Charter Arms .44 spl Bulldog?

M

MatthewVanitas

New member
Greetings,
I'm interested in getting a Charter 44spl Bulldog snubbie. Particularly interested in for concealed carry. Has anybody tried this revolver concealed at all? How heavy are those pieces? Quality-wise, are they about like Taurus, or better or worse?

I heard that Charter folded a while back, but the used revolvers are still pretty affordable. I heard some rumour that they've started up again, is so? Do they still make the Bulldog, is quality better in the new pieces, or in the older?

Any advice much appreciated, I've always been interested in the 44spl. Take care,

-LCpl Matthew Boris


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--Capitalism isn't a program or a system like "socialism," but a description of reality like "the Pythagorean theorem." Deal with it.
 
I have one of the early ones from Charter Arms that I carried as a second gun before I retired from police work. I can not comment on the Taurus revolvers because I have never shot one.

All I know is that there was a great calming affect caused by the sight of a large hole in the muzzle with a Keith type lead hollow point wanting to come out and meet the person.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"

[This message has been edited by Jim V (edited August 26, 2000).]
 
I owned a 44 bulldog a few years back, I believe the gun weighed 19oz. so the recoil was pretty stiff. I would not advise doing alot of shooting with this firearm. It was made more carring. I now own a Tauras stainless 44spl. with a 3 in. barrel, The gun is heavier and kind stand up to more shooting than the Bulldog.
:cool:
 
I don't know for sure about the new Charter 2000 corporation. I own a "Charter Arms" late-70s production .38snubbie, the "Undercover". GREAT little gun, possibly the best J-Frame size .38 ever made. Mixed steel/alloy construction, halfway between the weight of an alloy S&W J and a blue steel J, and +P compatible. To me, it's a perfect tradeoff between carry weight and recoil control.

The later "Charco" company had a HORRID rep for poor quality. Charco did Bulldogs too - I would avoid those at all cost.

I see the new 2000 company is doing all-stainless. In the Undercover, that's not optimal but for the Bulldog, it makes good sense and if those guns are any good, I wish them all the best - that piece deserves to succeed.

Jim
 
I own an original .44 Bulldog. It is my backup piece. I carry it in a side pocket holster. I love that little gun. It has and still does serve me well. And it's one of the guns I shoot the best next to my S&W model 13. I've seen the new Bulldogs and they look pretty good from what I could see. But I haven't fired one so I really can't tell you how good they are. Hope this helps a little. I think there pretty good little guns myself. Just my 2 cents worth.

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***Torpedo***
It's a good life if you can survive it!
 
I don't have any experience with Charter Arms myself other than handling ElmoH's.

But, I always thought they had a bad reputation for building total-junk.

As for the .44 special...as a self-defense round it's a bit of a weak-sister in most of it's current factory loads. In fact any good .45 or even .357 JHP will do better.

It is a fun old big-bore round though...I just wouldn't use it for CCW.

Unless of course Ruger would start building an awesome 5-shot....would be GREAT with the Corbon loading.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WebHobbit:
As for the .44 special...as a self-defense round it's a bit of a weak-sister in most of it's current factory loads. In fact any good .45 or even .357 JHP will do better.

It is a fun old big-bore round though...I just wouldn't use it for CCW.

[/quote]

WebHobbit,

Would you like to be standing about 7 yds. away and catch a couple of 200 gr. STHP's center mass out of the 3" bbl of a Charter Arms? When hit will you be able to tell if it's a Charter Arms or a Ruger?

At that range even the 246 gr. RNL would make you take notice!

I won one back in '81 in an IPSC match. No, it isn't the best handgun I own by far but it has never let me down when I pulled the trigger.

I actually carried it fow a while as an off-duty weapon when in LE.

It's retired now but I intend to take it to the range in the near future just to let it bark a little. :D

ca44.jpg



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Jim - NRA Life Member

www.geocities.com/jimc_07874/home.html



[This message has been edited by JMC (edited August 27, 2000).]
 
Had a Bulldog and had a couple of jams with the old 246grain factory loads. The crimp was not tight enough and the bullets would extrude from the cylinder mouth after a couple of shots. Had no problems with reloads, but sold the gun a few months later.

New ammo may be better, just be forewarned.

Giz
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JMC:
WebHobbit,

Would you like to be standing about 7 yds. away and catch a couple of 200 gr. STHP's center mass out of the 3" bbl of a Charter Arms? When hit will you be able to tell if it's a Charter Arms or a Ruger?

At that range even the 246 gr. RNL would make you take notice!

[/quote]

Hmmmm.......I only meant that a Ruger version would HOLD up to plenty of practice with hot Corbon loads...a Charter Arms would fall apart after a while.
 
F.Y.I. - The September issue of Gun Tests magazine features a "Snubbie Showdown: Special .38 Specials." The Charter Undercover was rated as a "Best Buy". Maybe Charter 2000 is doing things better!
 
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