Charter 41 Magnum?

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Ted100

Ted100

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Does anyone have much experience with Charter's 41 Mag? It seems like that would be really hard to hang on to with the massive 44 Magish recoil in such a small frame. Also, wondering if these hold up well? I mean the 41 Mag is a STOUT cartridge to say the least.
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
YES, they will hold up well.

The stories of Charters shooting themselves loose in 50 rounds in bunkum.

They are reliable, well made pistols (at least the new ones) and their customer service is 2nd to none.
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Thanks. I'd never heard the one about CA's shooting themselves loose. Probably started by a S&W owner :)
 
They might hold up. A friend bought a Charter .44 spl. with 4" bbl and adj. sights........I held it and rattled like a can of rocks. Personally wouldn't own one in any caliber.
 
The 41Mag and 45 Colt are built on what is often called the Bulldog XL frame. It is larger and stronger than the 44Special frame and the cylinder is larger. Still has the same size metal grip frame and has solid sides, not hollowed out side plates like S&W frames. It isn't finely polished, but my 45Colt is doing just fine so far with several hundred rounds through it. You definitely know you are launching some big bullets out of a 23oz revolver, though, but I don't mind it!
 
I use to like Charter, but after the .32 Professional disaster with the sights and Taurus quality and service improving I have cooled greatly on the brand. If anyone's set on buying a new Charter, expect any fixed sight model to not shoot to POA, expect a weird failure of some kind, and expect to trade or sell it for something else within a few years.
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
YES, they will hold up well.

The stories of Charters shooting themselves loose in 50 rounds in bunkum.

They are reliable, well made pistols (at least the new ones) and their customer service is 2nd to none.
Click to expand...

Not bunkum. I shot my charter arms bulldog loose. Granted, it did take 200 rounds, but those were 200 rounds of 240gr at 850fps, so not even a hot load.
 
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silicosys4 said:
Not bunkum. I shot my charter arms bulldog loose. Granted, it did take 200 rounds, but those were 200 rounds of 240gr at 850fps, so not even a hot load.
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If an older model, that's a distinct possibility.

Not anything made in the past 10+ years by Charter would NOT shoot loose with 200 mild loads.
 
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My 357 Mag CA revolver is an old model purchased in the 70's and it is still going after a lot of 38 Special and 357 Mag rounds but I am curious about what it means when a revolver is "shot loose"? What exactly happens or how can you tell when a revolver has been shot loose?

Probably wishful thinking but I hope that CA decides to manufacture a compact, well-made and reasonably priced 5 or 6 shot 44 Magnum DA.
 
Ok- don't want to upset anyone....but here we go...I was standing next to a guy shooting target loads in a 44 special bulldog when the thing went blewy....and I got sprayed with pieces as did he....nobody got hurt thank God...... But I am sour on Charter now.... If you are a shooter....buy a better gun....if you want something cheap to carry then buy one .......sorry..... Just my opinion-
 
Weflyfast said:
Ok- don't want to upset anyone....but here we go...I was standing next to a guy shooting target loads in a 44 special bulldog when the thing went blewy....and I got sprayed with pieces as did he....nobody got hurt thank God...... But I am sour on Charter now.... If you are a shooter....buy a better gun....if you want something cheap to carry then buy one .......sorry..... Just my opinion-
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How do you know it was the Charter and not the ammo?
 
WisBorn said:
I have a Taurus snubby 41mag , it is manageable at 30 oz.
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I have one too (Model 415) and have always been surprised (and pleased) as to how controllable it is under the recoil of the .41 Magnum cartridge. The "ribbed" grips and the ported barrel might play roles in making the recoil more manageable. Taurus also made a light weight version of this revolver and my guess is it would make fast repeat shots a little less quick to recover from.
 
SwampWolf said:
I have one too (Model 415) and have always been surprised (and pleased) as to how controllable it is under the recoil of the .41 Magnum cartridge. The "ribbed" grips and the ported barrel might play roles in making the recoil more manageable. Taurus also made a light weight version of this revolver and my guess is it would make fast repeat shots a little less quick to recover from.
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I have one as well and as stated by SwampWolf. The grip and porting really make the gun managable. I went a bit further with mine by dehorning the whole gun and trigger itself. I polished the internal trigger components which made the trigger pull very smooth and per my gauge took off almost a pound on the DA pull. If I could ever find one I really would like to try the Charter Arms. Heres my 415:
HPIM2214.jpg
HPIM2212.jpg
 
I am about 600 rounds into my Bulldog .44, low end to full standard pressure .44 Specials. It was a used gun prior no way to know how many rounds. Looked and felt new. I realized that the screws would loosen during my first two shooting sessions. Cured that and it has been great. Not hard to understand that a 16 oz gun shooting 245 Semi Wadcutters would be subject to quite a bit of vibration as well as recoil. I think some that buy the Big Bore Charter Arms don’t know what they are getting into. It’s really not a gun for a fun day at the range. You shoot enough to keep proficient with it that’s about it. The .44’s specifically are carry guns much like an Airweight .38, they recoil and can get tiresome. I really would have no interest in a .41 Magnum unless it was loaded with Law Enforcement level 900 fps type rounds like a Model 57.

As far as their durability, once understood they are strong and well designed guns. Yes once upon a time quality was questionable, they have turned out a few lemons. Recent manufacture has been really good and customer service is very good. I wonder when I hear about guns that go kaboom. It would take a bit more than anything that comes in a factory box to do that. I can see one maybe getting sloppy or out or time if one manages to shoot it enough. Charter Arms will fix that for you no problem. I ca also see based on my experience someone not checking and screws loosen up enough like the crane screw to cause a problem if they were negligent and didn’t check. Any heavy recoiling firearm needs to check this often, it’s physics. But a kaboom usually means someone made a bomb and not a shootable round.
 
