S&W vs Charter 44spl

Originally posted by catdad:
I have several Lew Horton 3 inch 44 Spl. S&W's, but in the past I have also owned one of the Charter Arms 44 Spl. Bulldog's... a good reliable carry pistol.
Click to expand...

+1 on Catdad's wisdom. I've owned both as well. I still have the 624, and in fact it's the only gun that I keep loaded: it's my bump-in-the-night gun. I sold the Bulldog years ago. I guess you can infer from that, where I stand on the issue.
icon_smile.gif


That said, the Bulldog is a nice carry gun: light weight and minimum bulk for a .44. It is meant to be carried lots and shot little, however. I never shot +P's in my Bulldog, and I don't think I put more than 500 rounds through it, total, in all the years that I had it. Nevertheless, it was loose as a goose when I sold it.
 
Originally posted by BigBoreShooter:
There have been many variations and incarnations of Charter Arms Bulldogs over the years. Some good and some not so good.

I was fortunate to find this one not long ago and it has a far better fit and finish than the current crop. It also shoots extremely well.

P1010010.jpg
Click to expand...

I had this exact same version for 15 years and it was an awesome gun. Still not quite the fit and finish of the S&W but it would group at 25 yards under two inches. It was a truly great pistol and now belongs to a friend of mine. I wish Smith would make a scaled down version of the 396 to match the size of the Charter. I have not held or shot a new Charter so I dont know what they are like but I loved my old one.
 
I suspect that one of the reasons that the CA does not stand up well is that the J frame size is simply not a good mix with a 44 special. The modest increase to the L frame makes a big difference in strength. I have a 296 and found it to be much less unpleasant to shoot than a J frame 38, even with the CT LG405 grips.
It is my fanny pack/dog walking gun, since I can make contact shots with it if we are again attacked by one of the neighborhood neglected dogs, assuming I can keep mine from killing the other dog and the owners do their usual dawdling about restraining their dogs.
 
In checking with CA my "hand canon" was made in 12/98 and was number 18 produced under the current regime. I held it next to my earlier mfd. CA which was dated 1972 and they look identical. I have noticed the front site is welded in place instead of glued and I am sure their must be other subtle improvements. I also have the newer, shorter barreled CA and it has been holding up very well. I like the carry often shoot little idea but it is a real hoot every time I do feel the recoil in a J frame sized manageable canon. The CA hurts less than my 296 and about equal to my 329PD, all using 200 grain special ammo.
 
Originally posted by BUFF:

Rossi and Taurus made .44 Special revolvers in a 5 shot size. I have seen them but never owned or shot one. They may be a viable alternative if their construction is any better than the Charters.
QUOTE]

Here is my Taurus Model 431: 2.5" stainless, 5-shot .44 Special. It is, as stated here by Buff and rburg, not a Smith, but definitely closer than the 2.5" Bulldog Pug I used to own.

Taurus431d.jpg



The Charter was, of course, a lot lighter, but the trigger was stagey and the action just didn't feel like the quality of an S&W. However, it was very accurate and I never had any problems with it - carried it quite often, but I never had the confidence in it that I did any of my Smiths. The Taurus design, as most of you know, is a Smith copy, so it is much closer to the feel of a Smith. It is also very accurate and a handy carry piece (just a little heavier).
Click to expand...
 
Hi:
I purchaed a Charter Arms "Bulldog" .44spl with three inch barrel used in the 1989/1990 era. this Model had the exposed Ejector rod and the previous owner had put rubber(pachimir?) combat grips on. I purchased the Charter Arms as a "Secondary/Backup" and "Off Duty" as with the Agency I was employed by I carried a S&W Model 29 with four inch barrel as a Service Weapon.
My Ammo of choice for both Revolvers was W-W Silvertips.
After the Agency went to Department issued Service Weapons I used the Charter Arms as a "Truck Gun"
I had negative problems with the Charter Arms.
Jimmy
 
I bought one of the recent 2 1/2" models, 2 years ago. I've shot both Winchester 240 gr. cowboy loads, and 200 gr. SilverTips through it with no problems, and good accuracy. I put a set of Hip Grips on it for carry use. It has a healthy kick, but not sever if your used to shooting a 44 Mag. I feel much better armed with it, than my "J" frames.(except my Mod. 60-10, in .357 Mag.)
 
Over the years, I've owned at least three Charter Arms, but never a .44. No problems with the .38 Undercover, and the later .32 Magnum. All were less than top quality of finish, but well worth the money. None were stainless steel, but two were nickel plated. Then got a wild hair some time ago, wanted a .44 snub for concealed carry. The couple of .44 CA in dealers cases were absolutely sorry, so I ended up with a new Taurus, Titanium, ported brl, weighing in at a supposedly 18.5 ounces. My only less than total satisfaction is I wished it had a 3 inch brl, instead of the 2 inch ported. The porting does help with brl flip, but I would still trade for a 3 inch without the porting. A buddy has several of the Taurus, one in .45 ACP, with the 3 inch, and it is sweet to shoot, maybe less recoil than my 2 inch ported. Both have the "factory Ribber" grips, which also helps with recoil.
This is not intended as a slam toward Charter Arms, as I know they have been owned by several different Corporate owners of late, and the latest ones I handled seemed to be up to snuff, and still reasonably priced.
 
I called Charter yesterday and was told their .45 revolver should be out by the end of summer but possibly towards Christmas. They need to be sure the testing will produce a good solid pistol ready for the market.
I also have several CA .44 specials and find them reliable for occasional shooting and comforting for IWB carry. Also, the recoil is comparable to my 329PD (with .44 special) but much better than the pain from my 296.
 
Charter Bulldog: Yugo

S&W MOdel 24 or one of it's predicessors. "N" frame Mercedes Benz.


Charter Bulldog: Yugo

S&W Model 696 "L" frame BMW

I've never owned a Yugo but they tell me they would get you from point A to point B with a minimum of exspense and or fuss. I'm sure it did.

I suppose if money was a major/primary deciding point and lack of refinement didn't bother me, then the Charter would have been fine, it does after all go BANG when you pull the trigger.

I own several Model 24s in both barrel lengths and a couple of 1950s or predicesors. They are a little too big and heavy for CCW. Great to carry on a gun belt in a holster.

My 696 dash nothing rides on a pants belt in a floral carved holster designed for the 3" 686.

Great gun, 200s at 850 to 1000 fps predicated on load makesa a great CCW gun both for size and power.

RWT
 
I split the difference between Smith and Charter and bought a Taurus 415 - 5 shot, all titanium with a 2.5" ported barrel in 41 Magnum. Picking it up Friday, I sense a touch of muzzle blast in the western sky.
 
I have had my Bulldog since 1975, I think they got it right, only slightly bigger than their Undercover but handles the 44 Special well-moderate loads, of course.
I was living in NJ-still am-during the "Summer of Sam", nobody contacted me about that case even though I bought my revolver in NJ>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

45NUTT
Model 29 or 24??
Replies
16
Views
551
Nightowl
Nightowl
M
Model 66-1 2.5 vs Ruger Speed Six
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
whelenshooter
W
B
Model 36 J frame hammer
Replies
5
Views
469
BikerMikeyBlack
B
K
32 S&W Long J Frame Airweight
Replies
3
Views
239
K Harris
K
F
Model 29 with S prefix
Replies
15
Views
682
DV0
DV0

Latest posts

Back
Top