Charter Arms’ New Rimless Revolver
November 26th, 2008
Charter Arms announces the Charter Arms Rimless Revolver (CARR) a revolutionary new rimless revolver for popular semi-auto cartridges.
From the press release:
Available Calibers: Charter Arms will first offer the .40 S&W chambering, followed quickly by the .45ACP and 9×19 mm Parabellum (the 9mm Parabellum revolver will also chamber factory .380ACP). All three of Charter Arms’ Rimless Revolvers (9mm, .40 and .45) are rated for higher velocity +P loadings.
The advantage is now the average gun owner can own an affordable, trouble-free revolver chambered in these popular semi-auto rounds without the need for specialized ammunition clips and a specialized gun.
Back up and self-defense: For law enforcement work the always ready-to-fire, fiddle-factor-free revolver is the back up to have; especially if is the same caliber as the officer’s carry gun. As a primary self-defense carry gun, these three calibers mean reliable protection in popular semi-auto self defense-calibers.
If more power is needed, step up to +P ammo. The advantage with Charter Arms Rimless Revolvers is they will fire any mix of cartridges while maintaining 100% reliability. For plinking with .45ACP or 9mm surplus and discounted military type ammo, the affordable Charter Arms Rimless Revolver will prove to be very economical and it’s also a .380 revolver. Now that is fun!
The secret is the patent-pending Charter Arms Rimless Revolver Round System. Basically, when a round is loaded into the chamber a specialized spring engages the cartridge’s ejector groove. When the cylinder is opened and the ejector rod operated, it extracts and ejects the fired cases.
Models: Initially snubbarrels (2″ 9mm and 2.2″ .40 and .45ACP) as these revolvers are designed for self- defense and back up. The 9mm is built on Charter Arms’ compact and lightweight undercover platform featuring an aluminum frame and weighing only 12 ounces. The .40 and .45ACP built on the popular and robust Bulldog frame due to the larger diameter of these cartridges while maintaining a compact profile.
Availability: First quarter of 2009.
MSRP Prices: 9mm $399.00, .40 $449.00, .45ACP $449.00
That .40 looks pretty good to me. Particularly for carry. I expect that these will sell well to a wide range of shooters.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I’m hoping to see one of these at SHOT, because I will buy that .40 in a heartbeat.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Sounds great, might get one for my Son, in .45acp, he carries an XD-45 Tactical on duty and that would make a hell of a backup piece..
November 26th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
You can bet they’ll move heaven and earth to have at least one display model at SHOT.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I’d love to see Charter make some full-size revolvers. How about a six-shot .45 or 10mm with a 4″ or 5″ barrel and adjustable rear sight?
S&W briefly offered the M547, a 9x19mm K frame, with a similar setup. (I have an HKS speedloader for one.) The Medusa multi-caliber revolver also used a similar principle.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Just what the world needed. Another five-shot snubby revolver. And this one is designed to use cartridges for which vastly superior modern platforms (*cough* Walther PPS *cough* Star Firestar *cough*) are available, and to use them in a platform that leaks gas at the barrel-cylinder gap and only has 2″ of rifling, which I’m sure will bring the hottest 9mm and .40 loads down to feeble .38 snubby terminal ballistic performance.
Bleah. Color me unimpressed. If this is going to be the most interesting thing at the SHOT show, wake me up again in 2010.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:35 am
meh, other snubby revolvers chambered for 9mmP have pretty good ballistics, despite the barrel-cylinder gap. A revolver back-up is a pretty good idea if you’re carrying it in an ankle holster where it tends to get dirty.
Though I don’t think it’s likely you’ll ever get a chance to reload a snubby revolver in a gun fight, it’s convenient when all your guns use the same caliber.
In addition, if that new box of expensive high-tech defensive ammo just won’t feed in your pistol, you can still make use of it in your back-up revolver.
November 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
But after Obama saves us from the evils of semi-automatic firearms, having a revolver for all that now useless ammo might be nice.
November 27th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
they answered my request! a snub revolver that will hold .45AR or ACP. perfect!!!!!!!
i’ve got a Southpaw and if done to one of these guns, it would be better than perfect.
November 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
[...] Charter Arms’ New Rimless Revolver To be available in .40, .45, and 9mm. [...]
November 30th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
A 10mm that could also fire .40S&W would look even better to me. Then it could function as a mountain gun anywhere out of grizzly country, or in town if the going got really extreme.
November 30th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Over the years I had a couple .38s and a 44 special Charter Arms revolver. All were poorly made and went out of time incredibly quickly. Never again would I buy or even fire one of their products.
November 30th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
[...] post on Charter Arms’ New Rimless Revolver seems to have attracted a bit of attention from a wide range of sources. Opinions are varied, but [...]
December 1st, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I really hope this goes into production and isn’t just a gun seen at one shot show and then disappears, I would love a 45 ACP snubby.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:04 pm
i just wish it was someone other than Charter Arms. I know that some folks have owned CA revolvers for years, swear by them, et cetera; but the ones I’ve seen have always looked and felt cheaply made and not durable.
