wpeel
.30 Stingray
Posts: 197 
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Post by wpeel on Jul 21, 2022 22:02:19 GMT -5
My experience with Charter has been excellent so far as customer service is concerned. However, I am less than pleased with my Bulldog Pug in .44 Special. From the start, double-action has been smooth on three chambers, but the last two required a heavier trigger pull...usually enough to yank the gun off target. Sent it back to Charter. Said it had a bent ejector rod and was out of time. When the gun was returned, I didn't really notice any difference in the double-action cycling. Still heavy, with a slight hitch on two chambers. Was hoping to make it my everyday carry...but the heavy, inconsistent action prevents me from shooting it as well as I would like. So my Ruger SP101 remains my carry choice
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Post by bula on Jul 22, 2022 7:35:52 GMT -5
I work 2nd shift and just up. My bedroom and this lap top are at opposite corners of the house. By the time I've wobbled across that 50-60 feet, I've found my way into shorts with a belt and holster and the Bulldog is comfortable at 2 o'clock in front of right hip, before I open the lap top. The 44Spec Bulldog is an '80's Stratford. A 44Spec Boomer fell in my lap a few years ago. Very neat minimalist get-off-me gun. A nephew needed it more, it went home in his pocket.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Jul 22, 2022 9:19:18 GMT -5
My experience with Charter has been excellent so far as customer service is concerned. However, I am less than pleased with my Bulldog Pug in .44 Special. From the start, double-action has been smooth on three chambers, but the last two required a heavier trigger pull...usually enough to yank the gun off target. Sent it back to Charter. Said it had a bent ejector rod and was out of time. When the gun was returned, I didn't really notice any difference in the double-action cycling. Still heavy, with a slight hitch on two chambers. Was hoping to make it my everyday carry...but the heavy, inconsistent action prevents me from shooting it as well as I would like. So my Ruger SP101 remains my carry choice I've bent an ejector rod once, but not enough to notice, as it bent at the front of the cylinder and wobbled freely with no ejector rod housing. I replaced it anyway.
As for DA cycling with difficulty on only certain chambers, I'd have to think it had to do with the ratchet on the back of the ejector. That's the only thing which could relate between specific chambers having difficult trigger pull. "Out of time" is vague, but I expect they don't expect everyone to understand the specifics, but a couple bad teeth on the ratchet would BE an "out of time" issue.
You pay for something - you expect it to work though. Any more, it seems that anything I pay money for (especially services) I have to fix, finish or correct, so I am never surprised these days - unless I DON'T have to work on something I just paid for. Wish I could have seen that one. I'm no gun smith, but I've messed with these and Ruger DAs long enough that I can find what's wrong. The irony there is that once found, it's almost always a pretty minor thing causing an inordinate amount of grief.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Jul 22, 2022 9:22:19 GMT -5
I work 2nd shift and just up. My bedroom and this lap top are at opposite corners of the house. By the time I've wobbled across that 50-60 feet, I've found my way into shorts with a belt and holster and the Bulldog is comfortable at 2 o'clock in front of right hip, before I open the lap top. The 44Spec Bulldog is an '80's Stratford. A 44Spec Boomer fell in my lap a few years ago. Very neat minimalist get-off-me gun. A nephew needed it more, it went home in his pocket. I remember you mentioning passing that Bulldog along.
"In front of right hip," or appendix -carry?
I've heard a lot of criticism on that mode, but that's exactly how I've carried a 3" Bulldog for MANY years. It just FITS there, is unobtrusive and pretty much disappears.
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Post by needsmostuff on Jul 22, 2022 9:45:29 GMT -5
My three Amigos. All 32 mag. All ideal pocket packin glovebox hikin plinkin whatever beasties.  |
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Jul 22, 2022 9:52:43 GMT -5
Hey, I'm glad you posted those! I wasn't going to ester, but I was hoping you would.
I made the decision several years ago to pare down to a skinny battery, combine, look for dual-usage functionality and versatility in casting/hand-loading components and tooling, etc. Several discussions with a best friend about the 32s and what I'd be giving up, but I reasoned that I could do anything they'd do with the 38/357 and more. Compromises, sure. But, I still love seeing 32s, especially Single Sixes and Charter DAs.
