Charter Arms Undercoverette

[Monster Zero]

Good luck and good health to you.

A range report will keep.

 

[Boom Vang]

I'm on a wait list for the 6-shot stainless .32H&R; I hope they come back soon. I already have both the lightweight (pink!) 5-shot and the 7-shot Professional. The 5-shot did require a few passes of a file on the front sight to get the aim right, but that's not a big deal to me, as I've had to do that on several other guns including a Ruger and a CZ. The Professional was a bit more trouble, since the front sight is not solid and couldn't be filed. After going back for warranty repair and a little fiddling after it came back, it's finally straightened out. I've become a Charter fan as well as a .32 Magnum fan this year, and have worked up some spiffy loads for plinking and for self-defense.

I'm on the wait list as well, and the factory said six months. If it works correctly, it will be well worth the wait for a lightweight all-steel 6-shot .32 H&R Mag snub. I have a S&W 431 (2" airweight 6-shot .32 H&R Mag), and it is a nice carrying piece. I prefer the grip of the charter and so I'm hoping for good things.

You are right on about the steel front sights being superior - you can file them if shooting low. Then a little orange paint and you are good to go. Not a fan of most fiber optic sights on a defensive gun as they are not durable. OK for games, not for serious business.

.32 H&R Magnum is fantastic if you handload... the factory ammo is grossly underloaded. On the bright side, I've tested the factory loads in ballistic gel and they do pretty well for a weak-sauce load, and they able to be shot by folks with limited hand strength.

I have all the test data and just have to get the time to write up the review of .32 H&R Mag (and .32 S&W Long) defensive loads, including handloads.

 

[Buckeye63]

I have seen several stainless steel Undercoverette
6 shot 32 H&R on Gunbroker .. at a fairly steep price

Im gonna wait for a aluminum frame model
Thats not pink or lavender

 

[kBob]

Boom Vang,

Get the TIME!!!!

-kBob

 

[Buckeye63]

^^^^^
Me too

 

[wcwhitey]

Ecker is a distant relative, My mothers maiden name is Ecker. Old common name in the LI and Connecticut area. Funny how I dont own a Charter Arms, just put it on my list. I see a .44 Bulldog in my future.

 

[Boom Vang]

FYI... I installed the small Charter wood grips. it ships with the finger-groove full-size rubber-like grips, which are nice, but these are smaller.

 

[pairof44sp]

View attachment 976814

FYI... I installed the small Charter wood grips. it ships with the finger-groove full-size rubber-like grips, which are nice, but these are smaller.

Good move! Those rubber grips are bad news. Fortunately, Charter had those wood panel grips on sale, and I was able to re-grip my whole Charsenal.

The problem is now I can't shoot single action, because the Charter hammers come down over the grip where the web of your thumb sits.

Oh well, who shoots single action with a Charter!

 

[Boom Vang]

I actually like those Charter rubber grips. For me they give a secure hold, point nicely, and correct the trigger reach. YMMV. I notice Charter is usually "sold out" of those small wood grips. Altamont grips makes aftermarket small grips for Charters, and the bottom is a bit bigger for a better hold. They make faux mother of pearl like this one, and more traditional colored "woods" (they are all stabilized laminates):




The hammers on S&W J frames also extend beyond the tang when cocked in single action mode. With both brands, I have to adjust my grip for an instant when cocking it so as not to get pinched, but otherwise don't have a problem shooting them.

 

[pairof44sp]

I actually like those Charter rubber grips. For me they give a secure hold, point nicely, and correct the trigger reach. YMMV. I notice Charter is usually "sold out" of those small wood grips. Altamont grips makes aftermarket small grips for Charters, and the bottom is a bit bigger for a better hold. They make faux mother of pearl like this one, and more traditional colored "woods" (they are all stabilized laminates):


View attachment 976833

The hammers on S&W J frames also extend beyond the tang when cocked in single action mode. With both brands, I have to adjust my grip for an instant when cocking it so as not to get pinched, but otherwise don't have a problem shooting them.

If you have the rubber grips, be careful when you tighten the screw. It'll just keep screwing down until it pokes through the other side!

 

[Boom Vang]

^^^^^ LOL true!

 

[Buckeye63]

View attachment 976814

FYI... I installed the small Charter wood grips. it ships with the finger-groove full-size rubber-like grips, which are nice, but these are smaller.

If you don’t mind , if you are able , to weigh the little 32 ... thanks

 

[Boom Vang]

16-3/8 oz unloaded

 

[Buckeye63]

16-3/8 oz unloaded

Not bad for a steel framed full lugged barrel revolver
Im trying to wait on a aluminum framed version.. maybe 2022 ... to many hospital bills for 2021

 

[golden]

If I were going to buy a CHARTER ARMS Undercover, I would like a 4 inch long, unshrouded barreled with the rubber grips. With a 4 inch barrel, the .32 H&R magnum can be at least minimally effective using something like the HORNADY FTX ammo. Most H&R magnums loads do not expand at all from a 2 inch barrel and barely expand from a 4 inch. This could well be a retirement gun for me to conceal carry.

Jim

 

[Zendude]

Not bad for a steel framed full lugged barrel revolver
Im trying to wait on a aluminum framed version.. maybe 2022 ... to many hospital bills for 2021

Have you talked to Dee or Bob at Charter to find out if an aluminum frame version will be made that’s not pink or purple? I had the same question in mind.

