Author Topic: Charter Pathfinder 22 (Read 3859 times)

Crow Juice · « **on:** February 08, 2010, 11:52:05 AM »

Bought a stainless one about 2 years ago with the 4" barrel and adjustable sights in 22 LR (good lookin gun). This is a very serviceable very lite 22 trail gun . Single action pull is good ,DA pull is heavy . Workmanship is good and it is minute of squarrel at 25 yards . Anybody looking for a good DA kit gun should look at the Charter . I also have a Single Six, Taurus 941 22mag , amd Browning Challenger II .The Charter is my main 4 wheeler gun .Seems to like most bulk ammo from Walmart with the Fed 36HP's being the best. Something different if you hadn't considered one !

Rangr44 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2010, 04:56:11 PM »

I bought a 4" Pathfinder .22 mag about almost two years ago, had warranty issues with it (hard extraction), and CA's prexy replaced it with a prototype of the now catalogued Dual Cylinder Model in Sept of 2008.

The replacement has a special serial number, and has been operating perfectly since I got it.

The .22 mag Taurus 941, however, started spitting back at me when fired, after about 200 rounds, so I returned it to the selling dealer in exchange for another firearm, ILO dealing with returning it to Taurus under warrany also.

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Dand · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2010, 11:32:00 AM »

I have been sniffing around the Charter website and wondering about their 22LR and 22 mags. I'd love to hear what other folks are experiencing. They look real tempting to me, especially after pricing the K22/17,617 and 63's online. Thanks My use would be a knock around, small game and plinking gun that I might share with my boys as they get older.

Brett · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2010, 03:49:59 AM »

I think they are a good value as a knock around, small game, plinker and would suit these purposes well. Hewever, don't even try to compare them to the K22, you will be greatly disappointed.

As a side CA's customer service is top notch in my experience. I bought a used .38 snubby that I thought the cylinder to crane fit was a little sloppier than it should have been. I called CA and they said that their lifetime warrentee follows the gun and to send it in for a look see. Not only did they replace the crane, fixing the problem, with out charge but they also picked up the shipping cost in both directions.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2010, 04:29:02 AM »

Brett-

Funny you mentioned that. I bought one back in the late 70's / early 80's as a trail gun. Looked good on paper, but it was never that accurate, and the trigger pull was pretty poor. I bought a K-22 with a set of custom grips, and never looked back. Then again, a big difference in price. I use a Ruger Bearcat and a Walther P-22 in the kit gun role now, tholugh I still use the K when I am going to holster carry.

Larry

44 Man · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2010, 11:41:25 AM »

I had a nice little 3" Charter .22 for many years and enjoy it much. It was as good a shooter as any single six I have shot. I believe that Wolff springs make a replacement mainspring that will lighten the double action. I know I put some into the center fire Charters, but I can't remember if I had put on into the rimfire, but I believe I did. Charters are good, servicable guns that don't get the respect that should. Enjoy. 44 Man

petepaaz · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2010, 09:07:54 PM »

I bought a 4" .22LR Pathfinder a couple of years ago and it was very inaccurate with all brands of ammo I tried; plus had difficult extraction. I traded it off ASAP......am still looking for an accurate and reliable trail gun.

dogngun · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2010, 07:58:11 AM »

I have an early 1950's High Standard Sentinel, 9 shot .22 revolver. Great woods gun and hunting companion, 4" fixed sights and alloy frame - very light. Pretty good all around revolver, and can use the HKS speedloaders designed for the H&R/NEF .22's.
I have been thinking about Charters but in the .357 magnum Pug version.

mark

Rangr44 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2010, 01:45:02 PM »

I grieved & grieved (for about 20 seconds), then decided to spend the princely sum of $150 for an earlier/70's, blued Charter .22 Mag Pathfinder to keep my new Dual-Cylinder Targer Pathfinder company.

I like the shorter 3" bbl, and it's proven sufficiently "trail accurate" - enough to accompany me deer hunting as a "coup de gras" sidearm.

