New Charter Arms .44 Bulldog

[DWalt]

I found a very nice condition early Charter Arms .44 Bulldog this morning, very possibly first year of production (1973-74) based upon what little I can find about the SN (275xxx). Not much information to be found out there about CA SNs.

I completely disassembled and cleaned/lubed it this afternoon, it worked a little more smoothly afterward. It had a sticky SA trigger pull before the cleaning. I found an extremely thorough video on the internet covering CA assembly/disassembly, as I have never done it before, although I did once many years ago own a .38 Special CA Undercover - one of the guns I wish I had kept.

I just finished loading up about 100 240 grain bullet mild handloads, will probably shoot them up on Monday. Seems like it might be a fun gun. I have wanted one of these for many years, but this one is the first I have found at a relatively reasonable price ($300). Anyone have experiences they'd like to relate about the .44 Bulldog?

 

[Marshal Tom]

I have been a big fan of the .44 sp. for many years and have owned 2 24-3's and also a 1950 Target 4". they are wonderful revolvers for sure. One time at a local gun show, there were a couple of the original .44 BullDogs on the table in the original boxes . I was waiting for this guy to move away so I could buy one of them and he purchased them as I was standing there. I was so depressed. the .44sp is one of my favorites.

 

[Duster340]

Love the Bulldogs. Mine has become my preferred CCW. Enjoy!

 

[BC38]

I found a very nice condition early Charter Arms .44 Bulldog this morning, very possibly first year of production (1973-74) based upon what little I can find about the SN (275xxx). Not much information to be found out there about CA SNs.

I completely disassembled and cleaned/lubed it this afternoon, it worked a little more smoothly afterward. It had a sticky SA trigger pull before the cleaning. I found an extremely thorough video on the internet covering CA assembly/disassembly, as I have never done it before, although I did once many years ago own a .38 Special CA Undercover - one of the guns I wish I had kept.

I just finished loading up about 100 240 grain bullet mild handloads, will probably shoot them up on Monday. Seems like it might be a fun gun. I have wanted one of these for many years, but this one is the first I have found at a relatively reasonable price ($300). Anyone have experiences they'd like to relate about the .44 Bulldog?

You know the drill, we need to see PICTURES of this latest find of yours!

Your SN is definitely 1st year. Mine is 301xxx and the folks at Charter Arms told me it is a 1973 vintage.

Fun gun. You'll love it. The big bonus is that it is an easy one to carry - pocket or IWB. The downside it that it can be a bit of a handful with stout loads....

 

[DWalt]

I'll write up a brief range report on it in a few days and will include a picture or two of it at that time. I purposely made up my handloads on the mild side, they should have a MV below 750 ft/sec, but I will chronograph that load when I fire it. I was originally going to use 180 grain lead cowboy bullets to get lower recoil, but I discovered that all I had in inventory were 240 grain copper plated lead bullets. so that's what I used.

 

[BC38]

I'll write up a brief range report on it in a few days and will include a picture or two of it at that time. I purposely made up my handloads on the mild side, they should have a MV below 750 ft/sec, but I will chronograph that load when I fire it. I was originally going to use 180 grain lead cowboy bullets to get lower recoil, but I discovered that all I had in inventory were 240 grain copper plated lead bullets. so that's what I used.

I like to split the difference. 200gr plated HP over a 5.2gr-5.4gr charge of AA#2 makes for a nice load with some zip to it but not enough to blow your hair back...

 

[OLDSTER]

I'm also a fan of CA. But can only handle my early ca. 1970 Undercover .38 ; the Bull Dog still gets frequent TLC however. Would yours be a Bridgeport model ? The very earliest models out of Bridgeport used this "oak tree" grip medallion, but soon ( late sixties) switched to the familiar Charter Arms scroll medallion. Please post some photos.

 

[triaxle]

I picked up the older style in the black and gold box , was a Stainless 3 in 44 mint cond . I never fired it, also found a few speed loaders here and there for 5/ ea picked them up . I went to a shop on Sat and they had a real nice Charter under cover 38 in nickle , it was a older gun for 329

 

[loc n load]

Bought this one back in the 70’s when they were first introduced. Skeeter Skelton wrote an article about it in Shooting Times, that review was the primary reason I bought the revolver.
The fact I still have the gun should speak for itself. My handloads usually consist of the Lyman 429421 SWC over a charge of Unique or a 200 gr cast wadcutter.
Factory load is the Federal load or the 200 gr gold dot.
This was the first 44 spl I owned. I have several model 24’s in various configurations now and the 44 spl is one of my all time favorite revolver rounds.
Enjoy your’s.

