Interested in hearing from those that have experience loading the latest Charter Arms Pitbull in 9MM, the one with 5 round capacity. How easy/difficult is the gun to load? Other thoughts about this firearm welcomed. Thanks!

i don't have the 9mm charter arms but i have a 38 special off duty and a 38 special police 6-shot....they are my EDC guns and i have many pistols and revolvers to choose from....Charter revolvers are top notch as far as i am concerned...love the triggers and rock solid reliable....They are the best people to deal with you will find in the gun industry....I have no doubt the 9mm will be a stellar revolver just like mine have been and continue to be.

The only hesitation I have had with the 9mm is reloads due to have to "clip" them into the extractors. Would make for a quick easy reload with speedloader or strip

The Charter 9MM does not use moonclips. They have a system to hold the bullets just like the 38 special. I have heard it works very well

I can't speak specifically to the 9mm model but I've had one of their .44 Spl Bulldogs for 7 years and have been happy with the quality.

I have a new 44 bulldog and love it, I shot a friends 6 shot and didn't like that you had to push in every round till it was flush. If it was moon clip it would be great.
SEMPER PARATUS

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NRA Life Member
CPO

was that a 6 shot 9MM ?

I remember their 1st 9mm, chambered in 9mm Federal. That cartridge died off.

I've had a couple 547s and a Ruger Blackhawk convertible. I currently have a 940 and Ruger SP-101 in 9MM. I've had other .45 and 10MM revolvers using moon clips, and don't mind them. I'd be interested too in hearing of owner's experience with the Charter Arms 9MM revolver.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

I do not recall the details, other than they supposedly had problems with the 6-shot version. Now, it's only 5, as with the similar framed .357 version. Yes, you have to physically snick the rounds into place the last 1/4", or so, do get it past the spring effort of the the little extractor tooth that engages into the rim. I definitely wouldn't mind owning one.

I had the 6 shot one the 1st time I load it I couldn't close the cylinder. Sent it back they sent me a new gun. I shot it a few times then the hammer wouldn't stay cocked in SA. Sent it back they repaired it. Shot it but I noticed it spitting lead. All in all it was a loose piece of **** so I sold it at a loss. Your experience might be better but I learned a lesson about cheap guns that end up costing you.

I have 2 Charter arms revolvers and my experience has been very good....The older 6 shot 9MM hasn't been made for awhile. Every manufacturer has a clunker once in a while....Current charter arms revolvers are high quality and very good values

I had one of those...and a few boxes of ammo. There is some ammo on Gun Broker...$59.50 shipped.

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C & L

This month's American Handgunner has a writeup on them.

I see they have a 4.2" #79942 available in Canada. I wouldn't mind finding one around here to check out.

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Mike, AmVets Member, Navy Vet

I have no problems with, and wouldn't hesitate using a Charter Arms revolver. I really like their vintage guns, but the new production isn't that bad either. Their quality appears good enough for me, and not that much different from any other company. As always, examine the gun thoroughly as to avoid any pre-purchase issues with it.

What I do have a problem with, and it's purely personal, is auto handgun calibers being chambered in revolvers. I just see no purpose, use, or benefit in having a revolver chambered for auto calibers. Especially when standard revolver calibers can do everything just as well or better. We're all different though.

I don't have a Charter so I can't comment on their quality. I do have a Ruger LCR 9 that I have had some issues with, not because of the quality but due to ammo. It's a light weight revolver and it's pretty snappy which has lead to some issues with bullet jump. When using +p ammo that is designed for a autoloader this can be a issue.

Having shot a few Charter Arms over the years I'd shy away personally. Not exactly what I'd classify as a high quality gun. YMMV

I just bought the 9mm Pitbull 4.2" barrel model that is sold in Canada (I live in Ms). Model # is 79942. It is not shown on Charter Arms website. Initial inspection it looks and feels good. Fit and finish is ok/good but not like any of my Smith & Wesson revolvers. I will shoot it in the next couple of days and post a follow up.

Bought one of the 4.2” barrel ones made for Canada (I live in MS). Love the gun so far. Have put about 200 rounds through it so far.

I was missing my Bulldog and since I had bunches of 45ACP I bought a Pitbull in 45. I love it. I hate using moon clips so the Pitbull works great for me. You can also carry and load from a magazine if you chose. I am a S&W guy and have several but I’m also a new fan of the Pitbull.

