Bought a Charter Arms 'cuz they can't be that bad.....

[Mark_Mark]

Me and J-frames don't get along- ouchy!

If I really wanted to carry a revolver, Ive got an SP101 and a Police Positive to choose between.

PP 38 S&W! I need to take mine out! bought for $225

this years New Year Resolution, shoot guns I’ve never shot! No more buy, and more shooting

 

[lee n. field]

...and, wouldn't ya know, it was broke.

Picked it up this little Pathfinder snubby last week, and took it out to the back yard to plink some tin cans. All I got was 'click, click, click.' -almost no primer indents.


Well, they come apart easy enough. Problem was pretty obvious-

They come apart easily. If you took the trigger out (which I see you didn't) they don't go back together so easily.

Not sure what it's made of but it's nonmagnetic. Bronze maybe?

Berrylium copper alloy, I think. Supposed to be unbreakable

Charter doesn't sell them, or at least doesn't list them on their website. $13 in stock at Numrich, though.

I bet they'd sell it if you actually called them and asked.

Their FAQ page has links to parts lists, which show prices for the firing pin.

Oh well, the gun was used and cheap. Fortunately it also looks like a cheap and easy fix.

Well, that part should be easy.

Turns out they are that bad- at least this one was!

The usual place I've seen them break is the transfer bar.

If you called Charter, they'd have sent you a label, and you could get it fixed for free.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

If you called Charter, they'd have sent you a label, and you could get it fixed for free.

I don't doubt it, they have a good CS reputation. But where's the fun in that?

 

[gnappi]

L-O-N-G ago I had a .44 in SS and the "unbreakable" beryllium copper firing pin broke. It took many months to get a replacement because they actually told me ALL parts were being sent to the manufacturing line and there were no spares.

Only AFTER I called and threatened them with a suit they sent me an unplated firing pin and I sold that piece if junk after test firing it. Never again, and YES they ARE that bad.

 

[Riomouse911]

Beryllium copper dust is supposed to be quite toxic if the machinist is improperly protected during manufacturing, but its ok as finished parts like firing pins. (I once had a set of Beryllium copper PING Eye 2 golf clubs.)

Supposed to be a tough metal, I’m surprised to read about these part failures.

I hope it goes together and works for you @NIGHTLORD40K

Stay safe.

 

[Monster Zero]

Once I get this thing fixed, Ill probably run 50 or so rounds through it, to confirm ignition, then bury it with a couple boxes of ammo in a waterproof tube for "just in case."

Don't forget the desiccant.

 

[silicosys4]

I had a Bulldog pug. I loved that gun, but as happens with some romances, she became looser than I could tolerate, and I had to let her go.

I laugh every time I see Buffalo Bore's disclaimer on their website, which was exactly my experience after a few hundred rounds of mid level loads.

This ammunition is for use in ALL 44 SPL and 44 MAG. firearms except for the Charter Arms Bull Dog. No, this ammo won't blow up your Bull Dog, but if you shoot more than a few hundred rounds of this ammo in a Bull Dog, the gun will get looser than it already was, will go out of "time" and stop working.

Heavy .44 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Heavy .44 Special Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have 2 Charters, an Undercover, and a Bulldog. Both very early production models. Never a problem with the Undercover, and the Bulldog is still unfired, NIB.
The UC was my first Snub and probably the gun that started my revolver addiction.

I have an old production Bulldog, "NIB", but it's not NIB anymore. I've shot it quite a bit. Nice gun with no problems, and I trust it for EDC, although only five shots I don't trust as much. ? I carry it in the small town I live near, (pretty much a "Mayberry"/"Maybury") but switch to something else if going to the nearest city.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I had a Bulldog pug. I loved that gun, but as happens with some romances, she became looser than I could tolerate, and I had to let her go.

I laugh every time I see Buffalo Bore's disclaimer on their website, which was exactly my experience after a few hundred rounds of mid level loads.

Heavy .44 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Heavy .44 Special Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

 

[conan32120]

I have an old production Bulldog, "NIB", but it's not NIB anymore. I've shot it quite a bit. Nice gun with no problems, and I trust it for EDC, although only five shots I don't trust as much. ? I carry it in the small town I live near, (pretty much a "Mayberry"/"Maybury") but switch to something else if going to the nearest city.

