Charter Arms snub nose

[Wildbillz]

Hi All
So a local shop has a Charter Arms snub nose (Under Cover or something like that I am not sure). 38spl on the used rack for $250 Dose that sound like a decent price and are they good guns?

I really want a Smith but I know I won't find a Smith for $250 anytime soon. So I am thinking that the Charter Arms might scratch the itch. Or should I suck it up and save the extra coin for a Smith?

Thanks
WB

 

[Dan-O]

Extra coin…..

 

[Zendude]

If you know you really want a Smith, then you should get a Smith. My guess is that if you buy the Charter (or any other brand) you will still eventually buy a Smith.

 

[GEM]

Saw a Charter Arms run successfully through a snubby course with lots of rounds. The user shot it well for a snubby. He was an SME on gun usage. Just one data point and he wanted to see that gun would run.

 

[Starter52]

Charter Arms has been making revolvers for over 50 years...... and they are still in business.

 

[chicharrones]

If you really want the S&W, save up the coin for the S&W.

Now, if you came across an early steel cylinder frame Charter Arms in fantastic condition for that price, well that may slant my opinion a little.

 

[lee n. field]

Hi All
So a local shop has a Charter Arms snub nose (Under Cover or something like that I am not sure). 38spl on the used rack for $250 Dose that sound like a decent price and are they good guns?

I really want a Smith but I know I won't find a Smith for $250 anytime soon. So I am thinking that the Charter Arms might scratch the itch. Or should I suck it up and save the extra coin for a Smith?

Thanks
WB

They're cheap revolvers. In my experience (own one, had two others in the past) the transfer bar will break at some point.

The Undercover is the basic 5 shot .38 snub. Sometimes in steel, sometimes in aluminum.

Is $250 an OK price? Hard to say. I've seen used Charters for less. Check it over good. Charter's support is good.

 

[NorthBorder]

Charter's support in not great in my experience. I bought a new Charter Bulldog XL and it didn't run right. The cylinder would bind. I contacted Charter Arms and they said to send it back but I had to pay shipping. Fortunately, the seller gave me a shipping label. It came back quickly but it seemed to develop other problems. Sometimes when the trigger was pulled the cylinder would travel past the next chamber. Sometimes the trigger would not go fully to the rear and the action would lock up. I shot it some more and maybe dry firing and shooting it solved the problem as I can't get it to malfunction like it had. I'll keep it but I would not rely on it for a defensive handgun.
Save for the S&W.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I've had one Charter. It had a broken firing pin when I bought it. Fixed it, shot it, hated it, sold it.

I would absolutely save for the Smith.

 

[ontarget]

I have both. The S&W is obviously a better gun in every respect when compared side by side.
That's not saying the Charter isn't a serviceable weapon. It is.
But if you want a S&W, just get the S&W.
At the end of the day, you won't have to second guess your decision.

 

[Will_G]

If you find one that looks like this one, an early first-generation made in Stratford, it could very well be a good revolver.

 

[kcofohio]

If I every see a Charter Arms Pitbull in 9mm Federal, I would be willing to over pay for it. Within reason, that is. Something about that short lived cartridge draws my interest.

 

[armoredman]

Charter Arms has been making revolvers for over 50 years...... and they are still in business.

No, not really, there was Charter Arms, then Charter 2000, then CharCo, and now Charter Arms. I had a Charter Arms Off Duty 38 back about 40 years ago, excellent little revolver. I believe it's also the gun on the cover of Massad Ayoobs' "In The Gravest Extreme". I wouldn't walk across the street for a Charter 2000 or a CharCo firearm. Nowadays, not sure. I'd save up for the Smith.

 

[American Finn]

As others here have stated my advice is to save up for the Smith and Wesson. I've had two Charter Arms revolvers previously: a .38 Undercover and a.38 Pink Lady for the wife. The trigger didn't reset well on the Undercover and the Pink Lady constantly misfired.

Now, you don't mention which Smith and Wesson you are seeking; if you're looking for a Smith that is similar to that Charter Arms my suggestion is to look for a used 442 or 642; I cannot picture one being more than $300-$350 used (depending on where you live, etc.). I had a 442 as my CCW and it was utterly reliable.

Also, and not trying to sway you, but the Ruger LCR is also an excellent choice for concealed carry (if that was what you want a revolver for). My EDC is an LCRx 3in and it is accurate and utterly reliable.

 

[Rick McC.]

Charter Arms has been making revolvers for over 50 years...... and they are still in business.

I have one that my Mom carried for many years back in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s.
It still runs just fine.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I bought a new undercover for 250 years ago and it was great. Always went bang. Cyl did have some acceptable movement. I sent it in and they fixed it. Sold it to my buddy. He still has it and loves it. I did move up to smiths and rugers. I had a colt KC before the charter… for a J frame size gun it’s hard to beat a real J frame! I paid 360 for this 638 brand new like a year ago. It’s been great

 

[WestKentucky]

I have a charter .38 snubby. It’s flat out awful, even after multiple attempts at making it better. It’s a Stratford gun and it works, but even being from one of their better time periods can’t help mine. I have had it on consignment a couple times and it just doesn’t sell. It’s back home now, but I would gladly send it down the road cheap. I have carried it all over hoping to sell it or throw it in on a trade as boot.

My suggestion is to save coin or buy a Taurus 85. The Taurus guns are far better quality than a charter. If ya gotta go cheap go Taurus. If you can save a little more over a couple months then do so and get a S&W. The smith j frames are plentiful enough you can find one cheap enough.

 

[Wildbillz]

Thanks All
I will save up for a Smith. Looking for a Mod 36.

Thanks
WB

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I have this little CA .38. Never any problems with it. But who knows what could go wrong at the wrong time.

Also have three other CA’s that are just fine. An older .22 Pathfinder and two .44 Bulldogs.

Mine are neither Charter 2000 nor CharCo guns.

 

[tubeshooter]

A nice model 36 should be more than just a little "extra coin" over a Charter .38 snub.

I would expect to pay around $600 or so versus $250 (in my neck of the woods).


Hope it all works out for the best.
And if it just can't wait - then go ahead and get the Charter.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Or just go ahead and get the
S&W 36.

 

[stonebuster]

No personal experience with Charter Arms but have read too many bad reviews to buy one. I did shoot a few rounds through a friend's CA 38spl snub at the range once and was impressed with how well it shot. If money isn't an issue I'd get a lightly used S?&W Model 10 6 shot snub.

 

[Cornhusker77]

The only experience I have with Charter is a Bulldog XL in .45 Colt.
So far so good, and once I found a load it likes, it's fairly accurate.

 

[jstert]

i had a new charter arms pitbull 9mm revolver briefly. p.o.s.

i suggest a taurus, rossi, eaa windicator, ria as a budget revolver.

 

[JERRY]

I've really tried to like C.A. over the years and have allowed myself to be suckered in by the Bulldog 44s too many times. Here are just some of the ones I owned. I don't own any of these now.

Two jewels were both older guns: the off duty pictured here and a 3" pathfinder. 22lr. The Bulldogs all shot themselves out of timing and my latest pink lady .38 had issues even after a trip back to the factory.