Charter Arms Undercover
- Thread starter OrangePwrx9
- Start date
- Status
Buckeye63
Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2018
- Messages
- 2,255
My older Police Six Alumium grip frame ,
my 12 yr old 44 Spl Aluminum
My 42 yr old 357 Aluminum
My 1 yr old 44spl Boomer has a Polymer
My 3yr old Goldfinger (5 shot 38) Polymer
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Wife has one that belonged to her dad, it is her EDC. Great weapon.
JERRY
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,833
wonder why C.A. refuses to identify the material specs?
test drive
Member
Just picked up a Bulldog .44 aluminum grip frame.
Boom Vang
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2003
- Messages
- 206
Charter Arms used to advertise the Undercover - way back in the day - as "the lightest steel-frame 5-shot .38". The "frame" has always been a 2-piece arrangement, consisting of the cylinder frame and the trigger guard/grip frame. This was part of the design to make manufacture less expensive.
The Undercover - the original Charter Arms design - used an aluminium trigger guard/grip frame and a steel cylinder frame. The latter contains obviously the cylinder and barrel, and also the lockwork (trigger, hammer).
The subsequent Undercoverette (6-shot .32 SWL) used the same frame arrangement. The later Bulldog used a larger frame, but of the same 2-piece design, construction and materials.
The material used for the grip frame has varied over the years. When Charter introduced a polished stainless 3" Bulldog many years ago, it used a steel grip frame. The steel grip frame is also used on their current "high polish" models, including a .38 Undercover and the .357 Professional IV. These are amongst my favorite models. Thee additional weight of the steel grip frame makes handling and shooting very nice.
The cylinder frames are usually all steel, except for the "Lite" models which are aluminium.
Charter began using a polymer mould for the grip frame on some models about 10 years ago. See the quote above concerning which models have polymer or aluminium grip frames. I guess cost was the reason. Also, as originally designed, the guns had exposed ejector rods, like the older Colts. When Charter began enclosing the ejector rod with a shrouded barrel, the overall weight of the gun went up, and polymer being lighter they could still claim the "lightest steel frame 5-shot .38". I have a DAO 38 Undercover with an early polymer grip frame and it makes for a lighter gun and it shoots right to the sights. Aesthetically, the earlier polymer grip frames left much to be desired.
I also have the Professional 7-shot .32 H&R is on the "Large" (Bulldog) frame and has the aluminium grip frame
I just picked up the new Undercoverette in .32 H&R Mag which is now a 6-shot built on the same small frame. It has the polymer grip frame. Out of the box the finish of the steel and the trigger pull are excellent. The color of the grip frame is matte silver and a slightly contrasting but good match to the steel parts. Notably, the fit of the grip frame to the cylinder frame at the top of the tang is vastly improved, with no sharp edges of the steel cylinder frame protruding into the shooter's hand.
However, you can see the seam of the mould line on the grip frame tang, and with the grips removed there also is a slight moulding flaw visible at the front base of the frame. Given the modest price of these American-made guns, this is not much cause for complaint, and doesn't interfere with function.
I replaced the rubber-like full size grips, which feel great, with a set of the smaller Charter wood grips. I hope to shoot it this week.
The Undercover - the original Charter Arms design - used an aluminium trigger guard/grip frame and a steel cylinder frame. The latter contains obviously the cylinder and barrel, and also the lockwork (trigger, hammer).
The subsequent Undercoverette (6-shot .32 SWL) used the same frame arrangement. The later Bulldog used a larger frame, but of the same 2-piece design, construction and materials.
The material used for the grip frame has varied over the years. When Charter introduced a polished stainless 3" Bulldog many years ago, it used a steel grip frame. The steel grip frame is also used on their current "high polish" models, including a .38 Undercover and the .357 Professional IV. These are amongst my favorite models. Thee additional weight of the steel grip frame makes handling and shooting very nice.
The cylinder frames are usually all steel, except for the "Lite" models which are aluminium.
