Charter Arms Bulldog 45 Colt

Status
Not open for further replies.
Slamfire said:
That little Bulldog kicks, doesn't it?. With standard loads, my 44 Special Bulldog has all the recoil I want.
Click to expand...

With the heavier rounds you could definitely feel it in the web of my hand. They were just miscellaneous rounds so I can't recall what the load was. I can't wait to load up some others and figure out the sweet spot for it (and my hands).
 
yamahawarrior89 said:
Shot it for the 1st time finally. Put about 100 rounds through it, most were my old 250gr handload that were a bit spicy for the pitbull. Could feel it in the web of my hand pretty good.

Also shot 20 of the Winchester PDX1 225gr loads, these felt much better and are what I plan on leaving in it.

This is my 1st 10 shots of the PDX1's. The one way low was making sure it didn't shoot way high (over my backstop). The black circle is 6", all in single action and standing. Shoots point of aim at 10 yards, no need to compensate or hold over/under. Looks like I need to work on my grip a bit. Consistent though.
View attachment 795319


View attachment 795317

Overall I am happy with it. Feels good and shoots good.
Click to expand...
Hey thats MOB (Minute of Badguy) in any REAL self defense scenario that accuracy will suffice, its a .45 freakin Colt! Alot of graves are filled with non HP bullets fired out of those old guns. I would practice alot and even see if you could take a revolver training class and take it along.
 
The Evangelist Cowboy said:
Hey thats MOB (Minute of Badguy) in any REAL self defense scenario that accuracy will suffice, its a .45 freakin Colt! Alot of graves are filled with non HP bullets fired out of those old guns. I would practice alot and even see if you could take a revolver training class and take it along.
Click to expand...
The deal with a DA/SA revolver is compared to a subcompact pistol, accuracy should be better with the revolver due to that light SA pull. If you need to take a shot at a greater distance, you want the revolver to be accurate and having oversized throats isn't helping make it more accurate.

Fully agree with you on .45 Colt hollow points. I've read that 800 fps is the low end of expansion for .45 Colt HP's, but I don't feel that they're necessary for getting manstopping results. I've found a guy who casts 250 grain full wadcutters for .45 Colt and whether they're shot from a 2 inch derringer or a 16 inch lever rifle, the velocity at which the bullet hits the target doesn't matter, it's going to hit it hard and it won't have cost a buck a round or fail to expand.

Not saying that the factory HP .45 Colt ammo out there is bad, if anything, I find that .45 Colt factory defense ammo is among the most consistent performing ammo for a cartridge out there. From Buffalo Bore, to CCI/Federal/Speer, Winchester, Hornady and others, .45 Colt HP ammo works exceptionally well, but you're going to pay a lot for it cuz it's not 9mm or .38 Special.
 
TTv2 said:
The deal with a DA/SA revolver is compared to a subcompact pistol, accuracy should be better with the revolver due to that light SA pull. If you need to take a shot at a greater distance, you want the revolver to be accurate and having oversized throats isn't helping make it more accurate.

Fully agree with you on .45 Colt hollow points. I've read that 800 fps is the low end of expansion for .45 Colt HP's, but I don't feel that they're necessary for getting manstopping results. I've found a guy who casts 250 grain full wadcutters for .45 Colt and whether they're shot from a 2 inch derringer or a 16 inch lever rifle, the velocity at which the bullet hits the target doesn't matter, it's going to hit it hard and it won't have cost a buck a round or fail to expand.

Not saying that the factory HP .45 Colt ammo out there is bad, if anything, I find that .45 Colt factory defense ammo is among the most consistent performing ammo for a cartridge out there. From Buffalo Bore, to CCI/Federal/Speer, Winchester, Hornady and others, .45 Colt HP ammo works exceptionally well, but you're going to pay a lot for it cuz it's not 9mm or .38 Special.
Click to expand...
The gun he has is not a target revolver and if it was I would not use a .45 Colt, the gun has acceptable accuracy for self defense which is the intended function at 10 yards with that group would put down an assailant.
 
The Evangelist Cowboy said:
The gun he has is not a target revolver and if it was I would not use a .45 Colt, the gun has acceptable accuracy for self defense which is the intended function at 10 yards with that group would put down an assailant.
Click to expand...
I hope he never has to shoot more than 10 yards away with it.
 
