Charter Arms is a Connecticut-based manufacturer of revolvers known for excellent customer service and designs that are traditional in construction but often offer unique options. For example, they’re the only gun maker I know of that makes a left-handed revolver. Another one of their novel designs features multi-caliber chambering in the same frame. With interest, I got my hands on a Charter Arms Mag Pug combo to see what it can do and I’ll share the results in this review.
What is the Mag Pug Combo?
The Mag Pug Combo, is a 38 Special/357 Magnum/9mm Luger, five-shot revolver. It is the first entrant in what will be a series of multi-caliber revolvers called Double Dog. There are surely some fans of Man’s Best Friend within the Ecker family, proprietors of Charter Arms, as many of their guns are named with dogs in mind.
How Does It Handle Multiple Calibers?
Multi-caliber capability is accomplished via interchangeable cylinders. The Mag Pug Combo ships with the 38/357 cylinder installed, and the 9mm cylinder in a velvet drawstring bag inside a hard shell case. Turning the yoke screw is all it takes to change out the cylinder. In the process, it’s necessary to mind the presence and placement of a tiny (0.25-inch diameter at most), translucent silicon washer that helps seal the insertion point. It’s an easy process but as we found out on a typical windy desert afternoon when one disappeared, not a foolproof one! Thankfully Charter Arms had supplied extras, but handling them in any sort of wind or any place where it would be easy for a tiny object to blend in with surfaces below is not recommended.
Our Revolver Review Model
The copy of the Mag Pug Combo in this review has a 2.2-inch barrel and passivate finish. I recommend looking up passivation if you’re curious about it; prepare for reading about chemistry. The Cliff’s Notes version would say “naturally corrosion-resistant.” It sports attractive checkered walnut grips. There are two other variants: 1) another 2.2-inch model in satin stainless finish with synthetic grips and 2) a 4.2-inch barrel/stainless model with Charter Arms’ rustic Backpacker walnut grips.
Charter Arms is no stranger to manufacturing revolvers for cartridges without an extended rim. For years, my partner has enjoyed their Bulldog five-shot wheelgun chambered in 45 ACP. It’s earned our respect, performing well in the hands of dozens of students over the years. Charter Arms has a patent on their cylinder design, which integrates a somewhat flexible metal brace around the rear of each chamber, eliminating the need for pesky moon clips. Loading t cartridges was easy, with just a little twist needed at times to fully seat a round.
Mag Pug Combo Field Testing
In this test, we ran a variety of all three calibers through the Mag Pug, with emphasis on +P rounds. Predictably, there was less felt recoil with 9mm, and substantial recoil with 357 Magnum. It cycled without fail when using 38/357. On a couple instances, I had to settle the cylinder into battery when using 9mm. Hornady Critical Defense FTX 110 grain +P was the only load to yield groups smaller than fist-size, turning in tidy five-shot sets measuring at or slightly less than three inches from five yards. Shots were fired from an unsupported, standing position. As expected, recoil is significant with 357 Magnum . I ran one cylinder of it through the gun to confirm function, and reverted to smaller 38 Special as a concession to old wrist injuries.
The Mag Pug Combo has a place with anyone who wants a backup gun to their 9mm carry gun in the event the semi isn’t available. It also makes a fun novelty tool for the range, offering the chance to practice with less expensive 9mm rounds instead of revolver ammo. Weighing in at just 23 ounces, it’s a perfectly good gun for personal defense in its revolver chamberings. Market price for the smaller Double Dog/Mag Pug Combo as seen in this article is in the $500 ballpark. Availability is good. Though Charter Arms is a relatively small producer, they seem to have distribution well in place. It will be interesting to see the next caliber combination in the Devil Dog series. Would you use a Mag Pug Combo? If so, what’s the primary purpose it would serve for you?
Hopefully their quality has improved over the years. I have seen too many not up to par. I do have one of their first issue revolvers and am impressed but it was a model years ago.
Very interesting and well done article….new is always good, maybe not better, but forward thinking is the driving force of progress…..As a wheel gunner….It would save me from having to carry a 380 or 9MM and several magazines of defensive ammo around on some carry days!
One of the things I would love to see Charter do, is to develop one of their beefier 44’s into what John Taffin and Duke Ventorino and other gun notables that have been asking for since the the 41 Mag came out…..WE NEED a light Charter 41 Special conceal carry! Some 41 mag owners are having some 357 Rugers customed into Devil Dog Packable .41 Special, and a lot more like this old Devil Dog USMC Vet are waiting until a dedicated gun is made and sold! I believe there is a market for the 41 shooting lighter loads, as a 41 Special would be a hit……We have 38 Special and 44 Specials, we need Charter t make a 41 Special!!!!!