Charter Arms Forum?

[Deputy276]

Count me in for wanting a Charter Arms forum. I just bought my second one today. It's a .40 S&W Pitbull.



My .44 Special Bulldog (Charter 2000) has been 100% reliable and everything on it has remained tight and like brand new. Is it as pretty as a Model 60? Nope. But somehow I don't think the bad guy will give a dang about how pretty it is when he is eating lead from it.

[BusGunner007]

I'd like to know how you like that .40 revolver.
It would be the 2nd Charter Arms I would own...if it's good!

[jmortimer]

Just got my stainless Bulldog and really like it. worth every penny. I don't plan on shooting it much, so it is perfect for me. As for the forum - YES!

[Deputy276]

Hopefully I can get out to the range sometime this week and try out the Pitbull. I'll report back on the results.

[Sarge]

I'll be looking forward to a range report on that one, Deputy.

[FM12]

Sign me up as a "Charter" member also! Love my 44Bulldog!

[Deputy276]

Just got back from the range with my wife. I was hoping the Charter Arms new Pitbull in .40 S&W would be okay for her to use. It isn't. At least, not in the ammo I was using. I had a box of Federal 165 grain FMJ. I figured recoil would be fairly mild. I had fired the same stuff in a SIG P226 and recoil was easy to handle. But the Pitbull is VERY light and doesn't have a hand-filling grip. My wife saw the look on my face and told me "no thanks". I didn't force the issue. The palm of my right had was bright red after only 25 rounds. I packed it back up and put it back in the range bag. I may try it with 135 grain ammo in the future. For now, it stays in the box. As far as reliability it was just fine. No misfires. A couple of times the spring-loaded lip that catches the cartridge rim overrode the rim and it was a bit finicky to get the shell out. But I think that was user incompetence and not the guns fault. I was used to just slapping the extractor rod like with a normal rimmed cartridge. Can't do that with the Pitbull. Once I turned the gun so the barrel was pointed up and just pushed the extractor rod firmly, they all came out with no problem. I notice that Pachmayr makes "Gripper" grips that should fit the Pitbull. I may invest in a set.

[Crazy88Fingers]

Pachmayr's Compac grips should also fit. They're a big improvement over the factory grips, and are still concealable.

[BusGunner007]

My first firearm: Charter Arms .38 SPL.



I still have that gun. Box, sales reciepts, everthing!
It says BULLDOG on the front of the box.
UNDERCOVER on the left side of the box.
3" bbl. MODEL 13831.
Made in Bridgeport, CONN. on, get this, ASYLUM STREET.


The Pachmayr Compac(sp.?) grip works well on this.
But speedloaders, like the HKS, don't like to squeeze in too well.
The gun may be smaller, but I think the grip is available for the larger-frame Charter Arms revolvers.

In your .40 - - - I wonder if 180-gr. ammo might actually give a more pleasant recoil impulse than the 165's.
I'm curious as to how the 135's will feel and where they'll shoot to at 20-50 feet.

[Deputy276]

Cripes...I just tried to order the Pachmayr Gripper grips and it seems like everyone is on back order. I can get them direct from Pachmayr, but that is big $$. I wanted to pay around $25-$28. Not $35+.

180 grain may be less recoil. I'm just not crazy about that bullet weight. I can use .44 Special or .45ACP if I want slow and heavy in a bullet. The 155-165 grain bullets are pretty hot and good self defense loads with decent velocity. The 135 grain should give less recoil due to the lighter bullet. But again, I'm not crazy about that bullet weight either. Might as well use 9MM at that weight. I think the change in grips will solve my recoil problems. At least, I hope so.
Worse case scenario, I can use Winchester PDX-1 in 180 grain for the heavy bullet. I can tell you about how the 135 grain shoots at 20 feet. But my eyes are too old for 50 feet.

[458winshooter]

Yep,sign me up 44spl Bulldog Pug owner here.I would love to compare loads and here from others who have tried different things such as grips or spring kits or other mods they have made or are considering.

[Deputy276]

Well I can say the Speer Gold Dot 200 grain HP was very nice out of my .44 Bulldog. I need to order another box of that stuff. But the factory rubber grips on both the Bulldog and Pitbull were too small to be comfortable for any amount of shooting.

[9mm]

Arn't they in the sub forum of Taurus?

[Deputy276]

Isn't Taurus in the Glock Forum?

[Buckeye!]

These ate my two Charters a 357 Mag Pug and a 44Spl.. great handguns...

[Deputy276]

Finally found a place that has the Pachmayr gripper grips for the CA guns. I ordered two, one for my Pitbull and the other for the Bulldog.

[Frasier]

Bulldog, Pit bull, and Pug....Gives new meaning to the term "Release the hounds".

[DFrame]

Sign me up. I'd love to learn more about these handy inexpensive guns.

[jmortimer]

"Bulldog, Pit bull, and Pug....Gives new meaning to the term "Release the hounds". "
That is funnly. If you want a good deal on a revolver for self-defense Chater Arms is it. Made in USA. Not for shooting all the time, but a couple hundred rounds a year and they are perfect.

[Dave R]

Count me in for wanting a Charter Arms forum. I just bought my second one today. It's a .40 S&W Pitbull.

I just got one, too. Same reason, thinking of a gun for the wife (not that I wouldn't want it....)

I found the thing very picky about ammo. I reload, and I have a .40 Sub 2000. The load I developed for the Sub 2000 (135 gr. Nosler over a max load of Unique) wouldn't shoot worth beans in the Pitbull. Shot way low, and patterned like bad buckshot.

Finally found it likes heavy bullets. A light powder load with a Berry's 180gr. HP bullet shoot beautifully, and right to point of aim. Could shoot it all day long.\

ETA: I would definitely use a Charter Arms forum.

[Deputy276]

Well finally some good news on my search for Pachmayr Gripper grips for my "dogs". I exhausted all the online dealers. NOBODY had them in stock. So I went on E-Bay. Got one brand new set for $19 and a used/like new set for $12. I'll report back on how they feel and how they work at the range.

Dave: Think I will try some factory load 180 grain for the Pitbull next time I go to the range.

[Buckeye!]

One thing I really like about Charter is there fantastic customer service.....


A story.....I went in a LGS and saw a older Charter 38 snubbie in the used gun section ( the corner away from everything ,had a knifes around it...you know that corner) The price was 150.00 ..I asked to see the revolver, it was tight , overall great shape...I asked the store owner about the little gun...,He said "I don't like'em ..my brother once hit a man in the head with one and the grip broke"

I asked if he would take 5.00 for it ..he said , "no way !!!" ,are you crazy ?

I said no..I just thought with the 5.00 you could buy your brother a hammer....

We settled on 100.00....

[Deputy276]

Buckeye: Great Story!!

[Deputy276]

Got BOTH my Pachmayr Gripper grips for my Pitbull and Bulldog. Put them both on. First impression....WOW! They feel MUCH better than the factory rubber grips. And the grips fill my hand much better and are a softer rubber than the factory ones. Squeezing the trigger double action also requires less effort and is more comfortable. I'll post feedback on actually shooting with them when I get the chance.

[stevej]

I'm wanting an inexpensive revolver myself and thinking of CA or Rossi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sLR0vgpeWI