I got this thing about a month ago. I was looking for something small, powerful and lite. this is it! it is a charter arms boomer. barrel about 2in. this gun is the size of a j frame, in fact I put a j frame Tylor T on it. it has no sights. it is made for up close social work. I am carrying it loaded with a 215 HBWC loaded with the hollow going out. 5gr. of hp38 it is comfortable to shoot, and it will kill an armadillo, I shot one with it yesterday. it fits perfect in my front pocket. I think it will live there a wile,,,,,,,,

I had been interested in getting a boomer, but the ports and especially the lack of a front sight dissuaded me.

After seeing Hickok45's video on the Boomer where he could barely hit squat with it I lost all interest.

I still want a Bulldog but probably the On Duty model with the shrouded hammer and longer barrel sans ports.

It's a cool gun, but I honestly don't understand the omission of sights, nor the porting.

I mean, I get that it's intended for close-range confrontations within 7 yards, but so is literally every other compact handgun on the market, and it's not like a tiny little brass bead sight would have made it any less easy to conceal or created any more of a liability to snag on something.
In addition, the ported barrel seems counter-productive, seeing as .44 Special isn't a high pressure round with a lot of muzzle rise associated with it, the porting just seems like it would cost you velocity in exchange for a negligible benefit.

Still, it's a cool gun, .44 Special will get the job done regardless, and the exposed ejector rod with wood grips gives it kind of a classic look.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

yea I think it would have been better with a front bead or sight. it is difficult it hit anything if you try to aim the conventional way. but I found if you turn it sideways enough to see the barrel and point it, it works a whole lot better. I killed the armadillo with it a bout 10 yds. away like that. and you can always put on a laser sight grip, but I like the smaller grips and the Tyler T grip. anyway I think where an attack is mostly at 6ft or so a sight will not matter I sure feel better knowing it is a 44sp. rather than a 38 that is the same size. nothing wrong wit a 38 but you have to love the power of the 44,,,,,,,,,,

This has no sights, and at up to 5 yards ( the distance the Boomer is intended), hits right where it's pointed into a 5" group; and with practice, that's not at all difficult. And BTW, I'm also a Charter Arms fan ( frequently shooting my old Bridgeport Undercover), and think the Boomer would be a great point-and-shoot revolver.

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John

yea I have the good fortune to be a southern redneck, I live in the woods and have a couple of shooting ranges here at home. I just went out and shot it fast at about 7 or 10 yds. I could cover the shots with my hand. I think it will do, I also have a little 32acp I have carried many miles. it is a berretta tomcat,,,,,,

The muzzle blast from the ported barrel can get yea if you shoot the gun from the hip but other than that I like the Boomer. I prefer the regular Bulldog with the 2 1/2 inch barrel because you dont really gain much more from the snubby Boomer except the cool factor of having a snubby 44.

I think I am going to put an 11 degree muzzle crown on it. that should really look good,,,,,

A better close range pocket stopper doth not yet make, methinks.

IDEAL and has tremendous stopping power and high reliability.

I'm planning to have my 3" Bulldog cut down to 2". I agree that it's pretty much the perfect pocket gun with the shorter barrel.

LOVE 44spl and carry a Taurus 445 regularly, but the Boomer gets a "meh" from me.

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SWCA 3563
10mm aficionado

CA fan here also. I guess soon after they came out I've had a old blued model Bulldog. Couple or three years ago I bought a new model Bulldog (stainless?) and a .38spl 6-shot Police Undercover. I'll have to check out a Boomer, I don't really like and see a need for the ports

I could have lived without the ports, but they hurt nothing. and it is perfect for pocket carry with the alloy frame it is a light revolver. it feels lighter than my wife's 1976 model 60 stainless snub nose 38 she carry's,,,,,,,,,

Great gun, I like it, a J frame on steroids.

Big bore J frame? Yes please! Ported big bore J frame without a front sight? I've always left novelty items to the next sap.

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Ban this man,
'89

Heh olskool....don't take it personally. I don't think your a "sap". i have a ported MagPug so i guess i'm a "sap" too!

I likes me some 44 specials. Tried to trade for a Bulldog at the last
gun show I attended but couldn't get the price I needed.

oh I don't, I am 62 and have been living with and collecting guns all my life. I have been handloading since I was 10 years old. I am a decent gunsmith and a professional transmission rebuilder. I am no body's fool and I certainly not a sap,,,,,,,,,,,

I looked at some Charter Arms revolvers at a SHOT Show some years ago but have never owned or fired one. Are these decent, durable, accurate guns?

Since they're not in the same price range as S&Ws, I doubt a comparison of the two would be valid. I haven't owned a Taurus either, but would suspect some similarity between that brand and Charter Arms. Again, a guess on my part.

Just curious; no complaints with S&Ws. I've bought and used them for almost fifty years.

