Charter Arms SS polished 357 3 inch barrel

bannockburn said:

Todd



A friend of mine did this to his Ruger Vaquero with the help of Mother's Mag Polish and a lot of elbow grease! Looks like nickel plating but it's polished stainless!

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Do you know if it retains its polished state or does it varnish and require frequent polishing?

ms6852

Do you know if it retains its polished state or does it varnish and require frequent polishing?

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It has remained highly polished all this time, not showing any sign of tarnish. I have an older carbon steel Essex 1911 frame that had a matte blue finish that quickly began to show signs of rusting as I was constantly handling it while working on it. So one day I decided to get rid of the bluing and sanded and then took steel wool to it. After that I used Flitz on it to give it a nice polish. Still in the white and still looking good!

TTv2 said:

I think a lot of it has to do with "This Ruger cost $500/600/700 and is just... okay" while the Charters are simliarly "just okay" but they cost hundreds less, in some cases half as much.

The almost $800 I spent on the .45 Colt/ACP Redhawk was a lot, but I got a lot of gun for my money given the ability to shoot the ACP with moon clips. The $580 I spent on the .327 SP101 was very disconcerting given the lack of ergonomics with it, the HEAVY trigger, the sharp corners on the hammer, trigger guard, inside the frame, and the general inaccuracy of it, even though it's a 4 inch barrel.

It was the first and last SP101 I will ever buy, I see no reason to spend $500-600 on one in .357 when there are plenty of Charters, both used and new, that are available for less and when the LCR is in .22 and 9mm, it makes no sense to pay the same or more on an SP101 with a poor trigger.

I mean, some people will gladly pay more money for something worse, but is all steel. That may make sense for the 9mm given the recoil 9mm can produce in a revolver, but paying $175 more for the .22 vs the 3 inch LCRx is... just dumb. I wish I could think of a better word, but I can't.

Anyway, after that experience with the SP101, I reconsidered getting a 7 shot GP100 and have been looking at the 7 shot Taurus with the spare 9mm cylinder that costs $200 less. The experiences I read of others having with their Rugers and my disappointment in my SP101 has led me to abandon all Ruger double action revolvers that aren't the LCR. Does Taurus make a better revolver than Ruger? No, not pound for pound, but at the prices they sell for, Taurus punches above its weight class while Ruger punches below it.

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TTv2 said:

Even tho I and others have had issues with the Professional, Charter takes more pride in their work than Ruger does. I think we forget that Ruger is a BIG company, they don't have middle management that cares more about the quality than they do about their bosses telling them to care about the bottom line. When I heard stories of guys who worked their during the panic years of supervisors telling people they need x number of guns shipped and to just "let every part go through" was a surprise.

With Charter, they don't have as large a market share as Ruger/S&W/Taurus do and to increase it they have to work hard. That said, if Charter was making revolvers like Ruger/S&W/Taurus are would I buy them over the other three? My answer is it depends.

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thank you both for the information and you're experiences.

jhb said:

what's ruger doing badly? cosmetic and fit and finish stuff, or function stuff or both?

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The same thing as Smith, Charter, Taurus and most manufacturers short of Korth are doing. That is letting some guns slip out of the factory that should have been caught by quality control. It could be any of the issues you asked about. My experience with Ruger has been different than TTv2. I'm one of the "dumb" ones that like my heavier steel(26 oz) SP101 357 snub that absorbs recoil better than a lighter gun. My trigger was heavy and rough out of the box but is now light, smooth and 100% reliable after installing a 10# mainspring and shims very inexpensively. I own two GP 100s with great triggers and function flawlessly. Take with a grain of salt posters that have had a bad experience and decide to vent on the internet.

TTv2 said:

I think a lot of it has to do with "This Ruger cost $500/600/700 and is just... okay" while the Charters are simliarly "just okay" but they cost hundreds less, in some cases half as much.

The almost $800 I spent on the .45 Colt/ACP Redhawk was a lot, but I got a lot of gun for my money given the ability to shoot the ACP with moon clips. The $580 I spent on the .327 SP101 was very disconcerting given the lack of ergonomics with it, the HEAVY trigger, the sharp corners on the hammer, trigger guard, inside the frame, and the general inaccuracy of it, even though it's a 4 inch barrel.

