A frame-mounted transfer bar safety, located between the hammer and the firing pin, prevents the revolver from firing if dropped. It is positioned relatively low to make it easier to reach with the thumb of the shooting hand. The grooved cocking spur of the hammer is relatively short, which reduces the chance of it snagging on clothing. The topstrap of the receiver is deeply grooved with a square notch above the hammer to form the rear sight. The full-length, flat-sided under lug shrouds the spring-loaded ejector rod, while the front sight base is a milled extension of the barrel. The bore is button-rifled with eight grooves, instead of six, to provide a better gas seal and reduce bullet deformation. The one-piece 3" barrel shares the same profile as other Charter models currently in production. Like other Charter Arms models, the Professional’s trigger guard and grip assembly are made of lightweight aluminum. Secondly, the trigger guard and grip assembly is a separate component, which allows it to be made from a different material, such as the lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminum that Charter Arms uses. This design has two notable benefits, the first being that the frame is stronger. Instead, the firing mechanism is fitted into the one-piece frame from below, and held in place by the one-piece trigger guard and grip frame. Unlike some other double-action revolvers, Charter Arms models do not have a removable sideplate. The barrel, frame, cylinder and controls are all made of corrosion-resistant, matte-finish stainless steel.
This version of the Professional incorporates the features that have kept the. However, its partial aluminum construction reduces its weight by as much as half a pound when compared to all-steel. It employs the larger cylinder and frame of the Charter Bulldog XL, making it a mid-size option with a profile comparable to other middle weights, such as the Ruger GP100 or the Smith & Wesson 686. The Professional is a double-action revolver with an exposed hammer that allows it to be cocked for single-action fire. 357 Mag.-chambered model of the Professional, however, a seven-shot. Our test sample for this evaluation was the six-shot. Both guns feature a proprietary Blacknitride+ finish and walnut stocks. 357 Magnum, however, Charter Arms also offers a version of the Professional with a seven-round cylinder chambered for. The revolver used in this evaluation was a six-shot. McClennahan had an innovative approach to revolver design that allowed Charter to make its guns lighter and less costly to produce, and the company’s recently introduced Professional is another fine example of this design philosophy.
Since the founding of Charter Arms in 1964 by Douglas McClennahan, the company’s series of affordably priced, compact, double-action revolvers has continued to grow in both its diversity of models and frame sizes.