New Charter Arms

Michael Tinker Pearce writes:

The Undercover was a very popular back-up when I was a LEO in the 1980s. They were affordable on a cop's salary and were well thought of.

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Bought one myself the day I was sworn in, in 1987, and carried it OD/BU for the next few years. Very solid, and I still have it. I also have my dad's 1966 one, and a stainless one I came across a few years ago that was made in 1985.

But, I don't have anything to share regarding current-production guns, as I've never explored them.

I own four CA revolvers. I bought one new and three used. One of the used ones had problems, and they fixed it quickly for free. All four have similar triggers: pretty decent, if a bit "toy-like". They are all light snubbies. I like them just fine.

I've owned something like eight Taurus revolvers over the years. Only one gave me problems. I had to send it back twice before they were able to make it functional. The Taurii have been more of a mixed bag. Two had horrible triggers. Most have had mediocre ones somewhat stiffer than the CA. A few of them have been excellent, better than any I've owned except for my very best Smiths.

For consistency I would lean towards the Charter Arms, though the really good Taurii are better. FWIW, my best Taurus revolvers were made from the early/mid 1980's up to 1990. All of my CA have been newer.

I really like my CA Pitbull. The spring thingies in the cylinders to hold the cartridges are very clever. I like 45acp as a revolver round.

The best Taurus revolver I've owned is this "Old Model 66". It was made in something like 1983 and has a S&W style trigger block as opposed to the transfer bar. The trigger is smooooth and it's absurdly accurate.

I wouldn’t bet my life on either one. Just search The High Road and you’ll see plenty of horror stories for both Charter Arms and Taurus. They probably fill a niche for recreational Shooter’s. Inexpensive comparatively speaking and they look nice. I wouldn’t bet my life on either one working when life and limb were on the line. The poor customer service provided by Taurus that I have experienced is enough to ensure that I will NEVER own another Taurus. Charter Arms? Saw a man buy one brand new at a LGS / indoor range along with a factory box of 158 grain round nose bullets. Four shots and it completely locked up...on the way back to the factory for “service” at that point. Charter Arms & Taurus? COMPLETE JUNK as far as I’m concerned.

whatnickname said:

Saw a man buy one brand new at a LGS / indoor range along with a factory box of 158 grain round nose bullets. Four shots and it completely locked up...on the way back to the factory for “service” at that point.

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I had that exact same experience with my NIB S&W 642 but mine made it a total of 6 shots.
That is why a smart man wrings out a gun BEFORE he bets his life on it. I don't care what manufacturer it came from. And yes I will buy Smiths in the future. Lots of them probably. As well as Charter, and Taurus, and Ruger, and Heritage, and..........

Yeah, the thing is Charter gets them right the first time they get sent back and gets them done quckly, but on another forum I see someone is having issues with a .460 S&W that's been back twice now and takes months in between.

In the mid-60s and 70s Charter Arms was on its way to being a premier American gun company. Unfortunately it was sold several times to different owners one worse than the other. I think Charter Arms 2000 was the worst. Today the Ecker famiky, one of the 2 original owners owns Charter Arms again. The quality and products show the love they have for guns. I'm very happy Charter Arms is back, we need more quality American revolver producers.

No, I have nothing to do with the compamy, just showing my respect for a company doing it right!

You can tell the guys who purchased S&W back in the Day and still have them. Everything else is Junk, Except what I own they say. Some would call it being a snob but not me.

I have had wonderful service when needed with Taurus, see my post about getting new gun in place of the gunshow used one I purchased. For those of us who can not see spending $900 for a gun, the $400 one will need to do.

The only experience I've had with Charter Arms is my old Bulldog. This weapon would be hard for me to part with.

As my kids say...."Haters gonna hate."

"For those of us who can not see spending $900 for a gun, the $400 one will need to do."

I bought my first "real" handgun in the late 1980's soon after graduating from college. My FiL felt that a man ought to have something to protect his wife with, and I agreed with him. I didn't have very much money, but a friend at work had a brother who was getting divorced and needed to pay for a lawyer. He agreed to sell me his barely-used Taurus Model 66 for what he paid for it, $200. It had a great trigger and was completely reliable. I had to use it for SD twice. Unfortunately it was stolen in a burglary around the year 2000.

I replaced it a few months later with a used Taurus Model 689 (a slightly fancier model of the same revolver, made in 1990), which I paid $199 for. It is still one of my preferred HD handguns. My 44 special CA Bulldog that I also paid about $200 for used is my preferred coat pocket cold weather CC handgun.

For me, they don't have to be expensive, they just have to be reliable and accurate.


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X2. Well said. I like my CA Bulldog and my 629, and my SBH among others. One thing they all have in common is they've proven to be reliable for thousands of rounds each and in all types of conditions. Price does not necessarily gauge reliability. Fit and finish, perhaps. Reliable service not so much.

Be well folks

Mr. Mosin said:

i got the chance today to handle a new production Charter Arms. I was impressed, to say the least. Better lockup than any new Taurus I’ve handled, and a good price. Opinions on a new production Charter vs Taurus ? Also... what is Charter’s grip frame made of ?

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Newer grip frames are polymer... Except on the polished stainless steel models ...
I have owned well over a dozen of Charters over the last 30+ years .. 4 at this time .. and number 5 in layaway...
and im trying to work out a trade on number 6 .....
Charter Arms has CS second to none