Charter Arms Off Duty: rated for +P?

C

ccwnut

New member
I found one on Bud'sGunShop.com for a decent price ($359.47), and I may buy it. If I read a lot of negative replies to this post, I'll wait for a S&W j-frame. I can't get the idea of owning a snubbie out of my head. Despite that I prefer semiautomatics for everyday carry.
 
Uhh, it's in their FAQ..

Q. Can I shoot +P in my .38 revolver?
A.

Charter .38's are among the smallest revolvers in this caliber. Yes they can handle +P but we do not recommend it for the following reasons:

+P ammo requires a four-inch minimum barrel to burn the extra powder. Therefore, in a two-inch barrel the extra powder is burned after the bullet leaves the barrel creating more recoil and making it harder to come back to target.

We recommend a standard velocity load and practice with round nose lead rounds which are the least expensive. When you load for protection, use a jacketed or hollow point in the same grain you practice with.
Click to expand...
 
My wife has the Charter Pink Lady and it shoots great. It's very light weight and carries easily in her purse. It has quite a "kick" to it when shooting the fantastic Speer Gold Dot 135grain + P short barrel load. The Charters are quality guns. They not quite as good as the S&W "J" frames but they will get the job done just the same. I love snubbies myself. They're a very dependable firearm and very capable of protecting oneself and family. If you get one train with it often until you can shoot it well and learn to reload it quickly from speed loaders or speed strips. I've actually been considering buying a Charter Bulldog .44 myself. ;)
 
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ccwnut YEAS it is +P rated. My oldest daught now carried a CA ultra light with a corbon dpx load. Look for snubby ammo reviews and you will find some ammo are better than other in short barrels. To me it is at time more about the bullet choice. A old simple gold dot fro spreer tends to work well arcoss a wide velocity range and some companies offer a "short Barrel " load that controls flash and may work better than other standard or +p loads. Also corbon has some very good loads for snubbies. Trial & error for sure.

I cc'd a snubby for 20 years and used a non +p revolver and ammo and never felt under gunned. Some of the 110gr ammo will give the speed you may want too.
 
I've had good luck with Charters and have been looking at getting one of these light little revolvers.

If you end up getting it, can you write up a review?
 
It's rated for +P, but as stated, they say it is a waste of money to use it in a snubbie.

FWIW, my Off Duty has proved to be THE most accurate snub I have ever shot in the last 45 years. When I first shot it, I stopped carrying my S&W Chief Special and later sold it, and bought a Charter .44 Bulldog.

I still have a few Smiths, but when I carry a revolver, it's one of the Charters...they are more accurate, strong reliable and light - the ONLY light revolvers I shoot well.


mark
 
Yes I do plan to post a review whenever I get the gun. However, I'm debating the CA Off Duty vs. the S&W 442 (Utility vs. Refinement). Both would probably be equal in size and weight, just a matter of cost and availability.
 
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