Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 special???

[1911crazy]

I been thinking of getting the misses a charter arms bulldog in 44 special for the misses for CCW.  If the 44 special rounds are too powerful i could load it down or try the 44 russian rounds in it also for her.  Whatcha think???

[coyotejoe]

I have an old Bulldog, 3" barrel which I sometimes carry while hunting, fishing or camping, it is not a bad gun. I like  .44 Colt brass because of the smaller rim diameter, .44 specials sometimes are a problem extracting because a case rim happens to align with the cylinder stop stud on the frame. Not a great issue, just rotate the cylinder a bit so the rims clear but with the .44 Colt brass it is never an issue at all. But so far as reduced loads you can load very light with the standard .44 special brass. I would recommend light loads to start, the bulldog has quite a bark and the grips are very narrow at the top where they rest in the web of the hand. Also because the recoil is so fast and snappy you need a really good crimp to avoid bullets jumping the crimp. I find it best to stay with lighter bullets, no heavier than 200 grains. When the bulldog first came out Charter Arms advised against lead bullets for that reason and recommended only jacketed bullets of 200 grains or less. I've shot cast bullets almost exclusively, with no problems but I do stay under 200 grains.

[reloading_rich]

I have long been a fan of bigger diameter bullets.  I think it would be a fine choice, I have one myself and really like it for CCW.

[Rangr44]

If you get her a BullDog with wood grips, be sure to put a set of Pachmayr rubber bumpers on it, or it'll be very hard for her to control.
 
My adult daughter tried my BD, but still prefers the 3" S&W M-37 Airweight .38 Special, I gave her 10 years ago.
 
FWIW, She carries the M-37 with Glaser's.
 
.

[Mike in Virginia]

I've had a Bulldog for several years.  Very easy to control with the factory Speer Golddots, or the Silveretips, but the factory rounds today have nowhere near the energy the .44 was meant to harnass.  I'm presently using DoubleTap 180 grains in mine, and tested for penetration and expansion, it outperforms a Remington Golden Saber in 45 acp.
If you shoot 240 grain loads, either factory or handloaded, the recoil is too much.  However, to shoot the 180 or 200 grain loads, you'll have to file the front sight down to bring your point of impact in line with the sights. 
Accuracy is good enough.  Not a Smith and Wesson, but I can keep a baseball size rock moving at 15 yards every shot.  I've shot mine a lot, with all kinds of loads, and it's still as tight as when new.  Too many people bash the Charter Arms stuff, but if you don't mind the substandard fit and finish, it's a lot of gun for the money.  It's the smallest and lightest package you can get with that much power.       
 

[timothy]

Coyote Joe, why would lead bullets jump the crimp easier than jacketed? Or did you mean heavy bullets?

[tacklebury]

I like the Charter full combat rubber grips.  Only 20 bucks too and if she's into colors they do have purple and such in them also.    These handle .38+p loads fine in my wife's 12 oz. charter. 
 
http://www.charter2000.site.aplus.net/cgi-bin/mivavm?/mm5/merchant.mvc+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CFAE&Product_Code=GRIPCFR&Category_Code=1GRP

[coalcifer]

1911, I see this thread is over a month old and you may have already bought a handgun.  That said, I have carried a CA Bulldog since 1985 and it has been shot extensively.  I have had good luck with the Winchester Silvertips and currently load it with the Glaser Bluetips.  I bought this Bulldog in '85 when I got a job providing protection for oil executive families in South America.  Yes it has proven its value in daily carry and in deadly confrontations.  I am so comfortable with this firearm that it is on my side every day and will be until I die.  Good luck with your choice.

[coyotejoe]

Coyote Joe, why would lead bullets jump the crimp easier than jacketed? Or did you mean heavy bullets?

With hard cast probably no difference, as I said that is mostly what I have shot and it never was a problem. But if you've ever used an enertia bullet puller you'd know that soft swaged bullets such as used in many factory loads or components sold by Speer and Hornady are much easier to pull compared to jacketed bullets. I don't know if Charter still issues that warning since my Bulldog was bought used and came with no factory paper work. But at any rate is  best to stay with the lighter bullets. My carry load is a hard cast 180 grain full flat nose wadcutter and stoked up to 1050 fps the trigger guard skins my index finger after just 10 rounds. For plinking practice I load a 200 grain RNFP at 750 fps and even that is not fun for very long.

[Buckeye]

One of my favorite carry guns....I carry 180 gr. Hornady  and or PMC 240gr HP (a little hotter)

[Mike in Virginia]

The front sight on mine was too high for the 200 grain bullets I wanted to use.  Filed it a little at a time at the range until rounds were hitting where aimed at 25 yards.  Windage was good to go from the factory. 

[Mike in Virginia]

I've been looking at the new tiger stripe camo pattern on their latest .44.  I like it.  It's like the Viet Nam era camo, if any of you remember that.   
 

[tacklebury]

I like that one too Mike.  There is the Gunblaster Grey camo too if you can locate one.  hehe    I'm hoping to find a Classic Bulldog w/ the 3" barrel, deep blue and walnut grips.  Supposed to be like their older versions, but their site isn't updated to show it yet.  I found one in stock somewhere but cannot get confirmation it's what I want from Charter or the online shop.  8(