Blue Brick
Member
On pins and needles.
Charter Arms quality
- Thread starter JERRY
- Start date
On pins and needles.
Blue Brick
Member
Any update?
My first snub revolver was a Charter OFF DUTy in 1984...it is still in my safe and I still carry it occasionally...has served well.
I prefer a LCR or 642...but my son has a new Bulldog and it seems to do well...but we do handload for it, so I am not sure about light strikes as we use Winchester primers and have had no problem with them.
I prefer a LCR or 642...but my son has a new Bulldog and it seems to do well...but we do handload for it, so I am not sure about light strikes as we use Winchester primers and have had no problem with them.
OP
OP
JERRY
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,841
None, but it's the weekend so...
conan32120
Member
Since they asked for the dealer that sent it it may be possible that they have not received it yet. Might be a good idea to verify delivery.
Cocked & Locked
Member
Good idea. That happened to me a few years back with a RIA 1911 I was returning to manufacturer.
the dealer “forgot” he had it. Or so he said.
the dealer “forgot” he had it. Or so he said.
Blue Brick
Member
I'm guessing that Charter Arms has a lot of warranty work going on. First Eric then Sandy, neither can tell me the status of my gun thus far.
May 22nd and counting.
Update?
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JERRY
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,841
Nothing at all. I will update when they've replied in any fashion. The only thing Sandy was able to tell me is that it was on the technician's desk. Absolutely no word as to what was discovered with the firearm nor what is to be done regarding repair or replacement.
eddiememphis
Member
I bought one from GunBroker. A Southpaw in that same pink color.
When it showed up at the receiving FFL, we both laughed at what a piece of junk it is.
The trigger felt like I was holding it in a sandbox as I pulled it.
When I got it home I took it totally apart to see the problem. And there were a lot.
That is the hammer.
Most of the parts looked like this.
The trigger guard and frame are plastic. Not polymer- plastic.
I realize you get what you pay for and a $250 gun is likely to be junk. I bought it as a project and is certainly was- more than I thought it would be.
When it showed up at the receiving FFL, we both laughed at what a piece of junk it is.
The trigger felt like I was holding it in a sandbox as I pulled it.
When I got it home I took it totally apart to see the problem. And there were a lot.
That is the hammer.
Most of the parts looked like this.
The trigger guard and frame are plastic. Not polymer- plastic.
I realize you get what you pay for and a $250 gun is likely to be junk. I bought it as a project and is certainly was- more than I thought it would be.
unclenunzie
Contributing Member
You polished it!
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JERRY
Member
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- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,841
I hope it's with the up graded Chic Lady as I requested if replacement was warranted. I figured if I have to pay additional ffl transfer fees that's the least they could do.
eddiememphis
Member
Blue Brick
Member
Hi Point next.........
Boom Vang
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2003
- Messages
- 219
You wouldn't expect a Hyundai Accent to perform on par with a BMW X1, which is more than twice the price. Why would you expect a $250 revolver to display a lot of hand-fitting? In my experience with almost three dozen Charter revolvers owned over several decades, you generally get a functional revolver for the price. You might like a smoother trigger pull, or different material construction, etc... but you are not being realistic at the price it is sold at. You can pay 2-3x more, and get to roll the dice on receiving a craptastic gun from Ruger, S&W orColt - I have many times. Last one was a $900 S&W that the factory completely replaced with a new gun about a year ago.
You can use a Charter as is, and if it has a rough trigger pull, that hammer burr will smooth out eventually. Or if you like to tinker and are skilled, you could polish off any burrs. Or yours might be 100% great. Sorry to break the news to you but this is the pattern in ALL of the once impeccable US gun industry, now that money people and bean counters have decided the "gunsumer" is an ignoramus that doesn't know the difference. Sadly, they are largely correct, due to the YouTube shills they hire to push the junk they make.
Some of my Charters I have had to send back to correct for a factory defect. Just a phone call, no hassles at all. Sent me a shipping label on their dime, corrected the problem faster than any other gun manufacturer I've dealt with, and returned it no charge.
The below Charter Undercover hi-polish I purchased 4-1/2 years ago. This week I just passed 1000 rounds though it. Fired a LE-style qualification course with it, 50 rounds starting at 25 yards, under the timer:
25 Yards draw & fire 5 rds standing, 5 rds kneeling with reload in 40 seconds
15 Yards draw & fire 5 rds in 10 seconds
7 Yards draw & fire 3 rds in 4 seconds x 4
7 Yards ready fire 4 rds with reload in 10 seconds x 3
7 Yards ready fire 1 rd head box in 2 seconds x 2
7 yards draw & fire 2 rds strong hand, 1 rd weak hand in 6 seconds x 3
Obviously the revolver is not an issue whatsoever. But haters gotta hate.
PS. All plastics are polymers. Formulations vary. I have seen many cracked polymer pistol frames (Glock, FN, Kel-Tec), but have never seen a cracked grip frame on a Charter revolver. I suppose it could happen but would be rare and probably to due to either extreme abuse or a defect in the individual thermo mould specimen.
Last edited:
Blue Brick
Member
eddiememphis
Member
You wouldn't expect a Hyundai Accent to perform on par with a BMW X1, which is more than twice the price. Why would you expect a $250 revolver to display a lot of hand-fitting?
You might like a smoother trigger pull, or different material construction, etc... but you are not being realistic at the price it is sold at.
You can use a Charter as is, and if it has a rough trigger pull, that hammer burr will smooth out eventually. Or if you like to tinker and are skilled, you could polish off any burrs.
