Picked up a Charter Arms 9mm PITBULL !

[C0untZer0]

I have been complaining about the low production numbers on these things for the longest time, I even joked that Charter Arms was only making 4 of these a year, but I saw one pop up on Kentucky Gun Co earlier this week. By the time I created an account the gun had sold.

Before I went to bed last night I ran Gun Watcher and there weren't any 9mm PITBULLs for sale anywhere.

This morning I ran Gunwatcher and I was shocked to see that Grabagun had a Charter Arms 9mm PITBULL. Since I already have an account there with my FFL setup and everything and I snagged it.

I haven't even done a review on my S&W 929 yet... but I'll get to it.

One of the things that happened to me with the 929 is that loading the moon clip was way more of a pain than I thought it would be so my first range session was cut short by loading the clip and de-mooning it - very time consuming without a tool.

I won't have that problem with the PITBULL

 

[Walkalong]

You need to let us know how that Pitbull shoots. Interesting pistol.

As far as moon clips go, most folks load a bunch to take to the range, vs loading them at the range. A 929 would be sweet.

 

[C0untZer0]

Grab-A-Gun still has one in stock for $440.81

http://grabagun.com/charter-arms-arms-pitbull-9mm-2-ss-5rd.html

 

[C0untZer0]

As far as moon clips go, most folks load a bunch to take to the range, vs loading them at the range

I was so excited my brain was addled. Getting 8 rounds into the TK Custom clip was not easy, I used an Irwin bar grip to pop the last rounds into place, but I rushed off to the range, shot the first 8 rounds and then realized I'd left my bar grip at home.

I hadn't done any forward thinking, hadn't ordered extra clips or a loading tool...

I now have 10 additional clips and a loading / de-mooning tool on the way.

 

[C0untZer0]

Every time I write the word "clip" I cringe as if waiting for someone to correct me and say "Its a magazine - not a clip!"

But they really are clips

 

[kcofohio]

Yes, really would like to hear your experience with the Pitbull.

 

[horsemen61]

Very cool please post a review

 

[C0untZer0]

Well my PITBULL broke tonight.

I was dry-firing it, with Snap-Caps in the cylinders and I heard a weird "clink" and then the trigger locked up. I can't cock the hammer manually either. The cylinder swings out and closes OK, but the hammer won't go back.

I'll take it apart tomorrow to see what I can see.

 

[retDAC]

Looking forward to the diagnosis.

 

[C0untZer0]

I can't find a good disassembly tutorial for the PITBULL and I don't know enough about revolvers to just wing it.

I am contacting Charter Arms.

This revolver really hasn't had that many rounds fired through it - maybe 100 or 150 rounds, and when I've dry-fired it I've always had snap-caps in the cylinder.

 

[kcofohio]

Hi Count, there is a cylinder latch screw on the breach face. IIRC, if it is screwed in too far, it can block the trigger function. But I don't have a CA here anymore to reference it.

 

[natman]

Well my PITBULL broke tonight.

I was dry-firing it, with Snap-Caps in the cylinders and I heard a weird "clink" and then the trigger locked up. I can't cock the hammer manually either. The cylinder swings out and closes OK, but the hammer won't go back.

I'll take it apart tomorrow to see what I can see.

Don't fiddle with it, contact Charter Arms. They have a well deserved reputation for excellent customer service and they will make it right.

 

[zerobarrier]

I have been complaining about the low production numbers on these things for the longest time, I even joked that Charter Arms was only making 4 of these a year, but I saw one pop up on Kentucky Gun Co earlier this week. By the time I created an account the gun had sold.

You've been looking in the wrong place. Gunbroker always has 9mm SS pitbulls. I look all the time. They have 8 right now for around 450. I have been looking for a blue 9mm one or a 40s&w, those are harder to find.

 

[C0untZer0]

The prices for the 9mm PITBULL on Gun Broker came down quite a bit since the end of last year.

I was unwilling to pay the Gun Broker premium.

 

[C0untZer0]

Someone on another forum speculated that it might be a broken transfer bar.

I called Charter Arms, gave them my serial number and they're sending me a paid FedEx airway bill.

Its been fairly painless so far...

 

[Frank V]

I think you will find CA customer service to be very good.
The CAs aren't the junk some think.
Please keep us informed.

 

[klmspider]

You have a Pitbull 9mm? I've bought one, about four months ago. I love shooting it... except for it little pains, especially with extraction... namely, IT WON'T !
I've used many different brands of ammo, and often get the best results with mild handloads with titegroup and cast 125 grain bullets. BUT, nothing reliably extracts. I have to carry a 5/16th" aluminum rod with me to knock the empties out. Serious cleaning seems to help, somewhat, but only to a point. All the little springs are still under the lips of the star extractor, but seem too weak, maybe also too small, to reliably pull the cases from the cylinder. Somedays, the extractor rod even takes a real rap to push out. Any suggestions?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Sorry to here your Pitbull broke! CA has EXCELLENT customer service.

