Budget US made snubbie

I've tried a couple of Charter Arms 38's and they were OK. Nothing to write home about, but they worked fine.

The problem for them in my book, is I can almost always find a used Smith & Wesson 442/642 for less money these days.

But after buying a Ruger LC9s, 9mm on a lark and trying it out, I had to admit to myself that I really don't shoot a small frame revolver worth a hoot. So I gave up on them myself.

All steel guns are great just real heavy for pocket carry. I have a Ruger SP101 that is way tooo heavy but perfect on the belt. I have a Smith 438 which is lighter but I like it too much to pocket carry. I use a Ruger LCR in the pocket or on belt. So light you really forget it's there. I got mine from Palmetto State Armory scratch and dent for $289. I did send it to Ruger for a cylinder replacement as the ejector would twist.

Vintage Charters and new made Charters are GTG,avoid Charco and Charter2000 guns,QC was poor during that era.

I often read and hear how poorly fitted or finished Charters are.My vintage blue Charters are nicely polished and blued,better than Ruger IMHO.Look for guns marked with either no address(very early),Bridgeport or Stratford.

My new made SS Charter Bulldog has a very smooth DA pull and a nice SA release,very accurate with hand loaded full wad cutters.Not a Colt Python but decent.They all shoot accurately.

used S&W is probably your best bet to find easy I traded a old 9MM for a even older S&W model 10 with a 2 inch barrel . I liked the 9 but that is trading They could not hit the ground with a snubby revolver but the 3 dot sights on that 9 was easy to aim .. Many snubby buyers find out that those things shoot great after you learn how to hold and shoot them .. Look at used traded in Smith j frame Ruger SP101 you might just run up on someone that just will not practice with a snubby...

Actually, the first rule is have a firearm that works. Fugggitttabout any Charter Arms product. If you want to pinch pennies, go with a Ruger revolver. It will last long enough for your grandkids to use, if they so desire.

WOW .. great deal Guy!!!

I've carried a Charter Undercover for years, as well as a Taurus 856. Both guns have been shot a whole lot, without a lick of trouble. The Undercover belonged to my dear departed Dad. He once used it to shoot a thug on his back porch.

It was his choice to get this gun, and as a decorated combat vet (Airborne Ranger) he knew what was was what.

I also have a S&W k-frame snub, but it is so pretty I prefer to carry the Charter or the Taurus.

I'm just as safe and secure with any of them. All of them will score 100% in a Mozambique drill at 15 yards - even in my shaky feeble 60-plus year old hands, guided by cloudy eyes behind coke bottle glasses.

I pity the bad guy that figures this old man is an easy mark.

If you're a gamblin' man Cobra makes a 5 shot .38 snub called the Shadow.

The real challenge is finding a gun store with the lack of dignity to sell one.

CA Pistols

I have 3 charter revolvers an off duty from Stratford ct a 9mm bulldog and a 44 bulldog never had a problem with any of them. The factory is about 5 miles from my house went there and had them put new grips on the off duty nice operation there. Cleaned and checked the pistol and put new grips on 19.00 for the grips no charge for service. All these pistols have over 1.5k thru them so far no probs. I had a ruger mini 14 when they first came out that was a POS ! My shotgun shot tighter grps at 20yds then the 14. Then a ruger 10/22 that printed groups like a shotgun, got rid of that. I guess you can have problems with any gun but ive been lucky so far with CA

SVTOhio said:

I'm in the market for a snubbie 38 to try my hand at pocket carry. I'm looking for something US made and keep coming back to Charter arms. I would love it if Ruger would make a full metal framed small revolver but no such luck. And the new S&Ws are a little steep for my pocket book. So I guess I'm asking for reviews on the charter arms options or if im missing any other brands out there.

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All-steel, Ruger SP101 is a 5-shot .357 magnum small revolver, US made. Also chambered for .327 Mag and, of course .38 special will fit in the .357 and I believe they do offer it in .38 Special only as well. Did you miss it? Or did you reject it as being too heavy to qualify under your criteria?

I am rather fond of mine, but the new Kimber looks like it could serve as well.

Lost Sheep

There is nothing at all wrong with Charter Arms today. For decades it went through several different owners one worst than the other. The original owners are back and so is the company. Their guns are very high quality now and at a good price. That said, I do POCKET carry a S&W M442 daily and I'm happy with that revolver. It's light and accurate and can be found for under $400...

I know you are looking for a revolver, but, you could use your Ruger for your primary (OWB), and maybe buy a Ruger LCP for pocket carry or a BUG. The LCPs can be found for under $300 these days if you look around (someone posted a while back that they saw them on sale for $200). My wife has one she carries, and it is easily pocket concealable.

I'm a revolver guy, though I do own and occasionally carry a bottom feeder, and I am looking for one (LCP) to go on sale in my area for $200 so I can get one for a pocket gun.

