357smallbore
Member
I have been thinking I might like to buy an Original 3in 44 Special Bulldog. Anyone ever own one and care to tll me fit, feel reliability and quality?
Original 3in Bulldog ?
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Lucky Derby
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I've owned 4 of the Bulldog .44s over the years including one of the originals. They are the only game in town if you want a big bore revolver in a near J frame size package. I've always been disappointed in them. They have all had function issues. Either light hits, or easily going out of time. The stainless ones would seize up after a couple of cylinders. They would need to cool down before they would work again. YMMV.
I really wish Ruger or S&W would take the concept and build on it. I think a slightly larger Ruger LCR would be perfect for this.
I really wish Ruger or S&W would take the concept and build on it. I think a slightly larger Ruger LCR would be perfect for this.
OrangePwrx9
Member
Don't own and have never fired a Bullldog. Did buy a couple of new 38 Spl. Undercovers this summer. Fit, finish and trigger pulls as Walkalong stated, except one has an exceptionally nice trigger both SA & DA. Both have been accurate and reliable. No light hits yet. One is a 6-shot Police Undercover which I've read is built on the Bulldog frame.
I think it depends on who was running CA when the gun was built. The people there now seem to be making a good product.
I think it depends on who was running CA when the gun was built. The people there now seem to be making a good product.
aarondhgraham
Member
I have an older 3" bulldog in stainless steel,,,
Shooting it is like wielding the Hammer of Thor.
Laverne, the gun on top, is the .44 Special,,,
Patty is the Undercover .38 Special,,,
Maxine is the .22 LR Pathfinder,,,
It's not so bad that I can't shoot 50 rounds at a session,,,
But you do know you've fired a Big Iron.
I don't have any special adoration thing for the CA handguns,,,
I just got super good deals on the .44 and the .38,,,
I already owned the .22 Pathfinder.E
I have a thing for matched sets.
It may not become your favorite range toy,,,
But it is a satisfying gun to shoot.
Aarond
.
Shooting it is like wielding the Hammer of Thor.
Laverne, the gun on top, is the .44 Special,,,
Patty is the Undercover .38 Special,,,
Maxine is the .22 LR Pathfinder,,,
That guote from Walkalong is not any kind of an understatement,,,
It's not so bad that I can't shoot 50 rounds at a session,,,
But you do know you've fired a Big Iron.
I don't have any special adoration thing for the CA handguns,,,
I just got super good deals on the .44 and the .38,,,
I already owned the .22 Pathfinder.E
I have a thing for matched sets.
It may not become your favorite range toy,,,
But it is a satisfying gun to shoot.
Aarond
.
the Black Spot
Member
Love mine!
Gordon
Member
My early Bridgeport has served me since late 70s, it very accurate and even tho I cut down the hammer had always gone bang. My mid 80 stainless one is very well put together and almost as accurate but the edges are all sharp.it would be way to fix if I wanted to and it had the factory cut down hammer and always goes bang. I don't remember ever shooting more than 50 rounds in an hour I either. They and a Colt agent are only gunsI put Pachy grips on.
It would seem the new ones are hit or miss, the one I had that was made in Shelton was a POS. I sent it back and they sent it back in the same condition I received it, out of time and badly leaded. The barrel of this new bulldog looked as if rocks were shot through it. I don't see myself wasting time or money on another.
To me it would seem that Charter Arms has no quality standards.
To me it would seem that Charter Arms has no quality standards.
Starter52
Member
My .44 Bulldog was made in 1969. Except for an occasional light primer strike I have no complaints. I have learned to avoid CCI primers when handloading for this gun.
Have both an original Bulldog and same age Undercover. With original grips, pretty bad. I put Pachmayrs on both and landlord for the 44, a 235 grain 429421 hollow point at only about 675 fps. I shoot 148 wadcutters in the 38.
Fit, finish, reliability are good but I don't shoot them a lot. Back when they first came out we had a lot of the Undercovers come back with trigger failures. Brownell even had a section in Gunsmith Kinks about it.
I carry the 44 mainly when mushroom hunting with two shot loads and three hollow points.
Fit, finish, reliability are good but I don't shoot them a lot. Back when they first came out we had a lot of the Undercovers come back with trigger failures. Brownell even had a section in Gunsmith Kinks about it.
I carry the 44 mainly when mushroom hunting with two shot loads and three hollow points.
Agreed.
I love mine for snake country loaded with rat shot, but I know it is accurate enough for self defense if I pop some 215 or 240 Gr SWCs in it, or even my home case Lee 208 Gr WCs, they all cut deep .44 caliber holes in things, and the pistol is more than accurate to take a shot if needed. Shot a goose through the head at 30 paces once. (Figured a miss or a clean kill)
I do still shoot it at the range once in a while.
I bought it (Traded for actually) to use as a snake gun, but after testing found it to be extremely accurate. What a win win.
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