Who has bought a Bulldog .44 recently?

From your first link:

"All stressed components of the Southpaw, such as the barrel, cylinder and internal parts are of 416 stainless steel, making for a hardy and rust-resistant pocket revolver. To keep the Southpaw as light as possible, the frame of the revolver is constructed from 7075 aluminum alloy with a glass-beaded matte finish."

I tested both my guns. Took the grips off. Took a sharp knife and pressed on an edge of the frame. Plastic will leave a mark. Aluminum doesn't. It didn't leave any mark. Plus metal will be cold to the touch. Plastic won't. Both frames and trigger guards were cold to the touch.

The second link you provided is for MOVIE PROP GUNS. Note they speak about Charter Arms guns in the PAST TENSE... "The Bulldog was the flagship weapon produced by Charter Arms and was one of the best-selling weapons during the 1970s and 1980s"
"The Bulldog was made available for the .44 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges..."
"This model was produced in stainless steel. They were manufactured in both stainless and blue steel."

"Popular from 1973 to 1995"

The data they provide may not be for the real gun at all but a movie prop gun.
 
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I sent an email to Charter with this very question in reference to the Bulldog Pug. The Bulldog is built on their larger frame, which is all steel. Polymer is used on their smaller frame guns.
 
I bought mine which is an older CA 44 Spl but 3" barrel. I like it for primary carry and trust it, although I believe I shoot my S&W 38 Spl more accurately. I need the J Frame size for concealed carry in Texas. I keep hearing about problems with Taurus but I have one of those too but no problems with it. :)
 
Deputy, the full quote is:

"All stressed components of the Southpaw, such as the barrel, cylinder and internal parts are of 416 stainless steel, making for a hardy and rust-resistant pocket revolver. To keep the Southpaw as light as possible, the frame of the revolver is constructed from 7075 aluminum alloy with a glass-beaded matte finish. In addition to the lightweight frame, the Southpaw also employs a dull gray polymer trigger guard assembly and grip frame to further reduce overall weight."

And good to hear the Bulldog is all steel.
 
Seriously, I really don't think it matters if the grip part of the frame and trigger guard are steel, aluminum, or polymer. It doesn't affect the strength or function of the gun. The main part of the frame that surrounds the cylinder is either steel or high strength aluminum alloy. That's the area that receives the stress of firing. Pretty much every gun maker is using polymer in some form of their guns and it hasn't made one bit of difference.
 
Deputy is correct. How many people are stressed that the ruger snubbie is largely plastic?
Aside from being the ugliest revolver ever made, the ruger shoots just fine. And so does the Charter.
 
Do any of you who have shot both the Bulldog Pug and a J Frame .38 find that perceived recoil is any worse in the Bulldog? I've heard people complain about the Airweight .38s, but it took me a very short time to get used to it.
 
shot both the Bulldog Pug and a J Frame .38
Not those two, but I own a bulldog and the Charter Undercover in 38. First off both have rubber grips not the small wood ones that most charters come with.
The one problem with answering your question is that just about all I shoot in revolvers is big bore so recoil isn’t an issue with me. But comparing the two the 44 will pound your hand a lot more than the 38. I have never shot +P in the 38 so can’t compare that. The big issue is how much shooting your planning on doing to get proficient with the gun.
44 SP are twice the price as 38’s unless you reload and with the bulldog stay under 200 GR bullets.
Personally if you easily handled the airweight you’re not going to have a problem with a bulldog.

http://gunblast.com/Bulldog_Pug.htm
 
Sorry for leading everyone astray with the polymer talk, looks like I was wrong. I can assume the email I put in above refers only to smaller frame revolvers like the .38 spl. Full disclosure I will try to add that in as a footnote.
 
I never shot a J-Frame, but the Bulldog Pug and Pitbull both have pretty snappy recoil. The Pitbull is the "worse" of the two because some of the .40 S&W ammo is pretty warm in lighter bullet weights. I fired 155 grain FMJ Federal and it hurt like hell after 25 rounds. I think the new Pachmayr gripper grips and 180 grain loads will solve that problem. I was able to empty a box of Speer .44 Special 200 grain JHP loads in my Bulldog Pug without having my hand pain at all.

I have compared .38 Speical Wadcutter ammo with .38 +P in an S&W Model 66 K-Frame and the +P ammo was like firing low power magnum loads. Not something I would enjoy doing for a long period of time.
 
I have a Smith & Wesson 638 and carried a Smith & Wesson 642 for years (both airweight j frames) and during that time I also owned a Charter 2000 Bulldog. With the 158 grain LSWCHP +P Buffalo Bore I can say with that load the recoil on the J frame was worse then the Bulldog with 180 grain loads. A J frame with +p PDX1's or the Speer Gold Dot SBHP are about equal. Maybe not exact but close. The Bulldog has a longer barrel and is heavier then a J frame airweight as well though. They are comparable.
 
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Frame info

I sent an e-mail to Charter Arms over the weekend about the frame material and this is the reply I got back:

RE: Charter Arms frames
From: "Nick Ecker" <nick.ecker@charterfirearms.com>
To:<********@juno.com>
Cc:
Bcc:
Sent: Mon, Jul 09, 2012 12:57 PM

Dear Mr. ******,

Some of our frames are made out of 7075 aircraft aluminum and all other frames are 416 aircraft stainless steel. All remaining parts are 416 stainless with the exception of the trigger guards in the small frames; they are made in a long fiber polymer.



Thank you,
Nick

I guess that pretty much settles it. :)

Exastly, no need to apologize. All's good. ;)
 
I have a Taurus 44 Special in Blue Steel, and a Charter Bulldog in Alum/SS. I prefer the Charter for long time carry as a back up to my Hog Rifle (a Ruger Mini-30)
Here's my Charter Bulldog,(and the Ruger.) They make a real fine Hog-Hunting pair.

11962.jpg

11934.jpg
 
20b.jpg


I really like the concept....44 Spl. in a "D" size frame With 180gr XTP Hornady ,it makes a fine 2 legged SD choice...with 240 Gr. LWC makes a fine 4 legged defense..in this area..(no great bears here) except 500 + pound Blackies

These guns are light , compact and throw out big heavy bullets !!!!! :D
 
The .44Spl.. Bulldog Pug barks and bites a LOT more than any .38+P, except maybe the < 12 oz. S&W Scandium models.
 
The bite can be greatly reduced with the Pachmayr gripper grips. A +P .38 Special MAY expand, but a .44 Special will never shrink. :D
Which goes along with my signature line.
 
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