How About a Bulldog Club?

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British, Belgian, American, antique or Modern Charter Arms, bring out your Bulldog revolvers! Webley RICs and clones also welcome!
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Despite what it says this is very much not British. It has no proof-marks, but is most likely Belgian, where they referred to tiny bulldogs like this one as a 'puppy.' I bought it as a parts-gun for $50. The hammer was crudely chopped and it needed a new trigger-return spring. Originally chambered in .320 Revolver (.32 Colt) it has been re-chambered for .32 S&W. Locks up nice and tight, and the DA trigger is very smooth.The step mounted on the frame behind the trigger is to locate your finger clear of the trigger's travel. I've only ever seen this on one other gun of this type, but there was a spare screw-hole so I added one to this one. Makes it much easier to shoot!

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Again, not so much British. This one is American, and chambered for .38 S&W. This one doesn't lock up quite as well as the others, but it is shootable. Like all of the guns shown in this post the DA trigger is very smooth, with no staging. The sights are virtually useless, so accuracy beyond a few yards is iffy.

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This is the enigmatic 'British Lion' revolver. The maker is unknown, but suspected to be Belgian. This one bears Birmingham proofs and inspection marks. Since Webley trademarked the name 'Bulldog' in 1878 I believe that these were made in Belgium for the British trade after that time, hence the name Lion instead of Bulldog. This one is chambered in .450 Adams, and despite the odd ergonomics it's a good shooter.
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OK, technically this isn't a Bulldog, but close enough! This is a model 1883 Royal Irish Constabulary in .450 Adams. The grip is quite comfortable and the trigger is excellent; it's a pleasure to shoot this gun. This one is marked on the other side with a British Broad-Arrow acceptance mark, flanked by a celtic 'U' on either side, possibly meaning it was issued in Ulster? I don't know, but it's one of my favorite revolvers. This, BTW, is famous as Dr.Watson's revolver in the Sherlock Holmes series. I really wish someone made a modern reproduction of these guns!

So lets see your Bulldogs, new or old!
 
Mine are boring. I have two Charter Arms, one in 44 special and one in 45acp. They both have mediocre DA triggers and pretty good SA triggers. They have aluminum frames. I could be wrong, but I don't think they would last well with tens of thousands of rounds or hot ammo. On the other hand, with occasional use and mild practice loads, my experience is that CA revolvers will go bang every time and meet basic needs.

I've included the 45acp Pit Bull in several posts recently. The factory had to fix it for me. It seems to be fixed. The spring-loaded retainer thingies are mildly wonky, and I don't prefer a regular hammer on a CC revolver. On the other hand, 45acp is easy to find and relatively cheap.

I mildly prefer the 44 special. I've owned it for something like 4-5 years and it's never given me problems. I shoot it occasionally with my FiL's mild reloads, and occasionally carry it with something a little more substantial. I really like the shrouded hammer. If it's cold outside and I am going to coat pocket carry, five rounds of 44 special goodness gives me the warm fuzzies. I feel like the local bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and two-legged varmints would not fare well if struck by the type of rounds that I carry in it.
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I'm not sure if my Rossi Model 720's count. They are somewhere in between the J-frame size and the K-frame size. They also have 3" barrels.

I got the fixed-sight hammerless version for $250 at a local pawnshop. The trigger is a bit stiff, and after it heats up, the spent brass gets a little annoying to remove. I haven't bothered polishing out the chambers because my CA Bulldog is so much easier to carry due to its lighter weight. Still, it has pretty good potential.

The Rossi Model 720 was only made for a few years in the early 1990's. If you are lucky enough to get a good one, you have a very nice revolver. I got this one for cheap, and it had been abused. It had to go to the gunsmith. The insides were still goopy with ancient hardened packing grease, and some idiot apparently flipped the cylinder shut a bunch of times. The same idiot apparently dry-fired it a million times and weakened the hammer-nose firing pin. After a considerable amount of TLC, this is one awesome revolver. The DA and SA triggers are both excellent. The sights are big and adjustable. Everyone who shoots it loves it. A revolver this small in 44 special should not be this accurate. It's very hard to miss with. If I am feeling pretty good, it's normal for me to make one big hole at seven yards with 50 rounds of ammo, or a 50-round groups similar to my best longer-barreled revolvers at 15 yards. I haven't carried it, but I would feel very confident doing so.
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I'm not sure if my Rossi Model 720's count. They are somewhere in between the J-frame size and the K-frame size. They also have 3" barrels.

