A good defense handgun should be versatile, uncomplicated, and easy to use. Charter Arms’ recent release of the Double Dog Mag Pug Combo scores well in each of those categories. The new 5-shot revolver features a traditional double action/single action trigger, rugged fixed sights, and the ability to fire .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and 9mm ammunition.
The Charter Arms Double Dog Wheelgun Mashup
Part of Charter Arms’ new Double Dog Series, the Mag Pug Combo comes with two easy-to-switch-out cylinders. This will allow the user to shoot three different calibers in the same revolver safely.
Double action revolvers are the original point-and-shoot guns. Their uncomplicated designs make them attractive for those looking for a self-defense gun. So, being able to fire three different popular calibers in the same revolver makes a great deal of sense.
Do you remember the summer riots of 2020? Remember paying over $1 a piece for handgun rounds? I do. And I didn’t much care for that helpless feeling of owning a nice handgun but not owning as much ammunition for it as I wanted.
Deadly Threesome
The Charter Arms Mag Pug Combo combines its popular Mag Pug .357 Magnum and the 9mm Pit Bull chamberings. Of course, any revolver chambered for .357 Magnum can also fire the .38 Special cartridge. But Charter includes a second cylinder chambered for the 9mm cartridge that does not require the use of moon clips.
Charter’s patented technology uses an extractor star with spring-loaded studs to engage the 9mm casing at the extraction groove. During my testing, the empty casings were extracted and ejected with 100% reliability.
Switching the cylinders is as easy as removing the screw from the front of the revolver crane, sliding the cylinder/crane assembly out of the receiver and replacing it with the other cylinder and retightening the screw. It really is that simple!
Other than that, there is really nothing that is not intuitive regarding the Double Dog Mag Pug Combo. It possesses a conventional double-action trigger, and my test sample broke with 7 pounds 6 ounces of pressure.
Its spurred hammer can be cocked to single action and then it only takes 1 pound 6 ounces of pressure to drop the hammer. The cylinder release is located on the usual left side of the receiver and pushes forward to release the cylinder. Its ejector rod works in the usual manner.
The Double Dog uses a transfer bar safety to prevent unintended discharge by a blow to the hammer. It also makes the revolver safe to carry fully loaded with five rounds without worry of a dropped gun discharging.
Your Choice of Finish and Length
Charter Arms offers the Mag Pug Combo in both stainless-steel and black Passivate finishes. My test sample came with a 2.2-inch barrel, though the gun can also be ordered with a 4.2-inch barrel.
Both lengths have ports cut into the barrel on either side of the barrel rib to help control muzzle flip. Beautiful walnut Backpacker grips come standard on the Mag Pug Combo.
Shooting the Double Dog in .357 Magnum and .38 Special
One of the challenges of a multi-caliber gun is getting it to shoot to point of aim with the different bullet weights. In the case of the Mag Pug Combo, that meant 115-grain 9mm rounds all the way up to 158-grain .357 Magnum loads. This would be particularly tough since the Mag Pug Combo is a fixed sight gun.
Because this is a short-barreled gun designed for close-range defense, I set my targets out at 15 yards. To find the mechanical accuracy of the gun with as little human error involved, I fired all shots single action while resting the gun’s frame on a Ransom Rest Multi Cal Steady Rest from my DOA shooting bench.
I began my testing with the .357 Magnum cylinder in place but started with .38 Special ammunition (chart below).
Most of the rounds impacted between 2 and 4 inches below the point of aim at 15 yards. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Charter Arms revolver grouped five rounds into 1.65 inches at this distance.
Federal’s .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point rounds hit closest to the point of aim at 15 yards. The groups printed just an inch below my point of aim (chart below).
Doubletap’s .357 Magnum 158-grain FMJ-FP produced the smallest .357 Magnum group. It measured just 1.98 inches and impacted 2.5 inches under my point of aim.
