Charter Arms

[chrisb]

I'm in the market for a carry gun for my wife. she saw and liked the Charter Arms "Lavender Lady" which is a snobby 38 spcl with a purple frame. I've seen there guns on Gunbroker and at shows are pretty reasonable prices, but I know the you get what you pay for school of thought as well. Anybody own one? Have experience with one? Seeing as how my wife will be carrying this around for protection it's important to me that the gun is of high quality. Anything else you can recommend that won't break the bank?

[littlebuf]

go with a S&W 686. it will cost more but if its for carry then your assuming at some point your wife's life will depend on it. whats that worth to you?

[littlebuf]

i think 686 is the wrong model number, i think thats the big one. the one im talking about is the little 38 J frame

[littlebuf]

this one

[chrisb]

So other than the name recognition that adds to the price what makes a S&W so expensive? There are others made in the USA that don't cost as much and there are even semi auto's that don't command that price. having never owned one I don't really know much about S&W's so i'm just not sure why they cost what they do compared to other makes.

[littlebuf]

well the one pictured you is a little spendy because of the crimson trace grips. nice feature but not necessary.other than that like you said you get what you pay for. the J frame is a proven pistol. it will go bang when you pull the trigger.

[MtnMuley]

Never heard anything positive about those airweights.   I do know that they have more recoil than a standard frame.....and for a lady???

[chrisb]

The Charter Arms she liked is like $350ish and i even saw a Taurus for like $450. So why is the Smith $700 even without the crimson trace grips?

[littlebuf]

Never heard anything positive about those airweights.   I do know that they have more recoil than a standard frame.....and for a lady???

recoil doesnt mean much when your defending your self. and most ladies dont want to lug around a heavy gun just because it will cut down on the recoil the few times she will probably shoot it at the range.

[high country]

I have a set of those grips for a round frame if anyone is on the hunt for em'......too painful with my 329pd.......oh, and go smith.

[littlebuf]

check fit finish and weight of those pistols side by side. the smith will win hands down. it rings very true with women that if its a chore to carry around it probably wont be carried on a regular basis. there not into the macho thing like us. these air weights are easy to carry

[high country]

I had a taraus 450ti which is their lightest pistol in 45lc+p.....it took the recoil of that beast very well, but the lock up was pretty sloppy compared to my smiths. I sold the 450ti and bought a 329pd which is night and day better finish and lock up. ask around and you will hear that smiths warranty dept is fast and free. send them a gun that is wore through the blue or has a bum sight and you will likely have a new looking piece in a few weeks.......now ask about charter or taraus' turn time....not that fixing a hiccup should be the deciding factor.

the airweights are pretty rough on the recoil no doubt, but if you load them right with light bullets they are gravy to practice with.....add some snort to your cary loads and you will have agun thatis a pleasure to carry and packs a walop

[littlebuf]

charter and Taurus make good revolvers, i wouldn't count on them for a carry piece until i had shot them allot. the smith i would shoot to make sure there are no factory defects, carry and shoot as i normally do for practice.

[MtnMuley]

recoil doesnt mean much when your defending your self. and most ladies dont want to lug around a heavy gun just because it will cut down on the recoil the few times she will probably shoot it at the range.
[/quote]   If that's case you might as well go with the biggest caliber airweight their is.

[littlebuf]

recoil doesnt mean much when your defending your self. and most ladies dont want to lug around a heavy gun just because it will cut down on the recoil the few times she will probably shoot it at the range.

  If that's case you might as well go with the biggest caliber airweight their is.
[/quote]

agreed i would carry the 357, but thats a lot more expensive