Charter Arms Bulldog/44 Special...Thoughts?

[DWalt]

Had mine since the 1970s, I second the use of Pachmayr grips. Skeeter Skelton wrote that his favorite load of a 240 gr SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique was too much for it.

Six grains of Unique behind a 240 grain bullet is approaching the upper limit for me with the BD. Lighter bullets (180 and 200) are barely tolerable at 7.5 and 7.0 grains of Unique.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

And, if yours is like mine it has adjustable sights.

My 720 has performed flawlessly since the day I bought it NIB many years ago. Shown with my 696.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have one and am pretty happy with it.
Quality control is still pretty spotty, but on average they are better now than in the past. Don’t be surprised if you have to buy 2 or 3 or 4 to get a good one, but when you do find the good one you will probably never sell it.
Factory ammo is scary expensive and hard to find and so it is primarily a reloader’s cartridge. I load mine with 200 grain lead semi-wadcutters at about 750+ fps to keep the recoil from being painful.
As far a I know, the Bulldogs are the biggest caliber in the smallest and lightest package for a regular production gun out there.

 

[smoothshooter]

It's a strange day when I can recommend a Charter Arms revolver over the comparable S&W model all week long, and twice on Sunday. For less than 1/2 the price, you are getting the same or greater practical functionality, and the same warranty, with somewhat of a loss of aesthetics.

I have a thread on here about the current craptastic production, assembly and repair of the S&W Model 36 Classic. Purchased factory new, I've yet to be able to fire it, and it's on its THIRD trip back for repair. One botched job after another. S&W appears to be having a rough patch.

I've owned a small army of Charters over the years. A few have needed factory service, most have not. My last three have been perfect. For the price point, you're not getting a S&W trigger pull or finish - when S&W does it right. The accuracy of all my Charters is sufficient to keep all their rounds on a standard police silo target @ 25 yards.

I have a Charter 41 Mag Pug that is just fine after 200 rounds. If Charter was a weak design it would not be able to be chambered in .41 Magnolia.

I've had about a dozen Bulldogs over the years, some purchased new, some pre-owned. After 1000 rounds of too-warm handloads, one had to go back for end-shake issues. Charter gladly repaired the gun, for free. My current Bulldog is the 3" barrel Classic. I have 2000 rounds through it, and it's working fine, I carry it with confidence, it is lightweight, powerful and recoil is not excessive.

In regards to .44 Special, the only factory load in my testing that expands from a 2.5-3" barrel is the Hornady 165 grain FTX Critical Defense. This load makes ~900 fps for ~300 fpe, penetrates 12" and expands to .70... what's not to like? The Federal 200 grain SWCHP load is disappointing, does not expand.

Factory practice ammo is rather expensive, and recoil not pleasant in the lightweight Bulldog. If you handload, a 200 grain cast bullet @ 750 fps is an accurate milder load. Serious handloads using a 190 grain SWCHP @ 900 fps is a great round within SAAMI pressure specs when using modern propellants.

Charter used to advertise the Bulldog with the line, "Carries like a .38, Hits like a .45". That's not too far from the mark.

Be Safe.

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I think Taurus also makes better guns now than S & W, and I have always been a big S & W guy.

 

[wood714]

I thought about one for years, but never bought one till a friend was hard up for cash. It was still unfired in the box, I figured it would make a great truck gun.

It's never gave me any trouble, has a good kick with Gold Dots.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I’m thinkin’ about a .44 Special. Most particularly, a Charter Arms Bulldog Classic ...

So….44 Special…Charter Arms…Other brands….What are your thoughts? I’m interested.

Sorry, I am a Brand Snob. Buy cheap revolvers and you will regret it later. CA has been junk for 50 years. JMHO. (BTW any LE issue CA?) I take my S&W revolvers hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, backpacking, etc.

If you are not a reloader you will not get anything out of 44 Special.