Charter Arms Pathfinder II .22LR Shrugs Off Cheap Ammo in Testing

A .22LR wheelgun that shrugs off cheap bulk ammo and still manages to be genuinely fun at the range is worth a second look for anyone building out a rimfire kit.

Snapshot

Writing for SurvivalBlog, Thomas Christianson tested the Charter Arms Pathfinder II, an eight-shot .22LR revolver with a stainless barrel and anodized aluminum frame. He ran it through trigger pull measurements and group testing with three different loads, and came away calling it reasonably accurate, reliable, and the most fun revolver he's shot.

Key points

• Specs and price: Eight-round .22LR revolver weighing 20 ounces unloaded, offered in black passivate, stainless, or OD green and black finishes, each with an MSRP of $510.61.
• Trigger performance: Christianson measured single-action pull averaging 2.67 pounds (crisp and smooth), while double-action averaged 11.51 pounds, which he found heavier than he'd like.
• Ammo sensitivity: Federal 38-grain copper-plated hollow points produced the tightest groups (as low as 0.22 inches), while MaxxTech's thick-rimmed rounds caused stiff cycling and ballooned double-action groups up to 5.53 inches.
• Reliability edge: Remington 36-grain hollow points that fed poorly in his semi-autos ran fine in the Pathfinder II, underscoring the revolver's tolerance for ammo quality issues.
• Fit notes: The compact rubber grip felt slightly small for his large hands, and he recommends testing multiple ammo types to find what a given gun shoots best.

Quick take

Christianson's testing suggests the Pathfinder II is a solid pick for shooters who want a rugged, affordable .22LR revolver that won't choke on inexpensive bulk ammo, with the caveat that the double-action trigger and grip size are worth handling in person before buying.

Read the full story: survivalblog.com