My Primary Carry Revolver is an old 3 inch Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 special.I was just wondering if any one else carries these nice light 44 specials?I know there are better choices as I have plenty of other carry guns but I just like the light revolver in the 44 caliber.

Two Guns,

I ahve owned two (2) over the years, last one was back in 1989.

It is a fine concept and I would buy another one if the situation were right.

Back in those days, I traded, swapped, sold, and such like crazy.

Nothing wrong with the guns I had, just would get on a tear and trade it for something else I didn't have.

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1601 (ret)

They are nice little revolvers. Isn't it amazing that Smith can't compete with little ol' Charter Arms?

And no, I don't consider that the 696 competes. It don't.


Cat

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Think for yourself.

I had a customized one not too long ago. Bobbed hammer, slicked up, new springs, etc. It was engraved "Terminator" or something like that. I swapped it even for a minty old SB Model 36 and was happy with the deal. My wife liked it, but I was never quite sold on the concept. I've had two of the Charter .44s over the years. The other was a pug. I still have one of the Rossi 720s that I'll probably trade off.

Even in custom format, the erratic QC of Charter over the years left me a bit uneasy. I also found them to be a bit snappish. My wife liked the Charter .44s a lot though and yelled at me for swapping them off.

.44 Special ammo has unfortunately become increasingly hard to find and expensive. I always liked the Blazer JHPs though.

Well, probably should consider mail order.

Right now ammoseek.com shows 9 places with Gold Dot 44 special ammo in stock.

So it's not really had to find, but you are sure right about expensive.

If you live in one of the states that doesn't allow mail order, you probably should move.

Even the People's republic of California allows mail order in most counties.

smith&wesson can't compete with charter arms...hmmm...interesting if unlikely concept!

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Don't get me wrong, I too see quite a difference between Smith and Charter, with of course the nod going to Smith.

However, Charter has been building a 19 ounce .44 for decades. Smith hasn't. I can't imagaine that Smith can't, but they aren't. So I guess I should re-phrase what I said to "Smith won't compete."

Pity, too, as I would love to own several.


Cat

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Think for yourself.

This.....quoted for truth....as much as I like the concept, I wish Smith would do it, cause they would do it much better

The people running S&W are stupid. They still haven't made a P3AT sized .380 either.

Exactly, sheriff, exactly so! As much as I like the Charter, I would much prefer a Smith.

No one in the world could convince me that Smith is incapable of matching a Bulldog (for size & weight). They just won't. *sigh*

It's a very, very rare corporation that doesn't suffer horribly from the"If it's not invented here then it's not worthy of us" syndrome.

Sad, isn't it? I've read that Charter is and has been for a while running at their full capacity, making and selling 750 revolvers a week. If they can sell 'em, why couldn't Smith? They could, obviously. Oh well.


Cat

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Think for yourself.

I'd love to replace my Bulldog with a comparable S&W, but for now the Charter is really the only option.

I've been asking that question for years. Why couldn't S&W make the Model 13 (three inch/round butt) in a five shot .44 Special if Charter Arms can make a smaller framed gun in one? And I agree with you about the 696.

I have a .44 "Target" (very optimistic name I might add) that I have had for a while....it is my 5 shot "disposable" truck type gun, as the thumb latch no longer opens the cylinder, I I have to insert a thin tool under the end of the extractor rod to pull it open...
I keep it loaded at all times, figuring that 5 quick 44 200 grn GD's might get me out of a jam sometimes....then again, I don't have any emotional investment in it....
I (draw big red heart here) my 696 no dash.....

I found a box of Blazer 44spl Gold Dot HPs in my stash, had six shots fired (must have got them to let my friend try them since I've never owned a 44 of any sort). I am keeping them just in case I find a good deal on a Bulldog, I'll already have ammo for it

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I miss my 4546 the most.

I don't mean to be rude to those who like them but I'm not enthused about them.

I bought one of the first one's in the early 70's,kept it for a short while and sold it.The quality was terrible in my opinion.I have examined many since and have never been impressed.The concept has merit but the actual product did not do justice to it.In my opinion,it's a good idea that's badly executed.

