Charter Arms

[NCSUPackman]

Charter Arms -- Purchase Advice

Just thought I'd run this one buy everyone:

A local gun shop has a used 1st Generation Charter Arms 5-shot .38spl, 85-90% condition for $189. Most of my revolvers are Smith & Wessons or Colts; I'm not all up on Charter Arms. I do know most people who have the originals seem to really like them over the newer productions. Honestly, I need another revolver like I need a hole in the head but what do you all think; Is it a good deal?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[rdrancher]

If it passes the "check", I'd grab it.




rd

 

[TonyB]

+1
some of my best and favorite revolvers have been $200 and cheaper.If it is a 1st generation,I'd grab it.....but first offer $150 cash......I usually shop for guns w/ cash,sometimes it makes a difference if the guy can SEE the money.

 

[gruesomenewsom]

idk man i had a friend who bought a charter arms .38 spl 4" barrel for $189 and after like 50 rounds he shot it and the grips were still in his hand but the rest of the gun flopped over onto the backside of his palm. Blew the frame right in half. Could have been a one-in-a-million faulty gun, could have been the previous owner maybe shooting +P's out of it, but man you get what you pay for. Spend the extra 125 and get a used gp100. With a ruger, s&w or colt you can never go wrong. But theres an ass for every seat so take it for whats its worth. Just my two cents

 

[White Horseradish]

Gruesome, what kind of advice is that? A GP100 is three times the size of a Charter snubbie. That's sorta like "Don't get that moped, it's crap, you should really buy a used pickup truck"

Incidentally, from your description it sounds like your buddy's gun had a missing pin. The Charter grip frames are separate from the rest of the gun and are attached with pins. I highly doubt it really blew in half.

Charters can be decent, I like mine. OTOH, they can't take steady diets of +P, and that will make them loose, that's not what they are made for. As a light carry gun they are nice.

 

[gruesomenewsom]

i was just stating my personal opinion as an alternate perspective. Not to ruffle feathers but a gp100 with a 3" barrel or an sp101 is not that much bigger than a charter snubby and is actually smaller than my friends with the 4" barrel. I got my gp100 for $299 the same day he got his charter arms for $189 yes its twice the gun but I would rather have bought that for the extra $110. But like I said its just my opinion.

 

[Starter52]

Take rdrancher's advice and check the gun over. Even back in the "lst Generation" days Charter Arms had some quality control glitches.

If the gun looks OK, $189 is a good price.

 

[rdrancher]

Not to ruffle feathers but a gp100 with a 3" barrel or an sp101 is not that much bigger than a charter snubby and is actually smaller than my friends with the 4" barrel.

A 4" barreled anything is not a snubby. The GP100 is larger and much heavier than a SP101. A SP101 is larger and much heavier than a J-frame. A J-frame is slightly larger than a vintage Charter .38 Undercover (although the CA fits nicely in a j-frame holster.)

A J-frame or Charter fits comfortably in the pocket. If you can carry a 3" GP or SP in your pocket, you're pants are too big.

You're talking apples and oranges partner.

rd

 

[NCSUPackman]

Thanks for all the advice. The gun looked ok and I took it home earlier today. Turned out it was actually $179. Looks just like the one picture above, minus the grip adapter.

 

[Drail]

NSCUPackman, friendly advice from someone who's carried a Charter for lo these many years, keep a close watch on every screw on that revolver. You may need to degrease and loctite them. They WILL shoot loose eventually. They are a wonderful carry piece if you get a good one. I'll never sell mine.

 

[bpisler]

I have a 1st gen 44 bulldog that i
have to tighten up screws on every
150 rds or so.

Other than that it's been one of my
better revolvers i've owned.With my
reloads and if i do my part i can
get 2" groups at 15 yards.

I've looked at a few of the newer
charter 2000 guns in the local shops
and don't think i'll be picking one
up any time soon.

I'll check one and it will be fine,
check another and it'll seem like
it's well used close to being used
up.

 

[ranger335v]

Charter Arms built for a market, the home owner who wanted a reasonable quality handgun for defense, or a "rent-a-cop" guard force, etc. They were and are good for those purposes and are good values but they are not made for handloaders to hot-rod or for quick-draw beer hall cowboys to shoot hundreds of cans down by the river.

I got my wife one in stainless when she worked in real estate some 25 years ago. She never had to pull it but both of us felt better knowing it was there.

 

[MICHAEL T]

1 have owned several 1 gen undercover NO study diet of +P I would shoot some now and then and carry with +P . To day I have a orginal 44 spl bulldog Love it for limited shooting and carry.

 

[Fat Boy]

I had an early (1978?) 3" barrel Pathfinder in 22lr, and really liked it. It wasn't as highly finished as a Colt or Smith, but ran well, and was very comfortable to shoot. I would buy another one of the early edition Charter's if I could find one for the right money...YMMV

 

[oneiron]

I purchased a new Charter Arms 44 Special in SS for $275. I have put about 200 rounds through so far. The only problem is they have a screw for the cylinder release that I had to put Pro Lok on. No problems now easy to reload.

 

[foghornl]

I had a mid '70's vintage .44Bulldog, and yeah, the screws did tend to back out every once in a while.

That, and the price of .44Spl ammo then were my only 'knocks' on the Bulldog. (back then, .44Mag was around $16-$17/50, .44Spl was usually well over $30/50....at the cheap places)

 

[MortalWombat]

I have a question. Is there an easy way to tell which generation a Charter was made?