Thanks for posting those!
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Jul 22, 2022 10:14:03 GMT -5
Some Stratford-era gems. The blued 3" is actually a 38 SPL., on the Undecover frame.
The Service Six used as a comparison is one ROBUST gun, and affords a sixth shot, but man, that's a serious hunk o' metal to tote. Doesn't seem too bad when you're used to it, or dressed such t hat you have carry options, but the Charters spoil you badly on weight.
EDIT: I'm sure I've shared this link before, but it's appropriate here for anyone interested in Charter Revolvers. This fella, "Ed" is a really nice guy and has been open to questions/comments via his e-mail on the linked site.
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wpeel
.30 Stingray
Posts: 197
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Post by wpeel on Jul 22, 2022 11:15:17 GMT -5
I've bent an ejector rod once, but not enough to notice, as it bent at the front of the cylinder and wobbled freely with no ejector rod housing. I replaced it anyway.
As for DA cycling with difficulty on only certain chambers, I'd have to think it had to do with the ratchet on the back of the ejector. That's the only thing which could relate between specific chambers having difficult trigger pull. "Out of time" is vague, but I expect they don't expect everyone to understand the specifics, but a couple bad teeth on the ratchet would BE an "out of time" issue.
You pay for something - you expect it to work though. Any more, it seems that anything I pay money for (especially services) I have to fix, finish or correct, so I am never surprised these days - unless I DON'T have to work on something I just paid for. Wish I could have seen that one. I'm no gun smith, but I've messed with these and Ruger DAs long enough that I can find what's wrong. The irony there is that once found, it's almost always a pretty minor thing causing an inordinate amount of grief. Here's the odd thing, Jeff. (And thanks for the reply, BTW) When I cycle the gun left handed, it actually operates much more smoothly. (I'm right handed) When I use my middle finger to cycle the action, it's the same result. I'm "thinking" that this indicates there might be the need to shim the trigger...or it might be my technique on the trigger. I'm no stranger to double action shooting, I used to compete with a Model 25-5 in pin shoots against people with semi-autos. I just find it frustrating when I can clear a rack of pins at 15 yards very easily with my SP-101, but with my Charter, I usually have 1 or 2 misses almost every time. |
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Post by Lee Martin on Jul 22, 2022 11:19:26 GMT -5
Herter Powermags used to get lumped into the "cheap" category. But there's nothing cheap about them, aside from their plastic grips. They were exceptionally tight and all of mine shoot well. Here's one of my .401 Powermags:  Back in the 2000's, I acquired five .401's, a .44, and a .357 Herters. Never paid more than $300 for any of them. So to that end, they were "inexpensive". -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time" |
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Post by bula on Jul 22, 2022 11:53:03 GMT -5
Appendix carry preferred, best for both hands access. At 63 and, arthritus in feet, wife GOOD cook, the gun has been slid around to 2 o'clock ! LIFE..
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Post by potatojudge on Jul 22, 2022 13:08:29 GMT -5
The 38 stacks because of the mainspring, but still not a bad trigger if you know to expect it.
The Pathfinder 22 has a nicer trigger, despite being a reliable J frame sized rimfire.
I've managed to avoid the walk of shame bringing a bag of parts to a gunsmith. Made it through some tricky revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and a Nylon 66 that will never be disassembled again!
The cylinder latch is interesting in another aspect- the portion that depresses the plunger on the cylinder axis is a screw, and is adjustable.
Otherwise, I thought this was a pretty straightforward job, though I didn't pull the hand or trigger/bolt/return spring because they were plenty clean and I've learned better lol.
