Big-bore snubby?

Yeah!

I'm interested as well - but the mixed reviews Charter gets for its .44 spl Bulldog have made me leery about taking the plunge. I think my best bet bet would be to cruise the gun shows and hope to pick up a used taurus .44 snub - or better yet a S&W if there are any out there.

Ruger makes the Alaskan which is not by any means a small revolver, but it is a snubby.

.45LC can be tricky in double action revolvers because it doesn't have much of a rim for the extractor star to grab. It's usually not a problem unless you are hot-rodding it like Ruger handloads.

Smith and Wesson also makes a .44 snubby if you don't like the Charter Arms

.44 Snubby...

...I have owned three Charter .44Spl Bulldogs...two of the original 19-0z. 3" barrels, one of the later Bulldog Pugs...have fired the originals a lot...not fun with any round...had more trouble with Charter customer service than with any gun maker I've ever dealt with...wouldn't own another Charter...
...have owned two Taurus .44Special snubs...both Model 431...one blue and just found one in stainless that's been in a bedside stand for 15 years...unfired since it left the factory...glad to get it...Taurus also made many 2" snubs...blue, stainless, and lightweight.....I'd love to find the stainless ones...but don't ....the airweights no matter what the material are not pleasant to shoot....I'll bet you'd like either a .44 Special or the .45Colt, if you bought a steel model...blue or stainless...the Taurus models are much better made than the Charter...I also have a S&W 696 which I got a coupla months back...heavy 3" with adjustable sights...unfired...been in a safe for about ten years...I don't like the adj. sights, and will probably end up trading or selling it....they're rare but a good shooter....the .44 Special is my favorite revolver cartridge....

Why not the 460 emergency kit ? You could shoot 45 lc and then scare everyone at the range with a full powerhouse load .

I guess the mixed reviews for the Charter 44 spec continues. I have had one for years with no problems and it is surprisingly accurate for it's size. Do I shoot it much? No. I also owned a titanium Taurus in 41 mag. It had plenty of bark but the factory porting worked really well for managing recoil. Wish I didn't trade it off a few years ago. Taurus also makes a small 5 shot 44 mag. I don't know anything about them but I imagine that is a handful.

http://www.fenderforum.com/userphotos/index.html?recid=9733

Rossi used to make a fairly serviceable 5 shot, 3 inch .44 Special called the 720. It came in two configurations that I know of - the 720 with adjustable sights and the 720C which was a bit lighter and sleeker with fixed sights and a bobbed hammer. I don't see many of them around, though.

a feller I know has one of those charter arms, he's not a real 'gunny' or even ahunter but has it for h-d and shoots it some, his wifey too, it's impressive.

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan .44 Mag.
Weighs 41oz. A little heavy for a snubby, but will handle anything from .44 Special up to and including the Garrett Hammerheads +P .44 Mag.
With the right grip, holster and belt, it can be carried concealed.

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I recently purchased a S&W Model 29 3" 44 Magnum. It very well be the favorite gun I own now. I would highly recommend one.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=478866

I agree with Markallen, get an Alaskan.
I have one and it is my favorite big bore carry. With a Simply Rugger holster, it will conceal well, better in the fall and winter. but it can be done all year round.

I know Taurus has made a .41 magnum snubby as well, which sounds like a real handful. I suppose I might take a look at a similar Taurus in .45acp.

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I've got the Taurus Model 415 (.41 Magnum) in the all steel version with the 2 1/2" ported barrel and can honestly say that the recoil is quite manageable-much more so than a typical J-frame Airweight shooting plus P .38 Specials. I have no problem making accurate, fast repeat shots with the .41 Magnum. It might be a different story with the light-weight version though.

Charter arms 44 special

I have an older Charter arms 44 special buudog made in 1980 at the old Stratford Conn site. It is blue with a 3 inch barrel and wood grips. I like it a lot and is light enough to carry and also serves as my truck gun too. I usually carry the Colt detective IWB but on occasions like the 44 IWB too. Just looking at those big lead bullets gives me some piece of mind.

snubby

I have one of those taurus 450 45 colt.....in titanium....and it is something else......could be yours

I'm a hair's-breadth away from buying a Ruger Alaskan. A word of advice with that particular gun - the grips it comes with are good for firing magnum loads, but they are somewhat large for general use. I have size medium/large hands and find them a little too big. I think it would feel better with the GP100 old factory grips, if you can find any.

a coworker of mine has the Alaskan and it is his carry gun. He says it's probably smoother than my SP101, so I'm going to have to fire it one day.

Wolfeye--Ruger now has the old style grips in their on-line store. I switched out the grips too. IF you order the grips from Ruger, BE SURE and order a grip locator pin.

in regard to the taurus 450 45 colt..I like mine..
and recommend you check into the TK custom-type
cylinder modification that will permit you to also use 45acp ammunition.
if is a big bore snubby you are after this should fill the bill.
I like the multi-caliber change in mine
and keep 225 silvertip 45 colt in it and a couple of clips of 45acp
165 gr jhp handy.

I have an Alaskan, and before I bought it I fired a S&W .460es. Both qualify as big bore snubbies. The Alaskan is a fairly utilitarian gun, especially in comparison to the X-frame snubbie. Mine's a .45 and quite a bit of fun.

Grips for the Super Redhawk or GP100 will fit the Alaskan, as far as I know. I have been considering getting some nice cocobolo grips.

Once upon a time I had a Lew Horton S&W 3" .41 Mag, an N-frame gun with a round-but L-frame grip. If you can find one consider it. I sold it for something else, go figure. I have a 3" Smith .44 Special, they don't make it anymore but since it's 5-shot it's the L-frame size and a bit more compact.

I've had a Charter Arms Bulldog since the 1970's, when it was known as 'the Son of Sam'. It has an Aluminum frame, and is very light and accurate.
It may not be every man's cup of tea, but it set the tone for me. It was my second hand gun, Before I was 21 I started with a 2nd Model Dragoon black powder cannon.
To get to my point, Bulldog revolvers are a class of their own, I don't care what brand you settle on, you will love it.
When I visit my friend out of state, he has a nice S&W 44 spl snub for my use while I'm there.
Now I'm getting ready to build a 'Natchez Special', snub nose 1860 colt so I can have a Cap & Ball 'Bulldog' too.

Markallen, that is a sweet sweet gun. I would Get the Alaskan as well. I have owned the GP100, SP101, and SRH. All were built like a tank, super dependable, and accurate.

eldon519 said:

.45LC can be tricky in double action revolvers because it doesn't have much of a rim for the extractor star to grab. It's usually not a problem unless you are hot-rodding it like Ruger handloads.

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Do you actually own any revolvers or rifles chambered in .45 Colt? I have five, three of which are Rugers and I shoot very heavy loads in all three, one of which is a Redhawk. I also shoot very heavy loads through my Marlin also chambered in .45 Colt and yet I've never experienced an extraction problem. There doesn't seem to be any end to this ".45 Colt extraction and small rim problem" BS! :banghead:

I recently bought the Alaskan shown below ... it's an amazing revolver chambered in .45 Colt/.454 Casull and I'm thrilled with it.

18 oz DAO .44 special? Very well made non lock Scandium gun.