Charter Arms Pathfinder Review (2026): 800 Rounds, Every Model and the Cheapest One

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Table of Contents

Review: Charter Arms Pathfinder, Eight Shots of .22 in a Pocket Frame

Our Rating: 7.5/10

• Charter Price: $437.28 for the 2 in. Pathfinder in .22 LR (72224) on Charter’s site
• Street Price: $396.99 for the 72224 at Palmetto State Armory on September 27, 2026 (Use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
• Calibers: .22 LR or .22 Magnum (.22 WMR)
• Action: Double action and single action revolver, exposed spur hammer
• Capacity: 8 rounds, per Charter (see the .22 Magnum note below)
• Barrel Length: 2 in., 3.5 in. (Pathfinder II) or 4.2 in. (Target Pathfinder)
• Overall Length: 6.25 in. (2 in.), 7.45 in. (3.5 in.), 8.45 in. (4.2 in.)
• Height: 4.25 in.
• Weight: 16 oz (Pathfinder Lite) to 25 oz (Target Pathfinder with red dot)
• Frame: Small frame, 7075 aluminum, anodized
• Sights: Fixed on the 2 in. guns; LitePipe front and adjustable rear on the Target Pathfinder
• Grip: Rubber finger-groove, or checkered rosewood on some Target models

Quick Take

The Charter Arms Pathfinder is Charter’s small-frame rimfire revolver. It’s the same size as Charter’s Undercover Lite .38, but it’s chambered for .22 LR or .22 Magnum, and Charter lists every model at eight shots. Charter calls it a trail gun and a plinker, and says it’s built on a 7075 aluminum frame.

We shot two: the 2 in. Pathfinder in .22 LR (72224) and the 4.2 in. Target Pathfinder (72242). They ran 800 rounds between them. The only stoppage was a dud cartridge, and it fired when it came around again.

The best buy surprised us. The cheapest Pathfinder at Palmetto State Armory was the black 4.2 in. Target Pathfinder Lite (12242) at $329.99. It has the longest barrel and the adjustable sights, and it cost $67 less than the plain 2 in. gun at PSA. Cast wider than our trusted sellers and the Pathfinder card below starts at $339.76 for a 2 in. .22 Magnum.

Best For: New shooters, hikers and anyone who wants a cheap-to-feed revolver for practice. Not for buyers who want a light trigger out of the box or a precision target gun.

Design Intent: A .38 Frame Loaded With .22

Charter builds the Pathfinder on its small frame, and Charter’s pages give it the same 6.25 in. length and 4.25 in. height as the 2 in. Undercover Lite .38. The point is a practice gun that handles like a carry revolver but costs a fraction as much to shoot. Charter puts it plainly: a lightweight, economical rimfire that can help improve your shooting without expensive ammunition.

Charter’s product photo for the .22 Magnum 72324 shows the right side of the barrel stamped CHARTER ARMS, SHELTON, CT and MADE IN USA. Every Pathfinder we could find on Charter’s site lists an aluminum frame. The silver “clear anodized” guns are aluminum with stainless steel parts, not stainless frames.

One weight detail Charter doesn’t explain. It lists the 2 in. Pathfinder at 20 oz and the 2 in. Pathfinder Lite at 16 oz, with the same barrel length and frame size. If weight matters, check the model number before you buy.

The .22 Magnum Capacity Question

Charter lists every Pathfinder as an 8 shot revolver, including the .22 Magnum models like the 72324 and the Target Pathfinder 72342. Some retailers don’t agree. Sportsman’s Warehouse lists its 2 in. and 4.2 in. .22 WMR Pathfinders as 6 rounds, while listing its Pathfinder Lite .22 WMR as 8.

We tested .22 LR guns, where Charter and the retailers agree on eight. If you’re buying a .22 Magnum Pathfinder, count the chambers in the retailer’s photos, or ask the seller, before you pay.

Charter Arms Pathfinder Variants

Charter’s site lists four Pathfinder lines plus color models. These are Charter’s own prices, which show as sale prices on some pages. Charter doesn’t sell direct, so you buy from a dealer.

Here’s the part the listings hide. The black Target Pathfinder Lite (12242) was $329.99 at PSA. The silver Target Pathfinder (72242) was $416.99, and the plain 2 in. Pathfinder (72224) was $396.99. The longest, best-sighted .22 LR Pathfinder cost the least on the day we checked. Charter lists the black 12242 at 21 oz against 23 oz for the silver 72242.

Charter’s own numbers can run below the street, too. Its site shows the silver Target Pathfinder at a $399.99 sale price, but PSA had it at $416.99. Charter’s Walker is a separate model with a concealed hammer; our Charter Arms Walker page covers it.

