I Always Liked These, Now I Have One

mk70ss · January 18, 2025, 01:24 PM

Went to a small gun show here in Knoxville today and came home with this stainless classic. Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special.

Pumpkin · January 18, 2025, 01:35 PM

Had one just like it long ago, sure do miss it. Fantastic little gun.

flyer898 · January 18, 2025, 01:47 PM

I always wanted one and still do.

ligonierbill · January 18, 2025, 04:40 PM

Good pistol. Just don't do "Skeeter" loads.

Super Sneaky Steve · January 18, 2025, 11:31 PM

What a beautiful handgun and in a fantastic caliber.

Shoots Left · January 19, 2025, 01:08 AM

Welcome to the club!

Attached is my 30+ year old beater. It's been carried a lot and shot a lot. Unfortunately I forgot the CA motto: Carry a lot...Shoot a little.

Yeah it's had some parts replaced but it's been a good gun and I wouldn't trade it for nothing!

bamaranger · January 19, 2025, 11:41 PM

Had one as well, back in the early 80's. Handloaded for it w/ 250 gr Keith slugs and too much Unique for it's small frame and shot it out of time. I liked it alot, carried it plenty, both in town and afield. Alot of gun for not much weight.

The little gun shot to point of aim with it's fixed sights and was accurate enough, but I kept no records. I had a set of square-butt rubber grips which tamed it a good bit. Also had a variety of holsters which allowed carry options. The heavy Keith slugs were used afield and W-W 200 gr Silvertips for SD.

I didn't recall they made a stainless classic model but it would be practical. The lugged pistols are attractive to me as well. I never replaced my Bulldog, but should have.

Bob Wright · January 20, 2025, 10:51 AM

When Charter first introduced the .44 Special Bulldog I bought one, mostly on a lark as it fit nowhere in my shooting study at the time. But, having a supply of .44 Russian brass a the time, I went to that caliber. (Yep, .44 Russian was still found as factory loaded ammunition back then. And we had electricity, too. And automobiles.) The short Russian cases ejected more positively that the Special cases. I use the od Speer 225 gr. 3/4 jacketed SWC. One day,just fo fun, I used that little gun to plink remaining clusters of snow on the berm 110 yards downrange. As Col. Askins once described Elmer Keith's .44 Magnum as "Elmer's Little Mortar" sowasthat little Bulldog. But once I got the hold, I could put maybe three out of five rounds into a snowdrift about 14" square of so. Point is, despte its tinuy size, that little revolver was very accurate.

Bob Wright

Nathan · January 20, 2025, 11:21 AM

Cool gun wish I had a blue one.

Paul B. · January 20, 2025, 05:42 PM

A friend of mine had one and used it as his CCW piece. He wasn't too fond of the factory round nose bullets and I suggested a wadcutter (WC) loaded to about the same pecs as the rounds nose. I have a Lyman mold, #429352, a 245 gr. very flat nosed WC bullet that proved to be very accurate in his gun. I forget what the load was but the powder was w231. Recoil was about the same as factory .44 Spl. ammo.
Paul B.

bamaranger · January 22, 2025, 05:00 PM

Man, I wish somebody still produced those 3/4 jacket SWC bullets. The 240 gr number was my .44 mag bullet, and the 160 for .357. Consistent, no leading, accurate in any revolver from which I shot them. Because they were jacketed, you could drive them at magnum velocities without any issues.

I still have a partial box, loaded, for my Mtn Gun .44 at just over 1000 fps.

DT Guy · January 22, 2025, 07:04 PM

The best version of that revolver. Years ago I had the blued snubby version; with hot .44 specials, I had to remove the cylinder latch since it was taking chunks out of my hand.

I'd love to come across one like you got-that's gorgeous.

Larry

Algunner · January 27, 2025, 03:11 PM

Is that a three or four inch barrel.

Algunner · January 27, 2025, 03:15 PM

Love my polished SS Mag Pug BTW. Apparently they put the hammer and trigger in a tumbler to polish them. So the sear is polished. Trigger is light and smooth. Would post a photo but too many Mega Bytes to post!

natman · January 28, 2025, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algunner

Is that a three or four inch barrel.

The OP's gun is a three. This is what a four looks like:

I also have a stainless two with factory bobbed hammer:

TruthTellers · February 7, 2025, 04:48 AM

Not a .44 guy, but lately the Taurus 5 shot .44 Mag has me thinking in the future that might change, however I give the Charter Bulldogs credit in that they are nearly a full pound lighter that those 5 shot Taurus .44's and even at low velocities a heavy bullet still hits hard.

