Charter arms undercover any good?

[megatronrules]

I saw one of these online it is an older charter arms gun not the new "charter 2000" company's gun. It has the unshrouded ejector rod and is stamped "charter arms stratford conn." one the right side of the barrel. It is .38 special caliber ofcourse and I could probably get it for $150 what do you thik of this gun as a car gun or back up gun? I have no experiance with these revolvers only smith's and colts,so whats the verdict one these are they decent serviceable weapons? I am guessing it won't be as good as a colt or a smith but I figure you can't go wrong with another snubbie as they come so in handy.

 

[Quantrill]

Save up and buy a S&W #36 or one of it's derivitives. Quantrill

 

[WT]

I picked up a Charter Arms Undercover about 30 years ago. Still works fine. Trigger pull has always been kind of stiff, though.

I have Smiths' and Colts but the CA has a personality of its own. Very light firearm making it easy for concealed carry. I trust it.

 

[albanian]

I had an older SS Charter Arms Off Duty that was really nice. It was made well and very very accurate for a snubbie. I put about 2000 rds through it with no problem and then my friend bought it off me. I really liked the gun and didn't want to sell it but I have lots of guns I can use for CCW and my friend didn't so I sold it to him as a favor. I keep trying to get it back but he won't sell it! He loves it and has put about another 1000rds though it and it is still going strong. I have no idea how many times it was shot before I got but I am impressed with how well it has stood up to heavy shooting. No snubbie is really intended to be shot a lot but it is good to know that if you want to shoot several 1000 rds, it will do it with no problems. That is probably several lifetimes worth of shooting for the average snubbie and there are no problems yet.

I did get one of the new Charter Undercover revolvers and it was O.K. but clearly not made as well as the older one I had. The fit and finish are not as nice but it worked just fine. I just didn't like it because it was so much bigger than the older Off Duty so I got rid of that one and don't really regret it.

I am not sure I would buy a Charter online but if it is a really good deal, I might take the chance.

 

[magsnubby]

I have personal experience with 3 of the Charter 2000 guns. They're nowhere near the quality of the old Charter Arms guns. My buddy's Undercover locked up after 3 shot. The gs said there was a "burr" in the action. I figured okay mechincial things fail. I had owned one of the old Charter Undercovers back in mid 70's and it must have had about a zillion rounds through it and just kept on going. My Undercover had 3 failures to fire out of the first cylinder full. Took it back to the dealer and 6 weeks later it still has the same problem. It works perfectly on name brand ammo but not on the cheaper stuff. Okay, no problem, i'll just use the good stuff. Then i found an Offduty i just couldn't resist. You'ld think after 2 bad guns i would've known better. But i figured i'll just use name brand ammo and it shouldn't be any problem. I tried the cheaper stuff and it was the same as the Undercover. Even with name brand ammo it still had several light hits. Plus it was out of time. Back to the dealer. He sent it back to the factory. That was 6 weeks ago. I still haven't got it back yet. All 3 guns were nib from a dealer and i used several different brands of ammo.
.

 

[tbeb]

I bought a new Charter Arms Undercover .38 about 25 years ago. I don't have that one anymore. I bought a used one just like it last year. It is my carry gun and car gun. Even though it "may" be capable of firing many +P's, I recommend shooting a limited amount of them. I really like this gun. Nowadays I carry it more than I shoot it. The front sight is very useable. In my opinion it weighs enough for comfortable shooting, and it is light enough and small enough for pocket carry. $150 is a good price for one in excellent condition. Make sure to inspect it with Jim March's revolver check-out. You will be happy with it. I am, and I've owned Colt and S&W snubbies. If you plan to do a whole lot of shooting, then you might be better off buying a Colt or Smith or Ruger.

 

[albanian]

The front sight is very useable. In my opinion it weighs enough for comfortable shooting, and it is light enough and small enough for pocket carry. $150 is a good price for one in excellent condition. Make sure to inspect it with Jim March's revolver check-out. You will be happy with it. I am, and I've owned Colt and S&W snubbies. If you plan to do a whole lot of shooting, then you might be better off buying a Colt or Smith or Ruger.

Oh yeah, the front sight was nice on my Off Duty as well. Red spot on a slight Partridge with some ramp. Nothing that would snag but it made a for a great sight picture and easy pick up. S&W and Ruger should take notes.

I paid $200 and thought I got a good deal for my SS Off Duty, the blued ones go a little cheaper.

If you plan on doing a lot of shooting, get an all steel gun and not an alloy framed one. I am not sure that a Airweight S&W snubbie is any tougher than the old Charter Arms Snubbie, it may be but I am not sure. I know Ruger will last longer than a Colt, S&W and Charter put together but at twice the weight.

Rugers are great guns but for whatever perverted reason, they refuse to make a small and light gun for concealed carry. I have heard about Bill Ruger's politics but hope that now he is dead, they will make guns that people actually want.

 

[MICHAEL T]

My Charter Arms is like the old Timex ad It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.At present time better half is carrying the undercover. Just get some good grips . I ordered new rubber type from factory There slim and still allow pocket carry. I carry the old 158swchp +P but don t feed it a study diet,use 158swc for practice.

 

[magsnubby]

I just got my Offduty back from the factory yesterday afternoon. Man am i mother freakin' pissed!!! I had cleaned it before i took it back to the dealer and when i got it back it was filthy. Looked like they had used blackpowder loads in it. There's a small ding in the top of the grip frame and several small scratches on the frame. Today is my day off so i headed for the range early this morning. NOW I'M REALLY PISSED!!! It still won't ignite the cheaper brands of ammo. Works 100 % with CCI, Winchester, Speer....etc. So i'ld say if you can find an original Charter Arms Undercovers go for it. But i sure as hell won't recommend the Charter 200 guns to anybody. It's really to bad because with good quality control they could have been fantastic little guns.

 

[gunfan]

We own 3!

I own an earlier sample (1991 vintage) of the Bulldog in .44 Special in stainless steel. The revolver is a pip! I taught my wife to shoot a revolver with it! I purchased her a 6" barreled Bulldog in .357 S&W Magnum. It shoots very well, thank you. We then bought an earlier Undercover (in .38 Special, of course.) It cost $45 (parts and repairs included) and it shoots very well!

The earlier handguns are GREAT! I have NO experience with the later Charco offerings.

Scott

 

[magsnubby]

I've owned three of the older Charter Arms guns. An undercover i bought in the early 70's, a 4" Police Bulldog in .38 special i bought in 1980 and a Bulldog .44 i also bought in 1980. I still have the 4" .38 and the .44. They were all very dependable guns. I didn't shoot the 4" all that much but i put about a zillion rounds through the Undercover. Same with the Bulldog. The company is still run by the same owner. That's why i just can't figure out why the new guns aren't even half as dependable as the older guns. Like i said, it's really a shame. The guns could have great potential.

 

[FPrice]

My primary pocket gun is the same model you looked at. It's reliable, easy to carry and cost much less than any comparable J-frame. Based on my experience I'd say to look it over and if it seems in good condition, get it. Of course, if you can test fire it, so much the better. Mine likes Federal 110 grain Hydrashoks and will shoot them pretty much where I aim.