Charter Arms Pathfinder II review: reasonable rimfire revolver

There’s something honest about a simple rimfire revolver. The Charter Arms Pathfinder II falls squarely into that category: practical, affordable, and purpose-driven.

This isn’t a safe-queen revolver. It’s a working gun. After about 400 rounds downrange, it proved what it was designed to do.

First Impressions

The Pathfinder II is a lightweight, compact double-action revolver chambered in .22 LR. Fit and finish are utilitarian but respectable, with Charter Arms clearly prioritizing function over flash. The dimpled rubber stocks fill the hand well, and it balances as a light rimfire revolver should. Note the blaze orange front sight blade.

The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation, giving it some credence as a target revolver. The cylinder latch is well serrated, making it easy to unlock the eight-shot cylinder.

Out of the box, the trigger is typical of Charter Arms. It is smooth enough in double-action breaking about twelve pounds, with a clean, predictable single-action break at four pounds.

Over the course of testing, approximately 400 rounds of mixed .22 LR ammunition were fired through the Pathfinder II.

Reliable ignition with quality ammunition was 100%, but with the cheaper .22 LR, we had about 5 misfires over the review period. A strong dimple was present on the case rim, and a second attempt fired the round. Something to bear in mind, rimfire is not as reliable as centerfire, so if you so choose, this or any .22 LR, premium ammunition is strongly recommended.

This is a revolver you can hand to a new shooter, use for training, or carry as a lightweight handgun. This revolver may not be as refined as others at triple the price, but Charter Arms makes fine, reliable revolvers that are budget safe.

The Pathfinder II is not built as a target pistol, but it is more than capable within its intended role. At practical distances, accuracy was solid, averaging three to three and a half-inch three-shot groups when fired single-action from a rest at twenty-five yards.

The Charter Arms Pathfinder II isn’t trying to compete with high-end target revolvers, and it doesn’t need to. It succeeds by doing exactly what it was designed to do: provide a dependable, lightweight, affordable rimfire revolver for real shooters. For me, there is a bit of a romance with revolvers; I enjoy the simplicity of the tool and the manual of arms of such. However, taking a .44 Magnum out for a date can get expensive in a hurry, so having a rimfire handy helps me scratch that itch, so to speak, without getting too deep in my billfold.

The Pathfinder II is a solid gateway into the shooting sports for newcomers. Soft recoil, minimal muzzle blast, and good sights are all conducive to learning the double-action revolver. All in all, I am satisfied with the Pathfinder II, and if you find yourself thinking of a rimfire, take a look at what Charter Arms has to offer.

Caliber: .22 LR.

Capacity: 8 Shot
Frame Size: Small
Frame Material: Aluminum
Finish: aluminum and steel or OD Green Anodized Frame & Black Passivate Components.
Stocks: Compact Dimpled Rubber
Sights: Orange Aluminum Front Sight and adjustable rear U-notch
Hammer: Standard
Barrel length: 3.5″
Weight: 20 ounces
Length: 7.45″
Height: 4.25″
MSRP: $510.61

Acknowledgments 
Charter Arms 
TALO/Winchester .22LR ammunition