The Evangelist Cowboy said:
Statistically speaking he is not going to have to shoot a person in general, let alone the fact that I mentioned he should get some training with it.
Click to expand...
Who said it'd be a person? The .45 is a good big animal defense gun. If I had to shoot a charging animal, I'd much rather try to stop him when he's 20 yards away then if he were within a few feet.
 
That would make a great backup to my Levergun and Ruger S.A. revolver in 45 Colt for woods carry.

I might have to get one. BTW, back in the 70s Charger Arms was in its way to being a premier American gun company. Several owners after that, one worse than the other gave it a well deserved bad name. Now that one of the original owners, the Ecker family, are back at the company it is again too notch IMO. (I'm not involved at all with the company)
 
That would make a great backup to my Levergun and Ruger S.A. revolver in 45 Colt for woods carry.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing; nice.45 Colt DA revolver to go with my Rossi Model 92 for hiking around the backwoods.
 
The Evangelist Cowboy said:
The gun is showing acceptable accuracy, so whats your issue? It has oversized throats? ok well he shot fine.
Click to expand...
It's beyond that, the revolver shows subpar quality. If we don't push Charter to do better, this will become accepted and they'll never get better.

I like Charter Arms, I like several of their revolvers, but when they sell somebody what the OP was sold, it irks me. What irks me more is when somebody pulls out the uber close range argument. I can accept that when talking about an NAA or a micro .380, but a DA/SA revolver has a lot more potential than 10 yards max distance.
 
TTv2 said:
It's beyond that, the revolver shows subpar quality. If we don't push Charter to do better, this will become accepted and they'll never get better.

I like Charter Arms, I like several of their revolvers, but when they sell somebody what the OP was sold, it irks me. What irks me more is when somebody pulls out the uber close range argument. I can accept that when talking about an NAA or a micro .380, but a DA/SA revolver has a lot more potential than 10 yards max distance.
Click to expand...
A DA/SA revolver with adjustable sights and a longer barrel perhaps, again this is not in that same realm, by that same notion I can say that a micro .380 is also capable of longer range shots there are people who have made those kinds of shots but not for defense. This gun is self defense tool and thats pretty much it, its not a target gun, its not a hunting weapon.
 
I had my 45 Colt Bulldog at the range last weekend. Will try to get some pics up. It was very hot and humid, around 95 degrees and 85pct humidity which certainly affected my performance, along with not having been at the range in months.

Overall, Bulldog performed pretty well. Federals 225 gn SWC HP shot nicely to point of aim at 10 yards with 6o'clock hold. Sig Sauer elite v crown HP copper jacket 230 grain loads didnt group as well but there may have been a little lead in the barrel from the box of Federals. The Sig ammo also grouped a few inches low unless I had a higher, combat hold on target. Also ran through a box of American eagle 225 grain semi javkected soft points. These were definitely more snappy and pronounced in recoil than the others. They tended to shoot several inches high unless I adjusted my grip upward and a little tighter Then I could keep a couple cylinders worth in an area the size of my hand at 10 yards, but still with a combat hold right alignment, not 6 oclock.

The Federal SWC HP and Sig ammo cases easily dropped out of the cylinder with a light tap on the ejection rod. But with the American eagle stuff, every single cylinder full would have one chamber, the same one I think, that the case would stick pretty hard. It would take multiple jabs to get that one case out, but the other chambers wouldn't stick. And, it was only with that American eagle ammo. I have to clean things up and take measurements to see if it is an oddity in the chamber, extra long brass, or what. Aside from this peculiarity, I was fairly pleased with it. I will post back when I find out more.

Single action shooting with the SWC rounds in weaver stance I managed to nearly get a three hole cloverleaf in the bullseye. I think with more practice and working up a good handload could yield decent accuracy for a fixed sight snub. Double action, the trigger is long and moderately heavy as is often the case for these sorts of wheelguns, but after giving it an initial cleaning and dry firing a few hundred times before taking it to the range it has certainly smoothed up some from its out of the box condition
 
Last edited:
It is what it is and that is perfectly acceptable. This is a close range defense weapon. Non target grade sights short barreled inexpensive revolver that functions and performs. It is a man stopper. This round and gun combo is not a bear stopper. Say you need to dispatch a perceived dog attack it will do just fine. However you better stop and think if you are shooting at something 20yds away because the odds are slim that a court will see you as being in any serious danger. For longer problem issue shots (dogs chasing deer or cattle) a different weapon is needed most likely in the form a shoulder arm as in rifle! Enjoy your revolver. Shoot it and become familiar with it and all will be just fine.
 