 

[Buckeye63]

Have you talked to Dee or Bob at Charter to find out if an aluminum frame version will be made that’s not pink or purple? I had the same question in mind.

I have .. bout 6 months ago ...but no real answer or date .. I guess they are real busy

 

[Buckeye63]

If I were going to buy a CHARTER ARMS Undercover, I would like a 4 inch long, unshrouded barreled with the rubber grips. With a 4 inch barrel, the .32 H&R magnum can be at least minimally effective using something like the HORNADY FTX ammo. Most H&R magnums loads do not expand at all from a 2 inch barrel and barely expand from a 4 inch. This could well be a retirement gun for me to conceal carry.

Jim

Seems like the FTX does fairly well out of a 2 inch barrel

 

[golden]

Buckeye,

Not well enough for me. Also, I want the longer sight radius. Right now, I can shoot FEDERAL HST .38 Special +P ammo out of my S&W model 15 and the LUCKYGUNNER test results for that load make the .32 FTX look puny. I would consider it if I could not hold a 2 pound gun like the model 15, but for now I can.
Also, did you notice how bad the other loads did from a 2 inch barrel. What we really need is a .32 H&R magnum loaded with 85 to 90 grain .30 caliber version of the FEDERAL HST load.

Jim

 

[Buckeye63]

Buckeye,

Not well enough for me. Also, I want the longer sight radius. Right now, I can shoot FEDERAL HST .38 Special +P ammo out of my S&W model 15 and the LUCKYGUNNER test results for that load make the .32 FTX look puny. I would consider it if I could not hold a 2 pound gun like the model 15, but for now I can.
Also, did you notice how bad the other loads did from a 2 inch barrel. What we really need is a .32 H&R magnum loaded with 85 to 90 grain .30 caliber version of the FEDERAL HST load.

Jim

32 H&R out of a snubbie, don’t match the 38+P out of a 4 inch barrel .. for sure .. but the Model 15 with a 4 inch tube .. don’t slip in your pocket
I look at the Undercoverette in 32 H&R as a BUG
Or a secondary carry ...
But I see your side , also

 

[Buckeye63]

Buckeye,

Not well enough for me. Also, I want the longer sight radius. Right now, I can shoot FEDERAL HST .38 Special +P ammo out of my S&W model 15 and the LUCKYGUNNER test results for that load make the .32 FTX look puny. I would consider it if I could not hold a 2 pound gun like the model 15, but for now I can.
Also, did you notice how bad the other loads did from a 2 inch barrel. What we really need is a .32 H&R magnum loaded with 85 to 90 grain .30 caliber version of the FEDERAL HST load.

Jim

The 38spl HST is my pick for my 642 & 856
great round... out of a snubbie
This round definitely does not feel like a +P , nor does the velocity indicate the +P rating

The beauty of the 32 H&R (out of my LCR) has almost non-existent recoil... 6 shots can be fired as quick as I can pull the trigger... accurately ...

I don’t feel a fellow would loose much by using this round ... higher velocity.. slightly more penetration

 

[Zendude]

The Professional is still on my list as well. I have seen the reviews about it shooting low. That’s not surprising by looking at it though. It has a tall front sight and no rear sight.

 

[pairof44sp]

The Professional is still on my list as well. I have seen the reviews about it shooting low. That’s not surprising by looking at it though. It has a tall front sight and no rear sight.

I accidentally wound up with 4 of those (new to online shopping and “shopping carts”). I’d sell them on this board, but I want to get $520 each, like one guy I saw on GB (they’re not worth nearly that much btw)!

After four range trips, I’m just getting to where I can aim it; the front sight almost makes it harder to aim, because it’s so far off the POI.

Charter no longer lists the Professional by name on their website. It looks like an idea that came and went.

If Charter did it again, but used a pencil barrel with a regular metal sight, and did better QC, I think they’d have a niche-gun for the ages.

 

[Boom Vang]

... Most H&R magnums loads do not expand at all from a 2 inch barrel and barely expand from a 4 inch. This could well be a retirement gun for me to conceal carry.
Jim

My tests have shown otherwise. YMMV:



Regarding the various Lucky Gunner tests. Having personally tested some of the same factory loads as they have, and also cross-referenced other testing of those loads, I'm skeptical of their results in general. While there are variables in any kind of ballistic testing, I'm not convinced that their testing is reliable as a general statement. In many cases, the results of mine and others were quite different that those they present.
Sometimes this is related to the particular firearm used, sometimes to the particular lot of ammunition tested, sometimes to medium consistency and testing conditions. I'm satisfied that my results track well with actual tissue results. Again, YMMV.

 

[Boom Vang]

Charter no longer lists the Professional by name on their website. It looks like an idea that came and went.

If Charter did it again, but used a pencil barrel with a regular metal sight, and did better QC, I think they’d have a niche-gun for the ages.

It's being made, it's under the Nitride models. Charter's website generally is updated infrequently and somewhat haphazardly.

https://charterfirearms.com/products/model-63270

I have two of those guns, a stainless and a nitride. The stock sights are very visible for fast shooting, but POI is way off POA. They shoot very low. Charter is well aware of it, but as I've pointed out previously, it's too much trouble (ie, $$$$$) to correct.

A pencil barrel and stock serrated steel sights would be awesome. I don't think it will ever happen. Most people buy guns for how they look, and after that, if they can hit a 12" circle at 10 feet.