The new 44spcl Bulldog's (what you think?)

I watched a Youtube review on one from a guy who has posted several other helpful reviews. He didn't care for it.

My father bought one as his carry gun. I have shot it quite a bit and am impressed enough to put it on my buy one soon list.

I own and carry one. Great shooters. I have the pug,excellent thump. $2.50 a shot. Only regret not getting the crimson trace version. Enjoy!

I've carried a Bulldog in one form or another for 20+ years

LD

One thing I could never understand and still cannot is why anyone would buy a 44 Special instead of a 44 Magnum. How much can the difference in weight be and the magnum gives one so many more options when it comes to powerful loads. I DO understand why the special might be and is a better carry load.

Same story diffent channel. If buying just one revolver i would buy a 357 magnum not a 38. I can still shoot the entire gamut of 38 loads and the magnum cannot be that much heavier.

Because Charter don' make a Bulldog in 44 mag.

AND nobody seems to like to shoot the bigger and heavier scandium model 29 S&W with mag loads !

I bought a CA Bulldog early this year and I really like it. It's my carry gun on the tractor and in the woods. It takes a little while to figure out the sights, but it's accurate and fun to shoot once you do.

j1 said:

One thing I could never understand and still cannot is why anyone would buy a 44 Special instead of a 44 Magnum.

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Do you know what a Charter Arms Bulldog is?

Your assessment makes sense with full size guns, but not so much with the compact and/or lightweight guns.

If buying just one revolver i would buy a 357 magnum not a 38. I can still shoot the entire gamut of 38 loads and the magnum cannot be that much heavier.

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Full size, yes. Compact? If I had to decide between a 14.5 oz 642 chambered in .38 Special for $400 or an 11 oz 342 Scandium .357 for $650, I'm getting the 642. If I didn't have to pay for it, it'd be the 342, but I'd never load magnums in it.

Depends on whether I need/want to shoot mags or spls.
Generally, magnums are not as accurate with spl ammo as spls are. There's about 1/8" more bullet jump when shooting spls in a mag cyl than when shooting spls in spl cyls.

Besides, nobody makes a .44 mag the size and weight of a Charter Bulldog. If they did, nobody would be willing to shoot it.

I'd get one.

I have (and like) the same-sized Mag Pug .357, and only bought it over the Bulldog because of the cheaper and more common ammo.

I'd actually like the Bulldog more because it doesn't have a ported barrel which I don't particularly care for on a snub-nosed revolver.

Recommend getting Pachmayr Compac™ grips, as they look better than the stock ones and have decent ergonomics.

If not for my current S&W buying spree, I would already own one. Light, reliable, and a lot of THUMP for a small revolver.

I have one I bought about 30 years ago, and it gives me a piece of mind just looking at those big 220 gr lead bullets. A very reliable man stopper.

A few folks have recommended a S&W 696 44 special. I do not think I have ever seen one... I wonder how big and heavy they are...???

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The 696 is the same size as the 686 it just has bigger holes and a 5 rnd cylinder instead of six. IIRC the 696 weighs about 34oz unloaded.

I have a 696. I'll try and get a picture up tomorrow. But, its very much a belt gun. 3" L frame. Its pretty chunky.

And, out of production for years. Pretty pricey now. If you can find one, you may be looking at around $800 for a nice one.

Or more in some places. I have been seeing some sell at $1000 or more. Been carrying a 696 daily since 1996 and it is not a lightweight gun but with a good belt and holster it is really not bad. The 696 was IMO the best idea S&W has had in many years. The market was not big enough for S&W apparently. .44 Spl. is one of our greatest cartridges.

You might want to go look at a Ruger SP-101. I'm getting the feeling you just may be a revolver guy. I carry a 3" Model 65 alot of the time, since those are out of production, they too are getting pricey. The SP-101 is pretty easy to find, smaller than the 19 you wore out and a darned fine little gun. I think enough of them to own two of them.

Added thought: I love the .44 Special and Magnum...and the .41..Theres few calibers I don't like for one reason or another, but, really, I'm not sure whatever is on the receiving end would be able to tell the difference between a .44 Special or 158 GR .357 Magnum. The SP-101 is the absolute lightest gun I would want to shoot full house Magnums out of. All stainless, its a tank.

My department is still pretty liberal with ammo. I can shoot up around 100 rounds a month excluding quals,and no one will say anything. But, the only thing they have in stock is .40. I bought a couple off duty guns in .40 for that exact reason, to use somebody elses ammo.

Here's a pic of my 696,
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=64627&d=1190868351
I really like the 696 but I think it's a bit more than you are looking for.
I have handled the newer CA Bulldogs and I was not impressed with it. I would like to shoot one perhaps that would change my opinion ?
I like sgt127 suggestion for a SP101 357 mag. that would likely be my choice.

I just prefer a revolver for that sort of thing and like big slow moving pieces of lead.

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Me to but I keep coming up with something like this,
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=285&category=Pistol&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=

But I was used a 38 Special in a real situation and was not impressed with the results.

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Could you please report us your experience if possible?