Which Revolver to Buy? My First Revolver.

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drjoker

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I have never owned a revolver before because all companies manufacturing revolvers actively work against our second amendment constitutional rights. For example, Smith & Wesson supported the Clinton gun ban. Taurus has joined gun control inc in support of the mandatory smart gun effort. Sturm Ruger said, ""no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…," and supported the Clinton gun ban. Colt currently only manufactures single action revolvers. That's why I don't own any revolvers.

However, I recently found out that an all-American company makes revolvers in the USA, Charter Arms. They make a 9mm (9x19) "rimless" revolver that can fire ultra-cheap 9mm ammo. All their guns are also reasonably priced. Their 38 special snubbies go for less than $300! Wow! I plan on buying their 9mm revolver. Is Charter Arms any good? I've never heard of them.

Do any other companies that support the 2nd amendment and manufactures their guns in the USA also make revolvers in 38 special or better calibers? I know that some companies make mini-revolvers in 22 caliber such as North American Arms, but I'm not interested in a mouse gun revolver. Any suggestions in a good defensive caliber revolver besides Charter Arms and is Charter Arms any good?

Thanks.
 
Smith & Wesson is under completely new ownership and management. I hated S&W when they belonged to Metropolitan plc, the British company which also owns Burger King. Their 1990s deals, culminating with the HUD settlement, resulted in a consumer boycott and loss of about half their sales. Facing BK (not of the burger type), the company was sold to a group of pro-gun investors about eight years ago for a SONG. The company basically pulled out of the settlements and has been pro-gun ever since. I've bought vintage S&W guns since the buyout, and love them. I don't like the new internal locks, but mine don't have those. Get a Smith. Or a vintage double action Colt. Or both.
 
Does that mean they won't be putting any more of those built in key locks in their revolvers?
Click to expand...

We Wish...Hopefully they get the message, "NOBODY WANTS A LOCK" I typically forget to lock my house at night. I'm not going to lock my gun.
 
According to this blog, as recently as last month Charter said there's no 9mm revolver in the works: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/20/new-charter-arms-rimless-revolver-carr/

They are, however, supposedly about to field a .45 ACP revolver and a .40 S&W revolver. They also have a very compact .32 H&R revolver (5 rounds, so should be even smaller than a 5-round .38) and just came out with some .327 Federal revolvers.

So far as more "ideologically pure" firearms companies, USFA seems to be pretty serious. They mostly make single-action firearms, and some early 20th C. semi-auto reproductions. I'm mainly waiting for their reproduction of the Colt Woodman with matching Maxim Silencer.
 
Charter Arms has been around for a good long time and there guns typically are functional and very usable. They may not have the fit and finish of higher priced guns, but they are in service on the belt of many folks and they will do the job.
 
In 2009 S&W is offering 3 snubbies without the internal lock. Hopefully we will see more of this in the future.

I personally don't like the lock, but I also wanted to take advantage of the new designs and tgechnologies that S&W is putting forward so I purchased a 327 NG with the lock. It is ugly but no functional problems from my pistol.
 
S&W was owned by the British company Tompkins p.l.c. from 1987-2001, when AZ-based Saf-T-Hammer bought S&W. The first ILs appeared the next year. I've bought IL-equipped S&W revolvers since 9/02 - they represent over half my collection - and I haven't had a problem with them. My EDC 'pocket protector', a 642, has an IL.

Charter Arms has gone through several metamorphosis over the years. They are a less expensive alternative... as, to me, were my Rugers. I have fewer handguns these days, but they are what I want - and they are S&Ws. If it's for personal protection you must ask yourself, 'What is my life worth?'.

Stainz
 
Sturm Ruger said, ""no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…," and supported the Clinton gun ban.
Click to expand...

Old man Ruger is gone now, and there's a different bunch in charge of things. Ruger has even recently started selling hi-caps to the general public. I wouldn't feel guilty about buying a new Ruger.

If you still don't want any of your money going to Ruger, S&W, et al., you can just buy used. That way none of your money goes to the company.
 
If you like Charter Arms, go ahead and get one. They've earned a good reputation for being reliable self defense guns. They're not range guns made to digest tens of thousands of rounds in a lifetime, but for self defense, they are good, reliable guns. Just make sure to break it in and fire at least a few hundred rounds through it - then it will have a track record with you. If it performs well, it will have earned its stripes, and you'll trust it.
I would suggest buying the 357magnum, because it is more versatile in that it will shoot 38 special, 38 special +p, and 357 magnum, whereas the 9mil will shoot only 9 mil. The 357 gives you the option of shooting mild 38's (with less power than a 9mil) or the very powerful 357 rounds (with much more power than the 9.)
 
You guys are forgetting his political motives. I won't own a Ruger either, not even a used one, as another buyer will get a new one for lack of the used one I bought. But S&W has redeemed itself, and is under new ownership and new management, and has been for some time. I'd say "Snuff & Wussie" is rehabilitated.
 
Ditto what goodtime said. Get one and wring it out. The .357 mag and 44 spl. guns can be had in hammerless versions. Don't think they are being chambered in 9mm, at this time anyway.
 
Dr,
Welcome to the forum. When it comes to gun companies you are going to get many opinions since everyone has different likes and dislikes in guns. I have guns from a few companies and like them all.

If you are going to use this revolver for HD and range work a nice used S&W M686 or Ruger GP-100 would serve you very well. If you're looking for a carry revolver a 3" K frame or even J frame would probably be better. I like several S&W J frames because they are reliable and fairly light. If weight isn't a problem there's nothing wrong with a Ruger SP101 either. Both Ruger and S&W make to quality revolvers and stand behind their products 100% so find something that feels good in your hand and that's the one for you.
 
Duke, whatever his political motives, Bill Ruger has been dead for almost 7 years. His Prescott ranch is being parceled out and sold off to yuppies. Ruger sells Mini-14 20 round magazines and folding stocks to the public and has been busy developing pistols that are specifically designed to hold over 10 rounds.

And whoever wrote "Sturm Ruger said", there never was a Sturm Ruger. There was an Alexander Sturm, who was Bill Ruger's business partner until he died in 1951. Hence, "Sturm, Ruger & Co." That's why the eagle on red was changed to black at that time: to mourn the death of Bill's friend. Alexander Sturm never heard of Bill Clinton. He didn't live to see Bill Clinton turn 5 years old.
 
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Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do.

I buy used guns because buying used makes the hobby affordable to me.
Buying used doesn't directly benefit the gun manufacturer (it may if the seller buys a new one) whose political leanings may or may not agree with mine.

But if I buy new, I'd buy American firearms because I believe that overall, they represent the best value for my money and I'd like to think that my money is spent in North America where I live.
 
I owned a Charter Arms .357 of the post-2007 era. It was a nice weapon. And, if Charter is serious about auto-cartridge revolvers, I would definetly buy one. If they are't making a 9mm variant, I'd like to know why, one in a full-sized 4 to 6 inch bbl would sell like hotcakes.

As for their current offerings, I would say any of them are pretty nice.

My only issue with them is that they aren't more durable. To me, every gn that comes off an assembly line ought to be able to handle atleast 50,000 rounds without breakage of anything other than very minor parts. From what I've heard, Charter Arms are probably going to have lockup and looseness problems around 5,000 rounds.
 
A 340 is craysee loco.

.38+P is a far more practical round in that size/weight of revolver, and the .38 versions are a lot cheaper, too.:)
 
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