Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Charter Arms Target Bulldog - 44 Special

This is a Charter Arms Target Bulldog with a 5 inch bbl. When I was at Epps this afternoon, I decided to get one in 44 Special. I've owned more revolvers than autoloaders because I like them better.

I fired too many 9mm handguns in the service - the 9mm is a silly cartridge - and I really don't care for it whatsoever. The 40 S&W doesn't excite me either. I promise that if I ever meet you on a firing line and you're using a 9mm, I'll be sure not to crush your purse. Even a 38 Special is better, as far as that goes. Anyway, enough about girlie man cartridges.



While I was there, I looked around for another 45, but couldn't find one that interested me. If it doesn't speak to me, I pass it by.

I had briefly considered a Super Blackhawk in 44 Magnum, but could not find a short barreled model and have no desire to wait for one to come in.

For those of you living in the States, ordering firearms of any kind can be a crap shoot when you live here. Will I get it within a few months or will I have to wait forever? Over the years, I've ordered several rifles chambered for standard cartridges that took over a year to arrive or never showed up at all! This was NOT the fault of the shop: Canada seems to be the poor cousin for this sort of thing. There doesn't seem to be a decent ordering/shipping process in place here.

Anyway, Epps has this revolver for $449, so I'll pick one up this week.

I have the same revolver with 4'' barrel. Recoil was like a 44 mag until I put a pair of Pachmayr grips on it. it is now much more pleasant to shoot.

Is that a five shot or a six shot, Steve?

Nice looking pistola!

I was thinking about aftermarket grips. Thanks for the tip!



It's a five shot. I want to work up some 200 gr. cast loads for it. I've got hundreds of 200 and 240 gr. RNFPs and plenty of different powders - including Trail Boss.

You're welcome Steve. Those pachmayr's made it feel kinda like shooting a 38 special.The factory grips are quite thin and hard.

Tagged for interest. I've heard various reports on Charter Arms. Apparently they have shed their older reputation for mediocrity. One with a shorter barrel might be a decent for CCW, not that it would be relevant up in The Great White North.

Surely that groove on the barrel lug isn't a tactical rail?

First, congrats Steve, It looks nice. I hope you enjoy it!
Second,I'll incur some rath, and ask just what about the 9mm is so bad? It does what it was meant to when it was developed?
Not knocking any cartridge here.

Some of us prefer more cross section and mass. Some of us have not yet experienced the benefit.

My point, if I have a point, is there is a place for most all the various rounds. The .22 short incluled.
If a hole in a piece of paper is the object, how much mass is needed?

My denist shoots a .50 BMG in a single shot rifle. Is that getting close to enough cross section, and mass?

Nothing says, "Hit!" quite like a 0.452" hole in a target, paper or otherwise. And I own both a 9mm and a 45 Colt. A 255 grain bullet even at 800 ft/sec will never 'fail to penetrate' a target, in my experience anyway. I carried a 38 Spl because it was issued, and never felt undergunned, and when they issued the Sigarms P229 DAO in 40 S&W, I liked that one too, and preferred it to the 38. The 180 grain bullet at 950 ft/sec spoke quite nicely.

Whatever one likes is the best for them.
Things were a bit slow hereabouts.
Myself, I'd rather be behind, than in front of any of them.

Sure, but I bet he gets a substantial discount on his denture repair.

Darn it, Steve, you've got me thinking about one, too. And I already have a S&W 625 and 14-3 as well as an STI 1911 and a Webley .455. What I "need"of course is a Triple Lock .44 Special, but the chances of finding, let alone affording one of those is about zilch on a good day with a west wind. Not that "need" has anything to do with it, alas.

It must have been about 1978 that I last worked on a Charter Arms Bulldog. I was fascinated by the concept of the little pistol and I was only mildly disappointed that the quality was not perhaps as high as I had expected but it was, after all, a Chsrter Arms and not a Smith and Wesson. Still, the pistol shot well and functioned well. The trigger was not real difficult to tune. I think the quality of todays Charter Arms revolvers is better than those of 35 years ago.
Recoil was significant but not unmanageable. The worst thing was the abundance of sharp edges which tended to bite. All fixable, mind you. To me, the real value of a pistol of this type is that it provides a last line of defence when the bear is chewing on your arm and the Bulldog is a great choice for this. Light, compact, and powerful, it is perfect for putting a bullet into Mr. Bruin's ear. GD

Steve,
Are you going to post some range results. I'm curious what that revolver is capable of, not just group size but what loads are reasonable in that gun.

.44 special is a great cartridge! I'm betting your gonna be a happy camper!

Steve
That is a good price as their website list MSRP as 489 us funds.
Cheers NC

I have one. I like the feel of it, just the right size and weight for carry. It's my fishing gun. The quality still isn't up there tho. Mine is back right now for a new barrel. The original one had chatter marks all the way through the length of the rifling. It was stripping lead something fierce with hard cast at about 800fps. The front sight was also too high and it shot very low until I filed it down. I hope it is good to go when it gets back, as I said, it is just right for what I need.