Charter began using a polymer mould for the grip frame on some models about 10 years ago. See the quote above concerning which models have polymer or aluminium grip frames. I guess cost was the reason. Also, as originally designed, the guns had exposed ejector rods, like the older Colts. When Charter began enclosing the ejector rod with a shrouded barrel, the overall weight of the gun went up, and polymer being lighter they could still claim the "lightest steel frame 5-shot .38". I have a DAO 38 Undercover with an early polymer grip frame and it makes for a lighter gun and it shoots right to the sights. Aesthetically, the earlier polymer grip frames left much to be desired.
I also have the Professional 7-shot .32 H&R is on the "Large" (Bulldog) frame and has the aluminium grip frame
I just picked up the new Undercoverette in .32 H&R Mag which is now a 6-shot built on the same small frame. It has the polymer grip frame. Out of the box the finish of the steel and the trigger pull are excellent. The color of the grip frame is matte silver and a slightly contrasting but good match to the steel parts. Notably, the fit of the grip frame to the cylinder frame at the top of the tang is vastly improved, with no sharp edges of the steel cylinder frame protruding into the shooter's hand.
However, you can see the seam of the mould line on the grip frame tang, and with the grips removed there also is a slight moulding flaw visible at the front base of the frame. Given the modest price of these American-made guns, this is not much cause for complaint, and doesn't interfere with function.
I replaced the rubber-like full size grips, which feel great, with a set of the smaller Charter wood grips. I hope to shoot it this week.
Last edited:
I have several CHARTER ARMS revolvers and like the 5 shot, 38 Special, Undercover the most. I can pocket carry the Undercover easily and recently ended up with one on each side when I took my car in for service because I had a gun in the shooting bag in the trunk. The Undercover is light enough, that it is comfortable to wear all day in a pocket holster. Even two of them!
I have also shot the Police Undercover 6 shot .38 Special model and still prefer the 5 shot Undercover. The Police Undercover gives you an extra round and a little more weight to absorb recoil, but not enough to make a difference to me. It is also bulkier and I do not consider it a better choice for pocket carry.
Some of the Undercover models that I have shot recently, had a really gritty trigger. The two that I have, the first one I have had for 30 years and had a trigger job, the second one, I bought recently and it still had the wooden "banana" grips on it, has a smooth trigger. I ordered a replacement rubber grip from CHARTER and was in business. It replaced my S&W model 36 for pocket carry.
I love the idea of the .44 Special Bulldog, but as I get older, I dislike the recoil, especially since it is hard to find good .44 Special carry ammo. The old 246 rnl was useless, except for plinking or using at the range. The WINCHESTER Silvertip and CCI Gold Dot loads are good, but trying to find them at a reasonable price is very difficult. Some of the boutique ammo makers have high performance loads in .44 Special, but usually, these have high performance RECOIL to go with it.
Since FEDERAL has brought out the 130 grain jhp HST round, I find it harder to justify carrying a 5 shot .44 Special instead of a smaller 5 shot .38 Special, like the Undercover.
Jim
I have also shot the Police Undercover 6 shot .38 Special model and still prefer the 5 shot Undercover. The Police Undercover gives you an extra round and a little more weight to absorb recoil, but not enough to make a difference to me. It is also bulkier and I do not consider it a better choice for pocket carry.
Some of the Undercover models that I have shot recently, had a really gritty trigger. The two that I have, the first one I have had for 30 years and had a trigger job, the second one, I bought recently and it still had the wooden "banana" grips on it, has a smooth trigger. I ordered a replacement rubber grip from CHARTER and was in business. It replaced my S&W model 36 for pocket carry.
I love the idea of the .44 Special Bulldog, but as I get older, I dislike the recoil, especially since it is hard to find good .44 Special carry ammo. The old 246 rnl was useless, except for plinking or using at the range. The WINCHESTER Silvertip and CCI Gold Dot loads are good, but trying to find them at a reasonable price is very difficult. Some of the boutique ammo makers have high performance loads in .44 Special, but usually, these have high performance RECOIL to go with it.
Since FEDERAL has brought out the 130 grain jhp HST round, I find it harder to justify carrying a 5 shot .44 Special instead of a smaller 5 shot .38 Special, like the Undercover.
Jim
- Status
