Charter Arms Bulldog

[writwing]

Well it looks like Ruger wont be making a 44 Spl DA this year!

I have been thinking about the Bulldog for a CC gun. The couple that I have held had excellent triggers but were rough around the edges. The good think is the factory is just half hour away.

So I put it to RRF members: A new Charter Arms Bulldog Yes or No.

 

[Rclark]

I like mine (bought in 2010) for CC. It sits in a Simply Rugged holster. Shoot it at least once a month for familiarization. Have my BHs for regular .44Spec shooting . Would be nice if Ruger would come up with one in about the same form factor. Don't mind the trigger as mine isn't for general target (bullseye shooting) . Still can pop the steel target 'fairly' regularly at 70+ yards. Plenty good for the intended 10 feet shooting that hopefully will never happen.

 

[skipper49]

Never much cared for them, but found out that John Taffin is fond of them, so I changed my opinion. Mr. Taffin is an honest, knowledgeable man, and I pay attention to him.
And yes, my idea of perfection would be the Wiley Clapp 3" GP, in a five shot, .44 Special. My wife hopes they don't make it.

Skip

 

[Lee Martin]

I'd say yes for CCW, but they're not high volume guns. They ship a little loose and get looser if pushed hard. That said, I really like mine:

Seems to like 5.0 of Green Dot with a 250 grain Keith. Digests them with ease and hits dead on at 25 yards. The only thing I gave mine was a new set of grips and a trigger job.

 

[Lee Martin]

I should add I also have an earlier Bulldog (circa 1984):

The older ones are a tad smoother and a little better fit in my opinion.

 

[JWhitmore44]

I'm with ya writwing, was hoping for a Ruger option. I do like that pug though Lee, is that a 3 inch or 2.5? Some one mention something the other day about taking a 4 inch 44 mag Taurus Tracker and cutting the barrel down behind the ports. Sounded like that could be a feasible option and should feed 44 special no problem.

 

[Doc Thornton]

I have one which I keep in my cars console at all times. I love the gun and
it is a definite fight stopper loaded with Blazer 44 special 200 grain Speer
Gold Dots. I feel very confident with it as my main gun. Even with just 5 shots.

I did not like the way it shot with the factory rubber grips so I put on a set
of Pachmayers and WOW! What a difference in comfort and control.

The gun is also very accurate with the Blazer ammo, packs a punch and is
not too hard on the gun as some super duper plus P might be.

 

[Cholo]

Lee, my '81 or '82 like yours has shot hundreds of 240 SWC's over 6.3 grs of Unique and it's as tight as the day I bought it. Can't speak for the newer ones, though I have no reason to believe they'd be less sturdy. Mine got a trigger job compliments of CA. Long story...

 

[Lee Martin]

The stainless Bulldog has a 2.5" barrel. The old models were 3".

 

[picturerock]

Mine's a favorite. Get one.

 

[glockman99]

I had one of the older .44 Bulldogs...The thing kicked like a mule, loaded with the Winchester 200 grain Silvertip HP.

 

[WAYNO]

I am another fan of Charter Arms products, and have had perfect luck with every one I've owned, which includes a couple .44 Bulldogs.

WAYNO.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I've always wanted one of these but like a dummy never got around to it. Then they started costing around $350 which sounded high since I passed up on so many $200 ones over the years. Then I found this mint 1992 Berkowitz Special locally for $265 with holster and a box of big mouth Magtech hollowpoints. It was fired 15 rounds and looks it. Trigger pull is excellent. Haven't shot it yet but it will be my house gun once I do. Got a speedloader last weekend for it.
Good luck on a fine little gun.

 

[steve b]

I like my '80's stainless 3" Bulldog. Its in my vest pocket now. Stays there until I'm dressed for the day and wearing something with a belt. I work 2nd shift, so its still rather early, coffee still in hand here. Mine stays full of Penn 185 DEWC's. steve b

 

[Hashknife Hartley]

I bought one in the late '70's, when they first came out and as I remember, those very first ones had a problem due to barrel over tightening, which caused a restriction at the forcing cone. My first wife ended up with it, but I just bought another one, a Bulldog Pug in stainless and really like the feel of it. Hope to keep it this time as I make shot loads for snakes and we have rattlesnakes in the neighborhood, so I carry it while walking the dog. Not too long ago there was a thread about them on the Castboolit forum and a fellow said that they really shined in the test of guns for Air Marshals or some law enforcement group like that.
HH

 

[americal]

I should add I also have an earlier Bulldog (circa 1984):

The older ones are a tad smoother and a little better fit in my opinion.

Have a friend that collects Charters older ones some are as PLUM as Rugers--I like the looks of the older charters.

 

[Lee Martin]

Yep. Mine has a slight amount of plum to it. I too like the look.

 

[RUFFBIRD]

I too had this one awhile back & parted with it to a friend that had to have it!

