Charter Arms Chic Lady experience?

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Garycw

New member
My wife saw one of these and was impressed with the size and weight 12oz unloaded. I realize these are not meant to be a range gun you'd shoot alot, but they feel like they'd fly apart. Has anyone shot these or wife's own one? I believe they're even listed as +p
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My personal experience with lightweight-framed CF revolvers is that, while they're much nicer for carry, they're a bear to shoot with heavy loads.

One of my Daughters CCW's one that she carries with high-performance loads, but she practices (weekly) with standard (.38 Special reloads, actually) loads - only occassionally shooting a few high-performance loads to remind her how they shoot, if/when she needs to defend herself.


So........ Caveat Emptor. . :p





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My oldest daughter that has a charter arms ultra light but only cost 280 bucks a few years ago and it has worked fine with a wolff hammer spring change to improve the trigger. But to pay what charter now wants for there snubbies . NO way. As pretty as that lady chic maybe to your wife it cost more than many s&w snubbies. You can have it prettied up if needed with grips.

My daughter is not found of the recoil of the +P carry ammo ether . I load her some mild plinker lead hp ammo that could double as cc ammo but she carries some +P gd loads .

For only a few dollars more you can buy a s&w 642,638 or 442 with or with out moon clips for quicker reloading. The moon clip model works with no clips too. Better choice of grips and assories available also.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57768_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57768_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57768_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
 
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Is she looking at the standard Chic Lady (with hammer), or the super-light Chic Lady Off Duty model? (Off Duty model pictured)

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No, the gun won't fly apart, but it also won't be the most pleasant thing to fire with +P ammunition. Recommend that if she gets the lightweight Charter, she practice with target wadcutter rounds to get used to the gun. Personally, I'd skip the +P stuff altogether and go with a standard load for the gun.

All of the really light snubbies are quite snappy, especially with +P ammo. My S&W 642 is a joy to carry, but shooting it with the powerful stuff feels like catching a fastball bare-handed.
 
She would be getting the one with hammer. I think there about $319-$360 now. I'm going to look into the super light S&W snubbies first. She just liked the colors and how light they are. She will be doing good to shoot the regular loads. I wouldn't even suggest the +p to her.
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Why is everyone so hung up on +p ammo Hornady standard load critical defense performs pretty darn good ( I'm not going to stand in front of one and test it). That's what I carry in my airweight and I trust my life to them.
 
Barney1023 said:
Why is everyone so hung up on +p ammo Hornady standard load critical defense performs pretty darn good ( I'm not going to stand in front of one and test it). That's what I carry in my airweight and I trust my life to them.
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I guess as they say " more bang for the buck". I would agree with you though, sometimes it's more a marketing tool. I do have +p HP loaded in a model 10, but that's a k frame w/heavy 5" barrel. Quite a difference from the 12oz snubbies
 
Why is everyone so hung up on +p ammo Hornady standard load critical defense performs pretty darn good ( I'm not going to stand in front of one and test it). That's what I carry in my airweight and I trust my life to them.
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That's what I carry in my 642, as well.

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I've got the 637 and love it. I've thought about getting one of the charter arms snubs for my wife cause they come in several colors. One thing I'd worry about with my wife is she is not a big hand gun shooter and I'd be afraid to have her shoot a lightweight gun with +p ammo and then having her scared to carry it or shoot it then you have a high priced paperweight well that's beside the fact 5 rds of stardard 38 sp ammo should get the job done in most any SD situation anyone is going to be in.
 

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Here's another vote for the 637, 642, 638 and 442. The problem is finding them at a decent price these days. The only place I see them is gunbroker and the prices are ridiculous. I bought my 637 two years ago and paid $325; I probably could have done better (used) if I put some time in. I've been looking around for another 637 or 642 as the one I carry sees a lot of range time. As long as S&W is making snubs, I'll probably never own a Charter.
 
My wife bought a used "Lavender Lady" a few months ago. It shoots just fine. P+ ammo? Don't know. She's never used it. 158 lead semi-wadcutters only but those are no big deal.



Those new Charter grips make a world of difference. I used to have a couple of old Charters with the small wooded grips that Charter used to put on their guns. Those things would batter my knuckles bloody shooting wadcutters. I swapped over to a set of the new neoprene grips and the problem was gone (The new grips will fit the old Charter guns too).

Are they as "good" as a Smith & Wesson? Probably not, but I doubt my wife will ever shoot one enough to find out.
 
The airweight s&w's do have a extra 2oz of weight. Not noticeable to must of us but do help with recoil. Having the option of so many grips alone for the S&W line is a big plus to. Those charter plastic grips are not soft rubber!

Our general store price on the different air0weight snubbies runs around 360 here.
 
The S&W air weight is going to be my recommendation to her,but she likes those pretty colors. Maybe I can find some pretty grips for air weight ?
 
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