A few years back Charter's Pitbull in 45 ACP was all over GunBroker. I've really gained an appetite for one but now I can't seem to find them at all, not even secondhand. I actually have a lot of 45 ACP rounds right now and no gun to shoot it with.
 
Posted this in the fall of 2019 on another forum.

Picked up a Charter Arms Magnum Pug – 2.5”, 23 oz., 41 Magnum. Don’t plan on reloading for it, so ordered some factory loads – Barnes Vortex 180gr XFB HP, 230gr “Keith” HSM Bear Load, 230gr SWC, 250gr WFN Grizzly. Got out this morning and chronoed 2 ea of the above (3ea Grizzly) – LabRadar muzzle vel at approx. 55 deg F.

180gr Barnes ….… 1,195 fps (21 es)
230gr HSM …….… 1,145 fps (28 es)
230gr Underwood .. 1,263 fps (18 es)
250gr Grizzly …….. 1,169 fps (4 es)
.

The Underwood 230gr had the most recoil and the 180gr Barnes the least. Didn’t put any on paper, but the 180gr Barnes hit the 25 yd plate with a 6 O’Clock hold, all the rest hit quite a bit higher.

Recoil is reasonably manageable – less than .357 Mags in both S&W 360 PD & Ruger LCR. Didn’t seem as snappy as .44 mags in the 329 PD. Trigger finger not impacted but base of thumb and web of hand received moderate impact. HSM offers a “Cowboy” load that is actually fun to shoot.

Also ordered some Federal 210gr Swift A Frame and some 210gr Punch by Grizzly. Will chrono those when they arrive.

Quick update -- chrono results for Fed 210gr Swift A Frame and 210gr Grizzly Punch (two shots only at 45 Deg F - ammo in truck until shot)

210gr Fed Swift A Frame .. 1,191 fps (1 es)
210gr Grizzly Punch …….. 1,239 fps (20 es)

Grizzly Punch is a bit too long to function reliably in the CA.

Picked up a 41 Mag Taurus Titanium Tracker 2 1/2". Velocites are 10 to 40 fps slower than the Charter depending on load. And recoil is noticibly less - grips and ports.

thumbnail_IMG_4123.jpg
.
thumbnail_IMG_4465.jpg
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I haven't shot either one enough to comment on durability.

They are actually fun with light handloads -- 215gr commercial Hitech coated SWCs. I wouldn't subject either of them to a steady diet of Magnum level loads. I shoot the light loads for fun and load three each 135gr cutting edge HPs at 1,200 fps (which hit pretty close to POA at 25 yds) backed up with two each 250gr Grizzly WFN for woods use.

Biggest problem is POA vs POI -- diff can be significant depending on load.

FWIW,

Paul
 
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paul105 said:
Posted this in the fall of 2019 on another forum.

Picked up a Charter Arms Magnum Pug – 2.5”, 23 oz., 41 Magnum. Don’t plan on reloading for it, so ordered some factory loads – Barnes Vortex 180gr XFB HP, 230gr “Keith” HSM Bear Load, 230gr SWC, 250gr WFN Grizzly. Got out this morning and chronoed 2 ea of the above (3ea Grizzly) – LabRadar muzzle vel at approx. 55 deg F.

180gr Barnes ….… 1,195 fps (21 es)
230gr HSM …….… 1,145 fps (28 es)
230gr Underwood .. 1,263 fps (18 es)
250gr Grizzly …….. 1,169 fps (4 es)
.

The Underwood 230gr had the most recoil and the 180gr Barnes the least. Didn’t put any on paper, but the 180gr Barnes hit the 25 yd plate with a 6 O’Clock hold, all the rest hit quite a bit higher.

Recoil is reasonably manageable – less than .357 Mags in both S&W 360 PD & Ruger LCR. Didn’t seem as snappy as .44 mags in the 329 PD. Trigger finger not impacted but base of thumb and web of hand received moderate impact. HSM offers a “Cowboy” load that is actually fun to shoot.

Also ordered some Federal 210gr Swift A Frame and some 210gr Punch by Grizzly. Will chrono those when they arrive.

Quick update -- chrono results for Fed 210gr Swift A Frame and 210gr Grizzly Punch (two shots only at 45 Deg F - ammo in truck until shot)

210gr Fed Swift A Frame .. 1,191 fps (1 es)
210gr Grizzly Punch …….. 1,239 fps (20 es)

Grizzly Punch is a bit too long to function reliably in the CA.

Picked up a 41 Mag Taurus Titanium Tracker 2 1/2". Velocites are 10 to 40 fps slower than the Charter depending on load. And recoil is noticibly less - grips and ports.

View attachment 1060607
.
View attachment 1060609
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I haven't shot either one enough to comment on durability.

They are actually fun with light handloads -- 215gr commercial Hitech coated SWCs. I wouldn't subject either of them to a steady diet of Magnum level loads. I shoot the light loads for fun and load three each 135gr cutting edge HPs at 1,200 fps (which hit pretty close to POA at 25 yds) backed up with two each 250gr Grizzly WFN for woods use.

Biggest problem is POA vs POI -- diff can be significant depending on load.

FWIW,

Paul
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting!!!!
What is the weight of the Taurus?
 
paul105 said:
Velocites are 10 to 40 fps slower than the Charter depending on load.
Click to expand...

Interesting because I thought (and do not know) that the Charter Arms has a 2" barrel; if that's the case, the 1/2" longer Taurus barrel would seem to have the edge. Do you think that the difference might be due to the ported barrel?
 
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