There might only be 5 but being eye to eye with those big old hollowpoints can change the intent of a 'ner do well' pretty quickly, and in a pinch one could even use one for an ash tray.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

There might only be 5 but being eye to eye with those big old hollowpoints can change the intent of a 'ner do well' pretty quickly, and in a pinch one could even use one for an ash tray.View attachment 1187137

Ha ha yes, there is that! I do have a lot of faith in the cartridge for sure.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I can't speak to the newer offerings from Charter Arms. Back in 1980, I bought a Charter Bulldog in .44 Special. Built well and never any issues. A friend of mine really liked it too, and when he graduated from the police academy, I gave it to him as a gift. He carried it for many years as a backup and still has it.

 

[ak-kev]

I have 4 Bulldogs from 1974 to 1986. I shoot one cylinder full every time I go to the range. I think they are awesome little guns. I carry one twice a day during our dog walks.

 

[drobs]

That's funny because, I also "bought a Charter Arms 'cuz they can't be that bad..." during covid.

The rifling on mine, a 357 Mag Pug was so filled with lead that it wouldn't group, at all. I bought it used, tried shooting it, debated sending it back to Charter Arms for a longer barrel swap. I put it back on consignment at the same shop I bought it from and told the owner, the rifling is packed with lead. He said he was surprised as the previous owner only used it for snake shot.

 

[Jcon72]

As a longtime fan of the .41 Mag I've been tempted at times to pick up one of their .41 snubbies. Just could never quite bring myself to do it since S&W and Ruger sets the bar pretty high.

 

[lee n. field]

I had a Bulldog pug. I loved that gun, but as happens with some romances, she became looser than I could tolerate, and I had to let her go.

I laugh every time I see Buffalo Bore's disclaimer on their website, which was exactly my experience after a few hundred rounds of mid level loads.

Heavy .44 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Heavy .44 Special Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

Buffalo Bore makes a .44 Special "Anti Personnel round" that is explicitly Charter Bulldog safe.

ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 Special Pistol and Handgun Ammo

This load was developed to be used in ALL/ANY 44 SPL firearms including Charter Arms. Our other heavy 44 SPL loads exclude the Charter Arms as suitable for use with them. Due to popular request to make a potent defensive load in 44 SPL that can be fired in ALL 44 SPL or 44 MAG. firearms, we’ve developed this hard cast Wadcutter 200gr. load. It utilizes a “low flash” powder as nearly all defensive shooting in the US occur in low light when the criminal element is at work and it would place the shooter in a defenseless position if he or she were blinded by the flash of their own gun fire on the first shot.

It is, of course, being boutique ammo, expensive. It got me looking into handloading .44 Special wadcutters.

(The magic formula for the Bulldog is 4.8 grains Bullseye behind a Matt's Bullets 200 grain .44 wadcutter. Feels very much like shooting a .45 ACP. Drops plates "with alacrity".)

 

[JERRY]

Buffalo Bore makes a .44 Special "Anti Personnel round" that is explicitly Charter Bulldog safe.

ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 Special Pistol and Handgun Ammo


It is, of course, being boutique ammo, expensive. It got me looking into handloading .44 Special wadcutters.

(The magic formula for the Bulldog is 4.8 grains Bullseye behind a Matt's Bullets 200 grain .44 wadcutter. Feels very much like shooting a .45 ACP. Drops plates "with alacrity".)

Try 5.3gr of Unique under a 240gr. swc. It was my favorite bulldog load when I had one.

 

[C0untZer0]

Beryllium bronze has excellent tensile strength - up to 200,000 psi. The whole thing is tiny but the backend is a broad anvil shape that can withstand being struck but the pin in the front is not going to stand up to being hammered against steel.

 

[lee n. field]

Beryllium bronze has excellent tensile strength - up to 200,000 psi. The whole thing is tiny but the backend is a broad anvil shape that can withstand being struck but the pin in the front is not going to stand up to being hammered against steel.