The best were the ones made in the 1980s. Mine was flawless in manufacture. Only small issue was that one of the cross pins that holds the innards together would gradually work its way out to one side after fifty or so rounds fired. You just had to keep an eye on it and push it back from time to time. Small price to pay for such a nifty little powerhouse.

I quoted myself here, cause I fixed my "thumb latch won't open my cylinder" issue with my CA Bulldog. The thumb latch pushes a screw into the cylinder pin to release the cylinder for opening. The screw was screwed in so far that it would no longer push the pin out. Took the screw out, a dab of blue loctite, and screwed it back in flush with the recoil shield....works perfectly now.
I STILL think Smith could do a better job with the concept....

I believe it was either ASP or DEVEL that fitted a Ruger Speed Six with a five shot cylinder and rebored the barrel to .44 special. That discontinued Ruger frame was slightly smaller than a S&W K frame.

Attached Images

1440905speed6a.jpeg (35.2 KB, 710 views)

I have both a Speed Six in the configuration you illustrate and an S&W Model 13 in the same configuration, and it seems to me that the Ruger frame is larger.

The diameter of a Speed Six cylinder is larger than a K frame's but smaller than an L Frame's.

Bill

Who built those? I remember such mod's being advertised back in the day, but don't recall who did them.

With the Bulldog you have two choices for opening the cylinder, i.e., pull out the ejector rod or use the latch. Did you try the ejector rod?

The ejector rod is shrouded on the Target Bulldog. Had the 44 Special and the 357 Magnum. Nice trail guns.

*** for a small service fee the C.A. factory will replace needed parts/tune up their products.

My PD issued me one years ago. I carried it as a BUG for a number of years.

They made me give it back when I retired.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I really like my S&W 696, but finally quit trying to use it for a CCW and went with an old Flat Latch Centennial. That little Centennial is a whole lot more "comfortable" to carry than the 696, but not as "comforting". Then I bought an older model BullDog and still carry it to this day. It's a lot lighter and smaller than the S&W "L" frame, but is much more reassuring than a .38. I'm very happy with the .44 BullDog. Still wish I could carry that nice 696 comfortably, though.

Yes, my dad has one of the older 3" models and I used to have a 2 1/2" pug. Both are/were very accurate and I never had any problems with them. Had to tighten the cylinder latch screw on a regular basis, but carried that pug for several years - good for what it is (light and powerful). Sadly, my pug was stolen from the trunk of my wife's car; I'll never valet park again.

What were you thinking valet parking a car with a gun in it??

I tried carring my 696 also. Too much gun for trying to hide it. Plus it kept wanting to pull my pants down. I do still have it and love that 44spl.
Burch

I carry a 696 frequently. A good IWB and belt make all the difference in the world with this gun. I also carry SIGs but have gone more and more to revolvers in the last few years (like I started out) I owned a Bulldog back in the 70s and really liked the concept. I suppose that is where I became so fond of the .44 Special cartridge. However, mine kept falling apart on me so I got away from Charter. When my 696 seems to get too heavy I just carry my 396 Night Guard for awhile. I keep going back to the 696 tho' -- just something about it.

My preferred carry firearm is a .44 Bulldog. Unfortunately I have been through several of them due to people offering more than I can refuse for them. Between Bulldog's I carry either a Beretta Tomcat or a S&W Combat Masterpiece.

Here is a Charter Arms Bulldog Pug. Customized by Mag-Na-Port.

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Not meaning to drift the thread, but what holster do you carry your Bulldog in?

wyo-man

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Live free or die

Older Bianchi 5BHL marked "small rev" that holds a 3 inch Colt Police Positive or Detective Special quite well also.

I also have several CA Bulldogs and one is fancied-up and marked "Terminator" as mentioned in an earlier posting. The gun has a bobbed hammer, jeweled trigger and hammer and polished cylinder, etc.. It was made by Personal Protection Systems around 1982/83 and who I believe is now out of business. If anybody has any info about the gun, like how many where made, etc., I would appreciate the response.

