[silverado113]

So the wife wants to carry now and in doing some internet searching she found the Charter Arms Undercover Lite .38 in purple but hey it will be her first gun. I'm not a fan of the color but was wondering if anyone has any experience with this model and whether or not it has been a good purchase?

[Overkill0084]

I have an older (late 80s) Undercover (non-lite). It's been fine. I don't know how recoil sensitive your wife is, but I'd see if the steel models would work for her. I find alloy framed .38s to be harsher than necessary. The steel ones aren't really that heavy. YMMV.

[silverado113]

Originally Posted by Overkill0084

I have an older (late 80s) Undercover (non-lite). It's been fine. I don't know how recoil sensitive your wife is, but I'd see if the steel models would work for her. I find alloy framed .38s to be harsher than necessary. The steel ones aren't really that heavy. YMMV.

She's very recoil sensitive. Thanks.

[chewchew]

This is an old undercover and a 44 Bulldog target and I have an off duty in my jeep that is almost the same size as the undercover.
I don't know why but they shoot better after a few beers. I love them...and the guns too.

[NickySantoro]

Originally Posted by silverado113

She's very recoil sensitive. Thanks.

The light snubbies don't do much to absorb recoil. You may want to investigate that situation before you commit to buy in light of the wife's recoil sensitivity.

[c3shooter]

As said, the ultra lites are gonna kick like the dickens- all other things being equal, lighter gun will recoil more. See about anything with Hogue or Pachmyr rubber grips- they do a great job of soaking up recoil, give you a better grip.

[hardluk1]

Unless your wife love abuse do not buy here anything ultra light. beside you spend the money but let her make the call as to what she wants to carry. Just try to give her the chance to shot as many is you can. I have a ultra light charter AND it is not a fun revoler to shoot hotter defence loads in and +P loads s*ck. Only pistol that is almost as rough to shoot is a KT pf-9. Try to let her shoot a few mid weight 38's or a bersa thunder or ppk in 380 or small 9mm at a indoor range as most have rentals there. Even a compact 9mm might be easier her her to control. My kahr cm9 is surely more controlable than a 13oz or lighter revolver no matter the brand name.

[silverado113]

We don't have rentals here unfortunately. She doesn't like the Bersa or the Walther but she saw the P290 and wants to go check that out now. So I'm hoping she'll stick to that instead of some of these "cute guns" (her words not mine). If she doesn't like the 290 we are going to check out the CM9 and the LC9. Can't complain though she's coming around to my way of thinking when it comes to carrying! Can't beat that.

[SARGE7402]

Remember you can always start her off shooting target loads (Wadcutters). they are usually a couple of hundred feet per second slower than defense loads. Let her work up to something stronger at her speed.

My wife who is all of 5'1" and 100 pounds has them in her charter arms undercover and there are a couple of snakes that won't make the same mistake of hissing at her again

[chewchew]

My wife has been carrying a S&W 37 in her car for about 35 years until I put it in my safe and gave her the 38 Charter to carry in her car. It's not something you would want to shoot everyday for target. The grips will blister your hands. Years ago when the S&W model 66 first came out, I got one to shoot targets with. After the first day I put some rubber grips on it. I was shooting 357's and it's rough on your hands. CCW carry...we all carry KelTec 380's. They are good guns and the price is right.