New .44sp

camosteve243 · February 23, 2013, 11:04 PM

Just picked up it last week! .44sp

Dan-O · February 23, 2013, 11:15 PM

I can't see it.

tynman · February 23, 2013, 11:21 PM

Sweet!!!

Chesster · February 24, 2013, 12:01 AM

Nice Steve, shot it yet?

lowercase · February 24, 2013, 01:27 AM

Those Tiger striped Bulldogs are hard to find around my parts. I like that it's marked, "Tiger", too.

It looks great. Congrats!

camosteve243 · February 24, 2013, 02:23 AM

THanks!

Have not gotten the chance too

The weather here has been nothing but [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] and I'm not paying to shoot at a indoor one.

I did pick up some 200gr. HPs for it thou, can't wait to give um a try!

PPQ226guy · February 24, 2013, 07:08 PM

Nice! I just put a 44 special on layaway myself. Can't wait to get it out.

franco45 · February 24, 2013, 09:11 PM

I like the looks of that Tiger. Nice pickup.

shootniron · February 24, 2013, 09:34 PM

If they made that with a concealed hammer, I would have to have one.

Good looking gun.

DocCasualty · February 24, 2013, 09:37 PM

Cool looking revolver, in one of my favorite calibers too.

I know that Charter Arms QC has been all over the map over the years. What's the consensus now, a safe bet as far as reliability?

lowercase · February 24, 2013, 09:57 PM

Quote:

I know that Charter Arms QC has been all over the map over the years. What's the consensus now, a safe bet as far as reliability?

I have a 2012 Bulldog that is my EDC. It has been flawless.

mj246 · February 25, 2013, 04:43 AM

I have a new production Bulldog and already have about 75-90 rounds through it no problem. It works great, and recoil isn't too bad with target loads. The Bulldog 44 spl Gold Dots from Underwood I got for SD loads were less pleasant, but are accurate and about as powerful as you can get without tearing the light framed Charters to shreds.

Really like the look of that Tiger Striped Bulldog. I also might have been tempted if they made it in DAO, but I like the plain black finish a lot too.

For those that really want one of these in DAO, Charter sells the DAO hammers as parts for $25 on their website.

camosteve243 · February 26, 2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

I know that Charter Arms QC has been all over the map over the years. What's the consensus now, a safe bet as far as reliability?

I did my homework and have heard nothing but good things.

Can't load it up as much as say a Ruger or Smith but still a nice firearm.

Ozzieman · February 26, 2013, 07:12 PM

I am so sorry for you, you have crossed over to the dark side.
My first gun was a used Bulldog, my second was a new stainless bulldog and that was over 25 years ago.
I now have over 10, 44 specials and still have the bull.
There is no fix for this addiction other than buying MORE.
Nice stripes.

camosteve243 · February 26, 2013, 08:38 PM

Ozzieman,

Hahaha nice! Buying more is the only option

This is my 1st .44sp haven't gotten to the range yet..

the weather has to come around sooner or later!

rodfac · February 27, 2013, 09:49 AM

Ah........the .44 spl, my favorite caliber....easily the most accurate caliber in a handgun...IMHO. Good luck with yours, if you handload, you'll find a wealth of information on this wonderful cartridge. I've heard good things over the years about Charters....hope yours works out well for you. Best Regards, Rod

Ozzieman · February 27, 2013, 07:53 PM

Stay at or under 200 Gr bullets. The bullets in the photo were fired out of this gun, first though a heavy jacket then into a tank full of water. These were done by a good friend and Indiana state police ballistic tech way back in 1983. These were the old silver tip design and as you can tell they worked very well. Weigh retention was about 90% and expansion was around ¾ of an inch. Never use any heavy bullets.
Buffalo bore makes some nice stuff for the special but I have never used any for the bulldog. I have in the N frame S&W. 200 GR at almost 1000 FPS will batter a Bulldog
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=282
The holster which you can tell from all the scars is old and still works very well. It’s a De Santis Bulldog. But I don’t think they make holsters any more for the bulldog.

mj246 · February 28, 2013, 05:00 AM

Quote:

200 GR at almost 1000 FPS will batter a Bulldog
--Ozzieman

I agree with this completely. Not only will hot-rodded ammo deteriorate your gun in short order, but it will also wreck your hand, wrist, and more importantly follow-up shots, unless you're quite proficient at firing stout ammo out of a very lightweight revolver. the stoutest stuff I ever plan on putting through my bulldog is the Underwood Bulldog 44 spl 200gr Gold dot load mentioned in my previous post. It is rated at 975 fps out of a S&W model 396 3.25" barrel. That likely equates to about 900 fps or so from the 2.5" Bulldog and a little more from the older 3" version. Even this I would use sparingly, but they have it listed specifically for the Charter Arms model and if used only a little to get a feel for it, I'm sure it wouldn't cause undo damage like some of the really hot 44spl loadings.

It WILL/DOES put a lot of recoil straight into your palm and wrist, but I was able to get three out of five shots touching in the 9 ring of a 5" target at about 3 yards in fast double-action, two-handed fire.

