Federal .44 Special LSWCHP

Model12Win · April 28, 2015, 10:49 PM

Hey guys!

I have a new Charter Arms Bulldog that is quickly becoming one of my most favorite revolvers, and I plan to use it for cooler month EDC and as a primary sidearm while in the woods (Eastern Kansas) all year around, plus using it is a secondary home defense handgun and possibly while traveling.

Needless to say, I need a good defensive load for the gun. I've been doing tons of research online, trying to find a good load that will reliably expand from the 2.5" barrel on my Bulldog. So far, I've tried Winchester 200 grain Silvertips, Blazer 200 grain GDHPs, and Hornady 165 grain Critical Defense rounds in .44 special.

The only one I've shot is the Blazer load. It gets many recommendations as a top carry load for the Charter Arms Bulldogs... but unfortunately, my gun does not like the aluminum cases that round uses. They stick terribly in the chambers, and had to be plucked one by one from the back of the cylinder during reloads. All other loads using brass cases often just fell right out of the gun, I didn't even need to use the ejector most of the time.

As for the other loads, after some research, neither seem very satisfactory. The Hornady 165 grain load does seem to expand from the Bulldogs, but underpenetrates and will only go about 9-10" in ballistics gel. I would greatly prefer something that goes over 12" per the FBI recommendations, but not more than 15-16" or so as I don't want a round that will overpenetrate.

The Winchester 200 grain Silvertips apparantly used to be a great load, but the ones I have are new production with a supposedly tougher jacket that won't reliably expand at Bulldog velocities.

Enter the Federal 200 grain LSWCHP round.

I bought 3 boxes of these from GunBroker just a while ago, and am wondering if this would be a good load for the Bulldog. I have heard it sold under both the "Champion" and "Personal Defense" line, the three boxes I got were listed as the Personal Defense marked ones, though I beliveve it's the same load. I think I read that this uses a softer hollow point bullet and should expand, it looks quite like an enlarger "FBI load" which is a .38 special +P 158 grain LSWCHP.

I am just trying to get some feedback on this particular load form Federal, and to see if anybody else has any experience with it. Will this be a good defense load for my Charter Arms Bulldog with 2.5" barrel? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much all!

Sgt127 · April 29, 2015, 12:30 AM

I'm sure it would be fine. Likely just act as a .44 semiwadcutter. Which is not a bad thing. If you chrono that, I'll bet you would be shocked at how slow it goes out of a short barrel.

I've got a 696. I ran a few different factory loads through it. As I really can't recall the velocities. I wasn't impressed though. Until I remembered it was still a big chunk of lead.

hartcreek · April 29, 2015, 12:48 AM

The problem is so many loads that others of us use in a more substancial .44 Special will be simply too much for a Charter Bulldog and your hand. If you used my loading you would be missing fingers. You may have to load a special .44 load just for that Bulldog.

salvadore · April 29, 2015, 02:10 AM

I'm shooting a 200gr RN out of my 396 because thats the lightest .44 bullet I cast for. For a defense round I'm looking for a commercial cast WC @ around 180gr and see if I can push it over 700fps out of the 3" barrel.

JERRYS. · April 29, 2015, 10:05 AM

Water jug test them. I know its not bal-gel, but at least you will be able to determine if they will expand at all at the speeds you get from a 2.5" bbl. if they wont expand in water, they wont do so in bal-gel.

Bob Wright · April 29, 2015, 10:21 AM

For the short barrel guns I prefer the heavier bullets, 240~246 gr. The velocity is rather modest, but that chunk of lead gets the job done.

Many years ago I had a Charter Bulldog, and built my loads around .44 Russian brass. This provided more positive extraction with that short throw ejector.

And Speer had a half jacketed bullet with a pure lead core that worked real good.

Bob Wright

Model12Win · April 29, 2015, 11:20 AM

Thanks all!

Jerry, I'll be doing a jug test soon with this load. Thanks for the recommendation!

rodfac · May 6, 2015, 07:33 AM

I'd be interested in any leading from that Fed load. It looks like a dry lubricant in your pics...Rod

Model12Win · May 6, 2015, 06:08 PM

I bought 3 boxes of these from Gun Broker... but after further research, decided to pass on them so didn't go through with the payment (I contacted the seller, they understood and didn't blame me).

Appears these don't expand too well from Bulldog barrels, just not enough velocity.

kilimanjaro · May 6, 2015, 06:14 PM

.44 Special is a great cartridge, I can recommend the Winchester.

If you don't reload, you've got a good reason to start. Tailored loads are ideal.

jglsprings · May 6, 2015, 06:17 PM

Now what I want is some place I where I can get those bullets for reloading. That is what I want for Christmas.

I miss that 3/4 jacket Speer bullet "from the old days".

mete · May 6, 2015, 07:18 PM

Old Speers ? I loved them and the jswchp I used for metallic silhouette and deer . Only one recovered from deer - 30" until stopped by the hide in the back end .expanded to .50. IIRC the bullets weren't pure lead , but 3 % antimony .That's how they got the penetration.

I wouldn't worry about the bullet weight for small game or defense. You've got a 44 which does a lot of damage even if it doesn't expand.

Everything started outwith the 44 Russian which was considered the most accurate handgun cartridge . When replaced by the 44 Special they never boosted velocity but kept the Russian velocity , only wanting the accuracy.This dispite the fact that most of the guns could go to about 1000 fps with the available guns and 200 gr.Excellent guns were chambered in the 44 Russian ,like the Remington Rolling Block Target.

