concealable gun is not nor has it ever been a "target pistol" the trade offs of small size and geometry n physics hurt light trigger work... and the smaller sizes make them harder to shoot accurately than larger guns.
 
My S&W K22 Masterpiece is outstanding. However, it has a 6" barrel and excellent sights. My main shooting buddy prefers to shoot at seven yards these days (I think it's his eyes), and the K22 is kind of silly at such close range. I think the Pathfinder will do fine for seven yards.

I also ran across a screaming deal on a Pietta SA 22 with a 4 & 5/8" barrel the other day. Apparently it's NOS, because the new ones have ten shots and this one only has six. It was $169 plus shipping and whatever (the new ones are around $450!). It should arrive at my LGS later this week. I already have a nice SA 22 revolver, but again it's overkill for seven yards: a Ruger Single Six with 6.5" barrel and adjustable sights. I think that the Pietta with the shorter barrel and fixed sights will be more reasonable for close range practice.

I agree with TTv2 in that my two excellent 22 semi-autos (a Buck Mark and a Ruger Standard) were cheaper and easier to find than my good 22 revolvers. The Ruger has a shorter barrel and isn't too ridiculous for close range, but on a range trip I like to "warm up" with a 22 semiauto AND a 22 revolver before I move on to larger calibers, and I'm a stubborn cuss. :)
 
Tallball said:
I also ran across a screaming deal on a Pietta SA 22 with a 4 & 5/8" barrel the other day. Apparently it's NOS, because the new ones have ten shots and this one only has six. It was $169 plus shipping and whatever (the new ones are around $450!).
Click to expand...

do you have a link? yes the ruger n brownings make great field guns and are cheaper.... and the reason I did not get a full size DA 22lr revolver until later in life but it does not mean they are not great guns!
 
ridgerunner1965 said:
I just purchased a CA pathfinder same as the op but mine is used. very happy with it but it shoots low.

I find if I put the seam where the bottom of the front sight meets the barrel centered in the rear sight, it is right on.

I only gave 250$ out the door for mine. I made the mistake of showing it to my mom and she has been trying to trade me out of it.
Click to expand...
If you are shooting low, try changing to standard velocity or sub sonic ammo to raise your point of impact. HV ammo leaves the barrel earlier than lower velocity does as your barrel rises under recoil. and consequently strikes the target lower.
 
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