lee n. field
New member
.44 Special is a pretty low pressure round.
Charter Arms Bulldog
- Thread starter rabbit hunter
- Start date
.44 Special is a pretty low pressure round.
rabbit hunter
New member
44 Bulldog
Thank you for the comments & info. It's appreciated.
Thank you for the comments & info. It's appreciated.
I have a 44 bulldog that was an early production gun. The gun will probably stand up to more 44 sp shooting than I care to do. Mine is reliable and shoots good but is not fun to shoot. To me it fits the same purpose as a light snub 38sp. A reliable carry gun but not a range or target gun. 
I have one from the 70s I would guess. I don't remember when I picked it up, complemented the 44 magnum I had at the time (bullets and powder) just a carry gun when I wanted concealed.
It is the target model so sights are on. I don't shoot it much, not one you wanted to shoot a lot but I have big hands and didn't bother me but still not a fun gun and I was never very accurate with it (by my standards).
My now wife and I were out hiking, I set up a target and had her shoot it. She shot a group with it that was better than any of my groups ever were. I was pretty good with the other guns, not as good with that one and I figured it just didn't shoot that well. She showed me, we still laugh about it.
All in all its fine for what its intended. Carry a lot and shoot little per Elmer Keith if I have the right person attributed.
I keep it hidden out in the shop so that if anyone knocks on the front door I have a gun to grab, stick my head out 25 feet a way and check them out. Its fine for that or similar use.
It is the target model so sights are on. I don't shoot it much, not one you wanted to shoot a lot but I have big hands and didn't bother me but still not a fun gun and I was never very accurate with it (by my standards).
My now wife and I were out hiking, I set up a target and had her shoot it. She shot a group with it that was better than any of my groups ever were. I was pretty good with the other guns, not as good with that one and I figured it just didn't shoot that well. She showed me, we still laugh about it.
All in all its fine for what its intended. Carry a lot and shoot little per Elmer Keith if I have the right person attributed.
I keep it hidden out in the shop so that if anyone knocks on the front door I have a gun to grab, stick my head out 25 feet a way and check them out. Its fine for that or similar use.
Nice OxyGuy, nothing like a well used gun with a history.
How did you shorten the barrel?
I have another small 44 special, it’s a Taurus 445, it’s a little smaller than the BD but weighs more.
It was a troublesome gun till I had the cylinder barrel gap opened up. It would lockup after several cylinders and the frame around trigger was full of metal shavings.
As you can tell I have a thing for the special, now if I could just find a 3 inch 696.
How did you shorten the barrel?
I have another small 44 special, it’s a Taurus 445, it’s a little smaller than the BD but weighs more.
It was a troublesome gun till I had the cylinder barrel gap opened up. It would lockup after several cylinders and the frame around trigger was full of metal shavings.
As you can tell I have a thing for the special, now if I could just find a 3 inch 696.
Last edited:
If you ever use Charter Arms service….
be specific. Do not assume anything.
I had this beautiful polished stainless steel old model. The silver solder on the front sight was a little splotchy with some small gaps on one side of the sight (appearance only) so I sent it back for a touch up.
Great customer service people, quickly processed my revolver, and I had it back in a few weeks.
When I opened the box my heart sank.
The silver solder on the front sight was perfectly done.
Problem was, after fixing the front sight, they did a HEAVY bead blast on the entire revolver…. and when I say "HEAVY", I really mean "HEAVY". I was really fond of the polished surface that was present when it was shipped to them. If I tried to get it back to the polished surface, it would have been a "J Frame" by the time I removed that much metal.
Explanation was that my revolver finish had been upgraded to their current (at that time) surface. It would have been very simple and a great time savings to merely polish the new silver solder.
Sad day…..I never once dreamed they would alter the finish.
Pic of her before she was "mutilated"!
be specific. Do not assume anything.
I had this beautiful polished stainless steel old model. The silver solder on the front sight was a little splotchy with some small gaps on one side of the sight (appearance only) so I sent it back for a touch up.
Great customer service people, quickly processed my revolver, and I had it back in a few weeks.
When I opened the box my heart sank.
The silver solder on the front sight was perfectly done.
Problem was, after fixing the front sight, they did a HEAVY bead blast on the entire revolver…. and when I say "HEAVY", I really mean "HEAVY". I was really fond of the polished surface that was present when it was shipped to them. If I tried to get it back to the polished surface, it would have been a "J Frame" by the time I removed that much metal.
Explanation was that my revolver finish had been upgraded to their current (at that time) surface. It would have been very simple and a great time savings to merely polish the new silver solder.
Sad day…..I never once dreamed they would alter the finish.
Pic of her before she was "mutilated"!
Last edited:
LOL A hacksaw. Heated the cut off piece of the barrel to remove the sight and TIG welded the sight back on. Then had to file the front sight down to get it to shoot to point of aim.
I cut it off because I was planning to pocket carry it but when it's loaded with a cylinder full of 300 grain lead slugs it's just a little too heavy. It's still a hoot to shoot.
bamaranger
New member
early one
I had an early, 3" fixed sight model and loved it. Shot exactly to point of aim with a rather stout load of 250 hard Keiths SWC's and Unique. Had two different grips, couple of holsters, and used it as a woods gun. Always ran a cylinder or two through it when I was out.
Foolishly, my loads were not as mild as yours, and I shot the thing loose and out of time. But I did shoot it a great deal.
Same with one of there early 2" .38's the "Undercover". Ammo not the problem, I just shot the thing more than the engineering intended.
Great little guns, but my belief now is, despite the era, they are for carrying more and shooting less.
But I'd buy a tight old model 3" or the Target model if I could find one.
I had an early, 3" fixed sight model and loved it. Shot exactly to point of aim with a rather stout load of 250 hard Keiths SWC's and Unique. Had two different grips, couple of holsters, and used it as a woods gun. Always ran a cylinder or two through it when I was out.
Foolishly, my loads were not as mild as yours, and I shot the thing loose and out of time. But I did shoot it a great deal.
Same with one of there early 2" .38's the "Undercover". Ammo not the problem, I just shot the thing more than the engineering intended.
Great little guns, but my belief now is, despite the era, they are for carrying more and shooting less.
But I'd buy a tight old model 3" or the Target model if I could find one.
I'd offer to sell mine, but I would not know what I would replace it with?
I have to look, 3 inch and a target model
Regardless of the gun type, I always got an adjustable sight gun so I could get it as spot on as it would shoot. I like accurate shooting.
Only fixed sight I ever had was an AMT 380 backup. Lucky to hit a wall at 5 feet. I traded that in part for a Lugar and that was all for the hugely better as I got a good one.
I have to look, 3 inch and a target model
Regardless of the gun type, I always got an adjustable sight gun so I could get it as spot on as it would shoot. I like accurate shooting.
Only fixed sight I ever had was an AMT 380 backup. Lucky to hit a wall at 5 feet. I traded that in part for a Lugar and that was all for the hugely better as I got a good one.
.
For those interested, here's an interesting article by custom gunsmith Mick McPherson on the Charter .44 BullDog, complete with loading info for practice, self-defense, hunting & commercial loads - including ballistics, accuracy & terminal performance charts:
http://www.levergun.com/articles/44_Special_Bulldog.htm
.
For those interested, here's an interesting article by custom gunsmith Mick McPherson on the Charter .44 BullDog, complete with loading info for practice, self-defense, hunting & commercial loads - including ballistics, accuracy & terminal performance charts:
http://www.levergun.com/articles/44_Special_Bulldog.htm
.
