Connecticut-based Charter Arms has something really useful and different: a line of revolvers chambered in semi-auto calibers. They call the revolver the Pitbull. We recently gave a workout to one chambered in 45 ACP.
Simple, but radical, redesign
The Pitbull looks like any other single/double action revolver at first glance. The Pitbull is available in three calibers — 9mm, 40, and 45 ACP. It comes in two finishes, brushed stainless and black nitride. The grips are rubberized, black, and feature a subtle company logo. The 2.5-inch barrel is stamped with the usual company, model, and caliber data. There’s also a little pitbull head, which is more subtle than it sounds. In .45, the gun weighs 22 ounces.
Open the cylinder, and things aren’t so vanilla. The extractor is, by design, a sort of collar with retractable spikes. Spring-loaded clips on the center of each arc protrude ever so slightly. These tiny clips retract on loading, then spring back into place just enough to secure rimless cartridges in place. Its simplicity left me wondering what took someone so long to think of this.
