.44 special CCW choices

[wnycollector]

I have been getting the itch to add a .44 special CCW to my collection. Two years ago I had ran across a Taurus 431 2.5" round butt, it was a sweet revolver, but I was short on $$$ at the time and passed. A few weeks later I went back to the shop and it was of course gone I am back in the hunt for a 431 or 441.

As an alternative to the Taurus .44's, I have been thinking of picking up a Charter .44, but I worry about quality issues cropping up down the road. I tend to shot ALL my guns...LOTS! Back in the early 80's my step dad carried a 3" Charter Arms bulldog .44 special. His pistol was the classic "carried alot and shot a little". He put maybe 100 rounds through it per year, so he never had any "issues" develop with his revolver. I have read that Charco era .44's were full of problems. Does anyone out there have both 1st gen (non barrel shroud) and current production charter .44's?

Other than the rossi 720, taurus 431/441 and the Charter .44's and I missing any reasonably priced .44 specials? You may notice that I have not mentioned S&W N frame varients...they are WAY outside my budget (sub $500).

 

[Old Fuff]

I have a Taurus model 445 (blue steel/2" barrel, unported) that is one of my favorites. With standard or downloaded powder charges the recoil is controlable, and the bullet is expanded when it leaves the bore, not when it impacts the target. Some so-called high performance ammunition that depend on velocity to expand a hollow point bullet don't do so well out of short snubby-length barrels. In other cases the loads are so hot that controling the recoil is difficult if you expect to make accurate follow up shots in a reasonable time frame.

It is a bit large/heavy for pants pocket carry, but works fine in a cold weather jacket or IWB holster otherwise.

 

[smee781]

I enjoy my Smith L frame 296. I got it at a pawn shop for $380, I saw one go on gunbroker for around $500 just two weeks ago so you may want to keep an eye there. The only drawback if you could call it that is that it taker up to a 200grn bullet. I use it alot in my carry rotation and carry it in my front pocket. I also have a 3' Rossi 720 that shoots verry well.

 

[hiram2005]

I don't think you can go wrong with the Rossi. I don't remember the model # but mine had the 2 1/2 inch barrel and adjustable sites.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

44 special

I am the proud owner of a Charter Arms 44 Special Bull Dog. This Weapon? was manufactured last year, it went back to Charter twice because it did not go bang. After my constant barage of phone calls & emails they did replace the weapon with a brand spanking new one that does goes bang most of the time, but rarely hits its target passed 5 yards. Would I buy another one? No! No!, I am in the market for a S&W 44Special, with my experience with hand guns they always go bang.

 

[remingtondude58]

I would go with the Charter. I think they have a lifetime warranty, so you can always send it back. They have been using the same design for a long time, and it seems to work good. I know someone who has one and I like it.

 

[Walkalong]

I have an old Charter Arms Bulldog and not only does it go bang every time, but it is extremely accurate to boot. I do have to keep an eye on a couple of things which tend to loosen up.

I lucked into a killer deal on a 696, and it is super sweet. If I was looking these days the Taurus is what I would be looking for, unless you want to pony up big bucks for the Smith. The Rossi .44 Spls are something to consider as well. It is a definite step up from the Charter Arms IMHO.

 

[sw282]

I have an S&W Mod 24 44Spcl 3". Its a Lew Horton run. Square butt, Magna grips. I love mine. I think its fairly concealable. Very accurate. I just hate the lock tho.

 

[Tequila Mockingbird]

How 'bout a 696?

 

[Jubjub]

An uncle of mine has a 696 from the original production run. It was a demo gun at the Smith & Wesson seminar when the gun was introduced to the press. He bought it as a generic used gun, at a substantial discount from the new price at the time.

If a gun ever left the Smith & Wesson factory with a better action and trigger pull than this gun has, I never heard of it. I own a number of Smiths, most of which have been through the Custom Shop there, or Cylinder & Slide. Nothing here is as absolutely slick and crisp and perfect as that gun. Smith sure knows how to get good magazine articles.

 

[sidheshooter]

Another vote for the 3", 5-shot Rossi 720s (though I am also a fan of the original taurus 431/441s for big-bore CCW as well).

Hey, I'll take any excuse to cough up this pic of mine...

 

[Stainz]

I bought a 296 ($349!) and a 696 ($439) 1/03, both new, from my dealer. Actually, I traded in my pair of AMT DAO Backups in .45 ACP ($200/ea - one's box was still marked $199!), the last of my evil-bottom-feeders. They had both had ftf's or feed problems earlier that day at the range.

The X96 series are characterized by a thin edged forcing cone, limiting them a bit on the loads they'll withstand. The 296's Ti cylinder limits it to clad-only - and the lite weight limits the revolver to 200gr bullet mass or less, due to bullet crimp pulling or jump. Mine had quite a long diet of 200gr Gold Dots from Blazer - until one of those Al cases split in my 696. Now I buy Georgia Arms loads of the same bullet at similar velocities (800-805 fps from the 2.5" barrel) and gain fresh Starline brass for my reloading - and it's actually less expensive!

