Charter Arms, quality?

[5kwkdw3]

I once owned a Thunder Five. This was a five shot 45lc/3" 410 YEARS prior to them ever being thought up by S&W (Governor) or the Taurus (Judge). Mine of course (due to residing in CA) was fully chambered for the 45/70 round. It handled that powerhouse pretty darn well, due in part to it's five pound cylinder no less? An all steel gun in a blue/black phosphate finish with Pachmayr grips to help with recoil. The reason I post this here is that it was a direct copy of the Charter Arms Bulldog line of revolvers. I so wondered why on earth did they copy a poor design rather than say a Colt or Smith or Ruger for crying out loud? A copy of a poor design was in itself a poor design and stunk. I quickly sold it at the next gun show. Any Charter revolver I've ever owned has been a rattley mess that you often were scared to shoot. Just look at the pencil thin stick of metal that holds the cylinder to the gun and hinges the cylinder out of the revolver for loading/unloading. Pretty darn weak design if you ask me? Smithy.

 

[johnnyflake]

I once owned a Thunder Five. This was a five shot 45lc/3" 410 YEARS prior to them ever being thought up by S&W (Governor) or the Taurus (Judge). Mine of course (due to residing in CA) was fully chambered for the 45/70 round. It handled that powerhouse pretty darn well, due in part to it's five pound cylinder no less? An all steel gun in a blue/black phosphate finish with Pachmayr grips to help with recoil. The reason I post this here is that it was a direct copy of the Charter Arms Bulldog line of revolvers. I so wondered why on earth did they copy a poor design rather than say a Colt or Smith or Ruger for crying out loud? A copy of a poor design was in itself a poor design and stunk. I quickly sold it at the next gun show. Any Charter revolver I've ever owned has been a rattley mess that you often were scared to shoot. Just look at the pencil thin stick of metal that holds the cylinder to the gun and hinges the cylinder out of the revolver for loading/unloading. Pretty darn weak design if you ask me? Smithy.

"Copy" - Really!

If all them rattling Charter guns you owned, made you afraid to even shoot them, why did such a knowledgeable guy like you, even buy them in the first place?

 

[5kwkdw3]

If all them rattling Charter guns you owned, made you afraid to even shoot them, why did such a knowledgeable guy like you, even buy them in the first place?

OK, so I didn't really want to get into a pissing contest and won't. Rather I feel an explanation is in order to prevent such a petty exchange. First off, my very first introduction to guns (other than plastic ones that shot maybe .... water? or ... caps?) was on my eighteenth birthday (actually a day after since all the shops are closed on the fourth of July) The store is still in business and just six miles from my present house. J.C. Penny. Yep a Winchester model 37A in 12 gauge. I then (a month later) moved forever out from my parents home and off to college with a "Gun?" that I had absolutely no experience with. That was around forty years ago. Three years after and also on the fifth of July I bought two first handguns (a Security Six and a then brand new to shooters, Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag). A lot has been self taught, but most if not all my experience is from hard knocks and just giving things a try....

I am fortunate to still be here since some of the lessons were of my stupid youth. Like if you are inserting live primers into your shotgun cast slugs, then do not collect them after shooting to recast in order to save on lead. Yep, first set of eyebrows gone. I've had help along the way. A consummate reader, I poured over anything and everything gun and reloading oriented. Then there was registered trap followed by lifetime membership in the NSSA and skeet burning over a case of ammo per week. Other shooting sports came along the way and finally ended in a run at single action shooting in SASS.

I apprenticed with several (well now it actually was only three) gunsmiths of my home area and learned a lot about heat treatment and guns in general. I couldn't get enough. I also developed my own interests in what I liked in a gun. Believe me I've been through the lot of them including holding an FFL for a number of years and working as a custom smith during the PPC heyday. This work was mainly on fellow department employees in a job that went from totting a Smith model 67 and a Mini-14 to the latest Glock with the most current incarnation of AR-15. So when I say I've seen my share of guns, I really have.

At the start of things (the only time save the Thunder Five) I ever owned a number of Charter arms was when I was struggling to make ends meet or going to school/ both. A new Ruger was running around 175 bucks to Smith's 230-240 and at the same time, if you didn't mind shopping at the local pawn shop (new guns mind you) you could get a Charter Arms revolver for around 35 to fifty bucks depending upon model.

That should tell you a LOT right then and there. Charter selling for only 20 percent of what a regular guys firearm normally cost (meaning Ruger) and only fourteen percent of what the better than average guy could afford. You get what you pay for. Yes they were sloppy, ill fitting and did indeed rattle, but they were only thirty five bucks and I could own five of them for the cost of one competitor's models. That and only that is the reason a well versed gun guy would ever put his hands on one straight out of the box.