Obviously the revolver is not an issue whatsoever. But haters gotta hate.
PS. All plastics are polymers.
US News and World Reports has the Hyundai Accent rated more reliable than the BMW X1. I don't buy cheap guns expecting performance equal to a gun twice the price. In my admitted limited experience with the brand, I question it's reliability.
I stated in my post that I expected the Charter to be junk and was not disappointed. I don't think I am being unrealistic to expect any product sold to function properly- mine did not.
There is no way the burr I posted a picture of would smooth out with normal use. I do like to tinker and removed all the burrs- and there were many, many more that I found.
YOUR revolver seems to shoot fine. No need to call me a "hater". Jerry asked in his original post what others think about the gun.
I realize all plastics are polymers but there is a vast difference between a "polymer" frame like a Glock and the "plastic" frame of a Charter. The Charter has very little rigidity, to the point of being laughably flexible.
Is this a potential problem? Unlikely, but once again, Jerry was asking about Charter owner's experiences with the guns.
TTv2
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 4,998
Let's not bring cars into this discussion, it's an apples to oranges comparison. Charter's are obviously being built to a price point and their ultralight models are using plastic to reduce weight on top of cost cutting. That doesn't excuse parts not being deburred or frames cracking.
The way things are now, Charter's are on par with Jennings, Jimenez, Lorcin, Davis, etc. in terms of quality. The Professionals are probably the best models Charter makes, but even mine had the transfer bar break in two pieces after maybe 1000 trigger pulls, most of them dry firing.
I'm not dry firing it as much since then, but if it breaks again then I'm probably going to move on from it because while I like the concept of a 7 shot K frame .32 Mag in a 20oz gun, I've not liked the execution of it by Charter.
The way things are now, Charter's are on par with Jennings, Jimenez, Lorcin, Davis, etc. in terms of quality. The Professionals are probably the best models Charter makes, but even mine had the transfer bar break in two pieces after maybe 1000 trigger pulls, most of them dry firing.
I'm not dry firing it as much since then, but if it breaks again then I'm probably going to move on from it because while I like the concept of a 7 shot K frame .32 Mag in a 20oz gun, I've not liked the execution of it by Charter.
ak-kev
Member
I can’t add too much to this discussion concerning the newer Charters, but for what’s it’s worth, I have been collecting the 1st gen Bulldogs for decades now and absolutely love them. I have never had a problem with any of them. Admittedly, I don’t shoot them much, just a cylinder full every time I go to the range. My early ‘73 blued 3inch weighs 22.28 oz loaded with Silvertips. It’s so convenient, small and powerful, I use it for walking our Heeler around the neighborhood.
I have been wanting to try one of their new XL Bulldogs in 45 Colt, but they are hard to source right now. Sorry for rambling on….
I have been wanting to try one of their new XL Bulldogs in 45 Colt, but they are hard to source right now. Sorry for rambling on….
Blue Brick
Member
You wouldn't expect a Hyundai Accent to perform on par with a BMW X1, which is more than twice the price. Why would you expect a $250 revolver to display a lot of hand-fitting? In my experience with almost three dozen Charter revolvers owned over several decades, you generally get a functional revolver for the price. You might like a smoother trigger pull, or different material construction, etc... but you are not being realistic at the price it is sold at. You can pay 2-3x more, and get to roll the dice on receiving a craptastic gun from Ruger, S&W orColt - I have many times. Last one was a $900 S&W that the factory completely replaced with a new gun about a year ago.
You can use a Charter as is, and if it has a rough trigger pull, that hammer burr will smooth out eventually. Or if you like to tinker and are skilled, you could polish off any burrs. Or yours might be 100% great. Sorry to break the news to you but this is the pattern in ALL of the once impeccable US gun industry, now that money people and bean counters have decided the "gunsumer" is an ignoramus that doesn't know the difference. Sadly, they are largely correct, due to the YouTube shills they hire to push the junk they make.
Some of my Charters I have had to send back to correct for a factory defect. Just a phone call, no hassles at all. Sent me a shipping label on their dime, corrected the problem faster than any other gun manufacturer I've dealt with, and returned it no charge.
The below Charter Undercover hi-polish I purchased 4-1/2 years ago. This week I just passed 1000 rounds though it. Fired a LE-style qualification course with it, 50 rounds starting at 25 yards, under the timer:
25 Yards draw & fire 5 rds standing, 5 rds kneeling with reload in 40 seconds
15 Yards draw & fire 5 rds in 10 seconds
7 Yards draw & fire 3 rds in 4 seconds x 4
7 Yards ready fire 4 rds with reload in 10 seconds x 3
7 Yards ready fire 1 rd head box in 2 seconds x 2
7 yards draw & fire 2 rds strong hand, 1 rd weak hand in 6 seconds x 3
View attachment 1159631
Obviously the revolver is not an issue whatsoever. But haters gotta hate.
PS. All plastics are polymers. Formulations vary. I have seen many cracked polymer pistol frames (Glock, FN, Kel-Tec), but have never seen a cracked grip frame on a Charter revolver. I suppose it could happen but would be rare and probably to due to either extreme abuse or a defect in the individual thermo mould specimen.
Was this just for your own personal training or was this at an organized event (class or competition)?
Blue Brick
Member
Update?
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Are ya asking so much because you're wanting to buy a Charter Arms revolver right now?
A lot of the country is on "vacation" mode, which can make companies short staffed.