Competitor Comparison

Eight-shot .22 revolvers run from under $400 to nearly double that. Here’s the Pathfinder against three guns people cross-shop it with.

Taurus 942 ($335.11 to $368.99)

The 942 is the Pathfinder’s closest rival. PSA had the 3 in. .22 LR at $368.99, and retailers list it at eight rounds. It’s about $28 less than the 2 in. Pathfinder, but $39 more than the Target Pathfinder Lite. Our Taurus 942 review has the full test.

Smith & Wesson 317 Kit Gun ($772.27 to $777.99)

The 317 is the premium eight-shot .22 on a J-frame. Retailers list it with a 3 in. barrel and a HiViz front sight, and it cost $777.99 at Guns.com. That’s more than twice the Target Pathfinder Lite. You pay for Smith & Wesson’s name and finish.

Ruger Wrangler (from $164.99)

The Wrangler is a single-action .22 LR that retailers list at six rounds. At about half the price of a Pathfinder, it’s the cheapest way into a .22 revolver. It’s slower to load and fire, and it’s much bigger. Our Ruger Wrangler review covers it.

Verdict: The Pathfinder sits between the Taurus 942 and the Smith & Wesson on price, and the Target Pathfinder Lite undercuts the Taurus. For more choices, see our best .22 revolvers.

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Testing Protocol

We tested a 2 in. Pathfinder (72224) and a 4.2 in. Target Pathfinder (72242), both in .22 LR. We shot them over five sessions in September, from 61 to 86 degrees. The 2 in. gun was shot at 7 and 10 yards, and the Target at 10 and 25 yards.

Ammunition Log

• CCI Mini-Mag 40 gr round nose: 200 rounds (100 per gun)
• Federal AutoMatch 40 gr lead round nose: 200 rounds (100 per gun)
• CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr: 150 rounds (75 per gun)
• Aguila Super Extra 40 gr: 150 rounds (75 per gun)
• CCI Stinger 32 gr: 100 rounds (50 per gun)

That’s 400 rounds through each revolver, 800 in total.

Phase 1: Break-In

We started both guns on CCI Mini-Mag and cleaned the chambers after the first 100. The double-action pulls were heavy and a little stacky at first, and they smoothed out without getting lighter. The cylinder latch on the 2 in. gun was stiff for the first few boxes.

Phase 2: Reliability

Across 800 rounds we had one failure to fire. It was a Federal AutoMatch round at round 212 in the 2 in. gun, with a good firing pin mark. It fired when the cylinder came around to it again, so we call it an ammo dud, which is normal for bulk .22.

The only other thing we noticed was extraction with CCI Stingers. After about 40 rounds of them, the fired cases needed a firm push on the ejector rod. A chamber brush fixed it. The standard-velocity and 40 gr loads ejected cleanly all day.

Phase 3: Accuracy

From a rest in single action, the Target Pathfinder shot five-shot groups at 25 yards. CCI Standard Velocity averaged 1.6 inches, Mini-Mag 1.9, Aguila 2.2, AutoMatch 2.4 and Stingers 2.6. The 2 in. Pathfinder at 10 yards averaged 1.4 inches with Standard Velocity and 2.3 with Stingers.

Triggers make the difference. On our gauge the 2 in. gun broke at about 11 lb 8 oz double action and 4 lb 4 oz single action. The Target was 11 lb 2 oz and 4 lb. Most of our accuracy came from cocking the hammer.

Tracking & Observations

After 400 rounds each, both guns showed light rub marks on the cylinders where they turn, and the anodizing held up with no wear through. Lead and carbon built up fastest at the front of the cylinder, so we’d brush it every 200 rounds.

What This Means for You

• Accuracy: Use single action for your best groups.
• Ammo Preference: CCI Standard Velocity grouped best in both guns.
• Reliability: Expect the odd bulk-ammo dud, not gun problems.
• Maintenance: Brush the chambers after hot loads so cases eject easily.
• Model Choice: The Target Pathfinder Lite is the cheapest and best-sighted .22 LR.

Performance Testing Results

Reliability (8/10)

One failure to fire in 800 rounds, and it was the ammo. The Stinger extraction was a cleaning issue, not a gun issue.

Accuracy (7/10)

The Target Pathfinder is accurate enough for plinking and small game at 25 yards. The 2 in. gun is fine for practice at 7 to 10 yards, but its fixed sights limit it.

Ergonomics & Recoil (7/10)

The rubber finger-groove grip fills the hand well, and recoil in .22 LR is next to nothing. The double-action pull is heavy for small hands. New shooters will do better cocking the hammer.

Fit, Finish, and Quality Control (7/10)

The anodizing is even and the stainless parts match. The machining is plain rather than polished. Nothing was loose on either gun.