From what I've read/shot the best defense loads for this gun in no particular order are the Underwood Bulldog load (item #321 and currently out of stock), the 200gr Blazer Gold dot (a little hotter than the Speer branded load, but lighter than the Underwood), and the 200gr Winchester Silvertips. A good hunting/defense load would be the Buffalo bore 200gr wadcutter, but I would be very reluctant to put a significant number of rounds that hot through a Bulldog, no matter what BB says on the website.

Good target loads are any 200gr or under cowboy load or light handloads just for practice. As always, JMHO and YMMV

February 23, 2013, 11:04 PM	#1
camosteve243 Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 27	New .44sp Just picked up it last week! .44sp __________________ "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and always keep your powder dry"

February 24, 2013, 12:01 AM	#4
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,538	Nice Steve, shot it yet? __________________ Chesster Proud NDN "The American Idle" Vote 'Pro-Choice' on 2nd Amendment issues!!!

February 24, 2013, 02:23 AM	#6
camosteve243 Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 27	THanks! Have not gotten the chance too The weather here has been nothing but [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] and I'm not paying to shoot at a indoor one. I did pick up some 200gr. HPs for it thou, can't wait to give um a try! __________________ "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and always keep your powder dry"

February 24, 2013, 09:37 PM	#10
DocCasualty Member Join Date: August 21, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 26	Cool looking revolver, in one of my favorite calibers too. I know that Charter Arms QC has been all over the map over the years. What's the consensus now, a safe bet as far as reliability? __________________ NRA Life Member

February 26, 2013, 07:12 PM	#14
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	I am so sorry for you, you have crossed over to the dark side. My first gun was a used Bulldog, my second was a new stainless bulldog and that was over 25 years ago. I now have over 10, 44 specials and still have the bull. There is no fix for this addiction other than buying MORE. Nice stripes. __________________ It was a sad day when I discovered my universal remote control did not in fact control the universe. Did you hear about the latest study.....5 out of 6 liberals say that Russian Roulette is safe.

February 23, 2013, 11:15 PM	#2
Dan-O Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2011 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 969	I can't see it.

February 23, 2013, 11:21 PM	#3
tynman Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 361	Sweet!!!

February 24, 2013, 01:27 AM	#5
lowercase Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2012 Posts: 287	Those Tiger striped Bulldogs are hard to find around my parts. I like that it's marked, "Tiger", too. It looks great. Congrats!

February 24, 2013, 07:08 PM	#7
PPQ226guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 101	Nice! I just put a 44 special on layaway myself. Can't wait to get it out.

February 24, 2013, 09:11 PM	#8
franco45 Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2010 Location: Toledo Ohio Posts: 474	I like the looks of that Tiger. Nice pickup.

February 24, 2013, 09:34 PM	#9
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	If they made that with a concealed hammer, I would have to have one. Good looking gun.

February 25, 2013, 04:43 AM	#12
mj246 Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2010 Location: PA Posts: 282	I have a new production Bulldog and already have about 75-90 rounds through it no problem. It works great, and recoil isn't too bad with target loads. The Bulldog 44 spl Gold Dots from Underwood I got for SD loads were less pleasant, but are accurate and about as powerful as you can get without tearing the light framed Charters to shreds. Really like the look of that Tiger Striped Bulldog. I also might have been tempted if they made it in DAO, but I like the plain black finish a lot too. For those that really want one of these in DAO, Charter sells the DAO hammers as parts for $25 on their website.

February 26, 2013, 08:38 PM	#15
camosteve243 Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 27	Ozzieman, Hahaha nice! Buying more is the only option This is my 1st .44sp haven't gotten to the range yet.. the weather has to come around sooner or later! __________________ "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and always keep your powder dry"

February 27, 2013, 09:49 AM	#16
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Ah........the .44 spl, my favorite caliber....easily the most accurate caliber in a handgun...IMHO. Good luck with yours, if you handload, you'll find a wealth of information on this wonderful cartridge. I've heard good things over the years about Charters....hope yours works out well for you. Best Regards, 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.

February 27, 2013, 07:53 PM	#17
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	Stay at or under 200 Gr bullets. The bullets in the photo were fired out of this gun, first though a heavy jacket then into a tank full of water. These were done by a good friend and Indiana state police ballistic tech way back in 1983. These were the old silver tip design and as you can tell they worked very well. Weigh retention was about 90% and expansion was around ¾ of an inch. Never use any heavy bullets. Buffalo bore makes some nice stuff for the special but I have never used any for the bulldog. I have in the N frame S&W. 200 GR at almost 1000 FPS will batter a Bulldog https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=282 The holster which you can tell from all the scars is old and still works very well. It’s a De Santis Bulldog. But I don’t think they make holsters any more for the bulldog. __________________ It was a sad day when I discovered my universal remote control did not in fact control the universe. Did you hear about the latest study.....5 out of 6 liberals say that Russian Roulette is safe. Last edited by Ozzieman; February 12, 2017 at 06:27 PM.