Charter arms undercover.

Thegunslinger · Jun 6, 2013

Now I know it's not a s&w and can't match the quality but what do you guys think? Any experience with them? Anything I should look out for? Also are s&w j frame grips interchangable? I got a good deal an it's made in America so I figure it's a step up from the Taurus and the Rossi.

mc5aw · Jun 6, 2013

CA quality control is very spotty. Sometimes you get a beauty, other times you get a junker. CA is a company that I would love to support (especially with the .44 Special) but I can't commit when QC is so hit-and-miss. Hopefully yours is a hit.

Thegunslinger · Jun 6, 2013

From what I can tell its a 70s or 80s model for Stratford conn. I guess they are the best years but you know how it is online read contridictions all over the place. Ill try it out and see. Hopefully it will do alright till I have a little more dough then ill trade up to a smith. I normally carry my m&p 9c but with this hit weather it's getting a little hard to conceal.

Fishinfool · Jun 6, 2013

For what its worth, I used to have one of the old Stratford Pathfinder 22's with the adjustable sights. It was not a bad gun for the price, certainly serviceable. Carried it a lot as a woods walking pocket gun, and it was always reliable, if not overly accurate. Sold it when I found a nice S&W .22 kit gun to replace it.

Larry

Roadtrash · Jun 6, 2013

I've got one in 38 that I bought back in the 70's and it's been a really good little gun. I still carry it from time to time as it's small and easier to CC in the warm weather we have out here.

Never had a problem with it in any way, well there was that time the front sight fell off, but really it is a good little gun.

kaaskop49 · Jun 6, 2013

Interesting little gun. They came out in '65 as I recall. In the late 60s, all Smiths and Colts, especially snubs were hard to come by, so other mfgs, especially foreign, turned out near-clones. Quality was variable. Charter may have been the best of an iffy bunch. See article in '69 Gun Digest.
I note the following on Charters: The yoke assembly is thinner than the J and is held on by a short screw with a washer that is easy to lose. The ejector rod assembly is haphazard and the collar on it serves as the front crane lockup. The end of the ejector rod is screwed on and has to be tightened often. The cylinder latch also has many parts including a tiny spring that is also lose-able. I found that the cylinder/crane assembly can be switched from gun to gun without adjustment. Odd.

Frame is 2 piece unlike the Smith and Colt 1-piece. The hand is much thinner than the J, it looks like a blade from a small penknife, it is that thin. The sights are big and clear unlike the early Js. Grips are NOT interchangeable with Js. Trigger pull is stage-y but can be managed.

I would shoot only standard-pressure wadcutter or service-style ammo in it, forget about +Ps (Never thought I would ever say that!). I would use a CA if could not obtain a better gun. Sorry for being wordy,but I've had some experience with CA. Hope this helps.

BJoe · Jun 6, 2013

6-8 months ago I did a test with a friend who is a Grad student, pretty smart, on J frame size guns. I had a Charter, Security Industries, Taurus, SP101, and a model 60. She had no idea on make, reputation, or value. I had her shoot all 5 than asked her what she liked best. She chose the Charter. Go figure.

Pilgrim · Jun 6, 2013

I've got an Undercovertte. A Smith & Wesson it ain't.

finesse_r · Jun 6, 2013

My Charter Arms were OK, But......

Thegunslinger said:
Now I know it's not a s&w and can't match the quality but what do you guys think? Any experience with them? Anything I should look out for? Also are s&w j frame grips interchangable? I got a good deal an it's made in America so I figure it's a step up from the Taurus and the Rossi.

I bought a SS and a blued Charter Arms Undercover back in the mid 1980’s and they were certainly adequate for occasional use and I never had any problems with either of them. I bought them then because they were the best affordable guns on the market. I paid $119 for one and a little more for the SS one. However, they just never felt quite substantial enough to suit me for self-defense and you would definitely not want to put any + P ammo in one. I really did not shoot them that much, probably less than 200 rounds through either one of them.

I later sold them and replaced them with a 649-2 (new) and a Model 60 no dash (used). Of these two the 649-2 is by far my favorite and I will soon sell the Model 60 with the plans to replace it with a second 649-2 or an SP-101 2 inch.

Charter Arms was sold several times and their quality changed with each new owner. I never used their customer service so I don’t know if it was nay good or not.

If I wanted a light 38 I would buy a used Model 60 which with a little shopping and patience can be had for about the same price as a new Charter Arms and you will have a much better light weight snubbie.

