A new Charter Arms snub or a used S&W snub?
- Thread starter JustKen
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mdauben
Member
Yeah, given the choice I'd go with the used S&W too. For the same price, there's really no comparision in quality.
Soldiernurse
Member
S&W blah, blah, blah...
Yesterday, received my Charter Arms .40 Pitbull revolver & love it. Have NOT gone to the Range, yet.
An Update; Went to the range. Love my Pitbull revolver.
Yesterday, received my Charter Arms .40 Pitbull revolver & love it. Have NOT gone to the Range, yet.
An Update; Went to the range. Love my Pitbull revolver.
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theicemanmpls
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You get what you pay for.
tryshoot
Member
Had charter arms 44 spl. recently(1 yr ago) bought new. Sent back to factory twice. Then sold.
click clack
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+1 for S&W
Onward Allusion
Member
Depends on the gun. Don't listen to a bunch of guys on an Internet forum who have not handled the guns. In general the S&W will be a better buy, but what kind of condition is it in?
Deaf Smith
Member
If the S&W is still tight and shoots strait, sure get the S&W!!
I have an old stainless Charter Undercover. Good little gun, cost me $100 about 10 years ago. Made in Stratford. BUT.... my J S&W .38s are better guns.
Deaf
I have an old stainless Charter Undercover. Good little gun, cost me $100 about 10 years ago. Made in Stratford. BUT.... my J S&W .38s are better guns.
Deaf
The 7 Charter Arms revolvers I've owned have been great. None ever had to go back to the factory.
Charters are very reliable and rarely need repairs. Lemons come in all brands, but expensive brands don't get complained about as much, because people don't want to admit that they paid S&W prices for a turd.
Charters are very reliable and rarely need repairs. Lemons come in all brands, but expensive brands don't get complained about as much, because people don't want to admit that they paid S&W prices for a turd.
theicemanmpls
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I am assuming, and everyone knows what assume means. You state you have "owned" Charter. No offense intended, but why don't you own the Charters anymore?
I have paid S&W prices, have yet to see a TURD.
I own a .44 special Bulldog from 1978. The older ones (1970's) seem to be better quality. I shot a .38 made in the 1990's that scared me. It was a total POS. How many times has Charter changed hands? At least four. Some of the units that came out of the factory are worse then any Tauri.
I sometimes CCW that old Bull dog. I prefer the lighter S&W 442. I don't like to carry heavy firearms. BTW, I will never sell that old Bull Dog. It is a classic.
earplug
Member
One of the gunsmiths I know won't work on a Charter Arms.
They are not great firearms.
They are not great firearms.
I sold 2 of them back in the 90s, when I was in a dire need for money.
I still regret selling them.
I still have the others.
CharCo and Charter 2000 were the crap guns. Charter is currently owned by the original owner.
If you've read the history of Charter, there is a lot of bad blood between the family and the 2nd and 3rd owners/makers. A lot of it has to do with the junk they made and sold as Charters.
The gunsmiths I've known have seen very few Charters come across their counters for repairs. Yep, they must be junk.
Wasn't it Bob Dunlap who either reamed the chambers of a Bulldog out to .44 mag or loaded specials to mag pressures to try to break it and was unable to?
We have a former gunwriter here who loads his .44 specials scary hot and hasn't had a problem with his Bulldog. Must be junk, because he can't break it.
Charters are not hard to work on. Reassembly is a little trickier than a Colt/Smith/Ruger/Taurus/Rossi/etc, because of the one piece frame and the way the grip frame is attached, but it wouldn't deter me from working on them.
Remember, gunsmiths and gun dealers are not impartial judges. They have their prejudices, just like the rest of us.
I still regret selling them.
I still have the others.
CharCo and Charter 2000 were the crap guns. Charter is currently owned by the original owner.
If you've read the history of Charter, there is a lot of bad blood between the family and the 2nd and 3rd owners/makers. A lot of it has to do with the junk they made and sold as Charters.
The gunsmiths I've known have seen very few Charters come across their counters for repairs. Yep, they must be junk.
Wasn't it Bob Dunlap who either reamed the chambers of a Bulldog out to .44 mag or loaded specials to mag pressures to try to break it and was unable to?
We have a former gunwriter here who loads his .44 specials scary hot and hasn't had a problem with his Bulldog. Must be junk, because he can't break it.
Charters are not hard to work on. Reassembly is a little trickier than a Colt/Smith/Ruger/Taurus/Rossi/etc, because of the one piece frame and the way the grip frame is attached, but it wouldn't deter me from working on them.
Remember, gunsmiths and gun dealers are not impartial judges. They have their prejudices, just like the rest of us.
hariph creek
Member
I like S&W. If it has a lock, for me, I say no. It's a principal thing.
theicemanmpls
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I have a 442 with a lock. It works as designed. Pull the trigger, the cylinder rotates, and it go boom. So, whats the problem with the lock? Never heard of the lock turning on its own.
For those who are allergic to locks, I think S&W sells a no lock model. Might be more $$?
Cocked & Locked
Member
Pre-lock S&W J-frames are hard to beat. I've got a few and really like them... especially my 642-1 I bought new 14 years ago.
That being said, one of my favorite little revolvers is this older Charter Arms Undercover. I carry it often...like today. Its setting comfortably in the back pocket of my Carhartt bibs at this momment full of Federal Nyclads. Locks up tight as a Colt when the hammer drops.
That being said, one of my favorite little revolvers is this older Charter Arms Undercover. I carry it often...like today. Its setting comfortably in the back pocket of my Carhartt bibs at this momment full of Federal Nyclads. Locks up tight as a Colt when the hammer drops.
Soldiernurse
Member
Jaymo, guess we're in a club all by ourselves. Went indoor shooting range today. Absolutely love my Charter Arm .40 Pitbull revolver. The single axn (hammer all the way back) 3lb pull is so sweet. Not enough recoil to make a negative difference. Even let one of the RO's shoot it & he really liked it.
No regrets, whatsoever ...
No regrets, whatsoever ...
Deaf Smith
Member
Looks good Cocked & Locked. I bet yours has 'Stratford' stamped on the barrel, like mine.
The old ones are not bad at all.
Deaf
Cocked & Locked
Member
You are right..'Stratford' it is.
jad0110
Member
Well, just to play a little devil's advocate, how many guns get bought and immediately go into a dark drawer somewhere to sit for 30 years without ever firing a shot? Which brands/models are probably more likely to sit in a drawer, percentage wise? My hypothesis is that less expensive models (Charters, Armscors, HiPoints, etc) are somewhat more likely to never be fired as buyers of those guns are typically on a much tighter budget (and ammo cost may be a bigger issue) than Ruger, S&W, Sig or HK buyers.
That said, if the revolver passes inspection (regardless of the brand), it should give plenty of reliable service. Yes, I do prefer my S&Ws, but I've got nothing against Charters. I'd always considered picking up a Bulldog, though I recently found a 3" Taurus 431 .44 special.
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