Charter Arms Bulldog 44

[CajunBass]

I had one of these a few years ago, but sold it, and almost immediately kicked myself, so when another turned up a few days ago, at what I thought was a pretty good price (350 out the door) I just gave up and said I'd take it. After all, I had a couple of boxes of 44 Special ammo and no 44 Special gun. It was made in Stratford, Conn., around 1983 according to the factory. I'm not sure it's ever been fired outside the factory. It's got a turn ring, but not a mark on the recoil shield around the firing pin.





The action felt a little gritty, but some working of the action seems to have smoothed that out. The Bulldog grips feel great. It remains to be seen how they'll do at the range.

BTW: When I emailed the factory to ask about the manufacture date, I got a reply in about an hour. I was expecting a few days at least.

 

[Valmet]

I own two of them (newer Bulldog models), matte stainless and matte black. I wouldn't pound my warm .44 Spl handloads thru them but for the money I think they're fantastic little revolvers.

 

[quinn]

I've got one of the newer tiger striped versions. I've been shooting cowboy action loads comfortably, and for a guy with arthritis in his hands, that is good. I carry with 2 chambers of snake shot followed by lead. So, my S&W 696 gets saved for special occasions. Impressive low dollar woods gun

 

[typetwelve]

I have a newer SS Bulldog (manf 2016), I love the thing. I'd like to shoot an older one like that one time, my father had one way back when and it was a hand slapper when I was a little guy.

 

[OLDSTER]

Here we go again Every time I'm right on the edge of buying a Bulldog ( I've seriously wanted one for the last few years to accompany my Undercover) and get through the urge, another thread like this shows up I'll promise myself not to look at this thread more than a couple dozen times. I, for sure, won't make it to the end of the year !!

 

[2sharp2]

Interesting I have a old school original 44 Bulldog and a new (within past two years) 44 Bulldog and a 6 shot Police Undercover. I really like all three. They all 3 have been used as concealed carry at one time or another.

I think the Charter Arms are on the top in this pic. No idea why it is sideways.

 

[typetwelve]

It's funny, for a long time I read about the questionable fit, finish, and functionality of Charter revolvers. Functional speaking, both my Bulldog and recently bought Pitbull have been superb. Fit is also perfectly fine with everything tight and the action is rock solid.

Now...finish? Yeah...a bit rough, I'll say that. Then again, figuring I have $700in both combined, and that they work...I have no complaints.

Both of mine do shoot silly low though...about 6" low at 10 yds...but it is what it is, I know where to hold.

 

[deadin]

I picked up a Bulldog right after they came out in 1973 (?).

Quite a handful as I remember. One of the gun gurus of the era started loading souped up rounds. His opinion was that your hand would give up long before the gun would.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm a huge fan of the .44 Special. So a couple of years ago when this LNIB 1985 Bulldog popped up on Armslist, I was all over it.

 

[washerman]

It's funny, for a long time I read about the questionable fit, finish, and functionality of Charter revolvers. Functional speaking, both my Bulldog and recently bought Pitbull have been superb. Fit is also perfectly fine with everything tight and the action is rock solid.

Now...finish? Yeah...a bit rough, I'll say that. Then again, figuring I have $700in both combined, and that they work...I have no complaints.

Both of mine do shoot silly low though...about 6" low at 10 yds...but it is what it is, I know where to hold.

Just cover the target with the front sight when you aim and your shooting will get a lot better. I have 3 charter arms revolvers so i got it figured out by now

 

[sigp220.45]

Color me jealous! I love the look of the original Son Of Sam guns! I passed on a beater with a replaced cylinder at Cabelas a year or so ago - I think they wanted $499 for it. Yours looks great!

 

[typetwelve]

Just cover the target with the front sight when you aim and your shooting will get a lot better. I have 3 charter arms revolvers so i got it figured out by now

Yeah...I was picking up on that last weekend. I took the charters out and was running through the paces when I began to figure out that painting the target with nearly the entire fight post works well. The front sight is taller than on the Pitbull though, so it shoots differently.

I'll get it eventually...I have plenty of time. Ammo? Yeah, that always a different story.

 

[gman51]

I read about the 44 spl and the Charter Bulldog. It has been my main carry since I bought it just a few years ago. The fit and finish are every bit as good as more expensive guns. Yes it shot low even at 10 yards but I filed down the front sight and now it shoots on point of aim. I practice target shooting with book powder reloads and I have no problem shooting 250 rounds at one shooting. From my experience I don't see this gun wearing out any time soon. The gun has never jammed or misfired. That's more than I can say for some revolvers costing twice as much.
If something happened to this gun I wouldn't hesitate buying another one.

 

[smoothshooter]

It's funny, for a long time I read about the questionable fit, finish, and functionality of Charter revolvers. Functional speaking, both my Bulldog and recently bought Pitbull have been superb. Fit is also perfectly fine with everything tight and the action is rock solid.

Now...finish? Yeah...a bit rough, I'll say that. Then again, figuring I have $700in both combined, and that they work...I have no complaints.

Both of mine do shoot silly low though...about 6" low at 10 yds...but it is what it is, I know where to hold.

File down the front sight blades a little at a time.

 

[Muley Gil]

I was issued one by my PD. I tried it with the Skeeter load-245 grain SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique. The handgun handled it just fine. My hand, not so much.

 

[Valmet]

I was issued one by my PD. I tried it with the Skeeter load-245 grain SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique. The handgun handled it just fine. My hand, not so much.

What PD are you with? Can't imagine many issuing Charter Arms Bulldogs. Not saying they don't, just don't hear of things like that often and I think it's kinda cool.

 

[SuperMan]

I've had two over the years. The first one was back in the 1980s and had the notorious flat spot at the bottom of the barrel where the forcing cone was. It would start turning bullets sideways at about 10 yards. The second one was about 10 years ago about the same age but a very good shooter. Solid only because I wasn't into 44 Special anymore.

Bo

 

[BC38]

Mine's a '73 vintage (Bridgeport CT) that I picked up last year.
Love it. Not a S&W, and a little finish-challenged, but still a very decent little revolver.
Especially for $185 OTD.

 

[Warren Sear]

I bought this .44 Bulldog in 2006. I liked it a lot. A friend of mine talked me into selling it to him. I often wish I would have kept it, or think I should buy another.

The newer ones are way better than the old, which is counter to most things in the gun industry.

 

[BC38]

I bought this .44 Bulldog in 2006. I liked it a lot. A friend of mine talked me into selling it to him. I often wish I would have kept it, or think I should buy another.

The newer ones are way better than the old, which is counter to most things in the gun industry.

These new ones must be really awesome if they are "way better" than my original version - 'cause its a good 'un.