Charter or S&W .38 J frame?

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GWARGHOUL

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I'm thinking my next purchase will probably be a j frame, as a holiday present from someone..so...

At the end of the day...

Whats the better gun? I can spend about $35 more and get a S&W 637, or $35-45 less and get a Charter, even less for a steel frame.

The LGS tells me the "action" is better on Smith and Rugers, but Charter makes a good gun, which is essentially a copy of S&W design.

Growing up, my dad had the model 60 chief deluxe in .38.. was a very nice gun.

Thoughts..facts..and opinions please...

Thanks..
 
I'd rather a Smith over which ever variation of Charter is in production today. I was pondering a Bulldog and bought a 642 instead.
 
Whats the better gun? I can spend about $35 more and get a S&W 637, or $35-45 less and get a Charter
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All the Charter Arms revolvers I have seen have been good, serviceable guns but IMO the Smith is a better gun and is easily worth anohter $35-45 dollars.
 
Get the Smith. Hands down.

Charter would be down the list after. If not a S&W, then a Ruger. If not a Ruger then, maybe, a Charter.
 
I think this has already been said, but... Get the Smith. Brand new J-Frames are going for $350 a pop at my local gun shows these days. I'm thinking at that price, I need to pick a new one up too.
 
S&W absolutely. I've had an old Charter snubby that was a pretty good little gun but the Smiths are better. J-frames usually need some action work by a good gunsmith. I would guess that almost all good gunsmiths can do good action work on S&Ws.
 
but Charter makes a good gun, which is essentially a copy of S&W design.
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No it isn't a copy of a S&W.
The only thing similar between the two designs are that they are both revolvers.

Internal lockwork, crane henge, assembly method, etc., of the Charter is completely different.
And in my judgment, inferior in most every way.

IMO: Get a S&W.

BTW: The Model 60 your dad had was just a standard run of the mill stainless Chiefs Special.
They didn't make a "deluxe" model, unless it was factory engraved.
And yes, it was surely a very nice gun, because it was a S&W.

rc
 
If I were going to be using it for lawful concealed carry, as a dedicated defensive weapon, price wouldn't be the deciding factor in comparing the Charter Arms against the S&W. I'd choose what I felt to be the better designed, quality offering ...

I'd buy the S&W J-frame. (Of course, I presently own 6 of them. ;) )

That's just me, though.
 
As others have suggested: Go with the Smith.

If there is only $35 difference then the charter is Over-priced or the Smith is under-priced.
 
Another vote for the Smith. I'm betting that if you ever do decide to sell it there will be much more than a 35 dollar difference

-C-
 
+1 on the Smith. When I bought my M36, I handled the Charter that was a few bucks cheaper. It felt solid and locked up fine, but the trigger wasn't as smooth, the finish not quite as good, the edges not quite as refined... So, on a whole, the Charter just wasn't 'quite' as good as the Smith. For $35, it is a pittance compared to the quality difference. You will make out if you decide to sell it used.
 
All the Charter Arms revolvers I have seen have been good, serviceable guns but IMO the Smith is a better gun and is easily worth anohter $35-45 dollars.
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Agreed. I have a Bulldog Pug and love it, but if I could have got a .44 spl. the same size and weight from S&W for only $40 more, I would have.

The Charters are good guns, but not in the same league as a Smith.

OTOH, if you're looking at .357 offerings, there is a whole lot more than $40 difference between the Mag Pug and a J-frame.
 
Agreed. I have a Bulldog Pug and love it, but if I could have got a .44 spl. the same size and weight from S&W for only $40 more, I would have.
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I would agree. Even at a great price difference, I would only buy a Charter to get a reasonably sized .44spl.
 
The days of "good Charter's" are long gone;
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Don't mean to seem insulting, but have you kept up? The current (2007 and on) generation are the best yet. I wouldn't get one that reads "Charco" or "Charter 2000", but the current "Charter Arms" guns are back up to par. In addition to my bulldog pug, we have some undercover and undercover light models on the shelf at the shop I sometimes help on the counter; The fit & finish and mechanical function is quite good.
 
To me, the first generation Charter's [Undercover, Off Duty, Undercoverette,
Pathfinder, Pug, etc.] were some (if not) the best. Yes, I agree stay away from
Charco's and Charter 2000's; but I have not tried the NEW Charters, as made
since 2007~! :scrutiny: :uhoh: ;)

FWIW- Its kind'a like the Taurus vs. Rossi debate. Personally, I will take a
good Rossi revolver over a Taurus any day of the week~!
 
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I also prefer the S&W. I feel the quailty is better and it will retain its value better.
 
I'd get an LCR over both (and yes I have a S&W J frame) but between those two I would without question spend the small amount more for a S&W.
 
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