Charter Arms Revolvers - Pass or Fail? - TheFirearmGuy

I don’t own anything by Charter Arms. However, I have heard good things about them. Back in the day when police officers commonly carried revolvers (Smith & Wesson - Colt) many police officers carried a Charter Arms as their back up or off duty weapon.

Love my charter arms southpaw.

I believe Charter Arms advertised weights are all for a gun with no grips installed. Their rationale is that there are so many different grips available for Charter Arms revolvers that weight would depend on which particular grip is on your gun. Sounds like a lame excuse to me, but I know every review of a Charter Arms revolver that I've ever seen finds the gun to weigh about 2 ounces more than Charter says.

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.

This is a GOOO.... I was looking for a .38spl for my 38th birthday back in September, when i came across this one... I did a little shopping around and noticed that they were a bit high on price... I came up on one in LIKE NEW condition at my local Pawnshop for $250. Out the door.... I LOVE IT... ❤❤

Bought an older used Charter Arms revolver in .327 magnum. It was slightly out of time so I emailed Charter telling them I purchased it used and asked how much to send it in to them and have it checked out. I had my FFL ship it to them and within 3 days of receipt they called. They gave me the option of having the .327 magnum repaired but parts were scarce due to the model being discontinued or I could have my choice of any other current Charter Arms revolver. I chose their new .41 magnum--NO CHARGE! I have a Bulldog in .44 Special and a Pitbull in .40 S&W that does not require moonclips. All 3 fit in a small IWB holster you don't even know is there. Perfect for those "get off me" situations.

I don't really care for the paint job, but if you have to use it against a super patriotic assailant, he may stop for a second to salute the gun, and it'll buy you a little more time to protect yourself 😆
I like the Charter Arms 44 special bulldog. Never owned one but a friend does. He loves it. Great size and caliber imo.
You mentioned the Taurus 85. I was stupid enough to let someone talk me into selling mine to him. It was a great little gun. Very accurate for such a short barrel. Definitely worth the price I paid for it, and he got an even better deal.

I have a Professional IV 357 and have run about a hundred full power rounds through it and it’s flawless. I did put their combat grips on it. I also have a Lady Lavender 38 I bought for my wife. We have run about a hundred rounds through it as well flawlessly. Made in Connecticut near where I was born. Great company. Lifetime warranty. I have heard of some folks saying they needed warranty work but also heard the same people say they made it right.

I have the Pathfinder Target in .22 magnum with the 4.2" barrel. I wouldn't pass on a Charter Arms revolver.

I had the most horrible experience with Charter when I sent a pathfinder back to them which had some trigger issues. I didn't hear anything from them for 6 months and could not ever get hold of or call back from anyone. Finally, I get an email that the problem was a "crack in the frame" and they had already destroyed and melted the gun down and were going to replace it once they manufactured a replacement, which was not scheduled for another 2 months. They could not get me anything off the shelf anywhere, I had to wait until they actually made another run of the model. They did not save my custom grips. I get the replacement....it was a different gun. I had an all steel model, they replaced it with aluminum of course with the original grips and no compensation for the custom grips. No explanation from anyone, no one to answer the phone or email as to giving me a totally different model replacement. I go to shoot it....trigger was even worse than the first one. Sounded and felt like dragging a razorblade through seashells. They wouldn't even take it back to fix it, saying all their triggers are like that. I filed a report with the better business bureau and sold it to the first shop I passed. Beware ever dealing with those people.

I love mine

No experience with Charter Arms either, but honestly not a big fan of the cerakote. Not that I dislike the theme, but if you have to use this in a defensive situation, an overzealous prosecutor can use it against you.

I've got an older Bulldog Pug in .44sp. Double action trigger pull progressively stacks hard from the 2nd to the 5th round. Takes a team of horses to get the fifth shot to break ......It is also primer sensitive. Doesn't like hard primers like CCI. Weak spring? Havent shot it is in years. Don't trust it

Had one back in the day, sold it off after Chapman used one on Lennon in '80...