No doubt it would make for a great defensive carry gun...

 

[clayflingythingy]

No.

My desire for a Bulldog has evaporated every time I have examined one of these guns.

If you found two with good triggers I am surpised. CA guns I have examined have uniformly bad triggers. Of course, the trigger is always better in the gun shop than it is on the range!

Given the chouce between an LCR 38 and a Bulldog, I would take the LCR every time. Or, buy a Vaquero Sheriff 44 SPL and carry that.

YMMV

 

[Rclark]

Or, buy a Vaquero Sheriff 44 SPL and carry that.

I've bought a Sheriff .44Spec just for that reason ... but still carry the .44Spec Bulldog .... Weight and Size. Can't beat that combination.

 

[JWhitmore44]

Got the short Vaquero in 45colt/45acp. Have a Taurus in 38. Would like something with a big bore with the weight and size of the 38. Triggers can be slicked up and I won't be shooting bullseye. IF I wanted another 38 the LCR would be fine. But I don't want a 38, if I bought a small caliber snubby it'd probably be a 327 mag.

 

[BearBio]

I had one of the older .44 Bulldogs...The thing kicked like a mule, loaded with the Winchester 200 grain Silvertip HP.

Mine did also until I put Herretts on it. Now it feels fine. I keep mine loaded in the safe in case I'm ever forced to open my safe, I also have a N-frame 44 spl in the desk. But I carry a 1911.

My Charter has given me no problems in limited use.

 

[SAJohn]

The Bulldog was introduced in 1973. I bought mine new in 1974. The serial killer "Son of Sam" liked them. Recoil with the original wooden grip was painful. Doing a trigger job is very difficult as they are hard to reassemble because of the no side plate design.

John

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Well, frankly at my age I get hit with the nostalgia's and I'd like an older model and a new model. I just like big bullets. I've carried a Smith 38 special for a long time but I'm going to try something else when I run across one.

 

[Buckeye!]

Seems lie I'v e always have had one or two Charer Bulldogs around..light weight at delivers a heavy punch

I was hoping this would be the year that we would have a 3in barreled GP100 in 44 Spl. especially wit h the popularity of the Blackhawk in 44 Spl.

 

[WebleyMan]

I had two Bulldogs in the past, an older stainless 3" 'standard' configuration, and a 4" Target Bulldog. Both guns worked fine with the very limited use I gave them, though I couldn't shoot the 3" very well (probably me and not the gun.) The Target Bulldog had a surprisingly decent trigger and a very good balance, but was just a bit too light to keep steady for paper-punching...I could shoot far better with my 4" M. 15 S & W .38.

I eventually let both go, as they never quite satisfied, though I didn't have any complaints about their quality, the just weren't quite right for me and I became more interested in different guns.

I've been thinking off-and-on about picking up a new one with a bobbed hammer, strictly for a 'beater' CCW, but they aren't as inexpensive as they used to be! I can get a minty used SP101 for the same - or less - around here so I haven't been able to justify the purchase to myself.

I'd say if you find a new one at an acceptable price, and it seems tight, and you can live with the trigger, I'd give it a try. Just don't put anything approaching stout in it, and it will probably work fine. I guess one of the nice thngs about the .44 Special is that even the anemic factory "cowboy" loads are still pushing a big fat 200 - 246 gr. bullet out the end of the barrel, and I sure wouldn't want to be on the receiving end.

 

[BearStopper]

Had one, it was ok shot a little left to my eyes. I sold it but there is one of the originals with a little finish wear locally for 150.00 that I thought about snagging. Problem is they also had a super tight Colt Agent of the shiny older variation for 250.00 that I snagged instead, and two snubbies in one week is silly. I need a Bulldog like a hole in the head but if its still there the next time I am in, I will probably give it a home.

 

[Hashknife Hartley]

Just got out and shot my new one last friday, and with snake loads (#9 shot sandwiched between two gas checks over 5 grs of HP38) it did the job, at least on paper. With lead bullet cowboy loads, 200 gr over 5 grs of Titegroup, it did good at defensive distances of 10 yards or less. Got interested and looked up the invoice for my first one and it was August of 1974, wish I still had it for comparison purposes.
HH

 

[BearBio]

Had one, it was ok shot a little left to my eyes. I sold it but there is one of the originals with a little finish wear locally for 150.00 that I thought about snagging. Problem is they also had a super tight Colt Agent of the shiny older variation for 250.00 that I snagged instead, and two snubbies in one week is silly. I need a Bulldog like a hole in the head but if its still there the next time I am in, I will probably give it a home.

Oh, I don't know. I bought two at the same time. My Bulldog (see pic above) and a S & W Model 19. Both for under $300 each=couldn't let the Smith go at that price!

 

[Papaw]

I have had an old model stainless for about 30 years. No problems with it. Carried it today on a hike. It's so light I can't even tell its there. It is a carry-much, shoot-little gun.