Probs with a Charter .38

[wrenchhead97]

Wife has a Charter Arms Undercover that occasionally will not turn the cylinder on cocking or DA trigger pull. Disassembled and thoroughly cleaned. Did not see any obvious damage/wear. Gun has about 750 rounds through it. Any ideas aside from sending it back to Charter? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wheelgunner]

What kind of ammo are you using when it happens? Never seen it myself, but I understand that a round with a high primer can cause that problem.

Also, did you try pulling the trigger on empty chambers before you cleaned it? If there was heavy buildup on the cylinder face (where the cylinder meets the forcing cone), that might also explain your problem - and would explain why your problem did not continue after a good cleaning. The whole dirty cylinder face causing a revolver not to function generally only arises where a wheel gun's cylinder gap is really tight. Might be worth measuring yours to see if it's within manufacturer's specs.

ETA - On some makes of revolvers, the ejection rod screws into its place in the center of the cylinder. Over time, recoil can gradually cause the rod to unscrew itself just enough to push its tip against the frame of the gun. When that happens, it results in the cylinder refusing to spin. The ammo you use, the cylinder gap, and the ejector rod are the three things I'd check before sending it back. Edited August 4, 2014 by Wheelgunner

[wrenchhead97]

The cylinder spins freely, problem happens empty or loaded, happens on random chambers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Clod Stomper]

Just to clarify...  when the cylinder won't turn, do the trigger and/or hammer move rearward?  Or is everything locked up?

[bigun]

Check the things Wheelgunner stated. Also do you know when it was made? Charter was sold in the 80's and for about 10 years their product was not up to par from what I have read. It was bought back by the original owners and they now produce good guns again. I have carried one for over 40 years with no problems and I cannot count high enough to know how many rounds it has fired.

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[wrenchhead97]

The cylinder turns freely and the hammer/trigger move freely. No binding, it just does not index to the next round sometimes. Pistol is mid 2k manufacture. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bigun]

As I am not a gunsmith and you have checked everything out I would send it to Charter or find a local gunsmith. Check their web page as to warranty.

Edited August 4, 2014 by bigun

[Patton]

The good news is that they are very accommodating with warranty claims.

[wrenchhead97]

That's kinda what I was thinking. Thanks guys. I'll contact charter on my lunch break. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest kingarmory]

Newer Charters have frequent problems with the cylinder hand and timing, the older ones didn't.  Send it back to Charter and let them fix it