It was the first and last SP101 I will ever buy, I see no reason to spend $500-600 on one in .357 when there are plenty of Charters, both used and new, that are available for less and when the LCR is in .22 and 9mm, it makes no sense to pay the same or more on an SP101 with a poor trigger.

I mean, some people will gladly pay more money for something worse, but is all steel. That may make sense for the 9mm given the recoil 9mm can produce in a revolver, but paying $175 more for the .22 vs the 3 inch LCRx is... just dumb. I wish I could think of a better word, but I can't.

Anyway, after that experience with the SP101, I reconsidered getting a 7 shot GP100 and have been looking at the 7 shot Taurus with the spare 9mm cylinder that costs $200 less. The experiences I read of others having with their Rugers and my disappointment in my SP101 has led me to abandon all Ruger double action revolvers that aren't the LCR. Does Taurus make a better revolver than Ruger? No, not pound for pound, but at the prices they sell for, Taurus punches above its weight class while Ruger punches below it.

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I've considered Charters before but chose Rugers and been happy with them. The heavy trigger my SP101 had is now light, very smooth and 100% reliable after installing a 10# mainspring. The SP101 2.25" at 26 oz absorbs recoil better than a lighter revolver and I shoot it a lot. To say it's "worse" is misleading. It had some sharp edges that smoothed out with some sandpaper by hand. I have two GP100s that have functioned flawlessly through thousands of rounds. You answered your own question"does Taurus make a better revolver"-NO but...it costs less. If someone makes a different choice due to their likes and needs it doesn't make it a "dumb" decision. Some of the seven shot GP100s have had issues, you know that, right?

stonebuster said:

The same thing as Smith, Charter, Taurus and most manufacturers short of Korth are doing. That is letting some guns slip out of the factory that should have been caught by quality control. It could be any of the issues you asked about. My experience with Ruger has been different than TTv2. I'm one of the "dumb" ones that like my heavier steel(26 oz) SP101 357 snub that absorbs recoil better than a lighter gun. My trigger was heavy and rough out of the box but is now light, smooth and 100% reliable after installing a 10# mainspring and shims very inexpensively. I own two GP 100s with great triggers and function flawlessly. Take with a grain of salt posters that have had a bad experience and decide to vent on the internet.

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The thing is, I still consider myself a "Ruger Guy". I've owned more Rugers than any other brand. Most of that has to do with the cost/strength=value that they offer stacked up against a S&W. A GP100 costs less than a 686. Then gun is debateably stronger. Thus, there is value there...to a point. Depending on the criteria one demands to be fulfilled, one could argue the similar points about Charter. It weighs less than a Ruger so it's easier to carry. It costs less than a Ruger at the expense of finish. It has a written warranty beyond an unspoken handshake. It is still servicing guns from 40 years ago despite the company being bought and sold. That's value as well.

I purchased a 4" .327 magnum SP101 a few years ago. It seemed fine, functioned fine, didn't feel as well tuned as an older used 2" .357 I bought a few years before it. Something looked off about it. It was a few days later that i noticed that there was no blending of the barrel and the frame. It was like someone just forgot to do it and the barrel was left square...or maybe it was a frame? I forget as I dont have the gun anymore, but it was not finished. I kept it as-is since it harmed nothing, but for a gun I bought new it was a bit irksome

I've had to send back 3 Ruger pistols. All were taken care of with no questions asked, but still. I'm like 12 for 15 to the good with Ruger. I'm 3 for 3 with Charter. Charter does not make a gun that is better than Ruger. Rugers are hard shooters that CAN last a lifetime. My head for the hills gun is a .357 Blackhawk convertible. However, Charter does make a comparable gun when you take the need for "Ruger Only" ammunition out of the equation.

For someone like me who simply does not have the time or money to shoot a gun loose, gravitating toward a heavy and frankly sometimes clunky monster doesn't make much personal sense. It's like an accountant climbing into his F350 Super Duty to drive for 5 minutes on the smooth freeway to his office to do someone's taxes. He has every right to drive such a truck. I hope he enjoys his awesome truck. I hold no feelings of contempt for his truck choice. However, I will argue that it doesn't serve his needs better than a sedan would.

I'm still a fan of Ruger. I will still buy Ruger. Their single actions are an investment in a bank vault that will last for generations, no doubt. However, I am beyond leery of their budget line and I'm beginning to see cracks in quality in their mid-level line like the GP and SP. It's just a gut feeling of a switch I feel is coming. Slowly, but still coming.

