old charter arms

squirrelbaster · 04-06-2008, 10:24 AM

there is a old charter arms 38 spl with 2" barrel, it has the wood handle which i REALY like its going for $200, i think this is a good deal or at least seems like it to me, i just dont realy know anything about charter arms... so my question is will this gun hold up to a lot of shooting practice or is it the type of gun that is ment to have 50 shots a year go threw it. its in realy good shape. are charter arms good guns? do they have a bad rep of any kind?

stitchclimber · 04-06-2008, 02:42 PM

I'd steer away from it if I were you. Charter arms has a hit and miss reputation. I got my Rossi model 68 snubby for that amount.

TXplt · 04-06-2008, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stitchclimber

I'd steer away from it if I were you. Charter arms has a hit and miss reputation. I got my Rossi model 68 snubby for that amount.

+1 kinda

I'd caveat that by saying that, with specifics, someone here can probably ID if it's a winner or loser by when it was made. Charter has been hit and miss -- older bulldogs seem great; middle ones bad, newer ones OK. If you don't mind taking a chance for $200, go for it.

Mixed bag for me. I own a new (1-2 year old) bulldog. Love it as a carry gun due to weight and power, but it had a woeful DA trigger (SA fine). Gun failed after approx. 500 rds (which may be alot for this class of pistol) due to cylinder pin opening screw failing (which locks up the gun because it now thinks the cylinder is open). Customer Service from Charter was completely first-rate, and they even threw in a DA trigger job. Put maybe 100 or so rounds back thru with no problems (still not smith-like DA, but OK--much better). Gun shoots very accurately and well for a snubby !

NRAJOE · 04-06-2008, 04:35 PM

I'd get it...I like the old charter arms with out the barrel shroud...

squirrelbaster · 04-07-2008, 04:54 PM

it looks like an undercover but not sure, will these guns hold up to lots of shooting? i dont want somthing that is going to fall apart after 500 rounds

TXplt · 04-07-2008, 05:05 PM

I don't know -- mine's doing fine since it got fixed, but I view the gun as a shoot some carry a fair bit knock about kind of gun. Think it'd hold up OK, but Charter wouldn't be my first choice for a shoot alot gun. If you're going to shoot alot thru a .38, I'd probably get a Ruger.

Then again, if you like the gun, $200 may be fine to give it a shot. No worse than gambling a bit in Vegas.

Taurus Fan · 04-07-2008, 05:05 PM

$200 for an old Charter Arms snub doesn't sound like a very good deal at all. Keep looking.

Bookman · 04-07-2008, 07:13 PM

Used S&W Model 36 revolvers go for about $250-$275 around here. I'd much rather pay the extra bucks and get a S&W. That said, I have a Charter Arms Bulldog that's held up very well over the years. I've put over 2K .38 loads through it w/o a problem.

04-06-2008, 10:24 AM	#1
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,069 Trader Rating: (0)	old charter arms there is a old charter arms 38 spl with 2" barrel, it has the wood handle which i REALY like its going for $200, i think this is a good deal or at least seems like it to me, i just dont realy know anything about charter arms... so my question is will this gun hold up to a lot of shooting practice or is it the type of gun that is ment to have 50 shots a year go threw it. its in realy good shape. are charter arms good guns? do they have a bad rep of any kind? __________________ "My Shotgun SAYS I AM the POLICE !"--Mooseman684 "I like Turtles!" youtube kid

04-06-2008, 02:42 PM	#2
stitchclimber Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The great northwest Posts: 928 Trader Rating: (0)	I'd steer away from it if I were you. Charter arms has a hit and miss reputation. I got my Rossi model 68 snubby for that amount. __________________ turning up the radio, got just enough religion and a half tank of gas...

04-06-2008, 04:35 PM	#4
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,014 Trader Rating: (0)	I'd get it...I like the old charter arms with out the barrel shroud... __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

04-07-2008, 04:54 PM	#5
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,069 Trader Rating: (0)	it looks like an undercover but not sure, will these guns hold up to lots of shooting? i dont want somthing that is going to fall apart after 500 rounds __________________ "My Shotgun SAYS I AM the POLICE !"--Mooseman684 "I like Turtles!" youtube kid

04-07-2008, 05:05 PM	#6
TXplt Lost in the Ozone Again Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2,399 Trader Rating: (0)	I don't know -- mine's doing fine since it got fixed, but I view the gun as a shoot some carry a fair bit knock about kind of gun. Think it'd hold up OK, but Charter wouldn't be my first choice for a shoot alot gun. If you're going to shoot alot thru a .38, I'd probably get a Ruger. Then again, if you like the gun, $200 may be fine to give it a shot. No worse than gambling a bit in Vegas. __________________ Old fighter pilots never die.....They just wind up in Texas Last edited by TXplt; 04-07-2008 at 05:07 PM.

04-07-2008, 05:05 PM	#7
Taurus Fan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cobra Command Headquarters Posts: 693 Trader Rating: (0)	$200 for an old Charter Arms snub doesn't sound like a very good deal at all. Keep looking.

04-07-2008, 07:13 PM	#8
Bookman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 10 paces south of Canada Posts: 738 Trader Rating: (0)	Used S&W Model 36 revolvers go for about $250-$275 around here. I'd much rather pay the extra bucks and get a S&W. That said, I have a Charter Arms Bulldog that's held up very well over the years. I've put over 2K .38 loads through it w/o a problem.