Charter Arms .44 Special ?

[RunninLate]

Early this year I bought a CA Backpacker and love it. Replace a S&W 640 and 642 as my carry revolver. The gun is stainless steel, ported, 3" and came with wooden grips. If I did not reload for 44 Specials I am not sure I would buy one just to play around with. Factory ammo does cost a lot more than I am willing to spend to punch holes in paper./

 

[greenmtnguy]

I was very keen on bidding on a Backpacker model, but then I learned they had ported barrels, and I really dislike ported barrels. Otherwise, that would be a "must have" firearm for me. So, I am looking at the PitBulls and maybe the "classic" in 44 Spl.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

 

[loose noose]

Have a much older .44 Special Bulldog with the 3" barrel that I carried snake shot in during my journey out in the desert a few years back. I've shot a lot of 200 grain semi wad cutters in it as well as a few 240grn. HP's . It is still very tight, and after I put a set of Pachmeyer grips on it relatively easy to handle. Also carried concealed for a few years also, as was previously mentioned is very light even with a 5 shot load.

 

[FLNT4EVR]

if you guys like the backpacker......but hate ported barrels check out the new Charter Arms Boomer it's an un-ported version

 

[heyjoe]

if you guys like the backpacker......but hate ported barrels check out the new Charter Arms Boomer it's an un-ported version

the Boomer is ported...i have one.

 

[Legionnaire]

C&L, what bullet is that? Looks cool!

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Thanks. It's a 215 grain solid base button nose wadcutter. I get them from Matt's bullets. http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=70

I also load Matt's 250 grain solid base wadcutters. I use Unique powder with both the 215 and 250 grain bullets.

 

[FLNT4EVR]

My mistake on the boomer , sorry guys , I don't like ported barrels either ,

 

[Monster Zero]

My mistake on the boomer , sorry guys , I don't like ported barrels either ,

No worries. Thanks for helping to keep a fun thread going. I for one am particularly intrigued by the Bulldog and I like keeping up with threads about it.

I like the idea of launching a big, heavy, jagged hardcast bullet or wadcutter at... who cares what velocity. Five shots with five more in a pocket would be a thousand times better than being unarmed.

 

[Monster Zero]

the Boomer is ported...i have one.View attachment 225010

Nice grips.

 

[JohnnyCremains]

Here's my old 'dog. I've been carrying this thing for about 15 years. It was cut down by someone else. I bobbed the hammer. Bought it at Kittery Trading Post for $175.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Fine looking Dog you have Sir!

 

[Legionnaire]

Thanks. It's a 215 grain solid base button nose wadcutter. I get them from Matt's bullets. http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=70

I also load Matt's 250 grain solid base wadcutters. I use Unique powder with both the 215 and 250 grain bullets.

I'm going to have to order some of those. Care to share your load data?

 

[ST1959]

I have both the Bulldog and the Bulldog Target (4 in barrel). For practice, I run Ultramaxx 200gr rounds through them. For defense, Hornady's 180gr JHP. In the summer months, one of these two guns is on me when I hike the trails here in Arkansas. When hiking, I do keep handy a couple of rounds of rat shot, for snakes. And snake shot, for rats. Haha. Although CA has a spotty reputation, I've never had ANY problems with these guns in the 4 years I've owned 'em. They go bang every time. They also seem to have LESS recoil than the hot .38 +p loads I run in my Smith j-frame.

 

[RealGun]

I am considering adding the CA .44 special to my rotation. Does anyone have experience with the Bulldog .44? If you do what is your carry load? Thanks.

There isn't a lot of gun there to stand up to stout loads, so you can achieve the velocity needed for bullet performance by keeping bullet weights down and using the lighter loads to drive them at a given velocity. I use 200 grain on all my 44 Specials, aiming for the 800 fps range. I save the gusto loads for a Blackhawk Flat Top.

 

[mustachio]

my blued Bulldog carries 200 gr full wadcutters from Underwood Ammo. Advertised at 850 fps. Here is the business end of the Bulldog. Looks more like a sewer pipe.

 

[Drail]

I've been packing a Charter Bulldog Pug since 1987. It is still in very good condition. It has never been fed loads hotter than 200 gr.@ 850 fps. (which is awfully close to .45 ACP ballistics). It got retired when S&W dangled their 696 L frame in front of me (say WHAT?). The only caveat I would place on the Charter is to religiously watch every screw on the gun. They will loosen if you shoot it much. Degreasing and Loc- titing the screws helps a lot but doesn't completely stop it. It's like owning a Harley. Tools are absolutely necessary....... The Charter did get me completely addicted to the .44 Spl. cartridge. It just might be the perfect carry round and I was completely ignorant of it. Maybe you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.... A .44 SPl. will slam poppers down hard just like a .45 does. It will knock pins off a table just like a .45 does. What's not to like? McClenahan was a genius.

 

[mustachio]

here is mine with OEM wood grips and BK adapter. Feels real good in the hand and is extremely concealable.

 

[Monster Zero]

here is mine with OEM wood grips and BK adapter. Feels real good in the hand and is extremely concealable.

 

[Monster Zero]

I assume that's the nitrile finish on yours? I'm pretty sure that I like it, even better than stainless.

From the website, I wasn't sure if it was available on the Bulldog or not.

 

[SHIPCHIEF]

I had an original aluminum framed one. I gave it to my brother. Sometimes wish I hadn't, but now I'm shopping for a replacement. Maybe a S&W Airlite .44 mag? Or a Ruger Redhawk TALO .44 mag?
I also think .44 spl & 44 mag are simply the best.
I'm a nut for 44 Cap-n-Ball revolvers too.

 

[Stephanie B]

I had an original aluminum framed one. I gave it to my brother. Sometimes wish I hadn't, but now I'm shopping for a replacement. Maybe a S&W Airlite .44 mag? Or a Ruger Redhawk TALO .44 mag?

Or a Ruger GP100 in .44 Special?

 

[HexHead]

I had one as my EDC for about a year. It was a fine gun, though left some buzz in my hand when I shot it. I traded it off when I discovered my S&W 69 was just as easy to carry all day long.

 

[RealGun]

I had one as my EDC for about a year. It was a fine gun, though left some buzz in my hand when I shot it. I traded it off when I discovered my S&W 69 was just as easy to carry all day long.

"Just as easy" makes me think about comparing weights, including heavier bullets x 5.