I got the fixed-sight hammerless version for $250 at a local pawnshop. The trigger is a bit stiff, and after it heats up, the spent brass gets a little annoying to remove. I haven't bothered polishing out the chambers because my CA Bulldog is so much easier to carry due to its lighter weight. Still, it has pretty good potential.

The Rossi Model 720 was only made for a few years in the early 1990's. If you are lucky enough to get a good one, you have a very nice revolver. I got this one for cheap, and it had been abused. It had to go to the gunsmith. The insides were still goopy with ancient hardened packing grease, and some idiot apparently flipped the cylinder shut a bunch of times. The same idiot apparently dry-fired it a million times and weakened the hammer-nose firing pin. After a considerable amount of TLC, this is one awesome revolver. The DA and SA triggers are both excellent. The sights are big and adjustable. Everyone who shoots it loves it. A revolver this small in 44 special should not be this accurate. It's very hard to miss with. If I am feeling pretty good, it's normal for me to make one big hole at seven yards with 50 rounds of ammo, or a 50-round groups similar to my best longer-barreled revolvers at 15 yards. I haven't carried it, but I would feel very confident doing so.
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Love those 720s! Wish I could find one around here...
 
I have an old 3" stainless Bulldog in the 830,000 serial number range. Great little revolver that I think I will send to Charter for a rebuild (too many Skeeter loads in a pretty light five-gun). No ability here to post photos and no camera to take them with, or you would have another one to look at.

This one does real well with a bit less than maximum charge of Red Dot and Lyman 429421 cast bullet.
 
My CA Bulldog XL in 45 colt, has a slight issue with one chamber but it shoots well, carries easy, and I think it is pretty durable and reliable thus far... a few hundred rounds through it and the trigger just keeps improving. Frame and cylinder are stainless steel, as in the 45ACP pitbull and 41 mag Magpug.

(Picture problem, will fix)
This is still totally stock, but may shop for wood grips for it. These rubber ones do a good job of taming recoil to a manageable level.

Cylinder length will keep you from loading longer loads for it, but it really shoots nicely with 225grainers
 
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Im in ... Charter Bulldog 44spl

I have been debating about another Charter ... I missed out on a "Backpacker " about a 18 yrs ago at a LGS ... I was debating about having one built .. Then out rolled tbe Boomer
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Do you consider a Charter Bulldog closer to a J frame or a K Frame ?
 
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"Sweet guns! I need to get a CA Bulldog.
Curious- do you shoot them?"

The T&I revolver is still being "restored." I have shot the "Bulldog" with black powder loaded .450 Adams cartridges. Even with only 13 grains of powder and a 220 grain .452 lead bullet it is a real handful! Dr. Watson was adequately armed carrying one of these as an "Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen that can twist steel pokers into knots."
 
Mine are boring. I have two Charter Arms, one in 44 special and one in 45acp. They both have mediocre DA triggers and pretty good SA triggers. They have aluminum frames. I could be wrong, but I don't think they would last well with tens of thousands of rounds or hot ammo. On the other hand, with occasional use and mild practice loads, my experience is that CA revolvers will go bang every time and meet basic needs.

I've included the 45acp Pit Bull in several posts recently. The factory had to fix it for me. It seems to be fixed. The spring-loaded retainer thingies are mildly wonky, and I don't prefer a regular hammer on a CC revolver. On the other hand, 45acp is easy to find and relatively cheap.

I mildly prefer the 44 special. I've owned it for something like 4-5 years and it's never given me problems. I shoot it occasionally with my FiL's mild reloads, and occasionally carry it with something a little more substantial. I really like the shrouded hammer. If it's cold outside and I am going to coat pocket carry, five rounds of 44 special goodness gives me the warm fuzzies. I feel like the local bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and two-legged varmints would not fare well if struck by the type of rounds that I carry in it.
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When did Charter come out with a bodyguard style Bulldog?
 
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