CA are good reliable accurate guns. but not in the class of the S&W but if you have to use one in self defense the attacker would not know the difference! and if it is confiscated after a shooting and you never see it again, move on an get another,,,,,,,,,,,

i have 3 charter arms revolvers including a ported 357 MagPug. been shooting them for years. I also have Smith/wesson revolvers. Never had an issue of any kind with my Charter revolvers. Sent my MagPug in to be fitted with a shorter barrel. Came back with a new barrel and "no charge". And i am speaking from experience and not some shifty "internet chatter and i read somewhere" bullstuff. All of my Charters have been purchased in the last 5 years so they are the current generation.

washerman, welcome to the "sap club" LOL,,,,,,,,,,

rockquarryI've seen more good ones than bad ones, but they are out there.
Make sure you can try the action and opening and closing before you buy one.

The current generation of Charter revolvers is their best era yet.

I have one of the early (1973) 3" Bulldogs produced at their first factory in Bridgeport.
Not S&W quality, but decent, serviceable, quality. It shoots where I point it and 5 shots of 44 special should dissuade anyone or anything (short of a Grizzly) that would do me or mine any kind of harm.

Attached Images

BDAfter1-2.jpg (143.5 KB, 25 views)

How do you like the Police Undercover 6 shot ?

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Two Handguns every day

My Undercover is also ca. 1973, built in the Bridgeport plant. I shoot it better than any of my several J frames.

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John

Does that ported MagPug have the front sight omitted?

I never pointed any fingers specific, but I won't stop anyone from trying the shoe on. In fact, if you like it, I love it.

Y'all are going to have to forgive me, but I just find the lack of a sight on a self defense weapon to be slightly irresponsible. The most important responsibilities of anyone discharging a firearm in the defense of themselves is to: A. know your backdrop, and B. TAKE CAREFUL AIM. How careful can one's aim be without a front sight? Just food for thought.

Once again, If you like it I love it.

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Ban this man,
'89

well in a defense situation, most times when being attacked it is at arms length! not across a room. when a man is on top of you trying to kill you the last thing on earth you will think about is concentrating on a front sight, "being carful" and thinking about your back stop! all that will go out the window. your main concern will be to live and get a killer off you! self defense don't happen in a perfect world, it ain't TV land. the boomer is meant for up close and dirty social work. not police work where a front sight may be required,,,,,,,,

in today's legal climate, we better not be shooting at someone across a room let alone across a parking lot. Seems like the boomer is the ideal gun to help keep us from making a stupid mistake with a stupid shot which might make us paul manaforts cellmate in Rikers Island!

Detonics used to put out a 1911 with no sights probably 30 years ago. It didn't appeal to me and the Boomer doesn't either. I realize that the sight may not likely be needed or used, but I sure want the ability to use them if needed.

The early ones were good guns and the newest ones seem good to go, but they put out some junk during one of the ownership changes. I agree about inspecting them closely.

if it says Shelton. CT on the barrel it is good to go

I just picked up a boomer today. I have several Charters and carry a Bulldog most days because well I just like them. I have plenty of other brands but rarely carry anything else except a S&W 360 for pocket carry but I think the boomer may replace it for pocket carry. I am not impressed with the new S&W’s and Ruger’s are to heavy. The new Colt King Cobra DAO I have is very nice but I think I will just keep carrying one of my Charters.

I installed a CT grip with red laser on mine. Should do well for short range applications. Have not shot it yet, but the cat has a lot of fun chasing the red dot. Thanks! Mick

{when a man is on top of you trying to kill you the last thing on earth you will think about is concentrating on a front sight}

In a contact shoot, I would be concerned with where the ports are aimed, as well as the muzzle!

Best,
Rick

Olskool!!!!

I hadn't seen any of your posts lately...I miss them!! How's that new place you built doing??

I am a big fan of the CA firearms...my first snubbie was a CA "Undercover", back in 1968!! And then I bought a .44 Bulldog in 1970 or thereabouts. Traded it off somewhere along the way, and regretted it until last year, when I found an early one in great condition. Now I have a nice .44 Spl snubbie again. Love it. Yours looks like a doozy!!!

Here's mine:



Best Regards,mLes

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

BTW, CA makes a really nice rubber grip. I put them on my Undercover.

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John

I had one of the Bulldogs with fixed sights. I couldn't do much better with it than Hickock45 did with this thing. Any version of this revolver is an 'up close and personal' gun. I went back to the Model 36.

The Boomer is a real “giddoffame!!” belly type pistol.

Draw and put 5 MASSIVE holes in the goblin. Even with lead round nose, a .44 makes a bigger mess than a .38 expanded, which most .38s do not expand from a snub no how. No replacement for displacement and the stopping power and knock down of the big .44 will drop even the largest attacker with one well placed round.

EXCELLENT choice for anti mugging and personal defense type work.

Depends on how you load it.

yup.......
best sales pitch on the entire thread

{[QUOTE=Watchdog;140481973]Depends on how you load it.}


Not if kept within SAAMI specs. 15,000 psi maximum.
If the gun blows up at contact range, it probably would make a mess of the assailant, as well as the defender!

Best,
Rick

Unless, of course, they make a Boomer chambered in .45LC/ACP.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Not a Boomer, but pretty close. They make the Pug in 45acp...

here are my 44s . 1 ruger for hunting. 1 Smith because I liked it . 1 Charter , originally wore factory neoprene grips , for every day carry . 1 Taurus , also EDC . couldn't pass up chance to show them . not sure about lack off front sight but if it works for you that's what matters . nice!

Attached Images

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Too good