Charter’s compact, lightweight revolvers offer tremendous power-to-size ratios and, due to grip and overall design, they are very easy to draw, point and control. Many short-grip and compact autos (especially those in efficient stopping calibers) can, due to size and especially ergonomic configuration, be very difficult to draw, grasp and control in real world reactive life or death adrenaline-packed encounters where survival depends on draw speed, correct grip (purchase) and operational control.

We may tend to forget at the firing range without a real death threat we generally have and take the extra time to acquire a proper and firm grip with a compact effective-caliber semi-auto. But, in a confrontation where things happen in seconds we don’t have that luxury, thus making the lightweight compact revolver well-suited for the average citizen who wants effective protection and for the professional in need of a solid, effective primary and totally reliable back-up firearm.

Many licensed concealed-carry people may start with good intentions to carry daily, but the enthusiasm wanes quickly if their self-defense firearm is wrong for them:  Too wide of a cylinder or too thick of a slide, too heavy, too big, too long or uncomfortable--they will eventually stop carrying it. All the Charter Arms’ revolvers are incredibly well suited for self-defense concealed carry and boast the industries’ lightest weights and most-compact designs with efficient stopping power.

Most shooters, particularly gun experts/writers do NOT buy a short-barreled compact revolver to take to the range and plink, hunt or shoot targets with. Yet many writers will talk about so-called excessive recoil, short sight radiuses, triggers, etc. as though the previously mentioned shooting activities are why the shooter bought the firearm in the first place.  In our interviews with consumers at the 2007 NRA Convention we confirmed that these elements are not a concern because of the reasons previously stated.

While Charter Arms revolvers (and other brands) are built to survive firing many thousands of rounds of ammunition over a lifetime, let’s face it:  Very few people will ever put more than 1,000 rounds (twenty 50-round boxes) through their handgun. So talking about revolvers or most any handgun as if it will become the person’s next lifetime 10,000-round plinker is really not realistic-interesting maybe-but not realistic. Few of us (excepting competitors) have actually fired even 5,000 rounds of major caliber ammunition through the same handgun.

Accuracy testing:  Many folks talk of conducting handgun accuracy tests at 25 and even 50 yards. Actually, testing short-barreled revolvers at ranges over 10 yards is sort of like testing an over-the-counter hunting rifle at the 1,000-yard line at Camp Perry.  Ninety percent of big-game kills are made at ranges under 200 yards which is why most writers (who know their audience and their readers’ abilities) test rifles at 100-200 yards—it’s a realistic test distance.

Yet, some of the same writers will test short barrel self-defense handguns at 25 yards (a recognized NRA competition distance) when the intended and real use is at ranges typically (according to FBI data, too) under 5 yards.  The reality is that the bad guy wants you and/or your money and to get you and that money they must get much closer. When inserting bullet holes into an attacker at longer ranges, the shooter had better be able to prove that that the attacker was able, capable (had the weapon reach), the willingness and, demonstrated through his actions, was actively trying to cause and could cause great bodily harm at that longer distance. If not, the defender will get to see first-hand how our criminal and civil court cases work concerning their long range shooting skills.