I'd like to find another set of grips like these, to replace the issue rubber bumpers on my newer CA.

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Crow Juice · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2010, 12:48:54 PM »

Well guys I have put a lot of shells through the old Pathfinder since February and I like it better and better .I have probably shot somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 rounds with no problems . Getting about 1 1/2 inch group at 20 yards off the bench .I really haven't shot off sand bags but have been using my shooting box as a rest. I would say the overall light weight and handling of this gun makes it a great trail gun. I wish it held 9 shots but for the occational "running gun battle with a gray squirrel " six shots is fine. There must be more of you guys that have a Charter how about your thoughts .My bigest complaint is it is difficult to see the front sight in dim light . I will have mine painted orange soon.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2010, 02:07:57 PM »

Many years ago, I bought a BRIGHT SIGHTS paint kit, that has several little different colors of sight paint.

I painted the front sight of my stainless Pathfinder orange, and the rear with a white outline, about 15mins after I took it out of the box - I only hadda look down the barrel once, to see that the sight became lost, since they're the same color as the barrel/ramp/etc.

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blaze · « **Reply #11 on:** June 30, 2010, 09:22:24 AM »

I had a Pathfinder 22RF with 6" barrel(1980's model). Very accurate (field use) and very reliable. Also have/had their Undercover 38's and again accurate and reliable (again older models). I particularily like their sights and the bulldog grips (actually I prefer them to my S&W model 60 sights and grips). I always feel a little bad carrying one of my S&W's valued $500 to $900 as a knockabout trail gun in all kinds of weather. BTW Ranger 44 I may have an extra pair of Bulldog grips for your Charter. PM me.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2010, 10:07:49 AM »

[BTW Ranger 44 I may have an extra pair of Bulldog grips for your Charter. PM me.]

Great ! I'm interested - Thank you, and please check your PM's.

.

eastbank · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2010, 05:11:48 PM »

i bought this early charter .22 mag 6 inch barrel for a light trail gun and i am pleased. eastbank.

chefjeff · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2010, 04:00:21 AM »

I have one of these and like it pretty good for $200 in 4" SS with nice holster. Its not as slick or accurate as my similar gun 651 S&W, I gave $317 for it new back in the day.

Old Griz · « **Reply #15 on:** January 10, 2011, 07:49:58 PM »

Orange fingernail polish. I like it better than the red. Works wonders on a front sight.

I was really sold on getting a Bulldog .44 Special. But, when I laid eyes on that S&W 24-3 with the 3" barrel . . . oh, my.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 14, 2011, 01:07:21 PM »

About 20yrs. ago I had a pair of the .44 bulldogs, one for each pocket and never knew they were there, and they were solid, reliable revolvers, but factory .44Spl duplicates were too stout for me. I made lighter loads with the Ly 429215(?), sans the GC, bullet and they shot pretty close to the point of aim without pain.
Should have kept them too.......

just-an-illusion · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2011, 03:02:35 AM »

Anybody having issues with the Pathfinder 22 mag shooting way high? I bought one NIB and from 10 to 25 yds its almost off of the paper (standard 25 yd pistol target). It shoots POA at 5-10 ft. Rear sight is adjusted down as far as it will go. I was hoping to send it back to Charter for a 22lr cylinder to be fitted, but if this is going to be the way it prints why waste the money. Any suggestions? Thanks

44 Man · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2011, 03:48:07 AM »

Are you shooting the newer 'faster' loads or the traditional 40 gr load? The new stuff will print lower. But it's still way too high, if it's not 'operator error' then someone got too short a front sight on it. If it's a new model, I'd talk to Charter and give them a chance to make it right for you. 44 Man

Rangr44 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:32:56 AM »

I'd paint the sights - a daub of orange up front and a trace of white around the rear notch - because I'd be willing to bet (especially if you have a stainless model with sights the same color as the barrel) that the front sight is hard to see, and you're unconsiously raising the front until the front sight can be seen.

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