Charter Arms/Undercover misfire problem

twilly · October 31, 2012, 11:15 AM

I just picked up a late first generation CA Undercover (maybe early '80's) and put a few threw it. Tried both SA and DA and a couple of rounds misfired in SA. Cycled them around in DA with no problem. Using cheap Winchester .38 in big box from a big box. Could it be the ammo or would it more likely be spring weakening in a 30 some year old piece?

Magnum Wheel Man · October 31, 2012, 11:24 AM

a previous owner may have even lightened up the spring, to lighten the trigger pull...

you may be fine with it like it is, if you fine an ammo with a softer primer ( the brands varry quite a bit in the effort needed to get a primer to fire )...

but could also be a weaker stock spring, or could be the ammo... pretty tough to tell with only one brand / type of ammo

CajunBass · October 31, 2012, 04:14 PM

I had that problem with a Charter Arms Undercover I had, at first. The ammo I was using was my reloads using CCI primers. When I switched to factory ammo, or to reloads with Winchester primers, no problems.

lowercase · November 1, 2012, 10:03 PM

I have 2 first generation Charter Undercover snubbies. They run flawlessly.

You may need to replace your mainspring. Buy a Wolf replacement spring. Someone may have cut a couple coils to lighten the trigger pull.

October 31, 2012, 11:15 AM	#1
twilly Junior Member Join Date: October 30, 2012 Posts: 4	Charter Arms/Undercover misfire problem I just picked up a late first generation CA Undercover (maybe early '80's) and put a few threw it. Tried both SA and DA and a couple of rounds misfired in SA. Cycled them around in DA with no problem. Using cheap Winchester .38 in big box from a big box. Could it be the ammo or would it more likely be spring weakening in a 30 some year old piece?

October 31, 2012, 11:24 AM	#2
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	a previous owner may have even lightened up the spring, to lighten the trigger pull... you may be fine with it like it is, if you fine an ammo with a softer primer ( the brands varry quite a bit in the effort needed to get a primer to fire )... but could also be a weaker stock spring, or could be the ammo... pretty tough to tell with only one brand / type of ammo __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

October 31, 2012, 04:14 PM	#3
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	I had that problem with a Charter Arms Undercover I had, at first. The ammo I was using was my reloads using CCI primers. When I switched to factory ammo, or to reloads with Winchester primers, no problems. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

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November 1, 2012, 10:03 PM	#4
lowercase Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2012 Posts: 287	I have 2 first generation Charter Undercover snubbies. They run flawlessly. You may need to replace your mainspring. Buy a Wolf replacement spring. Someone may have cut a couple coils to lighten the trigger pull.