I like the looks of this. Seems like just the thing for .357s loaded to starting levels or hot .38 Spcl loads in 357 brass. Adjustable sights should put POA on POI whatever the load. 3" barrel should permit some precision while still working for CCW.

I've got a 3" SP101 I've never been happy with. It shot very low. Ground the front sight down to where it became almost invisible; still shot too low. Put a Big Dot up front. Now it's at least visible but the sight picture is weird.

CA has been good to me so far. Picked up both a 5 shot and a 6 shot Undercover this summer. Both seem fine and the 5-shot has a phenomenal trigger, both SA and DA. They're not Smiths, but they offer a lot of bang for the buck. Besides, "lifetime gun" doesn't mean as much when you hit your 70s.

Fiv3r said:

The thing is, I still consider myself a "Ruger Guy". I've owned more Rugers than any other brand. Most of that has to do with the cost/strength=value that they offer stacked up against a S&W. A GP100 costs less than a 686. Then gun is debateably stronger. Thus, there is value there...to a point. Depending on the criteria one demands to be fulfilled, one could argue the similar points about Charter. It weighs less than a Ruger so it's easier to carry. It costs less than a Ruger at the expense of finish. It has a written warranty beyond an unspoken handshake. It is still servicing guns from 40 years ago despite the company being bought and sold. That's value as well.

I purchased a 4" .327 magnum SP101 a few years ago. It seemed fine, functioned fine, didn't feel as well tuned as an older used 2" .357 I bought a few years before it. Something looked off about it. It was a few days later that i noticed that there was no blending of the barrel and the frame. It was like someone just forgot to do it and the barrel was left square...or maybe it was a frame? I forget as I dont have the gun anymore, but it was not finished. I kept it as-is since it harmed nothing, but for a gun I bought new it was a bit irksome

I've had to send back 3 Ruger pistols. All were taken care of with no questions asked, but still. I'm like 12 for 15 to the good with Ruger. I'm 3 for 3 with Charter. Charter does not make a gun that is better than Ruger. Rugers are hard shooters that CAN last a lifetime. My head for the hills gun is a .357 Blackhawk convertible. However, Charter does make a comparable gun when you take the need for "Ruger Only" ammunition out of the equation.

For someone like me who simply does not have the time or money to shoot a gun loose, gravitating toward a heavy and frankly sometimes clunky monster doesn't make much personal sense. It's like an accountant climbing into his F350 Super Duty to drive for 5 minutes on the smooth freeway to his office to do someone's taxes. He has every right to drive such a truck. I hope he enjoys his awesome truck. I hold no feelings of contempt for his truck choice. However, I will argue that it doesn't serve his needs better than a sedan would.

I'm still a fan of Ruger. I will still buy Ruger. Their single actions are an investment in a bank vault that will last for generations, no doubt. However, I am beyond leery of their budget line and I'm beginning to see cracks in quality in their mid-level line like the GP and SP. It's just a gut feeling of a switch I feel is coming. Slowly, but still coming.

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I share the same gripe with you on the sharp squared edges of frame where it meets the barrel on SP101 so I filed them like the GPs are from factory. The "clunky monster" , sedan vs super duty truck, I don't get considering the Charter 3" revolver posted and the SP 101 3" 357 both weigh 27 ounces. The GP100 357 4.2" and a Smith 686 4" both weigh 40 ounces. The Ruger's are physically a little bulkier. But what do I know, I drive a 2500HD work truck.

stonebuster said:

The same thing as Smith, Charter, Taurus and most manufacturers short of Korth are doing. That is letting some guns slip out of the factory that should have been caught by quality control. It could be any of the issues you asked about. My experience with Ruger has been different than TTv2. I'm one of the "dumb" ones that like my heavier steel(26 oz) SP101 357 snub that absorbs recoil better than a lighter gun. My trigger was heavy and rough out of the box but is now light, smooth and 100% reliable after installing a 10# mainspring and shims very inexpensively. I own two GP 100s with great triggers and function flawlessly. Take with a grain of salt posters that have had a bad experience and decide to vent on the internet.

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I didn't say that buying the .357 SP101 over the .357 LCR was dumb, I said getting the .22 SP101 over the LCRx was dumb, that there are Charter revolvers in .357 that are $200 less than the SP101, all stainless steel, and have better ergonomics.

stonebuster said:

Some of the seven shot GP100s have had issues, you know that, right?