My .44 Bulldog is with them now, like an idiot, I took apart the cylinder release and parts flew across the room and I couldn't get it back together. When they say don't take apart a CA cylinder release, DON'T do it! It's quite the nightmare to put back together again, with several tiny parts and springs that can and will fling themselves into the deepest darkest crevices around you..

Keep us updated on your repair!

 

[C0untZer0]

For me, the empty brass will eject on the first 3 cylinders fired without any problems but after 3 cylinders worth of firing, things start to get sticky. I had to tap the ejector rod with my gun case to get the rounds out on the 5th cylinder.

Aluminum won't eject at all - I don't fire aluminum cased ammo.

The extractor claws or whatever they are called, are not that strong and I have had it where tapping the rod extracts 3 or 4 cases but the extractor jumps the groove on some cases leaving them in the chamber.

R.W.Dale advises getting the oil out of the chambers. I haven't tried it yet myself:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9627898&postcount=81

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yeah I'd try that.

My .44 Bulldog doesn't like the Blazer aluminum cased Gold Dot load at ALL. This is after a thorough cleaning, spotless and dry chambers. Those rounds fire form and even with a firm rap to the extractor rod, they still need to be plucked out by hand. It's an oft recommended defense load for the Bulldogs, but if somebody used it in mind they'd find in short order that a reload would be hopeless!

Thankfully, all brass cased ammo I've tried will drop out of the gun even without using the ejector most times. My new carry loads is brass cased Corbon 200 grain DPX.

I just got done ordering a Simply Rugged Silver Dollar Pancake holster for my Bulldog, with matching speedloader pouch. Bought this rig for woods use- hunting mushrooms and squirrels, hiking, camping etc. etc. Can't wait to get it!

 

[klmspider]

9mm Pitbull saga

Went to the range,today, and put 50 factory fresh Freedom Arms brass cased 124 GR RN FMJ, or plated?, through it. The revolver wasn'twasn't scrupulous clean, but not terrible. I shot my Tiger Match Champion with 125 plated BP (extreme bullets, 4.5 Bullseye) along side. The Tiger was filthy. I was getting groups 1/2 the size, at 50', than the Pitbull that was rested, at 33'.
I never had more than ONE case extract with pushing the extractor rod, which sometimes was very hard to push. I've taken the Pitbull home and meticulously cleaned and oiled the whole revolver. All parts are now clean and lubed. All parts are intact and seem to function on my cleaning table (wife calls this the "kitchen" table). Can't wait to see if anything will improve. I've used at least 500 rounds by now. I ALWAYS carry a 5/16" smooth aluminum rod to knock empties out. Those little extractors are still intact, still move under tension, but I still suspect they are too small, the springs too weak, and their range of travel insufficient, to be reliable.
If this revolver HAS to be meticulously clean, I'm going to be hurting. I've never been habitually cleaned handguns after one box of shells...

 

[Zendude]

Are the 9mm cases expanding after being fired causing them to stick in the cylinder? 9mm operates at much higher pressures than most revolver calibers. I haven't shot a revolver in 9mm or 40 cal, but i am curious about them.

 

[C0untZer0]

My S&W 929 ejects everything just fine - cylinder after cylinder.

 

[C0untZer0]

When I dry-fire it I put A-Zooms in the chambers, but after a while they get pounded into the chambers and I can't operate the ejector rod by hand - takes a tap with a book or a gun case or something, and sometimes the extractor jumps the groove on some rounds and leaves them in the chamber.

I received an e-mail from Charter Arms this morning, my revolver is on its way back to me.

 

[Panzerschwein]

When I dry-fire it I put A-Zooms in the chambers, but after a while they get pounded into the chambers and I can't operate the ejector rod by hand - takes a tap with a book or a gun case or something, and sometimes the extractor jumps the groove on some rounds and leaves them in the chamber.

I received an e-mail from Charter Arms this morning, my revolver is on its way back to me.

Sorry to here about your Pitbull woes... hopefully Charter makes it right for you.

Yesterday, around noon I got a call and it was none other than Charter Arms. They told me my revolver was fixed and it would be back in my hands... by Thursday (!). I asked the lady how much it would cost me... it totaled to $0.00.

So they basically rebuilt my cylinder release for FREE, replaced the parts I lost for FREE, and are shipping it back for FREE. With a turnaround time of... THREE DAYS.

Charter Arms customer service= +1, to say the very least. I'll let you all know how the gun is when I get it back.