Charter Arms Bulldog 44

[Valmet]

I purchased one in 2009 and have put just over 500 rounds thru it with no issues. Granted none have been warm handloads or anything but the Bulldogs are great little revolvers for the money. I have a friend who has a newer one and says that he'll get the occasional light-primer strike in DA.

 

[OLDSTER]

Really nice CA you have there This Undercover is also an early Bridgeport model I've owned and relied on for years.

 

[Pocketrocket]

Bulldog

Bought this one 25 or so years ago. Early stainless Bulldog Pug. Never seen another one. Shoots well, recoil not bad for a big bore snub. Still carry it.

 

[38SPL HV]

Went to High School with the son of the founder and owner of Charter Arms in Connecticut. Great family.

Unfortunately, the Bulldog will forever be etched negatively in my memory since this was the revolver which madman David Berkowitz used to kill numerous couples in NYC. He was referred to as the "Son of Sam" "44 Cal Killer" before his identity became known. I was living in NYC at the time in college...and we were told not to venture off campus with our girlfriends while he was still on the loose. He was finally nabbed and serving multiple life sentences. This time in NYC still send chills down my spine thinking about it.

Regardless of this association, the Bulldog is a fine firearm. I did shoot one at our local range in 1982...real kicker with the 246 gr RNL.

I did own a Charter Arms pathfinder and 38 Spl Undercover...didn't care too much for them since I already had Smiths.

 

[CZU]

I have PMC 180 gr JHP that I will be running through this. It wasn't bad thru the Taurus 431(granted it is quite a bit heavier) but, like others have commented, it can't be any worse than a light weight J frame with warm 38 special loads. I'll try it out with the rubber grips then with the target grips that are on the Pathfinder.

 

[typetwelve]

I'm going to goof around with these and see what I can get them loaded to.

185 Grain Wadcutter (.430) [430-185-WC] - $16.00 : Matts Bullets

Following the lines of Buffalo Bore or Underwood, I'm going to see if taking the "I don't care about expansion" approach works for the mightly little Bulldog.

 

[eb07]

I'm going to goof around with these and see what I can get them loaded to.

185 Grain Wadcutter (.430) [430-185-WC] - $16.00 : Matts Bullets

Following the lines of Buffalo Bore or Underwood, I'm going to see if taking the "I don't care about expansion" approach works for the mightly little Bulldog.

The bulldog has a pressure threshold of around 15.5k due to its weight if you exceed it you will have issues.



Bb and Underwood loads are a no go for the bulldog.



Read Brian pearce's 44 special article great info:Brian Pearce on the 44 Special.pdf - Google Drive

 

[typetwelve]

The bulldog has a pressure threshold of around 15.5k due to its weight if you exceed it you will have issues.



Bb and Underwood loads are a no go for the bulldog.



Read Brian pearce's 44 special article great info:Brian Pearce on the 44 Special.pdf - Google Drive

I'm talking about these here, which are specifically noted as working in the Bulldog:

ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Underwood makes their own version of it as well:

44 Special 200 Grain Hard Cast Wadcutter – Underwood Ammo

 

[Buick]

I have two of the old 3" blued Bulldogs. Both have the Pachmeyer rubber grips which eliminate any excessive recoil concerns. Excellent guns for my canoe camping trips. I load 3 shot loads for snakes and two 246 grainers for everything else.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I'm no fan of hard kicking pistols But I find my early standard Bulldog .44 a fun shooter with it's small factory wood grips. All I shot in it were had loads of 6.4 Unique and a 215 or 240 grain bullet. Mostly the 215s because I have a bunch. I look at that as a light to moderate load. It kicks but not enough to sting at all.

 

[old tanker]

I have had a Bridgeport built Bulldog for many years. A set of Pachmyrs makes for more to hang on to as well as taming the recoil some. The Lyman 429251 and 6.5 Unique are more accurate than they have a right to be. A Bianchi 5BHL holster marked small revolver fits the Bulldog and a 3 inch Police Positive Special perfectly.

One small nit to pick was that with extended shooting the trigger pin had a tendency to walk to the right. After I got tired of pushing it back in, a very tiny drop of wicking Loctite 290 fixed that.

 

[SteveA]

Not a Bulldog owner but I've carried a Taurus 445ti quite a bit which is similar, though ported and with titanium frame. Its a handful with warmer loads but has always been reliable and in an easy to carry package. As long as I keep in practice with it, I trust it. I prefer plinking with my Model 24s and Ruger Flattop, but if I don't want to carry anything with any weight, its my go to revolver.

 

[jack the toad]

I like this old BD (early Stratford model) and carry on occasion.
We all know it's not a Smith but since Smith doesn't make one...

 

[joe44va]

Smith does make one now and it's much more comfortable to shoot with 44 Specials. A bit rough with 44 magnums. They call it the Model 69.

 

[eb07]

Smith does make one now and it's much more comfortable to shoot with 44 Specials. A bit rough with 44 magnums. They call it the Model 69.

Do they sell a no lock version?

 

[Delta Rose]

New Hogue grips for Bulldog

Hogue just released their new grips for the Charter Arms frame. They are similar to the Bantam design used on the short barrel Ruger Redhawk, except the blackstrap is covered. They were just posted as available on their website last Friday and I received my set yesterday. I have not had a chance to test fire the gun with them yet.

 

[dr. mordo]

Own and carry one all the time. Shoot it a lot.

Recoil? Easy Peasy. My airweight j frame with 135gr +p recoils as much 240's are stout but I carry and train with 200's



YouTube

What grips and grip adapter are you using? That's a great pic.

I have an old Bulldog that I got for almost nothing 'cause it was beat to heck. I'm having it cut down to 2" for pocket carry.

The recoil is pretty stiff, but 357 from my Kimber K6S or 327 from my LCR are both worse.

 

[jack the toad]

Hogue just released their new grips for the Charter Arms frame. They are similar to the Bantam design used on the short barrel Ruger Redhawk, except the blackstrap is covered. They were just posted as available on their website last Friday and I received my set yesterday. I have not had a chance to test fire the gun with them yet.
View attachment 443489

Keep us posted on the grips. Thanks

 

[ACORN]

Doc Mordo I have a J frame S&W BK adapter on my Bulldog it fits well but is a tad too long. It looks like what Eb07 posted.

 

[eb07]

What grips and grip adapter are you using? That's a great pic.

I have an old Bulldog that I got for almost nothing 'cause it was beat to heck. I'm having it cut down to 2" for pocket carry.

The recoil is pretty stiff, but 357 from my Kimber K6S or 327 from my LCR are both worse.

Altamont super rosewood classics and a BK grip adapter for J frame


Charter | Altamont Company


Fitting | BK Grips