Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Shot The .44 Bulldog

Yes, the Charter Arms Bulldog.



There's a long story connected to this model gun and myself, precisely as this one is set up. In the early 1980s, at the range where I used to shoot, there was an old Range Officer working there (old, by my reckoning at the time ) who was a retired Deputy Sheriff, and he carried precisely this gun, same three inch barrel, same model Pachmayr grips and all. And he liked to demonstrate its abilities in the way of long range shooting.

He'd set up a clay pigeon on the hill behind the 200 yard line, and he'd announce that he'd use that gun to break it, asserting further that he'd do it before the cylinder was empty. Nine times out of ten, he'd do it, too, much to the amazement of spectators to the feat.

That was what first sparked my interest in the Charter Arms Bulldog .44, and I soon went out and bought one just like his, along with the same Pachmayr grips. Shot it quite a bit, and carried it for a while, too.

I always regretted selling it some years later, but recently Charter Arms began making their "Classic Bulldog," which is a faithful reproduction of the one they offered back in the 1970s and '80s. So I bought one.

They are really unique among handguns in that they are light (only 19 ounces) and compact (just a hair larger in proportions than a Colt Detective Special), yet hold five rounds of .44 Special. Other companies produce compact .44 Specials, but not nearly as compact and light. They are really all alone in this regard.

They have an innovative design, too, in that they have no side plate on the frame. This is supposed to provide increased strength to the gun, per its weight. The only non-steel part of it is the trigger guard, which is aluminum.

On a recent range trip, I was shooting my handloads, which constituted 240 grain Keith Style lead semi wadcutters over 5.4 grains of Unique. In such a light gun, that generates a hefty recoil impulse, but not in the least unpleasant.

Here's my 15 yard group. The fixed sights appear to be dead on with this load.

I've admired those old school Charter Arms .44s for many years. I should buy one.

The Son of Sam highly recommends this revolver .

TRH, in the last article I wrote, I found what might be THE load for .44 Special. Amazingly, it works for any bullet weight from 180 to 240, and with cast, plated or jacketed bullets. Very accurate and it delivers 800-900 fps in 5" barrels (100 less in my 3" Bulldog). That load is 6.0 American Select. Oh, and it is much cleaner than Unique.

I hope you shot your Apple TV, brother

And Hitler used Colgate Toothpaste.

You definitely should.

That’s one of your better groups, Brother Hawkeye. It usually looks like Stevie Wonder used a 410.

Try the Buffalo Bore 14b

LOL. No thanks. No Buffalo Bore products in this lightweight.

My Taurus 44 Special 445 Titanium is 19.8 oz, 2 inch bbl though. 5 shot.

225gr RCBS #44-225-SWCGC 7.4gr Unique @ 830 fps measured 10 foot from muzzle Pro Chrono.

#9 Shot Shell, Speer Plastic capsule, 151 gr cap/shot, 137 gr shot, 7.4gr Unique

I've thought the CA Bulldawg is a cool handgun though.

I sold the one i had, liked it, May have to find another one. My buddy has one and carrys it most of the time.

Really?

The titanium frame lets it approach the Bulldog in weight, but I bet it's noticeably bulkier.

Nope.

I don't know, but if he did, would that effect the worthiness of Colgate?

Lay them side by side and see.

I’ve shot their 200 Grain Hard Cast Lead Wadcutter loads in mine. No problems whatsoever.

I seriously doubt that putting a cylinder load of their Outdoorsman Load through it would hurt the gun either.

If I was bow hunting in bear country, and a Charter 44 Bulldog was the only gun I had, I wouldn’t think twice about loading and using with that load.

I added a pic above TRH

Have you held both in your hands and compared bulk? Me neither, but I will reserve judgment on that till I do. How many rounds in the cylinder?