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I am well aware.

Fiv3r said:

For someone like me who simply does not have the time or money to shoot a gun loose, gravitating toward a heavy and frankly sometimes clunky monster doesn't make much personal sense. It's like an accountant climbing into his F350 Super Duty to drive for 5 minutes on the smooth freeway to his office to do someone's taxes. He has every right to drive such a truck. I hope he enjoys his awesome truck. I hold no feelings of contempt for his truck choice. However, I will argue that it doesn't serve his needs better than a sedan would.

I'm still a fan of Ruger. I will still buy Ruger. Their single actions are an investment in a bank vault that will last for generations, no doubt. However, I am beyond leery of their budget line and I'm beginning to see cracks in quality in their mid-level line like the GP and SP. It's just a gut feeling of a switch I feel is coming. Slowly, but still coming.

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When you put it that way, a feeling that a "switch" is coming... that makes me think of suggestions others have made about a LSR- Lightweight Service Revolver that is basically a GP100 size revolver with the LCR style polymer fire control housing. It would be cheaper to make and have a better trigger out of box and for those who aren't shooting 10,000 rounds a year thru it, it would last forever for them.

I'm still a Ruger fan too, but I'm not gonna give them a pass when they're shipping revolvers that are requiring people to finish themselves at home with sandpaper or files is not acceptable at the price they sell for, not when if Taurus does the same thing those same people would be coming onto internet forums with the same old, tired out phrase, "You get what you pay for."

I foolishly bought a MagPug when I first got my CC permit. After 300 rounds it began doing light strikes in DA. I then bought an increased power mainspring from Wolff. Now the light strikes are fewer, but still occasional. Never again a Charter Arms whatever, period. Can't wait for the locals to offer a turn-in-for gift card program, to get rid of this POC. Therefore, polished finish is the lowest priority in my mind. My succeeding Rugers have all been head and shoulders above CA in reliability.

LOL, I postulated the LSR many years ago. If they're gonna make plastic revolvers, make the ones we want.
Think about a lightweight, medium-frame 10-shot .22lr, 9-shot .22WMR, 8-shot .327/.32, 7-shot .38/.357, 6-shot .44-special...

have some rugers and charters, all work fine for me. this charters been really great, no problems. polished finish is an added plus for me. looks good and makes cleaning easier.

beag_nut said:

I foolishly bought a MagPug when I first got my CC permit. After 300 rounds it began doing light strikes in DA. I then bought an increased power mainspring from Wolff. Now the light strikes are fewer, but still occasional. Never again a Charter Arms whatever, period. Can't wait for the locals to offer a turn-in-for gift card program, to get rid of this POC. Therefore, polished finish is the lowest priority in my mind. My succeeding Rugers have all been head and shoulders above CA in reliability.

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You know that Charter has a lifetime warranty and you can send that in to have them fix the light strikes, yes? Actually, you live like 5 mins away from them, you could drop it off in the morning and get it back by lunch.

Do that before you bash their product for being unreliable.

Hoppes Love Potion said:

LOL, I postulated the LSR many years ago. If they're gonna make plastic revolvers, make the ones we want.
Think about a lightweight, medium-frame 10-shot .22lr, 9-shot .22WMR, 8-shot .327/.32, 7-shot .38/.357, 6-shot .44-special...

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I have no issues with the LCR being polymer, I think it's great. I just think if Ruger is going to continue to have issues with the SP101 and GP100's that they may as well make them like the LCR, just bigger.

The only thing that slightly irks me about some Charters is the polymer grip frame on some of the lower end ones. Now, I have no doubt they will last just fine. The LCR and the like work well with them. Entry level rifles and shotguns have been using them for decades. Whole semiautomatic frames are made out of polymer with much bombast and fanfare.

My gripe is that Charter just glosses over the fact. It's silly for me to get hung up on it as the trigger guard on my Undercover is actually more comfortable than most steel guards.