Everyone needs a large bore snubby revolver - even me!

I like mine but I got the one that’s just wire brush finish

Everything I’ve heard has been positive

Nice little pocket rocket

I have owned seven of their revolvers. Only one had any problems. I consider them better than Taurus revolvers. I have only owned two of those but both misfired. In addition I worked at a range where we sold the Taurus products - mainly the five shot model 85. Twice we had to send whole shipments back for repair. They quickly developed timing issues. Note: Once they came back from repair, they worked fine.
As to the ejector rod length, you were comparing a two inch Charter to a three inch Taurus. Naturally the Taurus has the longer ejector rod. Take a look at a Smith & Wesson two inch model 60. Compare that to the Charter.
Take a look at the Undercover II or Police Undercover if you want a six shot 39 special. The Undercover II comes with a fiber optic front sight.
Charter also makes a seven shot in 32 H&R magnum. It is called the Professional and comes with a three inch barrel with fiber optic front sight.

If I am not mistaken, it was charter arms that brought the transfer bar to the industry

I got mine with the black coating, bought mine on Black Friday fer 325 bucks 😎 been watching some reviews on it now that i have it before I get some rounds through her, but the way she feels in my hand is perfect. Nice and compact, idk about putting it in my pocket, I'd be worried about snagging the hammer on the way out, but throw it in a shoulder holster and cover it with your jacket? She's golden

Ive owned 5 Charters over the years. 3-38's, a 22 Pathfinder and an original 44 Bulldog. The 3 38's were the older originals too. The 22 was a newer model, stainless Snubbie. I really tried to look like the Charter Arms revolvers. Priced right, decent looking and made in The USA. But all 5 gave me problems. The newer model Pathfinder being the worst. The cylinder opened and closed just perfect - until i put ammo in it. The culinder refused to go back into the gun when i put rounds in it. I tried several brands and types. It did finally close with CCI Stingers, but just barely. And i had to push way too hard to get it back open. But i do know individuals who have had good luck with the Charters. My local gunshop did carry a large selection of them for awhile. But they did suddenly stop carrying them. When i asked them why they informed me that they were having alot of complaints about them and were having to send a large percentage of them back to the company for repais. Many of them new in the box. So their experience seemed to mirror mine. But i am a revolver guy. And seeing how my last snubbie, a new S&W 642, cost me $450 on sale- and it had to immediately go back for timing issues and burrs on the cylinder star- im tempted to try a new Charter 38 special revolver. I do hear they have great customer service. Im just afraid there is a good chance ill have to use it ! Lol. I honestly cant believe the cost jump of revolvers. Most have doubled and trippled in price in the last 20 years or so. Im seeing the S&W Airweight 38's going for $600+ at some local shops at the moment. I like my Smiths, but they flat are not worth $600+ ! I always swear ill never try another CA's everytime i get rid of one. But they do just keep catching my eye ! 😅

I am intrigued by the Professional 3" 32.

My Bulldog .44 has the black nitrite finish and sports laser grips. It is my EDC.

VERY poor machine work !

I like my pit bull for the night stand and my carry gun is the Sig 365.

Have 2.
Inherited both from my great grandfather.
😊
The snub has been my edc for almost 25years now and was his backup for 30years before i got it.
Ive shot 1000s of rounds thru both no problems!
Yes there are better made out there,but i wouldn't say they are any more reliable than a charter arms! Luv them!
😊💯🫡🤘

You seem prejudiced against the Charter Arms. For example, the ejector rod: you compared a 3" to a 2" gun. I happen to have both a Taurus 856 Lite (2 " barrel), and frankly, though I have no complaints about the Taurus, the Undercover is the one I carry. It's just all around better. In fact, I'd say it's better than even a Smith & Wesson. I have no experience with Ruger of Colt, or any others, so I can't really say anything about them, but I'll take a Charter Arms any day of the week, and twice on Sunday!

