Been seeing a lot of Charter Arms love lately

[chaim]

Both here and on other forums I frequent, it seems that those who actually own the gun have really fallen for the new production CA. Sounds like they got the QA issues of a few years back sorted out, and when you do get a bad one, they have a lifetime warranty backed with incredible customer service. I've long considered a Bulldog, but haven't bit the bullet and bought one yet. I'm about to buy a revolver for this role (larger than J-frame carry revolver) and though I had decided upon one of the current crop of 3" Rossi 461's that are out there right not (I love a 3" revolver), but all these CA threads on various boards definitely has me thinking...

I'm considering one of three ways...The traditional .44spl Bulldog (2.5" barrel, 21oz) or the Pitbull in .40 (2.3" barrel, 22oz) or .45ACP (2.5" barrel, 22oz). Seems the Pitbull would have the advantage of cheaper ammo, the Bulldog the advantage of a made-for-revolver cartridge (i.e. more interesting and varied bullet designs). I image the .40S&W version would kick like a mule, but the .44spl an .45ACP would both be acceptable. The Bulldog is a little less (seems to be about $40-60 less) than the Pitbull.

So, should I change my decision (about the 3" 461 over the Charter Arms) and if so, which of the three I'm considering would you buy?

 

[Tallball]

I am prejudiced in favor of 44 special. It is a great cartridge. I would also prefer a revolver round in a revolver for SD. I am a bit leery of the spring loaded thingies in the cylinder for 40 or 45acp - again, that is just personal prejudice.

I own two CA revolvers. I like them, but I don't love them. They look and feel cheap to me. On the plus side they have decent triggers and go bang every time I pull the trigger. I trust them enough to carry the Bulldog sometimes. It throws a very big chunk of lead and the recoil is modest.

 

[Drail]

A .44 Spl. snub revolver is just about the best defensive gun you can carry. I learned that many years ago and still carry one. You may or may not "need" 15 rounds in your carry gun but you need that first round to deliver a decisive blow right now.

 

[bannockburn]

chaim

Bud's Gun Shop has the blued .44 Special Bulldog with the 2.5" barrel in stock for $347 while the stainless steel version goes for $369. One of these two would be my choice over the .40 S&W Pitbull and the .45 ACP Pitbull (which is, along with the Classic Bulldog, currently out of stock at Bud's).

 

[weblance]

I have 5 Charter revolvers, all made since 2013. They are great guns. I have a 44 Bulldog, and a 9mm Pitbull. If the 45 Pitbull would have been available when I bought my 44 Bulldog, I would have bought the 45 instead. 44 Special ammo is hard to find in my area, and when you do find, its $1 a shot. I have decided to start reloading, and am now set up to load 44 Special, so that does help, but if your not interested in "rolling your own" be advised that the 44 will be hard to feed, and expensive.

I have a few 45 autoloaders and when the 45 Pitbull is in stock again, I'm going to grab one. I like the 45 cartridge, and the ability to keep my brass off the ground is a plus.

 

[ca13860]

The HORNADY CRITICAL DEFENSE 165 grain FTX round in .44 Special is the way to go. And the HORNADY 180 grain bullet in .44 Special. I load 3 chambers with the 165, and 2 with the 180 for the CHARTER ARMS BULLDOG. Also the ported BACKPACKER is currently available again for a limited time from Lew Horton. I would choose either the Backpacker, or Bulldog in .44 Special.


http://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Charter-Arms/Revolver/Bulldog/44-SW-Spl/Variant-1


http://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...-44-special-npr30303-new.cfm?gun_id=100635536

 

[Old Sims]

The HORNADY CRITICAL DEFENSE 165 grain FTX round in .44 Special is the way to go. And the HORNADY 180 grain bullet in .44 Special. I load 3 chambers with the 165, and 2 with the 180 for the CHARTER ARMS BULLDOG. Also the ported BACKPACKER is currently available again for a limited time from Lew Horton. I would choose either the Backpacker, or Bulldog in .44 Special.


http://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Charter-Arms/Revolver/Bulldog/44-SW-Spl/Variant-1


http://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...-44-special-npr30303-new.cfm?gun_id=100635536

I ordered two boxes of those and have my Bulldogs stoked with them right now. They should be pretty easy on the gun recoil wise. That bullet configuration looks like an interesting concept. I need to get down to the range and try them out.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I think the new ones are in fact decent guns. Last year, I bought a stainless Bulldog in .44 special and it was very fun to shoot. But, timing was bad out of the box so it went back to CA. I'll have to say, customer service was impeccable. 0 cost to me, had the gun back in less than FIVE DAYS(!!!).

I was very pleased. But, the gun shortly developed an issue with the cylinder release so back it went to CA. Same thing, 0 cost to me and back in a matter of days.

Ultimately, I sold the gun. It just was too big, yet to small, at the same time as they say. It wasn't particularly refined, but it was more than accurate enough and I do think it would make a good CCW handgun for a big bore revolver lover as it's very light and relatively small. Some will say they are barely larger than a J-frame, though I didn't find that to be true. They are notably larger.

As a shooter though, these guns really are not meant for much range use. Mine started to go out of time with only 350-400 rounds, and no, I wasn't shooting hot loads.

I sold it because I simply greatly prefer a more durable handgun as I want to be able to train with my carry gun often. I absolutely do not prescribe to the whole "carry often, shoot little" nonsense.

But, if someone does operate in that manner, CA guns are right up their alley and with such excellent customer service and a low price point there isn't much to lose on them.

