The Ugliest Pistol I Now Own Charter Arms Explorer II

merl67 · Sep 7, 2020

I picked this one up today for $150. Why? I wanted one to go with my Henry Survival Rifle, and to see if the terrible reviews were accurate. This one had been subjected to a gloss black paint job without even taking off the grips it was dirty, and dry when I got it. I took it home loaded up the mag without cleaning it function was spotty. I decided to strip the paint off and see what was underneath. The wear wasn't that bad about what you would expect. I plan on flushing out the action tomorrow, and relubing the action, and cleaning the barrel tomorrow, and shooting it again. If any of you have, or have had one please feel free to report your experience both good, and bad. Here is the one photo supplied by the seller, and mine after the paint strip, my wife remarked it was the ugliest gun I now owned lol.

Drm50 · Sep 8, 2020

I bought several of these Explorer pistols when they were clearing them out. Seems they were $35 dealer price if you bought 5 or 6. I was always buying close outs and blowing them out a few bucks over cost. Pistol was no target gun. One was doubling but wore in and settled down after about 100 rods. If I remember right the barrel off pistol wouldn’t fit AR-7.

Echo40 · Sep 8, 2020

That doesn't look so bad to me... It reminds me a bit of the Mauser C96 Broomhandle, only more modern.

My ugliest handgun is the Taurus Judge Magnum.

Although I must admit that it's odd stretched-out Revolver look is also kind of impressive-looking to me as well.

merl67 · Sep 8, 2020

Forte Smitten Wesson said:
My ugliest handgun is the Taurus Judge Magnum.

Although I must admit that it's odd stretched-out Revolver look is also kind of impressive-looking to me as well.

I've had one of those as well sold it, but at least I got to try it out. It sort of fits with another goal which is to shoot as many different guns before I expire lol. I once had a Luger one whole week just so I could experience shooting one...

xray97 · Sep 8, 2020

I think my ugliest is a Charter Arms too.

Got it for free from a B-I-L that just wanted to get rid of it. My “yard work” gun.

ISCS Yoda · Sep 8, 2020

Well, wear gloves and safety glasses when you fire that thing!

I don't think I've ever owned a gun that was truly ugly. But this Walther P-4 is definitely not winning any beauty contests.

iscs-yoda-albums-pistols-all-brands-picture15834-walther-p-4-a.jpg

Velle · Sep 8, 2020

The ugliest gun in the house belongs to my wife and it is ugly. Good shooter tho.

elm_creek_smith · Sep 8, 2020

Pikers.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

SuperMan · Sep 8, 2020

To the original question on Explorer II pistols... I have had five and currently own three.

One thing to remember with these guns is that the feed ramp is built into the magazine. Do not hold the magazine while shooting or you drop the bullet nose down and will FTF. I have two magazines for each of my three handguns and original Armalite rifle. All run 100%. So if you have feeding problems find another magazine...

As for accuracy, from the bench I have no problem braking clay birds on a bank at 55 yards. I have in the past used the side mount to scope one of the pistols.

Barrels came in 6", 8" and 10". I have one barrel that was shortened and was able to have a smith thread the end of the barrel and put a steel suppressor adapter on it.

This is a thread I started some time ago. Post 23 shows the handguns...

ARs... | Bushcraft USA Forums

Bob

jeffrefrig · Sep 8, 2020

Merl67, that gun's not that ugly. And, I think it was pretty handy of the engineers to incorporate a beer bottle opener in the trigger guard!

OLDSTER · Sep 8, 2020

xray97 said:
I think my ugliest is a Charter Arms too.

Got it for free from a B-I-L that just wanted to get rid of it. My “yard work” gun.

Charter Arms may not have the panache of a S&W or Colt, but they'll never be beat by any manufacture for most "bang for the buck"; tough and reliable. I carry my Undercover cross draw when in my old ranch truck; if I drop it, I won't cry like I would if I'd dropped a nice Chiefs Special. I wouldn't call it ugly; just sort of blue collar.

Barbarian-CBX · Sep 8, 2020

Glocks are butt ugly, but great pistols.

4WHLDRFTN · Sep 8, 2020

They did make some cool ones back in the day..
Heres my original 1962 Armalite AR-7 T-62 Tommy Gun and Maxwell Smart with his

crsides · Sep 8, 2020

merl67 · Sep 8, 2020

Well I cleaned, and oiled it this morning. I've fired Federal bulk box, Remington Thunderbolts, Winchester Super X, Aguila Super Hyper, and Federal Champion it ran flawlessly with all. Once I settled in with the trigger getting 2 inch groups @ 20 yards wasn't very hard to do. I do have a question for those that own these it seems I am missing a part to hold an extra mag in the grip recess. I think I have located one at GPC (see photos) is this the correct part?

murphydog · Sep 8, 2020

Well, ugly is as ugly does, to paraphrase Forrest Gump. I shot a Charter Arms AR-7 quite a bit, nothing much to look at but acceptably accurate and worked well.

Warren Sear · Sep 8, 2020

Any Ruger pistol (other than their Mark series .22s) or double action revolver should come in right at the top.

jpage · Sep 8, 2020

My Hi-Standard Sentinel .22LR revolver. Looks like a cap-gun

DWalt · Sep 8, 2020

Some years back I came very close to buying an Explorer but didn't. I think it was priced around $60-$70 at the time. I'm attracted by unusual guns.

ACORN · Sep 8, 2020

A friend had one. Only good thing was it was cheap to shoot because it took forever to shoot a box of .22s. FTC, FTE, stovepipes. You name it, it did it. I think his was a Charter Arms.

The Ugliest Pistol I Now Own Charter Arms Explorer II

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