For me I like a little more steel on my guns, even my pocket pistols, and the 649, 649-1, and 649-2 are just about perfect. It may well be a but* ugly design, but it really is a beauty in terms of functioning for a small .38 cal revolver. The later 649 dash numbered models have slightly less appeal to me. But be warned a 649-2 or earlier will cost you more than the new Charter, but you will have so much more gun and + P ammo is no problem if you ever want to use it in the 649.

hardknocks · Jun 6, 2013

c.a.

I have one from late 80s picked up for 200 bucks.
16 oz unloaded. Very accurate .
Well worth the price. Mine has been a good one.
And I don't worry about scratches and such.
I like it a lot for what it is.

hotrod150 · Jun 6, 2013

Back in the early 1980's I owned a blue Charter Undercover and a little later a stainless Charter Pathfinder (kit gun). I would describe both as "servicable" and "suitable for rough duty"-- they were OK guns but certainly no S&W, but much more suitable for tossing into the tackle box or boat bag for "just in case" use.

kennyb · Jun 6, 2013

i would save my money...and put it towards a S&W

iwanna · Jun 6, 2013

I checked one out awhile back. I spun the cylinder--it was like the wheels on the Flintstones car.

OLDSTER · Jun 6, 2013

CA

kennyb said:
i would save my money...and put it towards a S&W

I agree. Save up for a J frame, and if you want something in a snubnose that's a hair larger and a bit heavier in a 2 1/4", go for the SP101.

tompehret · Jun 6, 2013

iwanna said:
I checked one out awhile back. I spun the cylinder--it was like the wheels on the Flintstones car.

My experience with CA was the same. I've been looking for a snubbie with more power than a .38 sp. and checked out a CA .44at a LGS. It felt like it was filled with sand.

sac-gunslinger · Jun 6, 2013

Charter guns may not "feel" as good but should hold together, especially those from the Stratford era. I have owned both 38s and 44s and they provided good service.

But, hey, you may not want to listen to me. I have a Rossi snubbie whose quality is as good as a Model 36 and has lasted forever.

Thegunslinger · Jun 6, 2013

I already purchased it just haven't had much time to take it out yet. I plan on replacing it with a ruger or smith down the road. ( my two favs) thanks for the info everyone seems like I hear alot of bad but decent things about the Stratford years. Seems like some say +p is fine and some don't so I think ill stay away from them. This is my first wheel gun I'm always owned semis before and I'm pretty stoked too give this a whirl. It's too bad the j frame grips won't fit they're easy to come by. Thanks for letting me know before I wasted the money.

NotObvious · Jun 6, 2013

I think the undercover gets a bad rap from some questionable quality years ago, but the new ones appear to be a bit better made, if not nearly as nice to look at.

I bought on a whim a f years back and it has performed flawlessly. Trigger has smoothed out over 500 rds and I stuck a set of pachmayr compact grips on it.

158 gr LRN or SWC 38spl is all I ever fire from it. I have a saffariland speed loader full of Remington lswchp fbi loads, but have only fire one cylinder of the stuff from it. A nice back up gn, but not a prize winner.

DFrame · Jun 6, 2013

I've owned a couple of charters over the years. The action feels a bit gritty and the fit and finish arent up to quality Colt or S&W standards but the price isn't either. I consider the Charter to be a very servicable "economy" gun. It's lower cost makes it available to folks who either don't want to, or can't afford a more expensive gun. It's a "plain jane" workhorse gun.

Beach-Hunter · Jun 6, 2013

I had a C.A UNDERCOVER in the late 80's

I bought a Charter Arms Undercover right after I got my pistol permit in the late 80's.....I put thousands of rounds through it! Me and my friends would shoot 500 rounds at a single range session. I was young and foolish and fired many many +P'S and even some +P+ stuff my god father got while a police officer. I did have to lock-tite some screws...but she held together. I was given 2- 50cal ammo cans of 158 gr SWC we shot through both cans in one weeks vacation! The good old days when ammo was dirt cheap....use to score free stuff from my god fathers buddies who were Police officers who were switching to semi autos! By the way that old charter is still around...gave it to my wifes aunt when she got her permit..she fires maybe a box a year through it when ever I visit....check the gun out if it has good lock up good timing buy it!! Shoot it!! trade up latter!

Charter arms undercover.

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