I’d LOVE a 3″ 5-shot 10mm as a CCW gun, but I’d be a little leery of putting a whole box of Blazer 10mm practice ammo through a Charco product.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
It appears the idea behind these guns is to go towards calibers that exist in larger numbers of production (not exotics). Also cylinder gap lowers velocity over an auto by about 20-30 FPS (no big deal–just ask anyone who has been stopped and killed by a “puny” 400fps muzzle ball). And the idea is for a smaller firearm that can be carried legally concealed. Those who wish for 6″ barrels in fat 6 to 8 round revolvers that fire 10mms, and other super velocity rounds simply do not understand what it appears Charter is trying to do here. Their guns are not finished shiney and pretty so I can beat the hell out of mine without sweating the pretty factor and I like their lifetime waranty–they work.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
If the extractor system is anything like the S&W 547 or the Medusa, speedloading will be slowed down by the fact that you’ll need to push each cartridge home in the cylinder. The spring-loaded extractor fingers dragged on the side of the cases, keeping them from dropping into place under their own weight. Of course, this presumes that anyone will actually make speedloaders for them.
FWIW: Users of the .40 S&W version could use Bianchi Speed Strips designed for the .38 Special/.357 Magnum. The rim diameters of the cartridges are nearly the same. .40 S&W will also fit in existing .38/.357 speedloaders, but I doubt the spacing of the cartridges in a J-Frame speedloader will be correct for the undoubtedly larger Charter cylinder.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
IF any one from Charter,is reading this, please a Southpaw version with a shrouded hammer like the S&W Bodyguard in .45 ACP. My S&W 625 is big.
Thanks,
Jim Granger
December 17th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
“Slow Rider Says:
November 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
But after Obama saves us from the evils of semi-automatic firearms, having a revolver for all that now useless ammo might be nice.”
What makes you think The One is going to overlook revolvers?
December 30th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Can one expect the same level of quality that Charter Arms has produced over the years? If so, count me out. I have been looking for and wanting a 40SW revolver for quite a while, I’ve even considered having one made, maybe a Bowen or the like, now that Charter Arms has decided to make these, maybe other companies with worthwhile track records will follow suit and make something of quality.
January 1st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
You cant please everyone.I think its a good idea , lets see if it pans out.Charter Arms is a good pistol for what its designed for, concealed backup.And the price is reasonable.Lets see what happens ,its peeked my interest.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 am
This pistol, if properly executed, will be a hot item and EXTREMELY difficult to obtain once released.
Personally, I’m a 9mm shooter and have been holding off on a revolver because of the high cost of the ammo. If this Charter wheelgun shows a decent level of quality, I’ll definitely be adding it to my collection! Why? Because 9mm is still cheap (Relatively speaking), I can train myself in the use of a revolver with ammo I already buy and reload for my semi-autos, and best of all, if someting goes wrong, I have a lifetime warranty backing me up.
Looks like Charter is playing hardball with these guns and I applaud them for thinking outside of the box!
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
[...] post with a picture of Charter Arms’ new Rimless Revolver continues to get a fair amount of [...]
January 7th, 2009 at 1:25 am
I was excited at first. Then I thought, “How would I reload this quickly?”
You can’t.
Oh, well.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:35 am
HiVelSword, I was thinking about that same thing and actually considered the best option to be a double stack magazine, like a Glock or similar. Simply thumb out and into place. That, too, seems silly but it’s the best idea I’ve had so far, in place of moon clips or similar.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:26 am
If these are accepted by the community in any real numbers, you could easily produce a speedloader to work with rimless cartridges. I hope they fly off the shelves enough for smith or ruger to start making them. I’d love one in 9 and 40!
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I e-mail Ruger asking if they are considering producing a .40 S&W gun. The response was that they did not have any future plans to produce such a gun. I too had hoped that a company like ruger produced this gun. I’d like to have it on a SP 101 frame with a 3″ barrel.
January 31st, 2009 at 10:38 am
I love revolvers but other than my .22 I’ve held off on buying one because I prefer 9mm ammo (price & convenience). I’ll be seriously considering one of these. A Southpaw model would be a dream come true.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I want to order the 9mm Parabellum revolver as soon as it is available. Will it be available in Blue and Stainless? Plese let me know when I can order.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Finally…a basic 24/7 belly gun in my favorite round, 9mm! It may not be a S&W, or a Colt…but I can afford to carry it now, as I work and live in the new “North American Union”. Innovative idea from a small American Company who still follows their own course, not what’s dictated by the “corporate nitwits”, like the other big American companies are now. While the rest of American arms companies sell out, outsource and cut corners, Charter soldiers on, keeping it simple, basic, affordable and very practical. This new piece indicates their desire to listen and respond to their customers, and fill a market need, while the big-boys ignore it because there’s not enough profit to be made. Charters aren’t for everyone, just us folk who work for a living and appreciate simple rugged designs, and practical affordability. My Pathfinder beats the Taurus 94 hands down, and my .38 undercover has tolerated THOUSANDS of +P rounds, and feels like an old friend. My next two will be the new 9mm, one for my son, and one for me as 24/7 pocket rockets.Can’t Wait!!! Angus
March 7th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Ammo costs for the 9mm is the big drawing card IMO. Otherwise the .38′s have that level of concealed carry covered nicely already in cheap and well made firearm.
