Experience with Charter Arms? - Need Opinions

[Dragonfighter]

Thanks for the input. I think with all things considered, I'll get her on our Model 36 and rent a lightweight decent revolver (S&W, Ruger, et al) and see what she thinks. I'll work with her on the Glock again and see if I can't improve her experience with it. After all that, I won't steer her to the CA, I'll see where the dust settles and go from there. Ya'll have been a huge help.

[trentwhite778]

I bought my wife the "chic lady" which is the same except for polished barrel and cylinder. She LOVES it! I've shot it a few times, it is very solid, reliable and accurate. I ordered it from a distributor locally. You can go to their website and look up dealers close to you. It only took a few days to get it in. Comes with a pink Alligator case.

[RogueUSMC]

Small revolvers are a good idea for ladies who are going to be purse carrying. I suggested this to my mother in law when she was shopping for a gun. With a revolver, you can shoot from inside the purse if necessary without having to worry about the action not cycling right. The compact semi-auto guns will misfeed if your thumb is touching the slide while it is cycling. Imagine what all the stuff in the purse might interfere with. The tolerances are so tight on these little guns. The revolver will cycle normally when fired inside the purse. Just be advised that other stuff around the gun will be damaged if the revolver is fired inside the purse.

[Dragonfighter]

I bought my wife the "chic lady" which is the same except for polished barrel and cylinder. She LOVES it! I've shot it a few times, it is very solid, reliable and accurate.

Thank you for this. The value of experience with the actual weapon is invaluable to help us with the decision process. My daughter is a pink lady all the way, in fact I remember the all blue after images after painting the pink walls and ceiling. The "chic lady" and case would thrill her no end (sheesh, 21st b'days can get expensive).

Anyway, once we get her out to try the alloy framed snubbies, we'll know just how expensive this birthday is going to be. I've dipped my proverbial toe in the water and she is already saying that of all we have, the Model 36 is her favorite.

Thanks again for the first hand review.

Added in Edit: RougeUSMC,
Good points, food for thought.

[Pecos]

Ive had the Charter Arms undercover sense they first came out & it's been a great gun to this day. Kept it maintained real well & the bluing is still perfect.

[Dragonfighter]

Weeeellll, the experiment didn't turn out quite like I thought. She shot a Lady Smith in alloy frame and did okay. She even said it didn't bother her had and the recoils was manageable. That said, another rental (S&W M+P Shield) got her really excited. She was dead center in about a 3" group at 7 yards. As much as she hates my Glock I never dreamed she'd get fired up over a semi-auto. Just to be sure I showed her a Pink Lady in the case and she giggled and said, "Yeah, I had noticed thoughs." Then she shrugged and reiterated she wanted the Shield...the original "Pink Lady" wants a black, modern, semi-auto.



Thanks to all that helped me with this research project.

[WildBill]

Weeeellll, the experiment didn't turn out quite like I thought. She shot a Lady Smith in alloy frame and did okay. She even said it didn't bother her had and the recoils was manageable. That said, another rental (S&W M+P Shield) got her really excited. She was dead center in about a 3" group at 7 yards. As much as she hates my Glock I never dreamed she'd get fired up over a semi-auto. Just to be sure I showed her a Pink Lady in the case and she giggled and said, "Yeah, I had noticed thoughs." Then she shrugged and reiterated she wanted the Shield...the original "Pink Lady" wants a black, modern, semi-auto.



Thanks to all that helped me with this research project.

All is well that ends well.

[philbo]

I've owned several Charters in different calibers and have been pleased with them all. Not quite Smith or Ruger quality, but if the price is right I'd own/shoot/recommend them.

A brief history that I've informally put together starts with the earliest models which were marked CHARTER ARMS CORP over BRIDGEPORT CONN. These run from 1964 to about 1970 when they began marking them CHARTER ARMS CORP over STRATFORD CONN, until the early 90's. The Bridgeport models are not common. Most of the good older models on the used market will be from Stratford and the 1980's.

About 1991-92 Charco came into being and the company reorganized and the revolvers were stamped CHARCO over ANSONIA CONN. This continued about 1998.
This era is where the sloppy QC stems from and they are distinct from the Charter 2000's that followed. Lots of QC problems on these models.

In late 1999-2000 the company reorganized again as Charter 2000 and the revolvers were stamped CHARTER ARMS 2000 over SHELTON CONN. The Charter 2000 stamping continued until mid 2007 when the company reverted to using the Charter Arms name over Shelton Conn. Other than the name, they are the same in every respect. Charter's QC made definite leaps forward during this era.

So there are generally 3 generations of Charter Arms

1st Gen: Charter Arms marked w/either Bridgeport or Stratford Conn. Generally decent firearms.
2nd Gen: Charco marked firearms from Ansonia Conn. These are the ones to generally avoid unless you can closely inspect them.
3rd Gen: Charter 2000 or Charter Arms marked revolvers from Shelton Conn. Latest models w/noticeably improved QC from the 2nd gen Charco models.

My suggestion for the OP is if the price is right, I'd pick up a 1st or 3rd gen model Charter without hesitation.