April 28, 2015, 10:49 PM	#1
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Federal .44 Special LSWCHP Hey guys! I have a new Charter Arms Bulldog that is quickly becoming one of my most favorite revolvers, and I plan to use it for cooler month EDC and as a primary sidearm while in the woods (Eastern Kansas) all year around, plus using it is a secondary home defense handgun and possibly while traveling. Needless to say, I need a good defensive load for the gun. I've been doing tons of research online, trying to find a good load that will reliably expand from the 2.5" barrel on my Bulldog. So far, I've tried Winchester 200 grain Silvertips, Blazer 200 grain GDHPs, and Hornady 165 grain Critical Defense rounds in .44 special. The only one I've shot is the Blazer load. It gets many recommendations as a top carry load for the Charter Arms Bulldogs... but unfortunately, my gun does not like the aluminum cases that round uses. They stick terribly in the chambers, and had to be plucked one by one from the back of the cylinder during reloads. All other loads using brass cases often just fell right out of the gun, I didn't even need to use the ejector most of the time. As for the other loads, after some research, neither seem very satisfactory. The Hornady 165 grain load does seem to expand from the Bulldogs, but underpenetrates and will only go about 9-10" in ballistics gel. I would greatly prefer something that goes over 12" per the FBI recommendations, but not more than 15-16" or so as I don't want a round that will overpenetrate. The Winchester 200 grain Silvertips apparantly used to be a great load, but the ones I have are new production with a supposedly tougher jacket that won't reliably expand at Bulldog velocities. Enter the Federal 200 grain LSWCHP round. I bought 3 boxes of these from GunBroker just a while ago, and am wondering if this would be a good load for the Bulldog. I have heard it sold under both the "Champion" and "Personal Defense" line, the three boxes I got were listed as the Personal Defense marked ones, though I beliveve it's the same load. I think I read that this uses a softer hollow point bullet and should expand, it looks quite like an enlarger "FBI load" which is a .38 special +P 158 grain LSWCHP. I am just trying to get some feedback on this particular load form Federal, and to see if anybody else has any experience with it. Will this be a good defense load for my Charter Arms Bulldog with 2.5" barrel? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much all!

April 29, 2015, 10:21 AM	#6
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	For the short barrel guns I prefer the heavier bullets, 240~246 gr. The velocity is rather modest, but that chunk of lead gets the job done. Many years ago I had a Charter Bulldog, and built my loads around .44 Russian brass. This provided more positive extraction with that short throw ejector. And Speer had a half jacketed bullet with a pure lead core that worked real good. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment. Last edited by Bob Wright; April 29, 2015 at 10:30 AM.

May 6, 2015, 07:33 AM	#8
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	I'd be interested in any leading from that Fed load. It looks like a dry lubricant in your pics...Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

May 6, 2015, 06:17 PM	#11
jglsprings Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2009 Posts: 1,827	Now what I want is some place I where I can get those bullets for reloading. That is what I want for Christmas. I miss that 3/4 jacket Speer bullet "from the old days". __________________ Let's eat Grandma. Let's eat, Grandma. Commas save lives...

May 6, 2015, 07:18 PM	#12
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Old Speers ? I loved them and the jswchp I used for metallic silhouette and deer . Only one recovered from deer - 30" until stopped by the hide in the back end .expanded to .50. IIRC the bullets weren't pure lead , but 3 % antimony .That's how they got the penetration. I wouldn't worry about the bullet weight for small game or defense. You've got a 44 which does a lot of damage even if it doesn't expand. Everything started outwith the 44 Russian which was considered the most accurate handgun cartridge . When replaced by the 44 Special they never boosted velocity but kept the Russian velocity , only wanting the accuracy.This dispite the fact that most of the guns could go to about 1000 fps with the available guns and 200 gr.Excellent guns were chambered in the 44 Russian ,like the Remington Rolling Block Target. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

April 29, 2015, 12:30 AM	#2
Sgt127 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2002 Posts: 1,053	I'm sure it would be fine. Likely just act as a .44 semiwadcutter. Which is not a bad thing. If you chrono that, I'll bet you would be shocked at how slow it goes out of a short barrel. I've got a 696. I ran a few different factory loads through it. As I really can't recall the velocities. I wasn't impressed though. Until I remembered it was still a big chunk of lead.

April 29, 2015, 12:48 AM	#3
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	The problem is so many loads that others of us use in a more substancial .44 Special will be simply too much for a Charter Bulldog and your hand. If you used my loading you would be missing fingers. You may have to load a special .44 load just for that Bulldog.

April 29, 2015, 02:10 AM	#4
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I'm shooting a 200gr RN out of my 396 because thats the lightest .44 bullet I cast for. For a defense round I'm looking for a commercial cast WC @ around 180gr and see if I can push it over 700fps out of the 3" barrel.

April 29, 2015, 10:05 AM	#5
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,969	Water jug test them. I know its not bal-gel, but at least you will be able to determine if they will expand at all at the speeds you get from a 2.5" bbl. if they wont expand in water, they wont do so in bal-gel.

April 29, 2015, 11:20 AM	#7
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Thanks all! Jerry, I'll be doing a jug test soon with this load. Thanks for the recommendation!

May 6, 2015, 06:08 PM	#9
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	I bought 3 boxes of these from Gun Broker... but after further research, decided to pass on them so didn't go through with the payment (I contacted the seller, they understood and didn't blame me). Appears these don't expand too well from Bulldog barrels, just not enough velocity.

May 6, 2015, 06:14 PM	#10
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	.44 Special is a great cartridge, I can recommend the Winchester. If you don't reload, you've got a good reason to start. Tailored loads are ideal.