I had a Bulldog back in the 80's. Nice and light, accurate, but their "unbreakable copper beryllium firing pin" wasn't, it turned out. Sure, they fixed it on their dime, but that and the not-so-good fit turned me off and I sold it.

It is an excellent concept and if someone would turn out a better quality product along the same lines it would sell.

"but their "unbreakable copper beryllium firing pin" wasn't"

Thats the truth, I broke two of those myself. I have owned about seven CA handguns in all over the years. None of them stayed around long.

I have owned a couple of the old Bulldogs before and traded them off. The only Charter that I have held on to is my old Bridgeport Undercover. I guess I'll keep it for many more years, it looks so bad that no one else would want it. I would like to find an early Bulldog now. A lot of power in a small and light package.
I'm really surprised that there hasn't been a lot of Charter Arms bashing going on here. That's usually the case when CA is brought up. The ones that I have owned have all been fine, not the prettiest but the price was always better than the pretty guns.
Here is my old Undercover that has been around the block a time or two.

Old school cool...

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I see you had yours bobbed,as did I, and ported. Is that a satin hard chrome job on it? Looks good.

Yes hard chrome finish. Barrel is 1.75". Trigger is silkey smooth.
Mag-Na-Port did all the work.

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I have one nestled into the glovebox of my car at this moment, and when needed I drop it into a front pocket...absolutely. That IS the strong suit of the CA .44 Bulldog! Tremendous blasting power in a light, compact revolver that is EASY to carry concealed!

Well my Charter Arms 44 Bulldog has an external hammer so
I carry it in a Galco Paddle Holster. My hammerless S&W 642-1 38 stainless steel airweight I carry in a pocket holster in my pocket.

+1
Couldn't agree more.

I had one back in the day when I had to own everything I could get my hands on and try carrying (c'mon, admit it, we have all gone through that phase). It always worked, never broke, but I never felt the love for one and finally sold it.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

I'm a big fan of the Bulldog, however I never could get used to its DA trigger pull. Bought one of the originals, got rid of it, tried another one about ten years later, got rid of it, and two years ago tried one of the new stainless Pug's, got rid of it. Now this is frustrating as I really like the little beasties if only I could tolerate their DA trigger pulls. I'm afraid my trigger finger is just used to the S&W's for double action work. Now this is not a slam against the Bulldog, it seems to be a personal problem!

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Stay safe people!

I have one and had another. Both are OK for what they are. I love the big bore in a small light package. I shoot it enough to keep good with it. I use fairly mild loads. With big bullets speed isn't needed. I did have the failure to open problem on the current gun but made a tiny shim washer to fix it. With the non shrouded ejector guns like mine you can open by pulling ejector forward. I also have a Taurus 431 which is pretty much a fix sight copy of a 696. Mine is well made and smooth, but heavy. The Bulldog can go in my pants or jacket pocket and not have my pants falling down.

I would love an alloy L frame with a 3" barrel, but I want it in 45ACP with moon clips. That would be so perfect. Small, light, big bullet, quick reloading and lots of ammo choices.

I replaced my sometimes carried S&W 296 with a .44 C/A Bulldog (bought used with a nice action) because the Bulldog was a better size for me to conceal carry.
Based on my favorable impression of the Bulldog, I bought a C/A .40 PitBull (not that smooth of an action).
I put some .40 snapcaps in the PitBull to try and smooth out the action. After a few minutes, I broke the "flag" off of the transfer bar on the PitBull and discovered that the gun would not fire with a broken transfer bar.
C/A's customer service was great, however, I retired BOTH of my C/As from conceal carry use due to this design feature.

Mark

I owned two Charter Arms revolvers back in the mid-1980's, a blue 38 Undercover and a stainless 22 Pathfinder. While they were a good value & OK for "truck gun" use, they just weren't up to S&W standards. What with all the different guns/calibers available now, I think that ship has sailed, but it's a shame S&W didn't get on it back in the day & produce a similar but higher-quality small-frame 5 shot 44 snubby-- they'd have sold a bunch of them.