Lightweight Carry: Taurus, Charter Arms or S&W

[PhoenixRookie]

So I can already guess that everyone is going to say Smith & Wesson but I want to post this anyway.

I've put thousands of rounds through my Taurus 85 and still love it so haven't experienced the issues others seem to complain about. Maybe the revolvers are better?

Anyway, I am thinking of picking up a lightweight 38SP until an LCP becomes available, and maybe thereafter.

I am not going to be using it for a target pistol a ton as I already can use my 85 for that. So I am not worried too much about it being uncomfortable with firing a lot of rounds.

Which one would be the best bet for the money: Taurus, Charter Arms, S&W, etc?

 

[The_Shootist]

Same Here

Closing in on a 1000 rds through my Taurus M85 since I bought it (used in 11/07, most of it +p and no problems whatsoever. Of all the handguns in my collection, it gets carried the most, winter or summer (certainly summer).

 

[Dan-O]

You should go for a Charter Arms .44 Spcl. Just kidding, unless you have really deep pockets. I would not recommend a Charter .38, nor .357, but am a big fan of the .44 Spcl

 

[Robert Hairless]

Short answer: Smith & Wesson Model 642. Follow the professionals' lead on this one.

Charter Arms is a complicated story because the company changed several times during its history. I thought the quality was pretty good in the 1970s. An Undercover we bought then is still more than acceptable. But I think the quality isn't there today and hasn't been for several years. Having said that, I'm embarrassed to say that I bought a Charter 2000 (the company incarnation just before this one) Pathfinder in .22 caliber for use in teaching complete novices. Junk. Wasted money.

I've no direct knowledge of the Taurus line. Gunsmiths I know and trust say that the quality is variable and they won't work on a Taurus.

 

[Joe the Redneck]

Right now Chartes are running at the same cost as a Taurus.

Personally, I don't think we should buy ANY new S&Ws untell they get theor prices back under control.

I saw go Taurus.

Personally, I now caryy a Colt Cobra and I will not be going back. I love it. It is from 1952, holds six rounds and I paid 350 for it.

 

[ugaarguy]

Get a Taurus before you get a Charter.

In lightweight J frame size guns the price gap between a Taurus and S&W is pretty small. A new Taurus M85UL should run in the low $300s, while a new base model S&W AirWeight J Frame (that's the .38 Special only AirWeight, not the .357 Magnum AirLite) such as a 637, 638, 642, or 442 should run in the low $400s. If you can swing the extra money the S&W is worth it, and will hold value better than the Taurus if you decide to trade or sell down the road. If the extra hundred bucks is too much for the intended use then by all means get a Taurus UltraLite and enjoy it.

Edit: As I was typing this reply, Joe the Redneck wrote

Personally, I don't think we should buy ANY new S&Ws untell they get theor prices back under control.

I saw go Taurus.

I'm wondering how S&W's prices are so out of control. Where I work the last sale price on a new blued Taurus M85UL was $289 for the blued gun and a little more for the stainless gun. The last sale price on S&W J Frames had either the blued 442 or the stainless 642 at $399. If $110 difference (actually less on the stainless guns) between a higher quality US Made gun (please note I'm not saying Taurus is bad, but I'm simply saying that S&W is better) and a Brazilian made gun is out of line then I don't know what to say. I don't know what the minimum wage is Massachusetts is, nor do I know what it is in Brazil. However, we can safely assume that the S&W factory worker is paid significantly more than the Taurus factory worker. So, please tell me how S&W's prices have gotten out of control.

 

[shooter429]

I can take a dump in a box, mark it guaranteed, and sell it to ya for $289

Frankly, that is what you get with Taurus a piece of stuff. Or you could buy quality arms from a modern, American company.
Made in America, by Americans and for Americans.

Seriously, the Smiths are a bargain for what they cost. They would be a great gun at twice the price. I have had the rest, now I only buy the best. See my review of the model 60 in these pages.

There is an old saying about being pennywise and pound foolish. It applies to buying cheap, unreliable, inaccurate and low-resellin garbage coming from Brazil. Aargh! How many times must we undo marketing hype?!?

If you try the S&W side by side with a Taurus and a Charter, there is no doubt in my mind, which gun will come out with price as no factor. Then when you think about the whopping $100 dollars more that the good guns cost, ask yourself if your life is not worth that much. It just really does not make sense to buy junky guns. Too much at stake, IMHO.

Shooter429

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I carry a S&W M638 all the time and I forget it's in my pocket. I don't leave home without it! LOL

 

[PhoenixRookie]

Ruger?

Does any other manufacturer like Ruger make a comparable lightweight 38? If so, any opinions on them?

Thanks to all those who have replied so far.

 

[MCgunner]

Taurus has better triggers, is accurate, costs less, high quality revolver. I'd trust a Smith, of course, but I own a Taurus snubbie. The UL is 17 ounces, rides light in a pocket, on an ankle, or IWB.

Lightest Ruger makes is the 27 ounce SP101 in .357 Magnum, no comparison to the alloy and scandium guns for carry, but it sure is sweet to shoot with heavy .357s and carries IWB well. It's no pocket gun, though. Upside is you'll never wear it out in YOUR lifetime. Well, you probably could, but it'd take a helluva lot of ammo.

 

[ugaarguy]

Well, you probably could, but it'd take a helluva lot of ammo.

The answer to what is the round count needed to wear out a Ruger revolver is the same as the answer to "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?": The world may never know.
As for the comment

Taurus has better triggers, is accurate, costs less, high quality revolver.

Is accurate - yes they usually are.
Costs less - yes they usually do (though not significantly less).
High quality, and has better triggers - I defer to Mr. Cunningham's comments previously linked. I'll add that my gunsmith has a similar opinion of Taurus revolvers. Yes, Taurus revolvers are good, but they are not S&W quality. Yes, Taurus triggers are good, but they are not S&W good. Those last two comments are from personally handling & checking the triggers on many of each where I work (a shop that sells hundreds of revolvers every year).

 

[GRIZ22]

Any of the 3 will work but as far as quality I would rate them S&W, Taurus, and Charter in that order.

 

[jt1]

S&W - A bargain at any price.

 

[Ala Dan]

You're Correct, In Your Assumption-

cuz I'm going to say Smith & Wesson slso~!