Buffalo Bore on Charter Bulldogs

[GBExpat]

... I just bought a 50 round box of the Blazer 200 grain Gold Dots last night for my Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special with a 2.5" barrel. I don't know if they'll actually expand in an attacker's body, but hopefully they will.

Awhile back I fired some of my AL-cased Blazer 200gr GoldDots out of one of my Bulldogs thru my Chrony from a distance of ~6'.

They averaged 778fps (ES:26.64). When I dug out some of the slugs from the backstop (20+ feet away) I was surprised that they had not opened up more in the clay/sand backstop ... here is a pic of one of them (the Before & After pair on the right):



So ... if an intruder made of loose, granular clay&sand breaks into your house tonight, you may want to shoot it with something else.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Thanks for posting that picture!

I wonder how ballistic gel would compare to the loose dirt you used?

I know Speer says the 200 grain .44 special Gold Dot will open at 800 FPS... looks like this was just shy. I'd love to do a gel test someday myself if I can't find one...

 

[GBExpat]

I have some .44spc test strings loaded (in addition to .45acp, 9x19 and .32-20 test strings) and ready to run when I get a chance to setup in the backyard again. Among those test loads are three topped with 200gr GoldDots over 6.6gr, 6.8gr and 7.0gr of BE-86.

I also just recently got a 5 pounder of Trail Boss so I intend to see if a ~850-900fps 200gr Plated .44spc load is feasible with that. (I know, I know, everyone says to only use Trail Boss with lead, but I am going to research & consider it )

 

[weblance]

My Bulldog 44 Special is "processing" right now at Buds. I have been reading this thread with interest. I see that Hornady has Critical Defense in 44 Special with the FTX Flex-Tip 165 gr bullet. I have read that the Flex Tip keeps the hollow point from clogging with denim or leather, and actually pushes into the core of the bullet, starting the expansion. Hornady states the muzzle velocity from a 2.5" barrel is 900 fps. I understand from what everyone is saying that is pretty hot for the lightweight Bulldog, and a steady diet of that probably isnt recommended, but for a carry ammo, it seems ideal to me. Thoughts?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Seems like it might be a good load, but I haven't seen any testing with it.

It's very light for caliber though, maybe not a bad thing for the short Bulldog. In theory, these .44 Bulldogs sound like potent little guns, and they are, but if the hollow point doesn't expand how much better are they than a .38 special +P with a hollow point that opens to .55+ caliber and still penetrates beyond 12" in ballistics gel?

That's what I've been trying to find... a .44 special hollow point that I know performs well in those criteria when fired from the tiny 2.5" barrel on my gun. So far, no luck at all.