The other revolver I pocket carry sometimes to go with my LCRX is a hammerless LCR in .22 mag

Just a thought in case you had not considered it.

d

I have a little early-production Charter Arms Off-Duty that actually shoots better than my Model 37 Airweight. Not that the Airweight is bad, mind you.

I just ordered a 442 no-lock for $339.

I opted for a new CA Bulldog a few years ago for $370 out the door. Absolutely love it for what it is. Is it as refined as my 4" 629? Nope. But approaching 2,500 rounds and the little dog barks every single time the trigger is pulled. Trigger pull is very nice, its more accurate than I am and carries nicely. Makes big holes. I would not hesitate to recommend one for a budget minded buyer looking for a big bore snubby. If money's no object, I guess I'd try find S&W or Colt.

guyfromohio said:

I just ordered a 442 no-lock for $339.

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As I said above, that is my every day carry. I hope you like it as much as I do. I have replicac loads for several different factory SD loads so if you reload and tell me what you carry I might have a replica load for you.

I have several small snubs, a S&W 442, Taurus 85CH, and Rossi 461, and used to own a Taurus 605. The recoil of the lightweight .38spl 442 when shooting +P is almost as tough as the 605 was and 461 is when shooting .357mag. A lightweight .38 snub is definitely not a gun you'll want to shoot often.

For occasional pocket carry, I'd suggest going with a heavier steel frame (especially if you are even thinking about shooting .357mag out of it). In fact, I'm going to be selling my 442 and doing that myself (in fact, I may even go with the 26oz 6-shot Rossi for occasional pocket duty). If pocket carry will be a regular method for you, then you will want to go with a light auto or lightweight revolver (I also have a few small autos for when/if I choose to pocket carry for any length of time).

Since you want made in the USA, my first choice would be the Charter Arms Police Undercover. At 20oz it is a little heavy for regular pocket carry, but should be workable with a good holster. What puts it over over the competition for me is the 6-shot cylinder over the competition's 5-shots. New production CA revolvers seem well-liked by owners, and if you do get a bad one, they have a lifetime warranty and top-notch customer service.

Next choice is to ignore your made in USA criteria and go used with the discontinued Taurus 856. The steel frame is a heavy for pocket carry 22.2oz, but may be doable with a good holster. Their lightweight is interesting, it is magnesium. The disadvantage is that it is not +P rated, but it is a 6-shot .38spl J-frame sized revolver that weighs in at 13.2oz.

If you definitely want made in the US and a lightweight revolver, and don't mind 5-shots, it is hard to go wrong with the S&W 442 and 642 with the prices they've been asking the past few years.

My every day carry is a Ruger LCRX in .38 SP. I'm very happy with it. If I had to do it all over again or were in the market for a second .38 snubbie, I'd look at the Smiths as well. Both the Ruger LCR and the Smith 442/642 are solid revolvers that will do the job.

SVT

I didnt like the LC9, did not like the long trigger pull, but I did like the LC9s, unfortunately plastic seems to be the way things are going these days expecially in pistols.

I carry an LCRX or the LC9S, and like I said, I pocket carry the LCR 22mag sometimes.

The LCP is also plastic, but it it small and concealable and with an after market hogue grip (specifically built for the LCP) it feels better in the hand and it allows my wife to handle the recoil of the small pistol.

The sp101 is a nice solid steel revolver, heavy, and absorbs recoil well, the only thing I did not like about mine was the trigger. If it had not been hammerless I may have kept it as it would then have the SA option. I may buy another someday with a longer barrel (I had the 1 7/8), or I may buy a blackhawk or GP100 but those are not pocket carry material.

I CCW everyday, and the LCRX or the LC9s work for me when I do. The small revolvers are pocketable, the micro .380s are lighter and flatter, and I dont like the NAA products, not that they are bad, they just dont fit my hand very well and I did not feel comfortable with the ergonomics and holding onto it while pulling the trigger.

I have Rugers (and recomend them) because for me they have worked and I have not had any issues with them, if I do, everything I have heard says Ruger CS is great. There are other similar revolvers from other US makers, some are cheaper, some not, that are just as good or possibly better, Rugers are just the ones I am familiar with because they are what I have.

Good luck in your search. if you local range has a rental program, I highly recommend shooting before you buy if you can.

d

Ruger SP 101.

Not sure what your budget is, but my pocket carry is a S&W 642 Airweight. Handles +p ammo and very accurate for up close and not so up close. No hammer makes it snag free and trigger is smooth. Almost forget its in my pocket. Feels about like a cell phone.

I have a Charter Arms in stainless and a Ruger LCR .38. Trust me, there's no comparison — the Ruger is ten times the gun, from the trigger to the sights to fit and finish.

SVT... I dont know if you have made your decision yet, but my Charter Arms Police Undercover is excellent. Its one of the very few small 6 shot snubs made today. Charter offers a Spurless DAO hammer for $20ish that makes it snag free. Its an easy swap, and you can go back and forth at will. The Police Undercover is around $340, and I highly recommend it.