The CA Bulldogs are pretty much at their limit with average .44 Specials - and the CCI Blazer 200gr GDJHP, like the GA Arms similar loads, would be at the upper limit. Of course, it is meant for personal protection - and it is fine for that. If you want a plinker - for more than occasional familiarization shooting - I'd suggest a different .44 - actually, a .44 Magnum, like a S&W 4" 629. It will chamber and shoot .44 Russians and Specials just fine - with only a good chamber scrubbing before shooting Magnums. You can find very nearly new 4" .44 Magnums in used gun cases and pawn shops - a lot of folks shoot a few .44 Magnums, then sell/trade the gun. Loaded with those 200gr GDJHPs, which I have chrono-ed at 875 fps from my 4" 629, you couldn't ask for a better house gun. It can launch the mass, cross-section, etc - at enough velocity to 'stop' an intruder, but not make it through several interior/exterior walls, like really high velocity Magnums would.
Of course, a less expensive way to plink is with .38 S&W Specials. An old S&W model 10, the venerable heir to the original M&P title, or it's SS siblings, a 64 or adjustable sight 67, would be great for plinking and home protection. A .357 Magnum, like a 13, 19, or SS 65 or 67, would do well, too - and could chamber .357 Magnums, when you want to make some real noise. I don't favor them for home defense - to me, they are too loud - likely would cause at least temporary deafness in an enclosed room - and too fast - I have neighbors that could become collareal damage. S&W devised the .357 M for the FBI in 1935 - to pierce car doors of fleeing felons. Plenty of effective .38 Spcl +P 'man-stoppers'.
Now, if you want a more affordable to shoot, both in ammo cost and recoil, 'big bore' - consider a .45 ACP revolver. The rimless cartridges are held by small metal clips - 'moonclips' holding six for S&W 25/625/1917 and 'Stellar clips' holding five for Taurus. A revolver couldn't care less about the power level or bullet shape of a properly loaded .45 ACP round, so you open a world of possibilities, from plinker 230gr 'ball' ammo to personal defense specialty rounds.
Lots of choice... if you think you might want to shoot it a lot, I'd steer away from the CA Bulldog - for 'just' personal defense, it gets an affirmative nod. Below is a S&W 696 - some say it's a 'Bulldog' that was propely made. Well, it weighs ~9 oz more - but it was built on an L-frame, not leaving much frame width for a decent forcing cone, so it is not an Elmer Keth level .44 Special revolver. The slightly larger one weighs six ounces more - carries an additional round - has an inch more barrel - has a larger hammer & trigger - and is chambered for .44 Magnum. It sports the .500 Magnum grips from S&W - real recoil eaters, too. I like both of them, but would sell the 696 long before the 4" 629. I also have a 6" 629 - both 629s in my use are .44 Specials.
Stainz
He does anyway