Most of my bullets for 45 Colt are the 270gn SAA mold, or the Hornady XTP 250gn that dont expand so well at lower velocities so i am shopping at Matt's bullets and Missouri Bullet Co. For some lead swc, or swc hp in 225gn or so, given how well the Federals 225 gn swc hp loads seemed to work first time out.
 
greenmtnguy, you've had the pistol for a bit now. What is your overall opinion of your new purchase? There is a lot of comments regarding quality and other issues, but for the price point and the performance thus far, what do you think?
 
So far, it isn't bad. I wouldn't rate it as high as a Smith, or Ruger, or Kimber, but i have also encountered some bad apples in those brands, too. Customer service can be a saving grace if done well. I still have to get to the bottom of what is up with the one tight chamber with certain loads on extraction, too. But generally, the revolver shot fairly consistently and accurately for a 2.5" lightweight revolver with fixed sights and my aging eyes.It isn't a beauty queen either, and you really don't want something lighter than it when shooting 45Colt. It is American made, which means something to me, and I think it works quite well, particularly for a sub $400 steel revolver. I was looking for a reliable inexpensive pack trail and woods gun that would carry smaller and lighter than my ruger blackhawks, and one that I wouldn't kick myself if it got some scratches like I would if I shelled out bucks for a SW mountain gun. A 45 colt will take care of any critters I may encounter in the eastern mountains on 2 legs or 4, and in a pinch, with more practice it could get me some protein if I was lost or stuck in deep woods for days. I reload 45 colt, 45acp, 38, and 357 for handgun calibers, so I can easily make up any loads or projectile I care to run in it. The more I shoot it, clean and dry fire it, the more it smoothed up in the trigger department, and it is easier to shoot accurately, at least in some ways, than my SW 642 with plus p loads. I think if CA offered the same revolver with a 4 inch barrel and adjustable sight like their 44SPL Target Bulldog, this gun would be even better for me. if it had a replaceable front sight, too, i would be trading this one in a heartbeat. But as it is, I am still pretty pleased. I would recommend that anyone buying one should inspect carefully before accepting it as there have been a number of bad reports. But I will say that my experience has been good so far and I consider the $389 well spent. I think the revolver isproving to be reliable and with more practice fine tuning some ammo choices and getting a good fitting holster for it, I plan to carry it on alot of woods walks and river fishing trips
 
I am glad that your happy with the purchase. I have four rifles in 45 Colt and load it often. Good supply of brass and bullets. I am heading south in the next year and a 45 Colt Handgun will be high on the list. Thanks for your report. I have said if a 45 Colt with a proper load won't kill what I encounter in the woods, then it doesn't need to be killed.
 
As a followup to my posts, I investigated the reason why one chamber was hard to eject the american eagle ammo in my new 45Colt bulldog:
1. A.452 jacketed Hornady XTP will drop through 4 out of 5 chambers. The 5th will pass the bullet through with some pressure applied from a pencil.
2. The American eagle ammo case lengths averged around 1.282 for 10 sample fired cases. The Federal ammo averaged 1.275 in length for 10 samples, and the Sig Sauer averaged about 1.272. The Federal and Sig ammo easily ejected all chambers. The American eagle would eject ok on4 out of 5 chambers. I believe the problematic one may be the slightly tighter throated chamber, though it was not undersized.

I am going to load up some handloads with all cases trimmed to 1.275 and some 225gn and 255gn SWCHP and report back. Probably try Unique, Green Dot, and maybe CFE pistol for powders..
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Tallball
  • Locked
New to Me Charter Arms Pit Bull 45acp
Replies
9
Views
883
stonebuster
stonebuster
Panzerschwein
  • Locked
Buffalo Bore on Charter Bulldogs
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
10K
Panzerschwein
Panzerschwein
M
  • Locked
charter arms bulldog question
Replies
15
Views
2K
Monster Zero
M
Landric
  • Locked
Charter Arms Bulldog: My experience so far
Replies
16
Views
2K
BulletshooterNJ
B
C
  • Locked
What is wrong with the Charter Arms Bulldog?
Replies
23
Views
13K
smokeater201
S
Back
Top