[tatters]

Ok... here I go agonizing over a gun purchase. You all know I have a terrible time parting with $200 or more on a gun. But here's my question.

I have a chance to buy a Charter 2000 .38 Undercover in blue for about 230.00.

I also have the possibility of buying a
Taurus 85 stainless .38 for about 260.00. Both have lifetime warranties, both are local, both have good and bad stories to report.

Both feel good in the hand.

What to do??????????

[HiPower]

This is so obvious that it distresses me to have to say it, but....

Buy both!!

:D

[jsr5]

Well special accesories like grips and speed loaders may not be as easy to find yet for hte charter (don't realy know). And I don't know how their customer service is if if you have a problem.

On the other hand should you have a problem I feelsure that Taurus customer dis-service will keep you without your purchase long enough for the money to have been put in the bank and grew to enough to buy 2 guns.

Pee on Taurus try the Charter out.

[jim]

Take the $250.00 and buy and OLD S&W. It will be the best choice you'll every make.

[gumshoe4]

Jim got it right.

Look for a nicely cared-for 2" Model 10.

Bob

[Paatch]

If it were me, I would go with the Taurus.

I've owned 2 of them, a Model 85 I sold to generate cash for another purchase & a PT940 I still own.

The Model 85 did have problems when I bought it, 1 I should have seen in the store & 1 I couldn't have. The barrel was turned in too far (machined wrong?) & the front sight was canted so it shot way off point of aim (I should have seen this one). Also, the hammer was light - striking with a DA pull (couldn't have seen that). I sent it back to Taurus, it was fixed & operated flawlessly after that. In fact, I sold it to my boss who still has it to this day.

The PT940 was bought in support of Taurus not caving into HUD as S&W did. I have almost sold it a couple of times to fund other purchases, but I can't bear to part with it. Very accurate, easy to shoot, light weight (alloy framed), & functions with anything I have fed it so far. The gun plain works, & even though I don't have a "role" for it I just like it.

I've never owned a Charter so I can't comment. I can tell you that my S&W 686-1 (1989 vintage) had to go back to the factory for warranty repair, as did my Ruger MK II pistol. So my experiance with Tarus was not really different than that with the 2 big USA manufacturers.

I'd recommend the Taurus.

[tatters]

I e-mailed the gunshop with the Taurus. I think I'll go that way. Picking it up Friday A few reasons. 1) I think it is a good deal being stainless (Charter is blued) and will trade better if I need sometime. 2) I did business with this guy before and he did good by me then. He's getting out of retail and getting into custom guns more. 3) Charter has been open, then re-named twice. Kinda scary.
4) The Charter deal was through a Davidson's dealer which is not a bad thing, just I have no need for the warranty( Taurus has one)and I have access to UPS at my place of business, and usually can ship cheaper or at no charge. With Davidsons, if you use their service, you still gotta pay the freight to get repairs or replacement.
5) Also with the Charter deal, I was getting hit with a freight charge. The Taurus is in stock.
6)I asked my best friend, and he said go with the Taurus.

Well once again, I have drawn out a simple operation and made it a dilemma. Thanks for the input.