Ruger Forum

dkw · August 11th, 2009, 11:54 AM

A co-worker of mine has a Charter .38 snub that he is wiling to sell for $125. I don't know any details yet as to finish or exact model. He did say that it was an older model. I'm going to look at it tomorrow.
I'm aware of the different generations of Charter(CharCo, Charter 2000, etc) and their general reputations. I am NOT looking at this revolver for a CCW piece. I've always been curious about the Charter revolvers and thought this might be a way to satisfy that urge.

Does anyone who is experienced with Charter have any suggestions on what to look out for? I have several revolvers by Smith, Ruger, etc. I'm unfamiliar with any idiosyncrasies of the Charter brand.

Thanks

Pat-inCO · August 11th, 2009, 12:57 PM

http://www.charterfirearms.com/produ..._products.html has the current information.

dkw · August 11th, 2009, 01:21 PM

Thanks for the link. I went through it while I was researching the brand. I'm hoping to find some one that's experienced in the potential problems with them. I've read lots of reports on the web but alot of it seems to be hearsay and rumors, not first hand experience.
I am in no way expecting to get a first class firearm at that price. I just don't want to buy it if it has a major problem that I wasn't knowledgeable enough to look for.

Pat-inCO · August 11th, 2009, 08:50 PM

I've got one in a .44 Special and while it is nothing "special" it does fine. I would want to test fire it, check the barrel cylinder gap for consistency, check the cylinder lock-up to make sure it is reasonable, and check the trigger pull to see that it is consistent and smooth.

Beyond those, I would ask Iowegan if he has input.

KKBMTGG/go army · August 12th, 2009, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkw

A co-worker of mine has a Charter .38 snub that he is wiling to sell for $125. I don't know any details yet as to finish or exact model. He did say that it was an older model. I'm going to look at it tomorrow.
I'm aware of the different generations of Charter(CharCo, Charter 2000, etc) and their general reputations. I am NOT looking at this revolver for a CCW piece. I've always been curious about the Charter revolvers and thought this might be a way to satisfy that urge.

Does anyone who is experienced with Charter have any suggestions on what to look out for? I have several revolvers by Smith, Ruger, etc. I'm unfamiliar with any idiosyncrasies of the Charter brand.

Thanks

Here's the way I see it dkw, Charter .38 for $125, buy it now before he changes his mind. You can always sell it for that or more if you don't like it.
As to suggestions on what to look for, I'd say ammo.

Pat-inCO · August 12th, 2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KKBMTGG/go army

As to suggestions on what to look for, I'd say ammo.

Good point. I bought a Ruger LCR last week - because - they also had ammo (I didn't have any .38 Spec). At least around here, .38 Special is very scarce AND EXPENSIVE!

The ammo I got was $17/box for plinker, $25/box for Winchester Ranger (limit 2) and [SIZE="2"]$39/box[/SIZE] for Remington +P. Limit was five boxes, with a max. of two HPs.

But then again, there was none available a month ago.

Iowegan · August 12th, 2009, 07:55 AM

Charter Arms revolvers have long been known as "the best Saturday-Night Special on the market". Most gunsmiths refuse to work on them and those that do will charge more than the gun is worth. It's the only US made gun I can think of that totally ignores SAAMI bore diameter and chamber specs. The "Buldog 44 Special" became famous when the "Son of Sam Killer" used it for several murders.

dkw · August 12th, 2009, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the input guys.
Ammo isn't a problem. I've got a couple of thousand rounds on hand plus enough components to load at least twice that many more. If I do pick it up, it won't be a carry gun. My light "cowboy" loads will be all I need for it.
I'll post an update after I see it this afternoon.

KKBMTGG/go army · August 12th, 2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowegan

Charter Arms revolvers have long been known as "the best Saturday-Night Special on the market". Most gunsmiths refuse to work on them and those that do will charge more than the gun is worth. It's the only US made gun I can think of that totally ignores SAAMI bore diameter and chamber specs. The "Buldog 44 Special" became famous when the "Son of Sam Killer" used it for several murders.

Thats a new one on me Iowegan, what are you refering to? Too loose, Too tight? Also with the way they're put together have you seen or heard of frame seperation with extended use?

cdnbacon · August 12th, 2009, 02:59 PM

I haven't been overly impressed with the recent versions, but do like the old models that are identified by the exposed ejector rod.

dkw · August 12th, 2009, 06:04 PM

Well, It came home with me. It's an earlier model liked I hoped it would be. A quick web search tells me it was most likely manufactured somewhere in the '79-'80 time frame. It's in pretty good condition and doesn't appear to have been used very much. It's just as tight as most of my other wheelguns. I sent an e-mail to Charter asking for the date of manufacture. Hopefully, they can tell me.

Forgive the picture quality. All I have is my phone camera.

dkw · August 15th, 2009, 10:00 PM

I received an e-mail back from Charter Arms. According to them it was made in 1978.

Kansan · August 17th, 2009, 08:50 AM

I have one I bought new in 1979. It hasn't been shot much, but it's always been reliable. I like it a lot better than the newer Charters. It's the combination of blued steel and wood. I've just never been able to warm up to rubber grips.

RNorris · September 1st, 2009, 05:18 PM

My brother in law bought a new Bulldog,the first cylinder full of .44 Specials "clicked"...it wouldn't fire. He walked out of the range and back into the pro-shop and returned it.....

scattershot · September 4th, 2009, 07:59 AM

Anything that shoots is worth $125.00. I have had a couple of .38s in the past, and currently own a Bulldog in .44 Special. It's my "woods gun" because it packs a wallop, doesn't weigh much, and I prolly wouldn't cry if it got lost or damaged. It's not a Colt or S&W, nor as strong as a Ruger, but for its purpose as a good light duty handgun it will serve you well, IMO.