Reflections on the Charter Arms .44 Special

[Captain O]

I bought one of the newer Bulldog "Back Packer". Limited run for Lew Horton. It is SS, ported and has wooden grips. Only have a couple 100 rounds down range and love how it shoots. I bought a holster from Wild Bill Concealment Holsters. I think they said it was the same holster that the Colt Detective uses.

I have a S&W 642 and 640 and thinking about putting the 642 back in the safe where the CA is sitting. Also, in the safe is a CA 38 undercover that has to be 30 years old. Took it out to the range a month or so ago and it is still tight. I do reload for the Bulldog, and have been shooting a 200 gn LSWC on top of 7.0 gn of Unique. For carry I have loaded some Speer Green Dot on top of 7.8 gn of Unique.

RunninLate:

Why did you need a ported Bulldog? A nice set of Pachmyer Compac grips will "cure the Bulldog's 'bite'".

Is that a 2.5 or 3" barreled version?

 

[RunninLate]

CaptianO, I always wanted a ported gun and was thinking about having my SBH ported. When I saw this came ported I bought it. Just posted a picture of the gun.

I try to keep my reloads to around 800-825 f/sec for punching holes in paper and 875 for SD. With those velocities I am not sure if the porting is helping or hurting. I do know there is no problem shooting the gun keeping the bullets below 875 f/sec.

 

[Captain O]

People don't seem to understand.

The .44 S&W Special is a marvelous cartridge! My .45 ACP Pitbull should be an excellent revolver, combining a big-bore bullet diameter (.451") with moderately "peppy" velocites (a 4" barrel self-loading equivalent).

It works for me!

 

[greenmtnguy]

I've been thinking about the 45ACP Pitbull as an alternative to the 44Special - I already load for the 45ACP so that is a big plus for me, and ballistically I think the 2 cartridges are very close.

 

[Captain O]

Greenmtguy:

I don't think that you can go wrong with a .45 Pitbull. It's a "working gun" with enough punch to get the job done. Remember: Charter Arms has a "lifetime warranty" and Nick Ecker backs his revolvers 100% of the time as long as you own it. I know I'll "rock the casbah" with this piece!

Go for it and enjoy!