I think the big appeal is to the folks that already have a semi-auto, and want to get into revolvers, but DON'T want to add a caliber to their stable. A revolver that shoots the same ammo as the semi-auto they already have has great appeal.

The other appealing aspect of it is that 9mm is available cheaper than ANY standard revolver caliber - with the possible exception of 22lr.

On another board, one member has one in 9mm. He has complained about extraction being extremely difficult after firing quite a few rounds. He sent his back and the same issue was present when returned from the factory. Based upon his difficulties, I don't think it is ready for prime time. I've had a few of the older CA snubbies in .38 SPL and have found them to be good guns for the price point. I still have one.

This, and also the large number of folks who get 9mm, .40, or .45 ACP ammo at work but like revolvers as well.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I've never owned one, and the last time I looked at/handled one in a gun shop was several years ago. I can't remember now what caliber it was, but I do remember that the trigger was pretty bad...heavy and gritty. It sounds like from the comments here that they've improved.

Found this old thread. The 79942 is available in the states now. Appears that it was only available in Canada back in 2017? I had a stainless 2" Pitbull in 9mm but the fit and finish was not up to my standards so I sold it. Can anyone comment on the finish on the 4.2" 79942? I'm not expecting it to feel like a Smith but is it better than their God awful Pitbull?

I don't recommend the 9mm or .40 S&W models. It doesn't take much fouling, and the little spring loaded parts(not sure what the proper words are) that hold the shells in place stop working, and you have to poke the shells out of the cylinder. I have seen several quit working after not many shots. If you are not worried about quick reloads, the guns shoot just fine.

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Good Shootin!!

I would agree that the reloads are slow. I found it easier and fast to push the ejector rod about a 1/2” so the rounds are somewhat canted to catch the extractors. Other than being a slightly slow reload the design works fine.

I love my Rock Island AL9.0. It's my only 9mm revolver. Didn't like the idea of moon clips at first but I've gotta say they're not so bad. Bought a Pitbull because it didn't need clips but was not impressed and sold it.

The AL9.0 was only imported by Rock Island. Built in the Czech Republic by ALPHA PROJ. Heavy, very well made little 3" revolver. Shoots like a dream. On Rock Island's website the Czech guns are listed under RIA Imports. Never held one of RIA's 1911s but the revolvers made in The Philippines are **** compared to the ALPHA PROJ revolvers. I held the M200 at a gun shop and it felt really cheap. The AL9.0 is beautiful. I'm thinking I may want the little ALPHA PROJ AL3.0 chambered for .357 mag but it's only available in 2" and probably won't be nearly as accurate as the 3" AL9.0.

Sorry about the long post. Point is I want another 9mm revolver and was hoping the 79942 would be The One but after the bad experience with the Pitbull I'm skeptical of the Charters. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good 9mm revolver, ideally in 3"?

I recently experimented with an original 6-shot. I thought the system worked well-enough. You just have to realize you're not going to get the empties out with just a push of your thumb, and gravity. It took a firm, muzzle-up, smack-down on the ejector to get 'em all out. Reloading off of a 9mm pistol mag seemed to be the fastest way to do it. I just couldn't find a load that would get the POI anywhere close to the POA beyond 5-7yds.

I saw that one advertised somewhere that OP is asking about. It sure looks better than to have to use moon clips; if it works as stated.

I don't have the longer barreled version...but I do have a STD 9mm Pitbull and it is a miserable little firearm.

Extraction is extremely hard, I normally have to take something hard rubber with me when I shoot it to properly extract casings. Much after 5 cyl of shooting it and it will gum up so bad that smacking the extractor with a bare hand won't cut it.

The recoil on the thing is odd, it has absolutely horrible trigger slap and will beat the snot out of your trigger finger in short order. If I wanted to shoot 100 rounds through it, I was much better off wearing a glove or putting a bandaid on my trigger finger to keep it from chewing it to bits.

One of the pins that hold the shell in place broke off within the first year of owning it, I still haven't sent it back in for repair. It still works, funny enough, the casing will just fall out if you tip it.

Bullet pull with 9mm can range from small to extreme depending on brand. I first noted this when I was noticing that the last round fired would often have significantly less recoil. I did some testing a few summers back and noted that without an actual crimp, 9mm in a light revolver is a bad idea.


As a whole, the gun is just a miserable pile...and I hate it. It's crazy given how much I love my stainless 44 Bulldog.

I would never recommend anyone get one.

Exactly why I sold mine. Check out the RIA AL9.0. it's a great little shooter.