Also, over time I have fully embraced the full wadcutter for defensive use given they work regardless of velocity, are accurate, and are cheap for reloading. Out of a .44 Special they'd be the most consistent and don't need to be loaded hot to work. The Charter Bulldog would be a perfect pairing for wadcutters.

natman · February 7, 2025, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruthTellers

Not a .44 guy, but lately the Taurus 5 shot .44 Mag has me thinking in the future that might change, however I give the Charter Bulldogs credit in that they are nearly a full pound lighter that those 5 shot Taurus .44's and even at low velocities a heavy bullet still hits hard.

Also, over time I have fully embraced the full wadcutter for defensive use given they work regardless of velocity, are accurate, and are cheap for reloading. Out of a .44 Special they'd be the most consistent and don't need to be loaded hot to work. The Charter Bulldog would be a perfect pairing for wadcutters.

I agree. This is what I load in mine:

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=282

Drm50 · February 7, 2025, 03:43 PM

Got me a Bulldog couple years back. Got 3 boxes empties and partial box of ammo. So gun fired south of 200rds. Shot remaining ammo up and reloaded with some cast 200gr store bought bullets, loaded mild with Unique. Before I got to shoot it again a guy traded me a S&W M13 for it. Since have got a couple S&W M24-3s, both 6”ers. Not handy for CCW but accurate for sure.

TruthTellers · February 8, 2025, 03:21 AM

If I were to buy a Charter Bulldog, it'd be between the classic 3 inch model or the shrouded hammer 2 inch.

I do wish there were better sights available for the short barrel Bulldogs. That's something I've started to become more aware of recently in that it seems Kimber, Diamondback, and S&W are the ones offering excellent sights on their small frame revolvers while Taurus and Charter stick with gutter rears and fixed, non changeable fronts. You can change the front sight on the LCR, but the rears are also gutters unless they're the 3 inch model.

**4V50 Gary** · February 9, 2025, 12:11 PM

At Lassen College Bob Dunlap who later made those gunsmithing videos told us he measured the cylinder and frame, loaded some 44 Specials to 44 Mag levels and fired them off. He said the Bulldog handled it.

I doubt if it could handle a sustained diet of 44 Mag level 44 Specials. This is truly a, "Kids, don't try this at home" thing.

natman · February 9, 2025, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4V50 Gary

At Lassen College Bob Dunlap (later made those gunsmithing videos) told us he measured the cylidner and frame, loaded some 44 Specials to 44 Mag levels and fired them offf. He siad the Bulldog handled it.

I doubt if it could handle a sustained diet of 44 Mag level 44 Specials. This is truly a, "Kids, don't try this at home" thing.

I agree. While a CA might be able to handle 44 Mag pressure without blowing up, it won't do it for long without shooting loose. Besides, I find recoil in a Bulldog to be quite adequate with standard 44 Special loads.

Shoots Left · February 9, 2025, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4V50 Gary

I doubt if it could handle a sustained diet of 44 Mag level 44 Specials. This is truly a, "Kids, don't try this at home" thing.

Speaking from personal experience…Amen!

About 7 or 8 years ago and over the course of 4 or 5 trips to the range I'd probably squeezed off around 90-100ish rounds of “hot” 240gr FMJ when my example locked up on a double action pull. Through sheer luck I was able to finally relax the hammer, release the cylinder and clear it of the remaining rounds.

I sent the gun off to the revolver hospital (Charter Arms) and they replaced the broken parts and inspected the gun for visual damage. After stating that the gun was good to go again, they did mention that these kinds of breakages were usually caused by excessive use of hot rounds.

Nowadays it’s limited to 200gr SWCs, PMC 180gr JHPs or rat shot. We’re both quite content with that!

January 18, 2025, 01:24 PM	#1
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,641	I Always Liked These, Now I Have One Went to a small gun show here in Knoxville today and came home with this stainless classic. Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special. __________________ Say when.....

January 20, 2025, 10:51 AM	#8
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 3,005	When Charter first introduced the .44 Special Bulldog I bought one, mostly on a lark as it fit nowhere in my shooting study at the time. But, having a supply of .44 Russian brass a the time, I went to that caliber. (Yep, .44 Russian was still found as factory loaded ammunition back then. And we had electricity, too. And automobiles.) The short Russian cases ejected more positively that the Special cases. I use the od Speer 225 gr. 3/4 jacketed SWC. One day,just fo fun, I used that little gun to plink remaining clusters of snow on the berm 110 yards downrange. As Col. Askins once described Elmer Keith's .44 Magnum as "Elmer's Little Mortar" sowasthat little Bulldog. But once I got the hold, I could put maybe three out of five rounds into a snowdrift about 14" square of so. Point is, despte its tinuy size, that little revolver was very accurate. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

January 20, 2025, 05:42 PM	#10
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,922	A friend of mine had one and used it as his CCW piece. He wasn't too fond of the factory round nose bullets and I suggested a wadcutter (WC) loaded to about the same pecs as the rounds nose. I have a Lyman mold, #429352, a 245 gr. very flat nosed WC bullet that proved to be very accurate in his gun. I forget what the load was but the powder was w231. Recoil was about the same as factory .44 Spl. ammo. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

January 22, 2025, 05:00 PM	#11
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,748	speer 3/4 jacket SWC Man, I wish somebody still produced those 3/4 jacket SWC bullets. The 240 gr number was my .44 mag bullet, and the 160 for .357. Consistent, no leading, accurate in any revolver from which I shot them. Because they were jacketed, you could drive them at magnum velocities without any issues. I still have a partial box, loaded, for my Mtn Gun .44 at just over 1000 fps.