 

[2K7]

Absolutely loved them....

and then noticed the trigger reset issue they are famous for.

Sold number one thinking that is was just that particular gun. Months later, bought a second one....same issue.

Finally, pursuing the "third times a charm", I purchased the old model production that was stainless. Great, smooth finish which I hand polished to that of fine nickel, and the trigger was much better.

Factory front sight soldering had left a few cosmetic spaces that I couldn't get over so I sent it back for repair.

They returned it repaired and the sight looked great....

HOWEVER, while it was there for repair, they decided to give it a nice SANDBLASTED finish before returning it to me.

That was the last Charter Armes I owned and never looked back again.

Do the new remakes of the old Bulldog still have the trigger reset issue like the originals? or has that been addressed. This issue has been discussed at length here many times.

 

[Duster340]

Tell us how you really feel about CA weapons 2K7... LOL! I can definitely see how your experience with the beloved Bulldog left a bad impression.

Kidding aside, I have not experienced any reset issues with my newish 3 .5 year old Bulldog Pug. But I only have about 4000 rounds through it so far. Most of them ripped off double action in quick succession at 10 yrds.

OP - I only feed her reloads at publised load data levels. Cast bullets 162 gr WC to 255 SWC, as well as some 240 gr plated. While the dog groups better with some than others, most loads group well at the close range I usually shoot it at. Favorite plinking round is a 172 gr RN over a charge of Red Dot or Bullseye. For field loads, I settled on 240 gr WFN and 208 gr WC over a nice charge of Unique. I do not "soup up" my loads and keep them limited to published load data.

Be well all.

 

[MCorps0311]

I'm a fan CA Bulldog,congrats!

 

[KEN L]

My one and only .44 Bulldog, from approximately 1973. Factory nickel, rare bird!

 

[Watchdog]

Bought this one back in the 70’s when they were first introduced.

Wow. That gun looks like it just came out of the factory! I guess you're gonna keep it, huh?

 

[Watchdog]

An original Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special has always been sort of a semi-important grail gun for me. I see them come up for sale, and it's always been like, "Well, maybe next time...I need the money for so-and-so." You know? And then I take the money I could've used for the Bulldog and fritter it away on other stuff.

There's just something about the name "Bulldog" that I like. Its chunky-stout appearance with that large hole in the end of the barrel just appeals to me. I always think of Bulldog Drummond, even though there was no such thing as Charter Arms when the films were made.

 

[les.b]

I too recently became nostalgic for a Charter Arms Bulldog. I had one of the first ones, back in the early 79s, and foolishly let it slip away. A couple of weeks ago I bought this one on Gunbroker, and am pretty happy with it. I have assembled most of the components to load up a few handloads with home cast 210 grain gullets, but couldn't wait, so picked up a box of cowboy loads, 200 gr rounded flat point. Here she is on her "maiden" voyage!!:

This seems to be almost "identical" with my old original one. Serial is 348XXX.

Best Regards, Les

 

[loc n load]

Watchdog......yeah after 40 some years I think I will hang on to it a bit longer. Got kinda attached to it.

 

[gman51]

A few years ago I read up on the 44 spl and the Charter Bulldog. I couple guy on forums had them and said they were well built guns. I read the older Charters had some problems and Charter even was in and out of business a few times. The reports said the newer guns got better and better. I seldom read negative reviews on the newer Charters.

Since buying mine it has become my main daily carry loaded with 44spl hollow points. It has around an 11 lb DA trigger and the SA is decent I can shoot 250 round target shooting session without my hand saying I give up.

I already had a press so I bought 44 spl dies and I reload for my target practice sessions.

For the price of this gun I was more than surprised with its quality and looks.

 

[jimgoldth]

I had one in the early 1980s and really liked it but at the time there was very little 44 special brass around. I even had trouble finding factory rounds. This was before the S&W 24s were reintroduced. I found that I could use 45 acp brass resized by running them into a 44 S&W full length resizing die. The result was a short case that I reloaded to 44 S&W specs. I still have some those skinny 45 acp rounds with cast 44 bullets that worked fine in my bulldog.

 

[loc n load]

I used to do the same thing, but over the years had forgotten about it. Your post brought back those memories. I am sure if I go dig around I could find some of that repurposed 45 acp brass.
I cast bullets during the winter months, think I will see if I can find that brass and stuff some of my cast 44’s in them for old times sake.