Which wouldn't be a problem with most guns, but very well might with the original poster's .22 Pathfinder.

 

[Jcon72]

Is there a particularly good reason why they didn't simply used a steel firing pin?
Cost factor?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Is there a particularly good reason why they wouldn't have simply used a steel firing pin?
Cost factor?

I suspect that it would be difficult to machine that shape from billet steel, and MIM or sintered/powdered steel probably wouldn't be strong enough.
Of course, in this case no material short of tungsten would likely have survived repeated repeated dry-firing impacts with the cylinder.
As with any rimfire- but especially cheap ones- dry-firing is always a bad idea.

 

[Styx]

...and, wouldn't ya know, it was broke.

Picked it up this little Pathfinder snubby last week, and took it out to the back yard to plink some tin cans. All I got was 'click, click, click.' -almost no primer indents.
View attachment 1185822

Well, they come apart easy enough. Problem was pretty obvious-
View attachment 1185823

Broken firing pin. A little bit of the tip actually fell out of the channel and was likely preventing it from its full travel.
View attachment 1185824

Not sure what it's made of but it's nonmagnetic. Bronze maybe?
Charter doesn't sell them, or at least doesn't list them on their website. $13 in stock at Numrich, though.
Oh well, the gun was used and cheap. Fortunately it also looks like a cheap and easy fix.
Turns out they are that bad- at least this one was!

As an aside and to be fair to Charter Arms (in response to everyone who is piling on), of you purchased the gun used, I would not put the blame on CA for the issues you are having. The thread title and your OP seems like you are placing blame on CA, but you don't know how many rounds, how many times they dryfired it, what type of ammo, or what the previous owner did to and with the revolver. If you purchased it NIB, then that's would be unacceptable.

Other than that, did you not look over the revolver before you purchased it? You should have been able to see whether or not the firing pin was protruding properly.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

As an aside and to be fair to Charter Arms (in response to everyone who is piling on), of you purchased the gun used, I would not put the blame on CA for the issues you are having. The thread title and your OP seems like you are placing blame on CA, but you don't know how many rounds, how many times they dryfired it, what type of ammo, or what the previous owner did to and with the revolver. If you purchased it NIB, then that's would be unacceptable.

Other than that, did you not look over the revolver before you purchased it? You should have been able to see whether or not the firing pin was protruding properly.

Second point first: Yes, The pin still had a bit of protrusion as only the very tip was missing, and I was getting very light strikes even so. I doubt anyone could have eyeballed that pin and determinedd .015" was missing off the end.....

First point: I'm not blaming CA, per se- but primarily pointing out that its just my dumb luck that the first time I've given them a try- knowing full well they have a questionable reputation- and sure enough, it turned out to have problems.

I have no doubt they would fix it under warranty, if I wanted to ship it back to the mothership. I've never heard anything but glowing reports about their CS.

Some rimfires are precisely machined and fitted so that the pin cannot contact the breech, or for whatever other reason never seem to have any issue with broken pins. Clearly, since I'm not the only one with a broken "unbreakable" pin, the Pathfinder isn't one of those firearms. Overall, it seems like a decent gun for what I paid for it (which wasn't much). From what Ive seen, however, I would never pay full retail for a new one.

The Walther TPH is another .22 notorious for broken pins, and no one could question its quality of construction.

As I've said repeatedly, dry-firing ANY rimfire is a risk, and should be generally avoided.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Got my new firing pin installed today and test-fired. It was getting dark, so only 18 rounds, but all went bang without a problem.
The new pin is definitely steel of some sort-


Numrich claims its a factory part-


In any event, she's all cleaned up and ready to go for a proper range session in a couple weeks.

So far, so good.....

 

[Sarge7402]

I'd really like to find another vintage Pocket Target, the precursor to the Pathfinder-
View attachment 1185912
Only ever seen one in the flesh, and foolishly passed on it.

I can assure you that they exist. I've got two of them along with three undercovers and a Pitbull. One of the undercover has been with me for almost 50 years and still shoots like a house afire.

Picked up a bulldog once for a song cause the owner said it was busted. $50 and a screwdriver and I had a good as new .44