I will have a cheap and ugly gun!

[Rick_A]

Won a Charter Arms "Boxer" at auction.

I'm putting a Pachmayr grip on it and using a Desantis thumbreak scabbard OWB holster. It's going to be my backpacking and hiking gun.
pix530853484 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

These guns have a reputation of either working or not. As long as it works and hits where it's aimed, I'm happy. I got rid of my 357's as I rarely carried them and they were obnoxiously loud. Also consolidating calibers. The old special should be able to get the job done.

It's about time someone other than Taurus did an alloy six shot 38. I'd rather support an American company.

I'm looking forward to giving it a shot.

 

[Old_Cop]

There's bears in those woods. My buddy carries a 10mm working in the yard near Ellijay.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

MY EDC is a S&W 49, but when backpacking I use a Colt Cobra that is internally great and very rough externally! I married an Uncle Mikes nylon holster onto my hip belt, so everything is black and unobtrusive! I hangs at the 2:00 position and never interferes with my arm or walking stick. Ammo is on a speed strip in my shirt or jacket pocket, with a box of 20 cowboy loads for plinking in the pack's top pocket.

I haven't tried any Shot Shells to see how they pattern for snakes. I usually go hiking in cooler weather or in February (I take a alloy frame 1911 then!)

Ivan

 

[hyena]

My truck gun is a .45 Pitbull. I love it. Perfect for that job. It hits where aimed, and always goes bang. A good honest gun for the money.

Congrats on your acquisition.

 

[OLDSTER]

For years, I've carried an old Bridgeport Undercover ,cross draw, while driving long distances. I like shooting it on occasion, and shoot it better than my 2 S&W snubbies. Solid, dependable, accurate. A darn good revolver; still best revolver on the planet for the money.

 

[VictorLouis]

I bought the Boxer, made sure it worked...then gifted it to a good friend.
He grew up in Chicago, but....all of the angst lately had made him realize it was time to get SUMPIN'.

NOW, not dissin' on the Charter. I have the Professional in .32, and a nice Bulldog, also. Have yet to wring out a nice old Stamford Undercover. However, I can verify that the fit and finish on that little guy is superior to what they new guns have. Facts is facts, LOL.

The one's I didn't gel with were the Pitbulls. The .45 was just too much recoil for me, and the 9mm I had was the older 6rd. version. Function was fine, but the POA to POI was way, way too far off for me cope with it. Sad, because that was otherwise a sweet package.

 

[Model52guy]

Always keep a charter arms and a LLama to shoot any “unknown” reloads I buy at gun shows.

 

[Grayfox]

I had a .38 Undercover years ago. I still kick myself for selling it.
My Bulldog ain't going nowhere. I love it!

Charter Arms makes good guns, but their QC is questionable. I had a .22 Pathfinder. Felt good in the hand but wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. Note I said "had".

 

[Rick_A]

Always keep a charter arms and a LLama to shoot any “unknown” reloads I buy at gun shows.

That's harsh!

 

[Rick_A]

I had a .38 Undercover years ago. I still kick myself for selling it.
My Bulldog ain't going nowhere. I love it!

Charter Arms makes good guns, but their QC is questionable. I had a .22 Pathfinder. Felt good in the hand but wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. Note I said "had".

The consensus seems to be that they quickly fix any problem guns. It's just always better if it isn't a problem gun to begin with.

 

[Rick_A]

My truck gun is a .45 Pitbull. I love it. Perfect for that job. It hits where aimed, and always goes bang. A good honest gun for the money.

Congrats on your acquisition.

Thank you! I'm hoping it will serve me just as well. They are certainly a utilitarian piece.

 

[Rick_A]

There's bears in those woods. My buddy carries a 10mm working in the yard near Ellijay.

There's some 38 loads with the same penetration as the 357 stuff...just without any expansion. I can go with that. All my time in the woods, it's people and dogs that are the main concerns.

 

[Rick_A]

MY EDC is a S&W 49, but when backpacking I use a Colt Cobra that is internally great and very rough externally! I married an Uncle Mikes nylon holster onto my hip belt, so everything is black and unobtrusive! I hangs at the 2:00 position and never interferes with my arm or walking stick. Ammo is on a speed strip in my shirt or jacket pocket, with a box of 20 cowboy loads for plinking in the pack's top pocket.

I haven't tried any Shot Shells to see how they pattern for snakes. I usually go hiking in cooler weather or in February (I take a alloy frame 1911 then!)

Ivan

I've got a pair of Airweights that are looking pretty horrid at this point. No rust or corrosion, but a lot of finish wear. Guns like those are a keeper, 'cause they're not worth selling anyway!

 

[BigBill]

A 1911/45acp is my night outhouse gun. The coyotes seem to scratch on the door when occupied l guess they can’t read the sign. Lol

 

[jack the toad]

With less than $250 in following rig (holster, grips and early Bridgeport Bulldog), guess term cheap comes to mind but beauty is in eye of the beholder.

 

[moongoon]

I still have my .44 special Charter 3" stainless bulldog w/pocket hammer. Bought it in Alaska around 1983, It still is about the biggest bad boy that rides in my front pants pocket almost every day. Loaded with 240 gr SWC hard cast bullets ready for any occasion. I recall a musher in the Iditarod sled dog race who encountered a bull moose on the trail, which started stomping his dogs. Remember an Alaska moose is about 7-8 feet tall. The musher shot it right between the eyes with his Charter Bulldog .44 and dropped it instantly.

 

[Rick_A]

There's a Charter Arms Undercover Lite at the shop that is as solid as I've seen. Locks up with zero play. Good trigger with no creep. Cosmetically nicer than most of them. I sure hope mine is assembled similarly.

 

[Dump1567]

As you stated in your post, make sure it works prior to carrying it. I bought a new .44 Bulldog a few weeks ago & got nothing put light primer strikes. I'm in no hurry to send it back & will try a heavier hammer spring I ordered from Wolff first.

 

[444 Magnum]

Hey Rick A. Its still a foreign owned company, but there is a Taurus plant in
Bainbridge now. Good paying Georgia jobs.

 

[Mule Packer]

Rick, when you say that you will have a "cheap and ugly gun," I have to make a small correction. Nowadays, there ain't no such thing as a "cheap" gun. No such thing as cheap ammo either.