The 296, in a Robert Mika's pocket holster and sporting the original UM's Boots will fit in ~75% of my britches front pockets - it's similar, but smaller, sibling, a 642, fits everything. Those service wood boots made the somewhat noticeable recoil more unpleasant. At a pound less than the 696, the 296 is a CCW. I love the 696, but - to be honest - a 4" 629 is a far better, safe, more accurate, and more utilitarian revolver - and weighs 6 oz more!



I've seen the 296 for $300-550 used at stores & shows. Just make sure the released cylinder won't fall off the crane - that cast-in-place cylinder stop can be pared away with one good 'Hollywood Rap' of the ejector rod resulting in the cylinder in your hand. Also check the Ti cylinder's exit face for erosion signs around the chamber exits. Below is the 296, properly gripped, over it's Mika's pocket holsters and with the GA Arms ammo mentioned:



Stainz

 

[32 Magnum]

Check out a 1st Generation (s/n less that 1,090,000) Charter Arms Bulldog .44. I own 5 of them in different configurations (2.5 or 3", blued or stainless, regular spur or pocket hammer). All five of these are tight, finely finished, accurate (8 groove rifling) and weight between 19 and 21 oz. You can generally find them on one of the auction sites for less than $300 - all of mine are in excellent or as new condition.

 

[memphisjim]

wow stains i used to own a 296 it looks way different with those wood grips

 

[Stainz]

Yeah, m-jim, they make it feel different, too - it really kicks!! Here is a way to make shooting it less objectionable:



Those are the Hogue .460/.500 Magnum monogrips that are made for S&W and available from S&W Accessories (~$37). They fit the K, L, X, & N-frames - and pad that backstrap with absorptive material. Of course, so equipped, it probably won't fit your pocket anymore.

I knew the Charter Arms Bulldog was light - but 19-21 oz? Wow, it must kick, too!

Stainz

PS Those grips are used on my 629 .44 Magnums.

 

[clockman999]

Grips on the 696

Tequila mockingbird-Who made the grips on your 696?

 

[Pistolhunter]

I like my Taurus 445ti.

 

[Virginian]

I have a Taurus 431 and have never had a hint of a problem in over 20 years. I had to buy it twice, the second time from my ex.

 

[markallen]

Why not go for Heavy Duty
Ruger Alaskan in .44 mag. Weighs a couple of ounces less then an all steel full size 1911.
You can shoot from .44Special target loads right up to and including the Garrett's Hammerhead +P .44mag, for those occasions when you are in deepest darkest Alaska.
With the right grip ( gp100 compact grip) it becomes quite concealable.

[/IMG]

 

[GaryP]

1st Gen CA .44 Bulldog

I have to agree with the thoughts presented here concerning the 1st generation Charter Arms revolvers. I purchased my 1st generation CA .44 spl 3'' blue Bulldog NIB back in 1980. It is my weapon of choice for ccw and has 2500+ rounds down range with no issues that I am aware of. Generally, the key to longevity with these light weight .44's is to keep your loads around 900 fps or less. There are several commercial 200gr HP loads available these days in the 850 fps to 900 fps range that expand satisfactorily when fired from a 3" barrel. If you really have to have a $$$$ .44 spl then the S&W Night Guard would be a good starting point at the top and work down from there.

 

[gwalchmai]

+1 on the 800-900 fps loads in the Bulldog. I loaded up some 180 and 200gr boolits at these speeds and they're very accurate and very shootable. Recoil in my 1st Gen is no worse than a +P .38 out of a J-Frame. The holes are bigger, though.

 

[obiwan1]

I have a 1st gen Target Bulldog 4". It really sucks and is only used on the range - occasionally. On the other hand my first gen 3" standard configuration Bulldog is excellent. When I carry a .44 Special - that's the one.

 

[Slamfire]

Eight hundred, 900 fps!. How about keeping loads around 600 fps? My Bulldog is sighted in for the 240 grain bullets, and 6.5 grains Unique is considered a factory equivalent load.

[SIZE="3"]Charter Arms Bulldog 3' Barrel		
					
	
250 LSWC  6.6 gr Unique little dandy Rotor 13 lot UN 331 Fed	
			 	T ≈  75  ° F	15-Aug-92
Ave Vel =	698			 	
Std Dev =	20				
ES =	46				
Low =	670				
High = 	716				
N =	5[/SIZE]

I’ve got a Taurus M431:



Shoots good but is a bit bulky for CCW.

For CCW, the Bulldog is the only 44 Spl that is truly compact.

 

[yotehunter]

My vote goes to the S&W 696, I own 2 of them and would not part with them.

 

[Arcticfox]

696 is the best. You should look at a Taurus M44C. New about $425.