When TTAG reviewed the Charter Arms Undercover .38, we were less than impressed with the revolver’s build quality. Our experience with the Target Mag Pug left us a tad concerned about the gun’s accuracy. The review of the Chic Lady was, uh, fraught. For some reason, Charter Arms hasn’t been beating down our metaphorical door to send us testing and evaluation samples. Let’s hope they don’t read this post, ’cause I’d love to get my mitts on their new Rimless Revolver. Or one of their don’t-tell-anyone-that-Son-of-Sam-made-this-gun-famous .44 Bulldogs. In fact, Charter Arms’ new $465 (msrp) Pit Bull is built on the same frame as their .44 Special. First, the basics . . .
The Pit Bull has a five shot; 2.3 inch barrel with a 416 stainless steel matte finish frame with Charters full rubber grip. With an overall length of 6 ¾ inches it weighs 20 ounces and has a fixed frame rear sight and a ramped front sight with a standard hammer. A DAO hammer is available upon request.
According to the Charter Arms prez Nick Ecker, the firearms industry has had a “long felt need” for a revolver that fires .40 [rimless] ammo. So long in fact, that the prototype below’s been around for donkey’s ages. Anyway, niche this . . .
The Pit Bull is the ideal revolver for law enforcement officers to use as their back up, because they can now carry a revolver that utilizes the same ammo as their sidearm. And for the .40 caliber enthusiast, it gives them the first revolver that shoots their ammo without utilizing moon clips.
And so their new guns provides a dual coil spring assembly [located in the extractor] to allow the insertion and retention of a .40 caliber cartridge in each chamber of the revolvers’ cylinder. How great is that?
I thought Colt and somebody else-Korth or Medusa had done it also w/o moon or stellar clips. I think the Colt prototype was designed to handle any .38 type round, from .380 to .357 magnum. But don’t feel bad, I don’t know that they ever made it to full production. I cannot remember if Ruger’s 9mm Speed Six revolver required moon clips or not.
Not true! I have a smith and wesson 547 9mm revolver from the 80’s that
has a similar mechanism . this may be cool , but its not a first.
It is basicly a model 13 with a spring loaded detent in the cylinder that captures the case. Look ma! no moon clips!
Too cool! I have the Taurus 905 9mm revolver. It works fine after I increased the cylinder gap slightly, as many Taurus’ require to eliminate a stuck cylinder.
My 547 is one of the most accurate revolvers i have ever shot, it has a trigger like breaking a glass rod. It is also 100% reliable. I have used it at matches where my sons and I send 300 rounds down the tube in an afternoon with no FTF, or ejection problems .
I have ruined the collector value of it by shooting it regularly for two decades, but I don’t feel a bit bad about it.
Hey, a weapon is meant to be used-sort of like this girlfriend I had once…
The phrase “affordable handguns” has always fascinated me. It’s like “discount LASIK.”
Thats cooler than hell.
P.S I own a charter arms pit bull in .44 Special, it’s a sweet gun.
So when are they making one in 10mm?
-Ruger made a Speed Six in 9mm for some police agencies in India. They used what appears to be the same spring system.
-Derek asks an interesting question; I’ll go one further: why not a “hammerless” Bulldog like a Centennial?
Moon clips would provide more reliable ejection and quicker loading, but nobody would really want to have the first gun that requires proprietary moon clips.
.45 ACP revolvers all use the same moon clips, and they’ve been pretty much standardized since 1918 or so. They’re widely available and dirt cheap. 5-round .40 moon clips, OTOH, would be unique and possibly hard to find.
Charter Arms doesn’t have a reputation for top-shelf quality, and for a tricky design like this I’d want the best.
Magoo: please resume your coma.
I have a davidson’s special Ruger Vaquero from years ago that chambers .40s&w without moon clips. One of my favorite guns. I just ordered one of these though to keep it company.
You guys (including the author) need to re-read what was said. Charter Arms never said it was the first revolver to fire rimless ammo. It says that it’s the first DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER to fire 40S&W RIMLESS AMMO without moon clips. pay attention to what you’re reading.
I would like to see it in .45acp as a back-up for my Colt government. I would buy it then.
“According to the Charter Arms prez Nick Ecker, the firearms industry has had a “long felt need” for a revolver that fires .40 [rimless] ammo.”
Really? Ecker’s a total goon. From the quality of the guns they put out I’d say half the factory is either on dope or drugs. Maybe they are just really elderly and cannot see well. Missing fingers on both hands? Whatever the reason I have yet to get a good one. Neither has my brother…..
Dear Sirs,
I own a Charter Arms snub nose revolver in 38 special. I would like to know if it is safe to use +P ammunition in this gun. I use it as a home protection weapon and the first +P round through it would be the only time +P ammo would ever be fired in this gun.
Thanks in advance for your help.
FSM
I have a Boomer 44 Special very well made and no front sight. Nice double action trigger designed for close work or get off me now.
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