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Post by needsmostuff on Jul 22, 2022 13:45:11 GMT -5
The 38 stacks because of the mainspring, but still not a bad trigger if you know to expect it. The Pathfinder 22 has a nicer trigger, despite being a reliable J frame sized rimfire. I've managed to avoid the walk of shame bringing a bag of parts to a gunsmith. Made it through some tricky revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and a Nylon 66 that will never be disassembled again! The cylinder latch is interesting in another aspect- the portion that depresses the plunger on the cylinder axis is a screw, and is adjustable. Otherwise, I thought this was a pretty straightforward job, though I didn't pull the hand or trigger/bolt/return spring because they were plenty clean and I've learned better lol. Couple of Charter Arms FYIs I've discovered,,,, That screw you describe into the latch does not bottom out tighten and MUST have some mild loctite on the threads or it can/will move. Factory manual says it should be replaced if removed but loctite works well. I keep a spare any way. On some guns you cannot tighten the screw that holds the latch on or it will bind the latch movement. If I have to remove/replace the screw on reassembly I leave out the bottom washer . That leaves room to bottom out tighten the screw that holds it on . Unless you absolutely have to never pull out the trigger/hand/ transfer bar assembly. NEVER, you've been warned. The inside part of the cylinder latch can contact the top of the transfer bar and create glitchyness. |
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Jul 22, 2022 16:27:41 GMT -5
...Unless you absolutely have to never pull out the trigger/hand/ transfer bar assembly. NEVER, you've been warned. The inside part of the cylinder latch can contact the top of the transfer bar and create glitchyness. LOL! THAT's exactly why more than a couple ol' boys made that "walk of shame" of which potatojudge speaks. NO shame in not getting one of those back together, but stubbornness saves the day.
It is a pain in the neck, but I've decided that if one of my big toes were opposable, I could do it without using a vise!
Otherwise, the cylinder-frame goes into a small vise, upside down, with a punch hung in the trigger pin hole on one side of the frame. You keep the pin right handy, on a piece of double-sided tape or magnet (NOT in your mouth - you carpenters out there), then squish the trigger return spring and bushing into the trigger and invert it. You sort of have to insert it down and from the back, to catch that little leg of the trigger return spring on the back wall of the cylinder frame as you push it downward and forward simultaneously. I use the squared end of an old toothbrush to do the forward pushing while using my thumb to do the downward pushing. THEN, when you take one hand off the trigger/bushing/spring combo to push the punch through, you let off the trigger just enough that the blasted little leg pops over and you have to start all over again. Maybe there's a trick to it, but it's something you don't want to have to do often.
Someone mentioned the cylinder release plunger being adjustable - with a tiny screwdriver; clock that screw such that the slot is horizontal and the cylinder pin will glide int it somewhat more nicely. Blue Loctite on that one, as well as the cylinder latch screw, as needmostuff said.
BEFORE pushing out ANY PINS from the cylinder frame, get a magnifying glass and look at both ends. One end will be splined and you don't want to drive that end all the way through everything or it won't go back in as tight as it was originally.
Couple years ago, I helped a fella get a Pathfinder back together, long-distance, via phone and PM (with pics), so I still have the pics.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Jul 22, 2022 16:34:03 GMT -5
Appendix carry preferred, best for both hands access. At 63 and, arthritus in feet, wife GOOD cook, the gun has been slid around to 2 o'clock ! LIFE.. So, what you're saying is that you're growing a new retention accessory for your "belly gun?" 
Check this out"
I was going to buy one of these last year, but the guy I had on the phone couldn't tell me which one would fit the 3" Mag Pug. He was willing to sell me one and kept trying to talk me into it, but had no idea which one I needed. I gave up and was going to try my luck calling another day, but forgot. Wish I hadn't. They were $49 when I was looking at them. That was only a year ago, or not much longer than that.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,730
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Post by jeffh on Jul 22, 2022 16:40:36 GMT -5
Herter Powermags used to get lumped into the "cheap" category. But there's nothing cheap about them,....
A sad irony.
I fell for it for a while, when I was younger, but after I got my first Charter, I started looking at any gun more closely. I knew guys who looked down their noses at anything that cost less than what they paid for what they had. I had a "cheap" Sears bolt-action in 308 people thought was a "cheap import." It was a genuine Husqvarna 51L, made in Sweden. Nicest Mauser bolt-action I've ever come across - what I consider the epitome of the design line.
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