That said, I really like these high polished versions. They have a glossed up .38 special at the LGS that I have nearly bought about 6 times. I have about 4 .38s. My Undercover is just fine and works better as a coat pocket gun than one with a hammer, but there is something so classic about a polished up snubbie with wood grips. I'm thinking of picking up one of these mag pugs and tossing on some wood grips to dress it up...if I dont buy that .38 first

TTv2 said:

You know that Charter has a lifetime warranty and you can send that in to have them fix the light strikes, yes? Actually, you live like 5 mins away from them, you could drop it off in the morning and get it back by lunch.

Do that before you bash their product for being unreliable.

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They already tried to fix it once. Came back same as when it went out. To me, that's even worse than it going bad in the first place. That's why I want it recorded as being destroyed by some PD. And, one cannot "drop it off" in person, at least not in CT at their place. I have repeatedly refrained from bashing the company in the past (and they deserved it), but this time I couldn't resist.

beag_nut said:

I foolishly bought a MagPug when I first got my CC permit. After 300 rounds it began doing light strikes in DA. I then bought an increased power mainspring from Wolff. Now the light strikes are fewer, but still occasional. Never again a Charter Arms whatever, period. Can't wait for the locals to offer a turn-in-for gift card program, to get rid of this POC. Therefore, polished finish is the lowest priority in my mind. My succeeding Rugers have all been head and shoulders above CA in reliability.

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When was this?

beag_nut said:

They already tried to fix it once. Came back same as when it went out. To me, that's even worse than it going bad in the first place. That's why I want it recorded as being destroyed by some PD. And, one cannot "drop it off" in person, at least not in CT at their place. I have repeatedly refrained from bashing the company in the past (and they deserved it), but this time I couldn't resist.

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seems weird to me. why not send back until right?

It took Rock Island THREE stabs to fix my Officer 1911. Was I bit irritated, yeah. However, they made the attempt to fix it. I ended up selling it in good conscience once it was functional, but I would never bash them for doing their best to make the customer happy. If Charter had straight up refused, sure. However you aren't anything but your time.

Fiv3r said:

It took Rock Island THREE stabs to fix my Officer 1911. Was I bit irritated, yeah. However, they made the attempt to fix it. I ended up selling it in good conscience once it was functional, but I would never bash them for doing their best to make the customer happy. If Charter had straight up refused, sure. However you aren't anything but your time.

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yep. took s&w 3 times once, autopistol though. took sig 2 times on an autopistol. now that I think about it I've been pretty lucky on revolvers.

jhb said:

seems weird to me. why not send back until right?

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Because I bought an SP101 instead, which is still going strong after 2000+ rounds. The CA isn't worth any more of my time. Just sometimes I cannot put up with the occasional kudos which some apply to CA.

Why not have an SP101 AND a functioning Charter? Even if you hate the Charter, you could turn around and sell it for enough money to buy several boxes of ammo to feed your SP or new grips or a couple holsters. Seems a bit pointless to wait to until they do a gun grab, er, a buy back and get next to nothing out of the gun when an email for an RMA number and 5 minutes at Fed Ex to mail the gun back may net you something you could flip for twice what they will give you for dutifully turning your guns to make the world a safer place.

Hell, you could sell it here on the boards. Obviously there are Charter fans here. You wouldn't have to take that much of a bath and could finally be free a gun that vexes you so.

I love my Rugers, but my Charters have a perfect track record. Apples and oranges, I know as my Ruger purchases are 4 times greater than my Charter purchases in number. However, if I had stopped at the first Ruger I sent in and got back of questionable repair (a first gen LCP), I would have stopped at 3 Rugers. That's not counting that my first one, an SR9, had a barrel that suffered from barrel peening after 400 rounds. Even after that, Ruger has probably gotten close to 6 grand of my business. However, they aren't perfect. I won't pretend they are. Charters certainly aren't either, but they are honest in their philosophy of being an affordable working man's gun. The expense of being that is understanding that a budget gun may need to go back.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

beag_nut said:

Because I bought an SP101 instead, which is still going strong after 2000+ rounds. The CA isn't worth any more of my time. Just sometimes I cannot put up with the occasional kudos which some apply to CA.

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not picking on ya or rallying charter, just seemed weird to me to let couple hundred bucks go to waste. so be it. I dont have enough money to let couple hundred go to waste, myself. sure ya could understand that even if doesn't apply to you?

beag_nut said:

Because I bought an SP101 instead, which is still going strong after 2000+ rounds. The CA isn't worth any more of my time. Just sometimes I cannot put up with the occasional kudos which some apply to CA.

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When did you buy it?