Bullet choice for a Charter .44 Bulldog

Jessie · Jul 12, 2015

I've reloaded my share of .44 mags, but know the Bulldog likes low pressure loads.
That being the case and since resultant velocities will be under 950 fps, especially with 240gr bullets, I'm thinking of cast or swaged lead flat points.
I doubt hollow points will function as designed at those slower speeds and I shouldn't have leading problems either.
Am I right in this?
I prefer the 240's, so that's what I'll be working with.
Hornady carries a swaged, prelubed 240 FP that I'm considering.
Any other thoughts or experience with them?
Thanks

mikld · Jul 12, 2015

The "classic" bullet would be the 240-250 gr. SWC ("Keith" style). Good accuracy and good terminal effect and penetration on target. I believe you're right about the inconsistent expansion of cast bullets at lower handgun velocities, so I go for a wide meplat to impart as much tissue damage as possible with good penetration.

My all time favorite caliber is .44 and I have been shooting lead, exclusively for 17 years. I have driven a lot of SWCs my guns (5, .44 Magnums) from 240-255 gr. with mainly mild Magnum loads, but I have loaded a bunch of .44 Specials with mid to upper loads (Special loads) with mostly Unique. Another of my favorite .44 bullets is the Ranch Dog design 240 and 260 grain Round Nose Flat Point. Ranch Dog designed this bullet as a hunting bullet for .44 Magnum riles, but it works excellent in my 3, .44 Magnums revolvers, and the RD is the only bullet I shoot in my Puma levergun.

Jessie · Jul 12, 2015

I think that Hornady bullet is a semi wad cutter FP,now that you mention it.
Probably considered a Keith style.
Are you shooting specials out of your long guns?
If so, how much velocity would be gained out of a 20" barrel using Unique?
Or would a slower burning powder work better?

Tex1001 · Jul 12, 2015

I have a 44 Bulldog (3"bbl), a Bulldog Target (4"bbl), and 2 Taurus 431s (3"bbls).
A cast 240gr flat nose 44 bullet loaded with Unique will do the job, especially at 950fps. I know. I've loaded them in the past.
The recoil in both Tauri I would describe as "Whippy".
The Bulldog Target has Pachmayrs and its recoil could be described as heavy.
The 3" bulldog's recoil was way too painful for me.
If you are looking for the best self defense bullet for 44 special it would have to be the Speer 200gr. Gold Dot. It is designed to expand at 44 special velocities. This is the bullet that Speer loads in their Lawman line, with aluminum cases.
_______________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.

Duster340 · Jul 12, 2015

Hi Jessie,

I'm near 2000 rounds thru my 2 1/2" Bulldog. 90% reloads. Cast Bullets range from 116 WC up through 255gr SWC. It responds especially nicely to bullets in the 200-255 gr range. 208 gr WC, 200 gr RFN, and 214, 240 255 gr SWC as well as 240gr plated FN from Berrys & Ranier all shoot great. Have tried many powders but settled on Unique, Red Dot and Bullseye using published Mid to near Max charges. I don't feel the need to push for Max loads in my Bulldog. Guess I'm old school when it comes to feeding my snubs i.e. well placed, big, fat, broad flat tip bullets moving at less than hyper velocity.

The FP on the right weighs in at 240 gr is fast becoming a new favorite

Be well

snowman.45 · Jul 12, 2015

The carry load most recommended a while back was the 200 gr. GDHP in the aluminum cased Blazer round. As I recall, they expanded well at anything around 900 fps.

AveragEd · Jul 12, 2015

If your Bulldogs are older ones, they may keyhole targets at 25 yards. I bought one of the first ones, a 3" with wood grips, back in the 1970s and it wouldn't cut a round hole regardless of the load used, including the 246-grain factory round nose ammo. Charter Arms eventually admitted the barrel bores were sized too large and replaced those barrels for owners.

Ed

Nemo288 · Jul 12, 2015

+1 on the 200 grain GDHP.
I load them with 6 grains of Unique.
This also works with a 240 SWC.
These bullets are soft enough to bump up to the chamber throats which can be fairly large.
This load shoots well out of most of my 44 specials.

Forrest r · Jul 12, 2015

I've owned several ca bulldogs over the decades and still do to this day. Tested allot of different cast/jacketed/swaged bullets in them. It's hard to beat bullets in the 200gr to 225gr range in the snub nosed version of the bulldogs.

One of my favorite bullets, a h&g #142 200gr hp, it's a thompson style swc that does extremely well in every 44spl/mag I've tried it in.

Another thompson bodied bullet that does extremely well in every 44spl/mag I've tried them in. Extreme penetration.

There's always the tried and true reversed hbwc.

A recovered 220gr hbwc shot from a ca bulldog snub nosed revolver with a full house load of power pistol.

Some real nasty bullets!!! These are jacketed hbwc's made from 9mm (for the 38spl) and 40s&w cases (for the 44spl). The bullets made from 9mm cases are .357 and weigh 148gr. The bullets made from 40s&w cases are .429 and weigh 220gr. Shot from snub nosed ca undercover (38spl) and a bulldog (44spl).

A reloader is only limited by their imagination or lack there of.

A little reading material, same bullets & same alloys shot at different speeds. The article is from 1953 and what they found still holds water to this day.

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/44 spl - may 1953 american rifleman.pdf

planojack · Jul 12, 2015

I carried a 44 Bulldog for a few years. I now often carry a Taurus Titanium that is rated for +P's. I would not want to meet the man that can regularly shoot +p's in that gun. He would be tough. I use either a 200 gr. cast bullet or a 220 gr. cast bullet for fun practice. It is nice to have the security of the plus rating when I carry for social occasions.

BC38 · Jul 12, 2015

FWIW I just made & shot some rounds with 200gr Xtreme plated RNFPs and Unique. They were just above the max charge for specials and a little below the minimum charge for magnums. Nice moderate recoil and pleasant to shoot.

RussellD · Jul 13, 2015

Penn Bullets makes a wonderful 185 grain wadcutter in .44. Its perfect for the bulldog. Low recoil and full caliber metplatt.

eb07 · Jul 13, 2015

Jessie said:
I've reloaded my share of .44 mags, but know the Bulldog likes low pressure loads.
That being the case and since resultant velocities will be under 950 fps, especially with 240gr bullets, I'm thinking of cast or swaged lead flat points.
I doubt hollow points will function as designed at those slower speeds and I shouldn't have leading problems either.
Am I right in this?
I prefer the 240's, so that's what I'll be working with.
Hornady carries a swaged, prelubed 240 FP that I'm considering.
Any other thoughts or experience with them?
Thanks

Here is a link to my writeup on the Bulldog.

https://thedesertsedge.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/the-charter-arms-bulldog-44-special/

In it are some links to loads as well as my loads that are perfect for the revolver. The one by Brian Pearce is excellent. Enjoy it!

Bullet choice for a Charter .44 Bulldog

Jessie

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