 

[elano]

I have heard a lot about the bulldog pugs going out of time. It's been an issue with them since day 1. I'm surprised they have not corrected that by now. Anyway my mom has a charter arms undercover that she bought new in 1975. It's a great little gun!

 

[Drail]

They will not go out of time unless you run really hot loads in them (like Buffalo Bore/CorBon stuff). Feed them a 200 - 220 gr. bullet at 850 to 900 fps and they will last forever. The guns built during the Charco - Charter 200 era were junk. Avoid those. Mine has been going since 1987 with moderate 200 gr. handloads. None of my handloads can beat the CCI/Speer Gold Dot 200 gr. .44 Spl. load though. It is the perfect load for a Bulldog. The Bulldog is a lightly built gun and LOTS of guys have beat these guns to death with high performance loads and heavy handloads. Very fast light bullet loads will just beat the forcing cone to death. With a .44 Spl cartridge you do not need high velocity light bullet loads. Any 200 - 240 gr bullet @ 800 fps. is plenty of power and a .44 bullet makes big holes. "carry a lot - shoot a little" is NOT nonsense with a Charter. That was originally said by Jeff Cooper - and he knew what he was talking about. But a lot of guys insist on loading it like a .357 flame thrower. THAT is what beats them up and is completely unnecessary.

 

[Old Sims]

They will not go out of time unless you run really hot loads in them (like Buffalo Bore/CorBon stuff). Feed them a 200 - 220 gr. bullet at 850 to 900 fps and they will last forever. The guns built during the Charco - Charter 200 era were junk. Avoid those. Mine has been going since 1987 with moderate 200 gr. handloads. None of my handloads can beat the CCI/Speer Gold Dot 200 gr. .44 Spl. load though. It is the perfect load for a Bulldog. The Bulldog is a lightly built gun and LOTS of guys have beat these guns to death with high performance loads and heavy handloads. Very fast light bullet loads will just beat the forcing cone to death. With a .44 Spl cartridge you do not need high velocity light bullet loads. Any 200 - 240 gr bullet @ 800 fps. is plenty of power and a .44 bullet makes big holes. "carry a lot - shoot a little" is NOT nonsense with a Charter. That was originally said by Jeff Cooper - and he knew what he was talking about. But a lot of guys insist on loading it like a .357 flame thrower. THAT is what beats them up and is completely unnecessary.

They will still hot load the Bulldogs. We all have done it (Edit: with exceptions). I still do it - once in a while. But you are right. BTW, mine don't got none them built in safety locks. I been seeing posts where some of the Smiths have had to go in for warranty work based on suspected internal safety lock issues.

 

[Drail]

I have never done it which is why my Bulldog is still tight.

 

[Old Sims]

Well, I have ran about 60 rounds of the Grizzly 260 grain 1,000fps through it over the course of seven years. Plus nearly 800 odds and ends cowboy action and a few personal defense - including Glasers.

Now, that being said, I know that the Grizzly is not good for it and I don't do it often. I know it will loosen it up, and I don't hardly do it. But I am not going to go and blame Charter Arms if I end up having to take it to the smith.

As of right now it is very tight and is just as tight as the brand new Tiger Bulldog I bought just a couple of months ago.

 

[lowercase]

I have a stainless 2.5" Bulldog from 2012 that has been flawless.

Carries extremely well in a little belt slide holster.

 

[ST1959]

I've had a CA .44 (shrouded hammer) for about a year...have run several hundred rounds through it, and dry - fired it a LOT to smooth out the trigger. It goes bang every time. I run Ultramax ammo through it at the range with no issues. I keep Hornady 180 gr rounds in it when carrying. The CA does not have the fit and finish of a SW or Ruger. It may not have the longevity. Remains to be seen. I do not run anything over 200 gr through it. Recoil is slightly more than that of a SW j-frame (which my wife carries). I did carry a j-frame but found it too small for my hands. The CA Bulldog is about the size of a K-frame SW, which is to my liking. Only downside that I can see is capacity, which is just 5 rounds. I love my Bulldog.

 

[Duster340]

Got my 2-1/2" stainless Bulldog new about 2 years ago. Other than a few dabs of locktite to keep screws from backing out after an extended range session, I have not had a single issue. Being my primary CCW, I practice with it a lot. Passed 2000 round count a few months ago. The little dog's not pretty, or refined, but it eats everything I feed it, is very accurate and a joy to carry.

Be Well Folks

 

[jeepnik]

I would love to see a southpaw Bulldog.

 

[C0untZer0]

I purchased a 9mm PITBULL last year because I love 9mm revolvers. I have the 6-shot version and don't plan on having them change it to 5-shot for me. My review is here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9710831#post9710831

They weren't producing a lot of them and that kept the prices up. When I saw one become available I jumped at the chance, afraid that they'd eventually stop making them. I think now its about a $400 revolver.

My Charter Arms PITBULL had nicks or machine marks in a lot of places. The finish was just not that good.

One chamber is a little tighter than the others, its the first to have difficulty extracting a round.

I had the transfer bar break when I'd had probably less than 50 rounds through it - definitely less than 150. I wasn't keeping track of how many rounds I put through the PITBULL but I was keeping a log on my CM9 and I know I shot a little less than 150 rounds through the CM9 and I wasn't shooting the PITBULL more than the CM9, so 150 rounds tops - but probably less than 50.

I wouldn't say I've fallen for it. After a year of owning one, I like it, I don't love it. Its just OK.