Chief's Special and Charter Pug opinions, please...

R

Rickmeister

New member
I'm just about to put a cap on my gun collection.

Er... my basic collection, that is... :rolleyes:

I was wandering around the local Academy store yesterday when I happened to stumble upon their pistol showcase. I didn't even know they had one. It isn't very conspicuous. Every time I had been there previously, I was looking for something else and missed it completely.

But now I was looking at a (model 60) S&W Chief's Special in .357 magnum. I knew then and there that I had to have it; that it was that one last gun I needed to buy in order to be truly happy (yeah, right).

Ah, but my left hand managed to wrest it away from my right and give it back to the clerk, the reason being that it feared I might somehow regret it. But how would I ever know?

I seem to have this attraction for guns nobody owns in my neck of the woods, so I can't tesfire one to see if I like it or not. Thus, I must consult the Great TFL Oracle once again, to ask if there is anyone among you who owns one of these guns and what your impression of it is. I have learned to appreciate your bits of wisdom, because your council has proven accurate with at least two other guns that I own.

So, does it kick? I have pretty strong hands, and yet my 4" ported M627 (which Taurus is still holding hostage) kicked like a mule when loaded with 125 gr Cor-bons. The Chief is about 5 oz lighter and has a bbl that is almost 2 inches shorter.

Also, if you know anything about the Charter Arms line of wheelguns, share the knowledge, will ya? They had a couple in the store that looked like they came from a plastic bubble machine; but heck... I won't judge until I know the facts.

Any input is appreciated.
 
Rick--Where are YOU shopping?

I've been in several Academy stores but haven't found one that has handguns. Some really good buys on Blazer 9x19mm ammo, though - - -

Best,
Johnny
 
Charter Arms makes JUNK! If if doesn't have to work & it's OK if it falls apart after a few rounds, they're OK for the money.
 
Rickmeister:

Allow me to use a worn out cliche: you get what you pay for. A couple of months ago, an undetermined magnetic field was encircling the new Galyans Sporting Goods store in the new Sonebriar Mall in Frisco, TX, north of Plano.

Said force was attracted to my watch and it pulled me right into the store up the escalator into the gun section. I was already in awe of any establishment with the fortitude to sell guns in a Fru, Fru, uh hum, the Fru, Fru Mall in the DFW area.

I fondled a Model 60 made in November of 2001, right in the middle of the HUD Debacle Tompkins forced Smith to sign. Out of the case it felt great. My hand began writing a check for $434.00 dollars and the 2" Model 60 followed me home.

I had issues with the timing during the first 60 rounds. Even when shaving lead, the pistol was putting .357's and .38's in the bovine ocular region. The trigger was knife through butter smooth and the finish was excellent, narry a visible tool mark unlike the SP101 I considered.

I took the pistol to Lone Star Guns and in less than a week, I had a perfectly timed, accurate pistol with no end play at all and still, nay, a better trigger. Lone Star is now a Factory Authorized S&W repair center again as they were for 28 years before Tompkins went brain dead.

It will handle .357's with no problem and .38's are a pussy cat to shoot. The .357's are not brutal but you will notice pain if you don't change your grip. I keep my shooting arm locked and completely wrap my weak grip around the strong hand and this helps. The 110 grain Winchester White Box kicks but I know you can handle it.

I have kept the Uncle Mike's Grip as it absorbs the 'coil well and it does not shift like the one on my Taurus 605 3" did before I butressed the seams with, black, toughened superglue.

Simply put, I love the Model 60. It's asthetically attractive, accurate for CCW and holsters and accessories are teaming in abundance for it. It is a balance between weight ample enough for recoil abatement and lightness for ease of carry. The laser etching on the barrel gives it a unique touch imho. The SS finish gives that piece of mind yearned for regarding corrosion resitance in the hot Texas summers. Flash factor? If the Perp sees the gun, it's already too late.

I looked and the new Charter Guns and well, out of deference to those also reading this I will employ the better part of valor.
 
Rick--Where are YOU shopping?
Click to expand...

Academy in deep-south Texas.

You pullin' my leg, Johnny? No handguns in the north Texas Academys? Well, I would've believed that a week ago.

Ask them the next time you visit. Maybe they keep 'em in the stalls or...heh, heh... tucked under the registers :D .
 
I own a 2" Model 60 .38 Special that I bought new back in the mid 80s. I've carried and shot it a lot and it's my very favorite of the 6 J frames that I own.

7th
 
Ive got a 60 and an SP101...I must admit to loving the smith..trigger and feel are first rate. The CA guns Ive shot have functioned well and were accurate, but I question the finish.
I actually looks like they are not really finished to me.....
Shoot well
 
I have a model 60-10 in .357 magnum.

It's a joy to shoot with 110 grain .38 special plus p, and a bear with 110 grain .357 magnum.
Replace the stock 3 finger grips with hogue bantam grips and it's a different story. Standard pressure 38s are fine. Plus Ps are harder to control, but still manageable. With 125 grain 357s and the smaller grip its a case of forget accuracy, just point it down range and feel the power!
I love mine.

Radagast
 
The Charter Arms Bulldog and Pug models manufactured prior to Charter Arms changing their name and becoming Charco in '91 (and back to Charter Arms in 96), were very good guns. All Charter arms guns made after 1991 are considered junk.
 
I am almost embarassed to say I bought a Charter Bulldog Pug in .44 Spl. last year. To put it mildly, it's a pretty poorly-made gun. Plus, it failed to fire several rounds out of a 50-round box of PMC ammo. I bought a box of Blazers and that worked without a hitch.

I am still not sure what I'm going to do with the thing. Maybe a new hammer spring, if I can find one, would help.

Spend a few extra bucks and get a quality gun. Stay away from new Charter guns.
DAL
 
For the other side of the Charter Arms coin of opinion: I have a Charter 2000 (new company name) 38 Spl undercover model (spurless hammer) that has a very smooth trigger (nicer than my S&W 340PD and Taurus 617T out of the box). The revolver has never misfired, and is accurate at snub ranges. Agree that finish is a little rough, but not a bad buy at $220 new. Maybe it's all luck of the draw!
 
I too, checked out Charter 2000

I gave all of the Charter offerings a REAL close scrutiny. Many of you have heard how easily many of Charter's revolvers get out-of-time. Here's the reason. If you look at the circular ratchet centered at the rear of the cylinder, you will see how miniscule this device is; and it is the device that times the cylinder rotation to firing. Now, check out the same apparatus on a Smith or Taurus: at least twice as big and a good deal stouter-looking. Also, the Charter utilizes a two piece frame and I've also heard of the screws fastening these two pieces together back themselves out. The frames and detail work on the Taurus and Smith seem superior in almost every way to Charters. Granted, many out there probably have fine-shooting Charters but I passed on these because of the aformentioned.
 
Look around for an older used model from Charter Arms, I have a Bulldog Tracker .357 (made in '88) that is a very good little gun. Has a better trigger than our Smith model 60(course, 60 is new, may improve still;) ) and is very accurate. Finish seems good on mine, but is is from the "old" company. Shoots .357 rounds fairly comfortably too.
 
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