S&W Vs. Charter Arms

[Fat Boy]

I am working on obtaining a 22lr revolver, small frame, short barrel, similar to the old S&W kit gun. The S&W 317 can be obtained locally from Sportsmans Warehouse for about $550.00.

Are there any less expensive options? My goal is to find a good quality, durable gun, (a keeper) and I have seen the Charter Arms pathfinders, and I think Taurus makes a small frame 22, or did. These are less expensive, but I read so much bad press on them.

What makes the S&W worth so much more money? Are there other options besides the Charter and Taurus variety?

Thanks!

 

[Starter52]

The S&W Kit gun is the premier .22 revolver, built to last forever and priced accordingly. The Taurus is a good-quality copy and is certainly worth a look. The old Charter Arms (1980's) Pathfinder was a good gun but I have not heard much good about the newer ones.

My choice for price? Taurus, then the old-style Pathfinder.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

If you look hard enough you may be able to find a s & w 63 (stainless kit gun).

They are the cream of the crop.

 

[tsidorus]

there are currently several 4 inch model 63s on gunsamerica.com for around 500... eventually I will buy one new or used and when who knows... Ive got a long list of crap to get post the next deployment.

-
Tsi

 

[FM12]

I bought a Pathfinder for my wife when we began dating 22 years ago, as a sd revolver for her. It's a pretty good little revolver.

 

[MCgunner]

I'd go Taurus. 550 is ridiculous for a .22 kit gun and the Smith ain't nothin' special. If you find a used K22 Masterpiece (M17 I think) in good shape for under 400, go for it. Those things were wonderful, much nicer than the J framed kit guns.

Or, you could go single action. I like Ruger's single six and bearcat.

I really don't know much about the pathfinder. If you find one, check it for timing, wear, forcing cone gap, etc and if it checks, I would buy one before I spent $550 on a .22 kit gun. I'd get a Buckmark, Mark 2 (Ruger) or other such auto before I spend $550 on a kit gun. The Ruger Mk2 is a fine little semi auto. Walther makes a NEAT looking little .22 auto and then there's that Sig Trail-something that I think sells for under 400. Lots of fantastic autos for less than that Smith kit gun.

I was looking at a little Walther .22 auto at a gun shop a while back and had to pry myself away from the counter, LOL! I have a few .22 autos, but this one looked neat and high quality and was in the 300 and something range. I have a Rossi M511 "kit gun" in stainless that's quite accurate and I like it a lot and it set me back $200. I put a Pachmayr Compac on it. DA kinda sux, but SA is light and crisp. DA on your average Smith kit gun ain't too great, either, but better than the Rossi, but for 550, it oughta be! I can tell ya this, I don't think the Smith would be any more accurate. That Rossi shoots just under 2" off the bench at 25 yards with cheap Federal Lightening bulk pack stuff and with RWS it pushes close to an inch. Not bad for what most here would call a cheap POS not worthy of owning. I don't need no stinkin' Smith. If I were to stumble upon an old K22, though, I might need that. Those things were probably the best .22 revolver ever produced IMHO and I don't know what they run used now days, but I doubt they'd break 500 bucks and one in good shape would be worth that IMHO.

 

[pasquot]

S&W vs Charter Arms

I am almost in the same process now as you are.

Personally, S&W has priced themselves out of my business.

Charter arms is a good gun for the money. They have 2 models. in .22 One is the standard 2" 6shot staineless. The other is the 4" 6shot, with Adj sights. It has a lifetime warrenty, made in the usa. I spoke the president of the co last month. He assures me that if anthing needs warrenty repair it will be taken care of in a reasonable amount of time.

Taurus was my other choice. Acutally it's more expensive than the basic charter arms. the more i read and hear about taurus .22s, i decided aginst them

That leaves on other possability. Comanche 1. made in argentina. Lifetime warrenty to the origional owner. However it does not have to be sent out of the country to be repaired. the repair facility is in La.

Comance is less than $200.00 deliverd. The Charter arms is somewher arount $350.00 Delivered. At this point i;m leaning toward us made, owned. charter arms.

Check out www.thegunsource.com or impactguns.com

 

[MountainBear]

Regardless of what people have said about the quality of the new S&W's, I still place them miles ahead of their competition. Taurus are copies (and poor ones at that, of S&W's), and charter arms just feel and look cheap to me (I've been spoiled with pre-lock S&W's for years).
I would suggest looking into finding a S&W 17. I found one a few years ago for $175 in a local gunshop and it looks and shoots great.
All that said, I would also agree that looking into a Ruger is also a good idea. They are usually not as expensive as S&W's, but can be great little shooters...