Grizzly2
Member
Before I bought this Bulldog in the top picture add on GB, which CA later rebarrelled to make it shoot to the sights better and polished and reblued as in the lower photo, I was at a lgs and saw my first Rossi 720 3", 5 shot adj sight, .44 special revolver. I too had longed for a model 19 conversion years ago and couldn't believe my eyes. This was so similar even though it had coil springs and couldn't be quite as smooth, though pretty good as is. I agonized for over a month and finally reluctantly passed on it. At 73, my days out in the woods and fields are about over. My wife's needs keep me pretty close to home and my carry guns usually need to be light if I'm going to carry all day, every day. The Rossi, nice as it was is just a bit too heavy for that. Oh for short periods of carry and at the range it would have been a joy to own and I still regret not having bought it also - especially when at the range I realize my shooting would be more accurate with it than the Bulldog I bought and carry often when I'm not carrying an even lighter 1980's stainless CA Undercover in a simply rugged pancake or in a pocket which they do so well at.
Back when I had the chance to buy N frame .44 specials when they were often found at lgs' I never was comfortable with the N frame. It was just a bit too large and so I never did get to enjoy them even though our local police chief let me use his nickle .44 mag to hunt with when Illinois first opened the handgun season years ago.
So for now, I enjoy the Bulldog and would love to have one cut down to 2" with a front sight and probably pass on the ports. True, it would be nice if they were a bit stronger, but then they would have to be heavier to compensate. They do what we want them to do for up close and personal very well. The Underwood full wadcutters are what are in the gun and the Silvertips are for reloads. Both have a little more recoil than say 4.5 to 5.0 grains of Bullseye and a 215 gr swc but not enough to really matter. They shoot maybe less than an inch low and the 215 is maybe 1/2" high. I have the original hand filling Bulldog grips on the bulldog right now and love the newer wood Classic Bulldog grips on the Undercover. I don't think I've ever even shot it with the little "splinter" grips it came with. Maybe, if I ever lay hands on an adapter.
Back when I had the chance to buy N frame .44 specials when they were often found at lgs' I never was comfortable with the N frame. It was just a bit too large and so I never did get to enjoy them even though our local police chief let me use his nickle .44 mag to hunt with when Illinois first opened the handgun season years ago.
So for now, I enjoy the Bulldog and would love to have one cut down to 2" with a front sight and probably pass on the ports. True, it would be nice if they were a bit stronger, but then they would have to be heavier to compensate. They do what we want them to do for up close and personal very well. The Underwood full wadcutters are what are in the gun and the Silvertips are for reloads. Both have a little more recoil than say 4.5 to 5.0 grains of Bullseye and a 215 gr swc but not enough to really matter. They shoot maybe less than an inch low and the 215 is maybe 1/2" high. I have the original hand filling Bulldog grips on the bulldog right now and love the newer wood Classic Bulldog grips on the Undercover. I don't think I've ever even shot it with the little "splinter" grips it came with. Maybe, if I ever lay hands on an adapter.
I REALLY like that rounding you have in those pictures you shared. I'll have you know, I can't come back to this thread and not look again, and wonder when I'll get the time to flatter your work with my woeful imitation thereof.
