Charter Arms Pathfinder II: Reliable, Fun, but Heavy DA Trigger
Charter Arms sent writer Thomas Christianson a sample of its new Pathfinder II .22LR revolver, and after a three-month delay just getting it home from the gun store, he put it through a full range and cleaning evaluation for SurvivalBlog.
Snapshot
The Pathfinder II is an eight-shot, stainless-and-aluminum .22LR revolver weighing 20 ounces, available in three finishes with an MSRP of $510.61. Christianson reports it fed cheap bulk ammo without complaint, grouped reasonably well, and ranks as the most enjoyable revolver he's shot, despite a double-action trigger he found heavier than he'd like.
Key points
- Reliability: The revolver ran fine on inexpensive bulk .22LR that Christianson says gives many semi-autos trouble, including Remington ammo that had fed poorly in his pistols.
- Trigger measurements: Using a digital gauge, he measured single-action pulls averaging 2.67 pounds and double-action pulls averaging 11.51 pounds, with the single-action break described as especially crisp.
- Accuracy: Three-shot groups at 15 yards from rest averaged between roughly 1.18 and 1.99 inches depending on the ammo, with Federal 38-grain hollow points producing the tightest single group at 0.22 inches.
- Ammo sensitivity: Thick-rimmed MaxxTech rounds caused stiff cocking and an especially heavy double-action pull, a quirk he attributes to the ammo rather than the gun.
- Handling: At 20 ounces, Charter Arms markets the Pathfinder II as easy to carry, though Christianson found the compact rubber grip a bit small for his large hands.
Quick take
Christianson's verdict is straightforward: the Pathfinder II is light, durable, and genuinely fun to shoot, with a single-action trigger he calls a delight. His main gripe is the heavier double-action pull, and he suggests buyers test a range of .22LR loads to find what the gun prefers before stocking up.
Read the full story: survivalblog.com