IMO – the big one in the bunch is the .45 ACP. Ammo for the .45 is relatively cheap and available and reloading is easy also. But the main thing is a FULL .45″ caliber that can expand, even in reduced barrel length guns, to .85 or so. Hard to beat that big hole for self defense (assuming you get decent penetration as well).
A medium weight 5 shot .45 would be a welcome replacement for the place that has been held by the very fine Bulldog. The rub on the Bulldog has been the .44 spl. round. Great round for sure. But availability of ammo and ammo choices has made it mostly a reloader caliber. Also it’s .429 or some such measurement and not a full .44.
.45 caliber is the biggest and baddest hole you can drill with a managable handgun. 230 gr. bullets that expand well at the speeds we’ll see with this gun are now available.
I’m betting that many compact .45 auto guys would really like a revolver in this caliber for carry.
If it works out – .45 guys will be on this like white on rice.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I’m looking forward to the 9mm version of the CARR to come onto the market. This will be a nice addition to my collection. I’ve been in the market for a 9mm revolver to keep at the house for home defense for my wife when I’m not around. The CARR with a crimson trace grip will make a nice little shooter to keep in the gun safe. Heck I’ll probably be playing with it more then she will. Looks like fun.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:31 am
I’ve been looking for a defense weapon for my wife and I think I just found it. She’s afraid of recoil and I can’t convince her, despite the evidence, that small frames feel the recoil more than large frames (she won’t touch my S&W model 686 .357 – but it’s smooth as butter!) Anyway, a .22 mag seems like fun but no stopping power. I thought of a .327 magnum but I can’t find one, can’t find the ammo, and they say the recoil is still pretty stout when firing the .327 (rather than, say, a .32 S&W).
I think the CARR is the answer. I’ll get the 9mm and start off letting her get used to shooting .380s through it. Then she can try some 9mm. If that goes well, she’ll move up to 9mm +P. I hope I can buy one before you guys take them all!
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I want a .45acp now was going for a .357 mag.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I think the 5 shot .40 revolver is a terrific idea. Same ammo as my XD, tight mass for concealed carry. Half the price of a Smith and Wesson 646. Now, how about the same gun in .357 Sig? I know it’s redundant, but it sounds like fun.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Looking to purchase the 40 in 2.2″. I carry an XD 40. A 40S&W as a back up weapon will suit my needs just fine. The best of both worlds all at once.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:28 am
In response to “meh” Sep 26: it’s worth noting that even though the gas leak is unavoidable, energy is not siphoned off to function a self loading mechanism and when comparing semi-auto barrel length with wheelguns, the measurement for SA includes the headspace length whereas wheelguns are measured at the actual barrel. So these 2″ snubbies could effectively be similar to a semi-auto almost at 2.5″ depending on caliber. In the end it may be similar in ballistic performance, but what you get is unquestionable reliability, caliber ubiquity, and depending on your carry rig a different balance of the loaded ammunition’s weight (center of chassis rather than the frame). More carry options are never a bad thing and besides, if this innovation for extracting rimless carts turns out solid, it’s an excellent choice for carrying.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
A 45 ACP for me with a 3″ or 3.5″ barrel. Most fights are over in 2 or 3 shots and this pistol should be easy to carry. Great for fun out at the range not having to chase brass and fun to shoot. How about some lead heavy bullet rounds, 250 to 280 gr.? I’ll bet it would digest them with no problem …….
May 12th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
i would like to go in for a .40 on could u plz send in one piece to the below addres 329,4th c cross ,
” ambika”,3rd block,HRBR LAYOUT
” bangalore 560043, karnataka state, india
June 9th, 2009 at 3:00 am
i would like to try one .40 it sounds amazing and great fun
June 15th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I would love one in 45acp.When will they be on the shelves forsale?
November 27th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
10MM and .40S&W in one package is more attractive to me. Shoulda gone that route Charter.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:00 am
[...] get quite a few requests for info on the Rimless Revolver, but there’s been little info to be shared. Maybe there’ll be good news at the [...]
January 21st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
My wife and I both have 32 mags! We both love them and with perfect control of recoil. My 32 mag is verry smooth and reliable, would,t part with it for anything. If Charter arms can come up with a rimless 380, like my 32mag revolver 5 shot. I would sure buy it in a heart beat. Its nice to have a choise of different calbers rimless revolers too.
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March 27th, 2010 at 12:09 am
really nice gun i wont to be purchase so could u tell me what,s prise of thise gun
April 21st, 2010 at 11:41 am
I’d love to see Charter make some full-size revolvers. How about a six-shot .45 or 10mm with a 4″ or 5″ barrel and adjustable rear sight?