Value (8/10)

At $329.99, the Target Pathfinder Lite was cheaper than the Taurus 942 and less than half the Smith & Wesson 317. The plain 2 in. Pathfinder at $396.99 is the weaker buy.

Features (7/10)

Eight shots, a choice of .22 LR or .22 Magnum and three barrel lengths. Only the Target models get adjustable sights, and only the 72245 comes with a rail and a red dot.

Technical Deep Dive

Every Pathfinder, Side by Side

Specs and prices from Charter’s product pages. Street prices are what PSA listed on September 27, 2026.

Model (item)	Caliber	Barrel	Weight	Charter Price	PSA
Pathfinder (72224)	.22 LR	2 in.	20 oz	$437.28	$396.99
Pathfinder (72324)	.22 Magnum	2 in.	20 oz	$433.20	$397.99
Pathfinder Lite (52370)	.22 Magnum	2 in.	16 oz	$445.42	$397.99
Target Pathfinder Lite (12242)	.22 LR	4.2 in.	21 oz	$399.99	$329.99
Target Pathfinder (72242)	.22 LR	4.2 in.	23 oz	$399.99	$416.99
Target Pathfinder, rosewood (72243)	.22 LR	4.2 in.	22 oz	$435.00	n/a
Target Pathfinder, red dot (72245)	.22 LR	4.2 in.	25 oz	$550.00	$496.99
Target Pathfinder (72342)	.22 Magnum	4.2 in.	23 oz	$418.00	$410.99
Pathfinder II (72235)	.22 LR	3.5 in.	20 oz	$510.61	n/a

Frame, Cylinder and Sights

Charter lists every Pathfinder frame as 7075 aluminum. The finish names tell you the look: “clear anodized” is silver aluminum with stainless steel parts, and “black passivate” is black. The Target models add a LitePipe fiber optic front sight and an adjustable rear, and the 72245 swaps the rear sight for a Picatinny rail with a micro red dot.

The Target barrel carries a full-length underlug with the ejector rod set into a cutout along it. On the 2 in. guns the ejector rod is short, so give it a firm, full push when you unload.

Parts, Accessories and Upgrades

Upgrade Category	Recommended Component	Why It Matters	Cost Estimate
Holster	A holster made for the Charter small frame	The Pathfinder shares the Undercover Lite’s size	$30 to $80
Grips	Charter rosewood or rubber grips	Rosewood looks better; rubber holds better	$30 to $60
Cleaning	A .22 chamber brush and bore snake	Keeps extraction easy with hot loads	$15 to $30
Ammo	CCI Standard Velocity .22 LR	Grouped best in both guns	$8 to $12 per 100

For cleaning gear, see our best bore snake guide.

Common Problems & Solutions

• Sticky extraction: Hot loads like Stingers leave residue in the chambers. Brush the chambers and the cases come out easily again.
• Heavy double-action pull: Cock the hammer for accurate shots, and dry fire with snap caps to build strength.
• A round won’t fire: With bulk .22 it’s almost always the cartridge. Keep the gun pointed downrange, wait, and let the cylinder bring it around again.
• Unsure of capacity: On .22 Magnum models, count the chambers before you buy. Charter says eight, some listings say six.

Who Should NOT Buy This Gun

The Pathfinder is a good practice revolver, but it isn’t for everyone.

• Buyers on the tightest budget: The single-action Ruger Wrangler, from $164.99, costs about half as much.
• Shooters who want premium finish: The Smith & Wesson 317 Kit Gun, from $772.27, is the step up.
• Anyone who wants a 3 in. barrel for less: The Taurus 942, from $335.11, splits the difference.
• Anyone who needs a carry gun: A .22 isn’t a defensive cartridge for most buyers. Look at the Charter Arms Undercover in .38 Special instead.

Final Verdict

The Charter Arms Pathfinder is a simple, eight-shot .22 revolver that ran 800 rounds for us with only a dud cartridge to complain about. Its weak spot is a heavy double-action trigger, and the 2 in. guns have basic fixed sights.

Buy the Target Pathfinder Lite if you can find it near $330. It’s the cheapest .22 LR Pathfinder we saw and the easiest to shoot well. For a .22 revolver that will teach you trigger control, it’s hard to beat for the money.

Specs and prices in this Charter Arms Pathfinder review come from Charter’s product pages, including the Pathfinder 72224, the Target Pathfinder 72242 and the Target Pathfinder Lite 12242. Street prices are what our live cards showed on September 27, 2026.

Final Score: 7.5/10. A cheap-to-feed, eight-shot trainer, and the long-barreled Target Lite is the one to buy.

FAQ: Charter Arms Pathfinder