Charter Off Duty .32 H&R Mag

[Boom Vang]

Been waiting for one of these for a few months and it finally arrived. Concealed hammer DAO, chambered in .32 H&R Mag, a 6-shot. Fully loaded, it's 15-7/8 ounces. Lockup is tight, trigger pull surprisingly good!



Only had time to fire 100 rounds at a 7 yard range. Initial 12-round DAO group was under 2", POI about 1.5" low with 85 grain JHP. That would be fine for self-defense out to at least 50 feet, but I prefer more precision, so filed the front sight down slightly until POI with all loads was within a 2" circle at 7 yards. Final 5-shot groups were quite good at 7 yards, under 1". Best shooting loads were 115 grain FPL handloads. I hope to be able to get outside for longer distance shooting later this week.



The pebble grips are some of the best ever offered by Charter for these guns. They have great texture, a soft feel for recoil absorption, contoured palm swells and exposed backstrap to fit all hand sizes. I did want a slicker and smaller grip for pocket carry however, so added a set of aftermarket stocks.



Quite pleased with this revolver. Compact, lightweight and low recoiling. Sad that the current ammo situation makes .32 H&R Mag factory fodder scarce and expensive. Glad I reload.

 

[ditmo]

NIce revolver. I have the undercoverette in 32H&R. Put the DAO hammer in mine so its snag free. Mines been a great shooter so far. Reloading is the way to go. I also have the professional as a cousin. 7 shots of 32 H&R goodness.

 

[lincen]

Picked up this 32 magnum Charter Arms Off Duty today. A local shop had it used. It weighs 2.5 ounces less than my Ruger LCR 327. The factory grip is good but I’ll probably get a boot grip.

 

[Boom Vang]

Poor weather kept me from the outdoor range, but I was able to do some chronography indoors with the Off-Duty:

Charter Arms Off-Duty, .32 H&R Magnum, Starline brass, Remington 1-1/2 primer, Pro-Chrono, average of 5 shots @ 10 feet, group size 7 Yards
1. SNS Casting 115 grain FPL Coated, 3.5 grains HP38, Mean 852 fps, SD 16, group 0.75"
2. GT Bullets 115 grain RNHP, 5.0 grains Accurate No.5, Mean 823 fps, SD 10, group 1.00"
3. Meister 96 grain FPL, 3.3 grains Titegroup, Mean 842 fps, SD 6, group 0.94"
4. Hornady 85 grain XTP-HP, 6.0 grains Accurate No.5, Mean 977 fps, SD 14, group 0.56"

Groups are perfect for windage, the 115 grain bullets strike about 3/4" higher than the lighter bullets.

While completely usable out of the box, a few edges were more squarish than I prefer. Spent about a 30 minutes with a stone carefully de-horning edges on the cylinder flutes and barrel muzzle.

PS. The LCR is fairly popular, but I never cared for the trigger pull or the accuracy at MSRP $859. IMHO it's not $500 more gun than the Charter Arms.

 

[JERRY]

See it's malarkey like this from C.A. that keeps getting my money! I just can't risk it anymore unless it's a killer deal.

 

[Oninotaki]

See it's malarkey like this from C.A. that keeps getting my money! I just can't risk it anymore unless it's a killer deal.

Yeah that's why they get my money in the form of accessories now.

Both of their newer rubber grips intrigue me and at $20 a pop are worth picking up and checking out.

Compact Rubber Grips

A grip so impressive, you hardly want to conceal it, but that's the point, isn't it? 2-Finger grooves are similar to the Full Rubber Grip, but contoured to the butt for a lower profile and more effective concealment.

charterfirearms.com

Compact Rubber Grips

New Style of Compact Rubber Grips - Available in Black

charterfirearms.com

And they finally have the DA only hammers properly labeled so I know which to get, so I gotta pick one of those up.

Double-Action Hammer

If you are constantly snagging the hammer when you draw your concealed revolver, then it's time to switch to a double-action-only hammer. Fortunately, Charter has made conversion easier than ever. This hammer assembly allows a quick changeover with a few everyday tools. The hammer is contoured...

charterfirearms.com

Now if they could only convince the guy that makes these round speedloaders to do a 7 shot version for the professional I would be all set.

