WHO LIKES CHARTER'S UNDERCOVER?
- Thread starter crazyphil
- Start date
OP
Both LCR and S&W J Frames are a little better quality, but the
Undercover is probably the most popular backup gun because
of price. If I had to shoot and possibly loose my gun I would
rather it be my Undercover than an S&W or Colt. BTW the
model 85 is a Taurus. Not a bad little revolver, but Taurus
gets lots of bad comments.
Oh, one more thing, those who like the Bulldog just like a
little more oomph than the .38 Undercover, because the
Bulldog most popular is the .44 Spl.
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DWalt
Member
I no longer have an Undercover (sold mine over 20 years ago) but I recently bought a first year Bridgeport .44 Bulldog. My first outing with what I considered to be mild handloads proved less than pleasant due to the recoil and the Bulldog's small grips. I bought a new pair of Pachmayr Presentation grips off eBay for $25. While I haven't yet fired the Bulldog with those grips on it, they feel vastly better than the original tiny wood grips that I am certain the recoil will be much more manageable.
crstrode
Member
Inherited one from my Dad. I carried it for many years in many situations. Durable, reliable, light weight and very packable. Smaller and lighter than similar J frames, but fits well in a holster designed for a S&W model 36, or a Taurus 85.
My favorite carry configuration for the Undercover is small of back riding in a Bianchi #5CL marked S&W Chief. I can walk, sit, stand, work, drive with ease all day - no strain, no pain.
The ejector rod knob does indeed tend to screw itself loose, so be attentive.
Loaded with 125 grain Nyclads or plated 148 DEWC over 4.7 grains of Unique gives me a nice warm feeling.
My favorite carry configuration for the Undercover is small of back riding in a Bianchi #5CL marked S&W Chief. I can walk, sit, stand, work, drive with ease all day - no strain, no pain.
The ejector rod knob does indeed tend to screw itself loose, so be attentive.
Loaded with 125 grain Nyclads or plated 148 DEWC over 4.7 grains of Unique gives me a nice warm feeling.
DWalt
Member
I have an elderly spinster lady as a next-door neighbor. She has an unfired Undercover, one of the original Bridgeports. She has promised me first chance to buy it when she decides to sell. I think she is about 83, has a difficult time getting around, but she still drives.
An amusing story about her and the Undercover. In her younger days she was a high school teacher in one of the rougher school districts in town and always carried in in her purse. Just in case.
An amusing story about her and the Undercover. In her younger days she was a high school teacher in one of the rougher school districts in town and always carried in in her purse. Just in case.
OP
Guns & Ammo December 1981 someone asked Bill Jordan about his
choice for a backup gun. "Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special.
Just six inches long, 4 inches high, and weighing 16 ounces, would
be my choice."
choice for a backup gun. "Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special.
Just six inches long, 4 inches high, and weighing 16 ounces, would
be my choice."
max503
Member
If I didn't already own more snubbies than I have hands I would buy a CA snubbie of some sort.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Some years back I picked up one of the early (1960s) Undercovers pretty cheap. It was a good little gun. Shot well, decent trigger, small and light. The problem was those tiny grips they had back then. Firing one box of ammo would leave a very nasty blister in the web of my hand. At that time, I couldn't find any aftermarket grips for it and ended up selling the gun. With the grip options available today, if I was to run across a nice one at a good price, I'd snatch it up.
Speaking of Charters, about two years ago I bought a 2" .22 Pathfinder dirt cheap. I really liked the feel of it and the trigger was excellent. But the damned thing didn't shoot worth a hoot. About the best it could manage was 4-5" groups at 7 yards.
Its gone.
I also have a 1985 3" .44 Bulldog. Great gun! It ain't going nowhere.
Speaking of Charters, about two years ago I bought a 2" .22 Pathfinder dirt cheap. I really liked the feel of it and the trigger was excellent. But the damned thing didn't shoot worth a hoot. About the best it could manage was 4-5" groups at 7 yards.
Its gone. I also have a 1985 3" .44 Bulldog. Great gun! It ain't going nowhere.
Back in the late 70's I wanted a S&W model 60 for an off-duty handgun. They were scarce, so I bought a CA stainless Undercover at a Gibson's Dept. store. It was a good little pistol. I later obtained a blued version and sold it, since I still had the stainless one. I carried the stainless CA when working plain clothes. After a situation where I faced a suspect who had a S&W model 29 and M&P in .32-20 within reach, I decided to replace the CA with a 2 1/2 inch S&W model 66. It wasn't about the CA, but the extra round and caliber! I gave the CA to one of my kids. I bought a used blue Undercover a while back with rubber grips. It shot very high because the previous owner filed some material off the top of the front sight. I just finished up putting a shim on top of the front sight last night and I plan to try it out today (my second range trip with it this week). It actually has a better trigger and sights than my S&W model 60. The advantage of the model 60 is that it'll hold up to +P. I plan on taking both to the range and compare how I shoot them.
