Charter Arms. Inexpensive or Cheap gun?
- Thread starter MJRW
- Start date
Greeting's MJRW-
I'm of the opinion that when the small five-shot Charter
Arms .38 Special "Undercover" was first introduced, it
was to rival the success that Smith & Wesson's J-frame
and Colt's D-frame was enjoying; but offered to the
public at only a fraction of the cost.
And for the most
part, these were quality firearms; without the lustrious
finish of the other two.
And at the time, I thought
they were a decent alternative; but as times changed,
and the company went belly-up with bankrupcty so
did their product.
I'm of the same opinion, that the
new company called CHARCO is not producing the
same quality weaponary. At least the one's I've seen
and examined have been sub-par! As with S&W,
if I was in the snubbie market; I would only seek an
older version as made by Charter Arm's.
*FootNote- In the early "Undercover" series, they
made what is called and "Off Duty" .38 Special
Undercover model. Along the same lines as the
regular "Undercover"; but with a red dot type
front sight. I had one briefly, and it was very
functional; but still it wasn't a Smith (J) or Colt
(D).
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
I'm of the opinion that when the small five-shot Charter
Arms .38 Special "Undercover" was first introduced, it
was to rival the success that Smith & Wesson's J-frame
and Colt's D-frame was enjoying; but offered to the
public at only a fraction of the cost.
And for the mostpart, these were quality firearms; without the lustrious
finish of the other two.
And at the time, I thoughtthey were a decent alternative; but as times changed,
and the company went belly-up with bankrupcty so
did their product.
I'm of the same opinion, that thenew company called CHARCO is not producing the
same quality weaponary. At least the one's I've seen
and examined have been sub-par!
As with S&W,if I was in the snubbie market; I would only seek an
older version as made by Charter Arm's.
*FootNote- In the early "Undercover" series, they
made what is called and "Off Duty" .38 Special
Undercover model. Along the same lines as the
regular "Undercover"; but with a red dot type
front sight. I had one briefly, and it was very
functional; but still it wasn't a Smith (J) or Colt
(D).
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Last edited:
Desert Pete
New member
I had one of the Undercover's probably 20 years ago. It was rough as a cob. I didn't keep it long. Competition for S&W? Not hardly. I haven't examined one lately, but if the new ones are not as good as the old ones, they must be pretty poor.
Mike Irwin
Staff
The old, original Charter Arms company was good stuff.
Better than Rossi or Taurus at the time, and less expensive.
I've got 3 Charter revolvers, and all three have given good service.
Charco was pretty much crap.
I don't know about the new models.
Better than Rossi or Taurus at the time, and less expensive.
I've got 3 Charter revolvers, and all three have given good service.
Charco was pretty much crap.
I don't know about the new models.
Prodigalshooter
New member
I have an '88 vintage .357 tracker model, 3" barrel. Bought it "used" from a friend. Great trigger in DA, very light to carry too. It even has adjustable rear sight! Actually quite pleasant to shoot! Best $100 I ever spent.
Jorah Lavin
New member
I've got a Charter Arms Bulldog Pug
In .44 spl.
I like the gun. I bought it from a guy, claims he never shot it in 10 years. It looked like it hadn't ever been used. Light to carry, real accurate. I'm not sure of the exact age of mine; not a beaut, but smooth finish. Heavy DA trigger, probably twice or more of my old S&W model 10, but it goes bang every time. I don't plan to shoot thousands of rounds through it! It is light and easy to carry, I don't find it hard to shoot one handed, either hand.
I paid $175 for mine, probably a little high.
-J.
In .44 spl.
I like the gun. I bought it from a guy, claims he never shot it in 10 years. It looked like it hadn't ever been used. Light to carry, real accurate. I'm not sure of the exact age of mine; not a beaut, but smooth finish. Heavy DA trigger, probably twice or more of my old S&W model 10, but it goes bang every time. I don't plan to shoot thousands of rounds through it!
It is light and easy to carry, I don't find it hard to shoot one handed, either hand.I paid $175 for mine, probably a little high.
-J.
Had a 3" .44 spl Bulldog years ago. Very good gun - especially considering you couldn't get a light/small frame .44 spl from anyone but Charter then. I've currently got a 6" Bulldog .357. Basically the same as the .44spl except the barrel and calibre. Again, a nice gun. Both were/are 1980's vintage. Neither though are what I would consider to be "high use" guns for their respective full power loads. I've restricted the .357 to pretty much lighter .38's - and it shows no sign of excessive wear. Neither one ever failed to whirl the cylinder and drop the hammer like it was suppose to.