Running the Double Dog with 9mm
After unloading the revolver and ensuring it was clear I removed the crane screw and slid the cylinder/crane assembly out of the Mag Pug Combo. I then installed the 9mm cylinder/crane assembly and reinstalled the crane screw.
Once installed, the cylinder is loaded in the ordinary way. 9mm rounds require a little push to get seated in the cylinder as you must overcome the pressure of the spring-loaded studs that engage the rounds’ extractor grooves.
The 9mm rounds impacted the target between 4 and 5 inches below the point of aim (chart below). Doubletap’s 124-grain FMJ Round Nose rounds produced the best 5-shot group, clustering them into a group of 1.64 inches. All fired rounds fell free from the cylinder with a sharp rap on the gun’s ejector rod.
The average group size for all three calibers was 2.00 inches at 15 yards. This is exemplary accuracy from the Charter snubnose.
Doubling Down
I did most of my field shooting with the 9mm cylinder in place as I had more ammunition in that caliber than the other two. Using my MGM BC C-Zone steel target, which approximates a USPSA target with the D-zone removed, I ran a couple hundred rounds through the revolver, all in the double action mode.
During my shooting, I found it was almost impossible to short-stroke the trigger, which can sometimes happen even with expensive Colt and S&W revolvers. Likewise, I was rewarded with a hit when I stayed on the front sight through the long double-action trigger pull. The good news is that the Mag Pug Combo has a relatively light double-action pull.
Charter’s Backpacker grips are an excellent design. They feature width in the backstrap area to distribute recoil and make the gun easier to shoot. Likewise, the grips position the shooter’s third finger lower on the grip where it won’t get rapped by the trigger guard under recoil.
They’re thin where they need to be for concealment, don’t have any sharp edges, and are great looking to boot.
A Worthy Look
If you’re looking for a defensive revolver, the Charter Arms Double Dog Mag Pug Combo certainly deserves a look. Its simplicity of operation, caliber versatility, and excellent construction make it a top choice for self-defense.
With a suggested retail price of $659, it offers shooters a great deal of value for the money.
Charter Arms Double Dog Specs
| Model | Mag Pug Combo, Double Dog Series |
| Caliber/Capacity | .357 Magnum, .38 Special, 9mm |
| Frame | Stainless Steel |
| Weight | 22 Ounces |
| Sights | Fixed |
| Grips | Walnut Backpacker |
| Barrel | 2.20” or 4.20” |
| Finish | Stainless-Steel, Black Passivate |
| Warranty | Lifetime Warranty |
| MSRP | $659 |
.38 Special Performance
| Black Hills .38 SPL 148-grain HBWC | |
| Velocity | 660 |
| Energy | 143 |
| Group | 1.65 inches |
| Colt .38 SPL National Match® 125-grain FMJ-FP | |
| Velocity | 940 |
| Energy | 245 |
| Group | 1.72 inches |
| Hornady .38 SPL American Gunner 125-grain XTP | |
| Velocity | 782 |
| Energy | 169 |
| Group | 1.89 inches |
| Average | 1.75 inches |
.357 Magnum Performance
| Blazer .357 Magnum 158-grain JHP | |
| Velocity | 879 |
| Energy | 271 |
| Group | 2.05 inches |
| Doubletap .357 Magnum 158-grain FMJ-FP | |
| Velocity | 809 |
| Energy | 229 |
| Group | 1.98 inches |
| Federal .357 Magnum 158-grain JSP | |
| Velocity | 1045 |
| Energy | 383 |
| Group | 2.58 inches |
| Average | 2.20 inches |
9mm Performance
| Black Hills 9mm 115-grain JHP | |
| Velocity | 1071 |
| Energy | 292 |
| Group | 2.03 inches |
| Doubletap 9mm 124-grain FMJ-Round Nose | |
| Velocity | 995 |
| Energy | 272 |
| Group | 1.64 inches |
| Federal Range 9mm 115-grain TSJ | |
| Velocity | 977 |
| Energy | 243 |
| Group | 2.44 inches |
| Average | 2.04 inches |