Boight a undercover in the 1980,s. Always kiked it. Paid 90 dollars then .lol

I have their 44 On Duty, the Gold finger, and my wife has the Pink lady. I load the 2 lite revolvers with Buffalo Bore non-plus P 150 grain wadcutters with 850 FPs.
Ok shooters. I got them cause they are cool to own but they do work. The 44 shoots great. I carry an Sig Macro but have a number of main line revolvers as well as semi-autos as I like them!

I bought one back in 1980, traded it away and tried another in 82. Both were 38sp. Neither was good past 10ft they were my get off me backups.

I rather not have any other king but this one

I bought a Charter Arms .32 H&R Magnum revolver in the spring of 2024, and I'm quite pleased with it.

Sure, it's not a S&W or Colt, but I paid about half what I would have paid for one of those, and the thing makes the rounds go bang every time.

I had one box of "target" ammo (less expensive .32 S&W long stuff) hit "off" my point of aim, but the rest of my ammo has done just fine.

It's concealable (I don't "do" pocket carry, because my hands are big, and getting the thing out of my pocket quickly isn't happening) without a lot of fuss (strong side carry with a Muddy River Tactical holster made for a S&W J-frame snubby, or an Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 also for a snubby). The accuracy at seven yards is acceptable to me, and it even works at ten yards. I expect it to be more likely a five-yard or even bad-breath distance gun, so there's that.

The weight of the revolver does not include the grips, the reason for this is the wide variety available and listing all the combined weights isn't practical.

I’ve carried a charter arms since 1984 and it shoots great.

I have the six shot 327 Fed. Mag. for my truck gun. Works flawlessly. Trigger pull aint no Colt Python for sure. On a side note, that shroud on the ejector rod locks up the front of the cylinder. As the cylinder closes the rod pushes rearward. When the rod drops into place the shroud moves foreward into it's slot locking the front in place. Simple but effective.

I bought a 9mm pitbull last year. Right off the bat light primer strikes. It got slightly better over time, but still had light strikes 2-3 every 15 rounds. Then the cylinder locked up on one chamber. In another chamber the clip that holds the 9mm fell out. The crane or arm was wobbly. And a fastener backed out every time trigger was pulled. Sent it back. Quoted turn around was 6-8 weeks. Took about five. They replaced cylinder and strengthened the hammer strikes as well as a more solid crane. Haven’t shot it yet. Whatever happened to get it right the first time. The system holding the 9mm seems less than robust, I could see it breaking again. I’d be interested in their 22 lr revolver but I really don’t want to buy a gun that needs to be sent back in under a year. I have three Taurus revolvers, one is maybe 25 years old and others less than a year. They all fire well right out of the box and haven’t self destructed on me.

Passing is failing dumdum

Small, light, convenient, and I always have it on me.
I'm too old to fight, and too young to die.

I have the pitbull 380, love the fact that I don't need moon clips, the gun works great no issues at all and it's a 6 shot and in this day and age of the 5 shot revolvers is a WIN. I'm now looking at the 9mm and it's also a 6 shot <grin>.

My bad, the 9mm pitbull is only 5 shot not 6 <sigh> but still no moon clips so it's still a win.

Got one of these for the wife, perfect purse or pocket gun!

Stars and bars America's backup

Charter Arms and Taurus are the brands I recommend when someone asks me about what are good carry revolvers. Good and cheap, mostly for being cheap since I can’t justify anything above $500 that only has 5/6 shots and isn’t magazine loaded

Own 4 charter arms since 1994, all still funtioning great! owned 3 diferent revolverTaurus models, all had major issues, and were sent back for repairs which were not done properly. I personally stay away from any Taurus. YMMV, I trust my Charter Arms 100%

That looks like a gun the Joker would carry

I have Taurus 327 and I tried Charter Arms 9mm the Charter has a better trigger. Charter has a Professional 32 H&R seven rounds and the Boxer 38 with six rounds. Charter said you can feed +P but not a steady diet of it

Pass