QuickLoad RoundLoaders for .38 Special and/or .357 Magnum

RoundLoader By Vulcan Ballistic Single (RoundLoader) or Combo (Roundloader & Case) Pack available. Rapid loading of all cartridges in one step. No knobs-push in, feel and hear the click. You are loaded. Fits standard speed loader pouches or use the QuickCase.

charterfirearms.com

See what I mean, they get you on the accessories too

 

[JERRY]

Yeah that's why they get my money in the form of accessories now.

Both of their newer rubber grips intrigue me and at $20 a pop are worth picking up and checking out.

Compact Rubber Grips

A grip so impressive, you hardly want to conceal it, but that's the point, isn't it? 2-Finger grooves are similar to the Full Rubber Grip, but contoured to the butt for a lower profile and more effective concealment.

charterfirearms.com

Compact Rubber Grips

New Style of Compact Rubber Grips - Available in Black

charterfirearms.com

And they finally have the DA only hammers properly labeled so I know which to get, so I gotta pick one of those up.

Double-Action Hammer

If you are constantly snagging the hammer when you draw your concealed revolver, then it's time to switch to a double-action-only hammer. Fortunately, Charter has made conversion easier than ever. This hammer assembly allows a quick changeover with a few everyday tools. The hammer is contoured...

charterfirearms.com

Now if they could only convince the guy that makes these round speedloaders to do a 7 shot version for the professional I would be all set.

QuickLoad RoundLoaders for .38 Special and/or .357 Magnum

RoundLoader By Vulcan Ballistic Single (RoundLoader) or Combo (Roundloader & Case) Pack available. Rapid loading of all cartridges in one step. No knobs-push in, feel and hear the click. You are loaded. Fits standard speed loader pouches or use the QuickCase.

charterfirearms.com

See what I mean, they get you on the accessories too

They make the best aiwb leather holster I've found for a J frame sized gun.

 

[Oninotaki]

They make the best aiwb leather holster I've found for a J frame sized gun.

Are you referencing this one?

IWB Holster for Small Frame Revolvers

Charter Arms Small Frame 2" barrel IWB's Genuine leather holsters are made specifically for Charter Arms Small frame revolvers with 2" barrel fitment which includes: 2" Pathfinder Undercover Undercover Lite Chic Lady Southpaw Undercoverette On Duty Off Duty Holsters are 100% handmade in the USA...

charterfirearms.com

 

[JERRY]

Are you referencing this one?

IWB Holster for Small Frame Revolvers

Charter Arms Small Frame 2" barrel IWB's Genuine leather holsters are made specifically for Charter Arms Small frame revolvers with 2" barrel fitment which includes: 2" Pathfinder Undercover Undercover Lite Chic Lady Southpaw Undercoverette On Duty Off Duty Holsters are 100% handmade in the USA...

charterfirearms.com

Yes.

 

[Oninotaki]

Yes.

I thought so. I was disappointed to find out that their version for the larger frame model only works with up to a 2.5" barrel. I thought for a hot second I was gonna have a great option for aiwb carrying my professional.

 

[lincen]

Finally got my Charter Arms 32 magnum Off Duty to the range yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. Very comfortable to shoot the 32 magnum rounds and just plain fun with the 32 longs. Was shooting 6” steel targets at 30 feet and several times went six for six. Probably be my pocket carry revolver after another range trip.

 

[chicharrones]

Finally got my Charter Arms 32 magnum Off Duty to the range yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. Very comfortable to shoot the 32 magnum rounds and just plain fun with the 32 longs. Was shooting 6” steel targets at 30 feet and several times went six for six. Probably be my pocket carry revolver after another range trip.

Yep. My CA Undercoverette in .32 Mag is a sweet shooter with Longs and Magnums. I wish S&W would bring theirs back as an option to CA and Ruger.