January 22, 2025, 07:04 PM	#12
DT Guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2001 Posts: 984	The best version of that revolver. Years ago I had the blued snubby version; with hot .44 specials, I had to remove the cylinder latch since it was taking chunks out of my hand. I'd love to come across one like you got-that's gorgeous. Larry __________________ He who fights and runs away had better run pretty damn fast. Government, Anarchy and Chaos

January 18, 2025, 01:35 PM	#2
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 939	Had one just like it long ago, sure do miss it. Fantastic little gun.

January 18, 2025, 01:47 PM	#3
flyer898 Member Join Date: May 15, 2013 Posts: 59	I always wanted one and still do.

January 18, 2025, 04:40 PM	#4
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,637	Good pistol. Just don't do "Skeeter" loads.

January 18, 2025, 11:31 PM	#5
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,323	What a beautiful handgun and in a fantastic caliber.

January 19, 2025, 11:41 PM	#7
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,748	Had one as well, back in the early 80's. Handloaded for it w/ 250 gr Keith slugs and too much Unique for it's small frame and shot it out of time. I liked it alot, carried it plenty, both in town and afield. Alot of gun for not much weight. The little gun shot to point of aim with it's fixed sights and was accurate enough, but I kept no records. I had a set of square-butt rubber grips which tamed it a good bit. Also had a variety of holsters which allowed carry options. The heavy Keith slugs were used afield and W-W 200 gr Silvertips for SD. I didn't recall they made a stainless classic model but it would be practical. The lugged pistols are attractive to me as well. I never replaced my Bulldog, but should have.

January 20, 2025, 11:21 AM	#9
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,795	Cool gun wish I had a blue one.

January 27, 2025, 03:11 PM	#13
Algunner Member Join Date: October 14, 2024 Posts: 84	Is that a three or four inch barrel.

January 27, 2025, 03:15 PM	#14
Algunner Member Join Date: October 14, 2024 Posts: 84	Love my polished SS Mag Pug BTW. Apparently they put the hammer and trigger in a tumbler to polish them. So the sear is polished. Trigger is light and smooth. Would post a photo but too many Mega Bytes to post!

February 7, 2025, 04:48 AM	#16
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	Not a .44 guy, but lately the Taurus 5 shot .44 Mag has me thinking in the future that might change, however I give the Charter Bulldogs credit in that they are nearly a full pound lighter that those 5 shot Taurus .44's and even at low velocities a heavy bullet still hits hard. Also, over time I have fully embraced the full wadcutter for defensive use given they work regardless of velocity, are accurate, and are cheap for reloading. Out of a .44 Special they'd be the most consistent and don't need to be loaded hot to work. The Charter Bulldog would be a perfect pairing for wadcutters. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

February 7, 2025, 03:43 PM	#18
Drm50 Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2014 Posts: 1,484	Got me a Bulldog couple years back. Got 3 boxes empties and partial box of ammo. So gun fired south of 200rds. Shot remaining ammo up and reloaded with some cast 200gr store bought bullets, loaded mild with Unique. Before I got to shoot it again a guy traded me a S&W M13 for it. Since have got a couple S&W M24-3s, both 6”ers. Not handy for CCW but accurate for sure.

February 8, 2025, 03:21 AM	#19
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,954	If I were to buy a Charter Bulldog, it'd be between the classic 3 inch model or the shrouded hammer 2 inch. I do wish there were better sights available for the short barrel Bulldogs. That's something I've started to become more aware of recently in that it seems Kimber, Diamondback, and S&W are the ones offering excellent sights on their small frame revolvers while Taurus and Charter stick with gutter rears and fixed, non changeable fronts. You can change the front sight on the LCR, but the rears are also gutters unless they're the 3 inch model. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

February 9, 2025, 12:11 PM	#20
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,273	At Lassen College Bob Dunlap who later made those gunsmithing videos told us he measured the cylinder and frame, loaded some 44 Specials to 44 Mag levels and fired them off. He said the Bulldog handled it. I doubt if it could handle a sustained diet of 44 Mag level 44 Specials. This is truly a, "Kids, don't try this at home" thing. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search