Charter 2000 Bulldog .44 Special Load?

[magsnubby]

I picked it up yesterday and didn't have time to check out any ammo. Anybody know of a good factory defense load? How about a good target load?

I had one of the original Bulldogs back in the early 80's when there wasn't much in the way of good factory defense loads. I seem to remember recoil could get pretty stiff with the warmer stuff. Since i don't reload much these days i'll just stick to the factory stuff for now.

 

[Edward429451]

I got me ol Bulldog on as I type. One of the older 2-1/2" bull bbl models, no shroud.

Its been so long since I bought any factory ammo for it, it's funny. I distinctly remember having real good luck with those Remington 246g lead round nose bullets though, for target. I used Silvertips in it for defense back then but wonderfully cannot report how good they work for defense because I never had to use it for that. (Yeah!)

Nowadays I load for it and target/defense loads are the same. A 180g full wadcutter with 12.0 g of 2400 backed up with some Keith 245's in a single speedloader, also loaded mildish for longevity of the weapon.

 

[Jim March]

I'm not up on these much myself, but I came across a website where a guy seems to know a bit about these:

http://www.levergun.com/main_index.htm

 

[magsnubby]

Jim,
thanks for the website. Some really good info there.

Although i no longer have a reloading setup i do have access to a reloader. Looks like it's time to get back into reloading.

 

[Edward429451]

Yeah that is a good site. ANother thing is to take a punch and screwdriver with you to the range cause those pins & stuff will walk on you.

 

[tulsamal]

ProLoad has a Gold Dot load for .44 Special that looks good.

http://www.proload.com/shoppingcart/default.asp?show_cal=18

I personally carry the CorBon 165 grain JHP at 1150 fps. It's a handful but I have confidence in it. Getting hard to find though.

I tried Silvertips in a few of my guns. They were accurate but they are VERY light loads.

Federal also has a lead hollowpoint load but I recently visited a page where the guy did some testing and they just refused to open.

And there is a Blazer load lots of people like.

Gregg

 

[Rexzila]

I have a love/hate relationship with Charter Bulldogs. I had one of the early 3 inch models. I fired Remington hollow points with it. I also had some semi-wadcutters I used for target practice. The Bulldogs were a real pain to shoot back then...literally. I remember the hammer cutting the web of my hand during recoil. My uncle a retired Police Chief still carries one in an ankle holster. I gave him speedloaders and .44 stuff years ago.
I am content to use a .38 Charter Undercover now.

 

[BluesBear]

I wish I still had my old Charter Arms Police Bulldog. Does anyone except me even remember these?
I had great success with the Sierra 18gr Jacketed Hollow Cavity bullet loaded over 7.0gr of Unique. It worked well with the Police Bulldog's 4" barrel.
Nowadays I prefer the Hornady 180gr XTP over the same charge. It seems to expand better than the Sierra when fired from my 2" barrel Taurus.

I found that the lighter bullets didn't pound the pins out of the Charter Arms frames like the 240gr loads did.

 

[magsnubby]

I bought my first Bulldog (3" blued) in Feb. of 1980. I put a lot of rounds through that gun. Mostly light 246 gr swc's. It was a great little gun. I gave it to my dad when he retired in '85.

I remember the 4" Bulldogs. They had ajustiable sights and target drips. I saw one at a gun show last year. The guy was asking $300.00 for it. The bore looked good but the bluing was pretty worn and it was pretty scratched up. He was firm on the price but i wasn't willing to pay that much for a gun that was that beat up.

My buddy bought a 3" blued Bulldog yesterday for $250.00. It looks like it has never been shot.

 

[obiwan1]

I have both a 3" and a 4". The sights on the 4" are terrible. They are adjustable and will not hold zero. I needed to shove shims into the sides of the sight.

I think that the Win Silvertip load is probably the best all around load. However.................. I keep mine loaded wit Glaser Blues Remember the movie "Manhunter" with pre CSI William Peterson..........

 

[cratz2]

Didn't Speer come out with a modern Gold Dot load for 44 Special about the time they came out with their 135 Gr snubbie 38 load? Or did I just dream that?

As an aside, I was watching Manhunter a while back and didn't realize until then that Lecter was played by Brian Cox (of Rob Roy and Super Troopers fame )

He was really quite trim back in 85-86.

 

[bpisler]

I tried the federal swchp's,speer gold dot's and winchesters silver tips in a 3" S&W 24-3.At 15 yards the silvertips grouped into 6-7" and felt recoil was light.The federals were a little better group wise,down around 4-5" and recoil was a little stiffer.The gold dots were outstanding,groups fell to 2-3",recoil was brisk but not bad.I picked the gold dot for my carry load.All groups were shot D/A on a well lit indoor range.Of course your results may vary depending on your gun.

 

[magsnubby]

Range Report

I finally got to take the Bulldog out today. I didn't have alot of time so i only ran 100 rounds through it.

First up was a box of light 246 gr swc reloads. Recoil wasn't bad. Groups were about 4" at 21 feet.

Next was a box of PMC 180 gr jhp's. Recoil was a little stiffer, about like a Airlite S&W J frame with +P's. Groups were about 4" at 21 feet.

I had forgotten what a neat gun it is.