I finalized the front sight modification yesterday (I added a shim to the front sight because it was shooting too high). I took the old Undercover to the indoor range today. I fired 5 shots double action, while standing & unsupported with no time limit. The distance was 15 yards. I think I shoot it pretty well because the sights are nice and big for these old peepers. The trigger is pretty nice, too.
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Cal44
Member
I'm a fan of 32 Mag.
The Undercoverette is a 5 shot 32 H&R Magnum.
There is a Stainless version that weighs 16 oz and an 11 oz Aluminum version.
I'd like to find an Aluminum version as with 32 Mag I think an 11 oz gun would be shootable.
But, the SS version is the only one available in California at this point as I suspect Charter Arms doesn't want to spend the money to get the Aluminum version approved.
Given I already have a S&W 431PD which is a 13.3 oz six shot 32 Magnum, I can't justify either version.
The Undercoverette is a 5 shot 32 H&R Magnum.
There is a Stainless version that weighs 16 oz and an 11 oz Aluminum version.
I'd like to find an Aluminum version as with 32 Mag I think an 11 oz gun would be shootable.
But, the SS version is the only one available in California at this point as I suspect Charter Arms doesn't want to spend the money to get the Aluminum version approved.
Given I already have a S&W 431PD which is a 13.3 oz six shot 32 Magnum, I can't justify either version.
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Speaking from an armorer's perspective, they are great alternative to the more expensive brands, until they require an intervention for repair. Very difficult to work on/repair in my experience.
washerman
Member
all you gotta do to fix one is send it back to charter arms...it'll be fixed quick and probably no charge either
DWalt
Member
Interesting - in what way? When I recently got my .44 Bulldog (which I think differs little from the UC mechanically), it didn't seem to want to function properly in single action. With the help of a YouTube video (never having worked on anything from CA), I stripped it down as completely as possible, cleaned and inspected everything, lubed it, and reassembled it. It functioned OK after doing that. At least for assembly/disassembly, it wasn't any more difficult to do vs. any other revolver I've worked on. I don't know about problems associated with getting replacement parts to fit properly as I didn't need to do that.
OP
I finalized the front sight modification yesterday (I added a shim to the front sight because it was shooting too high). I took the old Undercover to the indoor range today. I fired 5 shots double action, while standing & unsupported with no time limit. The distance was 15 yards. I think I shoot it pretty well because the sights are nice and big for these old peepers. The trigger is pretty nice, too.
That's some pretty darn good shootin Mike.
Mine is a Stratford, Connecticut made revolver, which puts it's date of manufacture in the 70's. I've heard that the ones made from 1988-1998 (Charco) had quality control issues. I hear that the ones made since 2000 are very good. Crazyphil- I'm sure the gun and ammo will group much better at longer distances. Back in the day when revolvers were king, I decided to learn how to shoot double-action. As I'm not that talented, it took quite some time. I do ok, but there are a lot of better shooters out there with much younger body parts!
MOONDAWG
US Veteran
Bought my first Charter Arms .38 undercover in 1973 when J-frame Smiths were as scarce as hens teeth and commanding scalpers prices if you found on.
Loved it and within the year I'd bought a 3" .22 Path Finder and a 3" .44 spl. Bull Dog.
My current most used is a 21 oz. 6 shot 9mm Pit Bull. Bought it for 4 reasons. I got tired of fooling with moon clips in my .45 ACP Colt & Smiths, the ammo is cheaper and available every where, and, one day I may be too incapacitated to rack the slide on my semi autos and 4th I can hand it to anyone to use to back me up. The vertical stringing was shooter induced trying to breathe.
The E-Target is 50 rounds fired off hand at 15 yards on a 95 degree 99% humidity day...Florida in the summer...
Loved it and within the year I'd bought a 3" .22 Path Finder and a 3" .44 spl. Bull Dog.
My current most used is a 21 oz. 6 shot 9mm Pit Bull. Bought it for 4 reasons. I got tired of fooling with moon clips in my .45 ACP Colt & Smiths, the ammo is cheaper and available every where, and, one day I may be too incapacitated to rack the slide on my semi autos and 4th I can hand it to anyone to use to back me up. The vertical stringing was shooter induced trying to breathe.
The E-Target is 50 rounds fired off hand at 15 yards on a 95 degree 99% humidity day...Florida in the summer...
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I have a CA Undercover Police, (The 6-Shot) that is my daily carry. It initially wasn't intended for that purpose. I sort of got talked into the purchase and felt I had made a bad mistake after buying it. Then my feelings changed fast when I started shooting it. I love mine. I practice about 99% in DA, and once in a while, I'll send six downstream in SA, usually at 30 feet. They all seem to stay inside the 8 ring and most inside the 9 ring with a snub. I may add a Pachmyer grip to mine, and see if that conceals better and still feels nice. I have big hands. I intend on keeping mine.
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