CA Bulldog Club

I have ordered a Simply Rugged for my forth coming Classic Bulldog. I have used them for my S&W's and liked them a lot. They work strong side or cross draw and that is nice on long trips.

Charter sells a holster for their Bulldogs directly from their website.

I bought an unlined Tucker & Byrd OWB pancake holster from Amazon for my 3" model 60 Pro Series S&W. The holster fits my Bulldog quite nicely. I keep the model 60 on the night stand now, and carry the 3" Classic Bulldog, instead.

Legionnaire said:

Holsters. What have you found works well with the Bulldog?

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remember this is a pocket piece, if worn on belt or inside belt thin is best . You don't want flaps of extra material or straps. I use a Mika pocket holster and in heavy duty type jeans tip of butt is just concealed in strong side front pocket. I used to carry my Bulldog almost 30 years in a Sparks Summer Special.

I belt carry mine in a Galco Combat Master holster made for a J-frame...re-purposed that and it works great. When pocket carrying I use a no-name leather pocket holster that I originally bought for a Ruger SP101.

Go for it! I've also got a j-frame tan one and several Glock specific ones in both tan and black.

Oh yeah...N-frame snub one as well.

I have used a simply rugged pancake holster made for an LCR that works. I also use a Remora that fits an LCR and an N82 IWB for an LCR. I'm very happy with them. I have 3 snubbies that fit the same holsters.

I will be interested to hear further reports on the .40 Pit Bull. I'd imagine the gun has a pretty stout recoil.

Feeling brassy today....

Below are my 2 Charter Arms Bulldogs, the SS 2.5" is adorned with the new rosewood grips, haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, as I just got them today. I do like the feel of those, so if I can put at least 25 rounds down range without flinching, they will be could to go as a carry gun, otherwise I'll have to go back to the original grips.

BTW there Legionnaire, I can see why you sent back that Pit Bull, but I'm glad to hear that CA took good care of you, I've got a holster for my 3" Bulldog that I got from Cabela's quite a while ago, I don't believe it cost too much and is very similar to your Bianchi, it also fits my 2.5" perfectly, so I would think that your Bianchi should fit your 3" Classic when you get it.

Hi all and great to see this thread on the CA Bulldog. I bought it new at my LGS for $389 otd. I just got mine Friday and I shot a 50ct box of Remington 246gr lead round nose through it. $48 for the box. WOW!! I had to go to three stores and finally found the ammo at of all places Gander Mountain. I had to shoot the Bulldog to see if I would love or hate this little puppy. I didn't see anything on the box about velocity so I have no idea about this ammo.
I had a really nice surprise shooting this Bulldog 2.5". The recoil with the stock rubber grips was nothing like I expected due to being it is a big bore bullet. I always put big bore and big recoil as one. It kicked more than my LCR 38+P but nothing close to the 357 mags recoil. I really think this gun is going to replace the LCR as my main carry. I definitely shoot it much better than I can my LCR.
I am considering putting Crimson Trace grips on it and if anyone wants to sell me theirs that they don't want then let me know. I'd appreciate what the CT grips do in regards to handling recoil. If they create much greater felt recoil then I will not like them. I have also thought about putting some Pachs on it if that will help in felt recoil. The recoil isn't bad now but if I could get it a bit better I would be loving this gun.
Now I am considering whether to buy HSM 44S5N Cowboy Action 44 Special 200 GR Round Nose Flat Point (Case, 500 Total Rounds) for $264 inc frt. {.52 per round} or should I buy some brass, bullets, primers and 4 die set for my Lee and start reloading. The Lee 4 die set is like $48. How much can 44 spl hand loads be made for per round? Also I will be using Hodgdon Clays powder for reloads if it is okay. I like the Clays because it burns fairly clean. I had loaded around 700 38 SPL and they came out satisfactory but I have not chrono them since I don't have the equipment.
I can get Hornady 9070 44 Special Hornady XTP JHP 180GR (Box, 20 Total Rounds) for $14.46. Would these be a good round for a defense cartridge in the Bulldog 2.5"?
I will appreciate the help.

In addition to the above...casting your own bullets can drop that figure as well. Plus it's dang fun too.

I have an Lee turret press already so I need get a die set and another turret disc to keep a 44 set up. WOW! What a savings and so glad I waited to order ammo.
I have about 2.5 lbs. of Clays powder waiting to be used. Like I said I like the Clays because it burns really clean, at least it did with the 38 spl. I loaded with 3.5 gr. Hodgdon technical said Clays is one of the fastest powders on the market today, Do you see any problem using the Clays for these 44 specials?
Thanks so much for the help and I will get the stuff from Rim Rock if they have it.
Buster
Legionnaire where are you at in Texas? I am just west of Houston.
Are these the bullets you are saying I should get?https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/-44-200-gr-dewc-fb-per-500-anti-personel-.html

Buster94, as far as defense loads go, I would say you would be hard pressed to find a better load than Hornady Critical Defense, which uses a 165grn projectile, at 900fps + out of those little CA Bulldogs. The recoil is very insignificant also, not to mention the fact that the projectile will go thru layers of clothing, including leather, and will not expand until it hits flesh, due to the hollow point being covered by a plastic like cap. I've been pretty impressed with them, just doing my unscientific testing. However if you decide to load your own defense loads, Matt's 250grn lead hollow points are very hard to beat (when loaded using Unique powder) as they expand to at least .70 caliber after going thru 2, 1 gallon milk jugs, filled with water and clothed in flannel, and stopping in a 4X4 hunk of wood, the muzzle velocity is but slightly over 700fps according to my chronograph. The recoil is quite ferocious, but I do believe this round would definitely take the fight out of any person who came in contact with it. Like Legionnaire, stated your best bet is to reload as far economic reasons go, especially for the .44SPL.

You might also try Xtreme Bullets out of Carson City Nevada, they offer copper coated as well as lead, and the shipping is free, if I remember right, the Rim Rock bullets that Legionnaire refers to, I believe are wad cutters, which make a nice round hole, which brings me back to my "bullseye target competition" shooting done many moons ago. Always seemed to pull 2-3 rounds to keep me out of the serious competition. Xtreme offers a choice of bullet shape from RN, to FN, to TN., before I started hand casting I use to get quite a few of my bullets thru them, at the time they were called "Nevada Bullet Co.".

I bought 500 Starfire casings, 1000 bullets 165gr coated from Missouri ammo, a lh owb holster from CTD which I really like, Pachmeyer grips, 20 rnd Hornedy critical defense 165 gr. I need buy the die set and plate and primers yet.
I really like the feel of the Pachmeyers.as they are a bit beefier and softer like they will help tame recoil. I haven't shot the gun since the first time.
Maybe this weekend I will get some loaded up and shoot.

BTW folks those rosewood grips are awful pretty, but the felt recoil using the 165grn. Critical Defense Ammo that I had decided to carry during CCW are just too brutal, so back to the original grips that came with the 2.5" Bulldog. Must be getting old or something. Was able to put 5 rounds into a 2" group at 7 yards, but it took a long time, and I know for a fact in a real gun battle you don't have that much time. (10 seconds according to my PACT timer)

I have a Classic Bulldog coming and it will have the rosewood grips. If I need to change grips are the Charter Arms 'rubber' grips the best or is there a better choice from someone else?