im seriously considering picking one up next week at the gun show....anyone have any experience with the newer ones? i really like the idea of a big bore snubby, and ive read good things about the new Charters.
Charter Bulldog .44
- Thread starter Lee D
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MachIVshooter
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I have one, bought new last summer. Great little carry gun, and quite accurate. Good trigger, too. It's a little snappy with my heavy handloads, but not uncontrollable
US made with lifetime warranty. I highly recommend them.
US made with lifetime warranty. I highly recommend them.
No experience with the new Bulldogs, but the older ones worked well and yes, a big bore snubbie is a good thing.
I do have experience with their newer Southpaw .38. No complaints, ever shoots pretty close to POA with my reloads.
In fact, I've emailed them and ask for a lefty Bulldog. Whey won't commit.
I do have experience with their newer Southpaw .38. No complaints, ever shoots pretty close to POA with my reloads.
In fact, I've emailed them and ask for a lefty Bulldog. Whey won't commit.
thanks for the feedback folks. ive asked the same question on a couple other forums and i get responses like "just buy a S&W snubbie" or "just get a .357 snubbie instead" 
i own several Smiths J-frames, .38s and .357s as well as a 3" Ruger SP101, so they arent exactly being helpfull. seems they just like to push the S&W as the greatest revolver of all time. while i do love Smiths, maybe i just wanna try something a little different. so yes, im gonna be looking for a Bulldog next weekend at the gun show and i'll get back to you all on what i find.
thanks again,
Woody
i own several Smiths J-frames, .38s and .357s as well as a 3" Ruger SP101, so they arent exactly being helpfull. seems they just like to push the S&W as the greatest revolver of all time. while i do love Smiths, maybe i just wanna try something a little different. so yes, im gonna be looking for a Bulldog next weekend at the gun show and i'll get back to you all on what i find.
thanks again,
Woody
I've carried a Bulldog in one form or another for 20 years, great little pocket rocket. My latest purchase was in 2009, the new stainless version and rubber combat grips. Bought it for $425 through Davidson's.
LD
LD
MachIVshooter
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We see that here, too. Kinda misses the point. Some of us would just rather put a larger bullet into a threat.
S&W did make some nice snubby .44's awhile back, but they weren't exactly small, being built on the L-frame. The Charter Bulldog is basically the same size as a Ruger SP-101 (1/10" wider cylinder), but noticeably lighter, and with a much smoother action.
As I mentioned, recoil with the 20 ounce Bulldog Pug is pretty stout with my handloads (210 gr. @ 985 FPS from the 2.5" tube), but I would definitely trust that load to git'er done. There are pretty decent factory offerings, too, like the 200 gr. Gold Dot.
I recently inspected several versions and really liked the action, will be ordering soon. I don't find them to be rough as some say.
Yeah, I had one (Model 696) for a while before trading it for a 4" barreled, 686 Plus. I found the 5-shot, L-frame 696 "snubby" too heavy and bulky for my purposes (no question, though, that it is a beautiful and well-made piece). And that's where, imo, the Charter Arms Bulldog has its place: Much lighter and less bulky than the L-framed Smith for carry concealed duties and still chambered with a round whose size begins with the number four.
My choice for a forty plus caliber, relatively light, "medium" frame, snub-nose revolver is the Taurus Model 415, with a 2 1/2" ported barrel, chambered in .41 Magnum.
Gordon
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I have an S&W 296 .44 and the (old) Charter .44 Bulldog is just enough smaller to carry , like a 3" Colt Detective Special bored out to .44.
I have had half a dozen Bulldogs over the years. They are designed to be shot a little and carried a lot. They will hold up fine to a few boxes a year for practice. I would go with the three inch barrel version. The main weakness to the .44 Special is low velocity and the longer the barrel the better. This could make the difference between hollow points opening up or not. The best factory load that I have found is the Speer 200 grain Gold Dot. It has a huge cavity and is designed specifically to preform out of this revolver. I have a stainless Charter Arms Bulldog .44 in the console of my vehicle as I type this. I bet my life on it.