Now put a bunch of work into one and it could easily slik up quite nicely, however it will never top the others mentioned since it is so far in arrears from the get go.

Then came the Thunder Five deal. I just had to see how close I could come to the 410 revolver that the state Government said that I couldn't have. So the next best thing was 45/70. Seemed close, right and if you modify a set of 45/70 dies (I won't say how) you can quite simply produce brass (hobby store brass sheet stock) inserts that allow the shooting of 410 shells in a 45/70 chamber. Too close to being illegal and with a high security job in my view, I sold it all and concentrated on getting the job and passing my first academy.

So there you have it. Take it for what it's worth. I stand by my rattle story and stand by the reason I bought such rattling pieces of weaponry. Smithy.

 

[TXArmyVet]

Charter Arms Revolvers

Purchased my first Charter Arms Revolver (.40 S&W Bulldog in Nitride) in January of 2018. It had an "off centered" barrel, the ejection rod was faulty, and after firing 10 rounds, the cylinder release latch wouldn't open properly. Wiggling the cylinder would eventually move the release latch back to its normal position so that I could open it. This happened several times during my shooting range visit. I contacted Charter Arms about my situation and they told me to send the firearm back to them via FedEx. Did as instructed. I had to call them a few weeks later to find out my situation's progress. I was eventually told that the firearm's cylinder release latch was faulty and the ejection rod was busted. They told me that they would send me a replacement/new firearm just like the one I sent back to them. I informed them that I did not want another .40 S&W Pitbull Revolver and that they could send me the .38 SPL Undercover Revolver in Nitride. A week later, I got the .38 SPL Undercover Revolver in Nitride. This one is a DREAM!!! In DA and SA, the Undercover operates smoothly like it should (after firing 50 rounds through it). I plan on keeping this revolver.

 

[ShivasIrons]

I own a number of Charter Arms, both new and old. I own 3 Bridgeport Undercovers and they shoot well for what they are. Nice to have useable sights on a small revolver They seem to slide in a pocket better than a j Frame as well. Triggers and accuracy are acceptable for all 3.

The New Undercovers and Off Duty's that I own are all good. They have figured out how to build a small 38 really well. All have decent triggers and are accurate.

Charter went through some up and downs over the years. I stay away from Charco and Charter 2000 guns as quality was a bit spotty at times. The new Charters are a good gun for the money.

Their customer service is excellent as well. My dealer ordered a vintage Undercover off GB for me. It came in and it was an absolute mess. Would not operate. Dealer sent it in and Charter fixed it for free and had it back in a couple weeks!

 

[washerman]

I have 3 charter arms revolvers. Like them. All have good smooth triggers and have been 100% reliable. Charter arms has excellent grips and they fit all models too. Carry a police 38 special 6-shot revolver almost every day. I ordered a bobbed hammer for my police model and can change it out from the d/a s/a hammer in about a minute. Cost me $25. I have smith wesson and ruger revolvers to compare too also. I'm not saying charter arms is better then they are but the charter arms guns are pretty darn good in my opinion. Don't know about the older revolvers cause never had one. All my guns were purchased in the last 2 or 3 years.

 

[2sharp2]

Three CA's

I have a blue Bulldog .44 from late 79'-80. It has been a good revolver carried more than shot. I think it has been two years now since I bought a new Stainless Bulldog 44 and a month or so later a 6-shot Police Undercover. They all have pretty smooth triggers, accurate, at one time or another have served me as a EDC. For the money, to me fit and finish is pretty nice, as cool as my 24 or 624 no way.
Restart to old thread but I thought I would give some input.
I added some Altamont grips.

 

[amazingflapjack]

I have an old Bull Dog, and a new "on duty" and like them both. They represent 100% of my EDC.

 

[gman51]

I realize this is an old thread but thought I would put in my penny thought.
I heard about the Charter Bull Dog 44 spl and all I read about it said the newer guns have come a long way in reliability and quality. I bought one about 3 years ago and it has been my main carry since buying it. I have over 500 rounds through it and not so much as even a minor hiccup.

Compared to Taurus' comparable priced revolvers the Charter is all around better. Smooth trigger in double action and single action is quite smooth and light. Nothing has come loose or broke. For the price I am well satisfied with this Charter Bull Dog 44 spl. I would buy another without any 2nd thoughts.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I have a 40 S&W Pitbull. It’s about the exact same size as a Colt D frame except for a slightly longer barrel. Mine has the black finish that is about as tough as nails. It’s a fairly light trigger but no where near the quality and smoothness as my old Smith’s or even my new Cobra. I have about 200 rounds through the Pitbull and have not had even the first issue. Recoil is similar to a 357mag such as my 60-10. The Pitbull is as accurate as any of my j frames or Colt D frames.