 

[chicharrones]

Been waiting for one of these for a few months and it finally arrived. Concealed hammer DAO, chambered in .32 H&R Mag, a 6-shot. Fully loaded, it's 15-7/8 ounces. Lockup is tight, trigger pull surprisingly good!

View attachment 1173260

A good weight for a pocket shooter.

 

[chicharrones]

See it's malarkey like this from C.A. that keeps getting my money! I just can't risk it anymore unless it's a killer deal.

Pure trickeration. I have a love/hate relationship with CA.

 

[Oninotaki]

A good weight for a pocket shooter.

View attachment 1174121

What grips are those?

 

[chicharrones]

What grips are those?

Dremels.





The last mod was to carve a notch in the left grip for ammo clearance.

 

[Boom Vang]

Work and weather have kept me from the outdoor range, but I was able to get to another indoor range that has 15 yards of distance. Fired a couple of my handloads for accuracy on the NRA B-16 slowfire target. Satisfied with this for 2" barrel DAO small-frame revolver.

Hornady 85 XTP-HP 6.0 grains Accurate No.5. The bottom group (2") was using a Sub6 hold, the center group (2.5") using a combat hold:


GT Bullets 115 grain RNHP, 5.0 grain Accurate No.5. using center hold. Have a nice 2.5" group for 4 shots, the 5th shot opened it up. That 5th shot appeared to be unstable, so perhaps the 2" barrel doesn't stabilize the 115 grain bullets very well.

 

[chicharrones]

View attachment 1174157

That hit in the 7-ring at near 3 o'clock . . . I've seen strikes like that from shooting at indoor ranges with the paper being hung from clips. Typically, when the paper waves around a bit during rapid fire or if the air circulation system is powerful enough to make the paper move.

Not saying that's the situation you have going on, just saying that's what it reminds me of.

 

[Oninotaki]

Dremels.

View attachment 1174158

View attachment 1174159

The last mod was to a add notch in the left grip for ammo clearance.
View attachment 1174160

View attachment 1174162

That s some fantastic edge work on those grips. Did you smooth out and finish the edges on those grips with the Dremel as well?

 

[chicharrones]

That s some fantastic edge work on those grips. Did you smooth out and finish the edges on those grips with the Dremel as well?

Final finish work after profiling was with sand paper and my fingers. I can't recall the grits. The rubber in these factory grips is about as easily sanded as wood, but different in feel when doing it.

 

[SlowFuse]

Now if they could only convince the guy that makes these round speedloaders to do a 7 shot version for the professional I would be all set.

QuickLoad RoundLoaders for .38 Special and/or .357 Magnum

RoundLoader By Vulcan Ballistic Single (RoundLoader) or Combo (Roundloader & Case) Pack available. Rapid loading of all cartridges in one step. No knobs-push in, feel and hear the click. You are loaded. Fits standard speed loader pouches or use the QuickCase.

charterfirearms.com

Check out this company. I inquired about fitment for a Charter and they sent me two to try to fit my Patriot. I believe the J2 worked, the R7 was too big.

https://5starfirearms.com/speed-loading/327-caliber/

 

[Oninotaki]

Check out this company. I inquired about fitment for a Charter and they sent me two to try to fit my Patriot. I believe the J2 worked, the R7 was too big.

https://5starfirearms.com/speed-loading/327-caliber/

Thanks for sharing them. I however already have the R7 and can confirm that with the right grips it does work for both the Charter Arms Professional 7 shot in .32 H&R and the Ruger GP100 7 shot in .327 Federal.

I just want to try one of those rubber style speed loaders and they don't make them for anything I have.

 

[Oninotaki]

Well all those accessories came in and I have tweaked my EDC CA Professional. It is the all black model, and I have included my Taurus 327 and practice CA Professional for scale/comparison.

The new rubber boot grips feel great in the hand, control well, and handle speed loaders better than the classic wood grips I had on previously. I will probably remove a bit of material from the grips to help the speedloaders even more now that I have seen Chicharrones grip work earlier in the thread.

*Edited to add* Swapping to the DAO hammer was simple, quick, and easy. Test fired 21 rounds of Federal Champion Training 95 gr Semi-Wadcutters out of it just fine.