Carried a 1980s Charter Bulldog from 87 to 96 when it was replaced by an early production 696. The 696 is larger and heavier but if you want to give it lots of range time it is much better. The Charter is a much easier gun to carry, with a good belt and holster you can literally forget it is strapped to you. I do have a couple of rigs that allow me to pack the 696 with reasonable comfort. Never expose a Charter Bulldog to "hot" loads. It probably won't come apart but it will loosen up and go out of time with heavy use. I have yet to see one blow up but I have seen quite a few "abused" examples. If you're looking at a used one look at it VERY carefully. The Charter IS a great design and I truly wish Ruger or S&W would embrace the concept of a small light big bore snub. I think Ruger could build a slightly larger SP 101 frame in .44 Spl. in steel that would make the perfect carry snub when used with reasonable loads. A 200 gr. bullet at 900 fps will give you ballistics equal to a .45 ACP. I really like being able to see the holes from 50 yards away. The Speer 200 gr. Gold Dot bullet claims to open up reliably at 825 fps and all of the handloads I have tested with it prove that it does. If you are limited to factory loads go with the Speer. Avoid the light bullet (180 gr.) "high performance" loads on the market. You won't gain much and it will rapidly accelerate wear and tear on a Charter. My current favorite handload is a 200 gr. RNFP "cowboy action" bullet with a flat point that looks like the front end of a Kenworth. It will take pins off the table exactly like they were hit with .45 ball. I've actually shot a couple of IPSC matches with it on a dare and it was a riot. Comments like "how fast can you reload that thing?" and "you gotta be kidding" and "the cylinder will fall out somewhere around Stage 4."
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I bought a new one a couple of months ago. Last week I took a box of reloads out to my little range and proceeded to go through all 50 rounds without any issues at all. It felt good in the hand, and I didn't get tired of shooting it. It was cold out, and I was ready to go in, or I would have shot off another box.
I am really considering getting one of their new Pitbull's in .40 S&W.
I am really considering getting one of their new Pitbull's in .40 S&W.
didnt get to the show until sunday....i must have missed out on any that were there. time to make a phone call and get one ordered
i reload, so im really looking forward to tinkering around a bit, and working up a load for self defense
i reload, so im really looking forward to tinkering around a bit, and working up a load for self defense
My wife won a Bulldog 44spc. at a Friends of the NRA Banquet last year. I was a little skeptical when she chose it but after shooting it I like it a lot. She likes it enought that she won't let go of it.
MachIVshooter
Member
I use a 210 gr. SJHP over 8.5 grs. Unique and a CCI 350 primer. It clocks 985 FPS from the 2.5" Bulldog Pug. Recoil is pretty stiff, though; Feels about the same as my 3" 629 with full mag loads. The little bulldogs are just so lighweight they don't tame it at all. However, I don't find it difficult to control. Uncomfortable after awhile, but not uncontrollable.
I enjoy mine just fine....never a problem...and what's best about it.....owning a .44 mag....I can reload all the 44 Specials I need with a twist of the same reloading dies.....
I can't really speak for the new one's since my .44spl Bulldog was purschased in 2001. I will say that there customer service and lifetime warranty is solid. I had to send mine back due to light primer hits this February. Turned out only to be faulty grips that were pinching mainspring. Charter returned it to my door step in 7 days. I like this little guy as a big bore CCW companion. I just wish there were more AFFORDABLE and quality holster selections than I've found.
After 33 years of owning, carrying and reloading for Bulldogs my bottom line is that they are great carry guns but are not designed to hold up to lots and lots of shooting. I usually put 50 rounds of lead reloads through mine a few times a year to stay sharp. It will get loose if you put thousands of rounds through it like you might with a 1911 race gun. This is not a problem if you are like most of us and get plenty of practice with several other revolvers. It should also not be a problem to replace it for those who can afford enough expensive factory ammo to shoot it loose. The true advantage of the Bulldog is that it is light and handy yet still shoots a serious big bore round. Nothing else fills that nich. You are much more likely to have with you when you really need it while the big heavy Ruger sits home in the safe. By all means get one.
Absolutely right Mr. Sparks. Carry it all the time. Shoot it just enough to be confident with it. My Bulldog is still as tight as when I bought it in 89.
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