I've not shot the new models, but the ones I've handled (the small .38) seem to be well balanced, have good grip ergonomics, have pretty good trigger pulls and the fit and finish seem about on par with the small frame Taurus .38's. For something that would get carried a lot, but got shot realitivly little - my impression is they would be just fine.
For what it's worth, I recently read an artical in a gun magazine about Charter's current small frame 38 and their small frame .357. The review was very favorable (accuracy, handling, function, etc.).
I've not shot the new models, but the ones I've handled (the small .38) seem to be well balanced, have good grip ergonomics, have pretty good trigger pulls and the fit and finish seem about on par with the small frame Taurus .38's. For something that would get carried a lot, but got shot realitivly little - my impression is they would be just fine.
For what it's worth, I recently read an artical in a gun magazine about Charter's current small frame 38 and their small frame .357. The review was very favorable (accuracy, handling, function, etc.).
Before settling on a S&W 649, I checked on a Charco. The gun was off on the timing,Even at the store! The clerk told me"Its fine with a break in"
. The Earlier undercovers were OK without a lot of polish or final fitting at the factory. They seem ok for carrrying a lot,but shooting little.
. The Earlier undercovers were OK without a lot of polish or final fitting at the factory. They seem ok for carrrying a lot,but shooting little.I have had an older Charter Arms Off Duty .38 in SS. I loved it. It was light weight, very accurate, pointed nice, felt great in the hand, and was reliable. I bought it at a gunshow for $200 and felt like I got a good deal. I put at least 800 rounds through mine with no apparent timing or other wear problems.
I also had a new Charter Arms Undercover in "blue" finish, really more of a black powder. It was O.K. but not a patch on the older Charter Off Duty. It was fine for a car gun or any use you would put a snubbie to but it just wasn't very nice so I got rid of it.
In sum, you need to know when and what company made it before you know whether or not it is likly to be decent. Also they are better than Rossi.
I also had a new Charter Arms Undercover in "blue" finish, really more of a black powder. It was O.K. but not a patch on the older Charter Off Duty. It was fine for a car gun or any use you would put a snubbie to but it just wasn't very nice so I got rid of it.
In sum, you need to know when and what company made it before you know whether or not it is likly to be decent. Also they are better than Rossi.
Tropical Z
New member
If it's a NEW one however look at it for about 10 seconds.I wasn't impressed.An EAA Windicator is a REAL revolver for the same price.
I had a nickel Bulldog Pug. Shot itself loose in very short order. Also, all the nickel flaked off the forcing cone, underside of the topstrap, and the recoil shield. Also, the screw holding the cylinder latch would back out at least once a range session, leaving me crawling on the ground looking for my cylinder latch.
My gunsmith, on the other hand, has an old Undercover that he's used as his "workbench gun" for years.
My gunsmith, on the other hand, has an old Undercover that he's used as his "workbench gun" for years.
Jim Burton
New member
I've got a Charter 2000, 6 shot 38spl. I've had for about 3 years now. I have put a couple thousand rounds through it and have not had a problem. It is definitely not the quality of
fit that I expect from a Smith or Colt, but it is adaquate. I do practice with lead wadcutters, so I have to clean around the cylinder pin every 150 to 200 rounds or it will tend to gum up.
Jim in Alabama
fit that I expect from a Smith or Colt, but it is adaquate. I do practice with lead wadcutters, so I have to clean around the cylinder pin every 150 to 200 rounds or it will tend to gum up.
Jim in Alabama
Paul Fitz Jones
New member
Charter Arms 38/357 grip
Years ago the Charter Arms company asked me to make my Gunfighter line of Fitz grips for them in the 38/357 and 44 mag calibers. I produced some protypes but they went belly up. I have one lonely 357 mag Bulldog ? cherry wood grip that would like a good home. T see if I can fit your weapon I will need a stiff paper cutout of your bare grip frame to fit to my grip.
It is the same style my Smith J frame Gunfighter Grip designed for officers off duty weapons to fire from the hip and in the dark
Thanks Paul
Years ago the Charter Arms company asked me to make my Gunfighter line of Fitz grips for them in the 38/357 and 44 mag calibers. I produced some protypes but they went belly up. I have one lonely 357 mag Bulldog ? cherry wood grip that would like a good home. T see if I can fit your weapon I will need a stiff paper cutout of your bare grip frame to fit to my grip.
It is the same style my Smith J frame Gunfighter Grip designed for officers off duty weapons to fire from the hip and in the dark
Thanks Paul