Bull Dog 44 Special & 165gr Corbon JHP & confusion

[BillyBothHands]

So I just got back from the range. I went out to shoot a new 44 special Charter Arms I picked up.

Ammo: Corbon 165gr JHP

I fired 13 rounds 4 of which seemed to be squibs...

first five #3 was squib
second five #4 & #5 were squibs
last five #3 squib and I just unloaded the last 2 live rounds and went back
to my 357 and 22 to make me feel better.

I was a bit excited over the whole thing so as i was reloading and checking the gun over I didn't keep good track of which cases they were. When I got home I found for cases with a noticeable amount of unburned powder. Not a great deal, but enough to catch the eye.

The bullets made it out of the barrel I'm assuming because its a snubby that it had enough umph to make it out. One even hit paper tearing a crazy tumbling hole.

I've never had any trouble with Corbon before at all, but on the way home I had a thought that it might not be all the fault of the ammo. This is a really light revolver for 44 special. Has anyone that has ever experienced bullet jump had it happen with the bullet moving out just enough to allow the cylinder still to turn?

I assume with the bullets slightly out of the casings the pressure would be significantly reduced but it was just a fleeting thought.

I guess more than anything I'm in denial because I've shot a lot of Corbon ammo, but this is the first Charter Arms I've ever shot.

Regardless I will be contacting Corbon to let them know.

I just wanted to see if anyone else had any input?
Has anyone had similar issues with Corbon recently?
Will slight bullet jump greatly reduce the pressure in a revolver?

 

[JoelSteinbach]

A Dog of a Gun

I am sorry to hear of your Bull Dog misfortune. It took me three times back to Charter befor they replaced the weapon for me, I too thought it was the ammo but it turned out to be a lemon of a gun. If Son of Sam was using the new Bulldogs most of those people would be alive today. The did repace the gun, and it does go bang most of the time

 

[BillyBothHands]

All the primer strikes look good and the same. Thats the only thing I could think of that would make a round fizzle out and be the gun's fault.
I do intend to try some different ammo, but I've had a hard time finding it.

 

[dispatch]

If see good primer strikes, the gun goes "kind of bang", and there is unburned powder in the casings- I'm thinking it's the ammo, not the gun.

 

[BillyBothHands]

My thoughts exactly. I was kinda suprised but I guess even Corbon can have a screwy run every now and then. But like I say I can't blame it on them yet. I'm fairly frustrated and tired for several reasons today including this one lol. I'll have a good look at the primers again in the morning and see if i can scrounge up some different ammo somewhere soon.

 

[Virginian]

It's the ammo, more than likely the powder got contaminated. It happens.

 

[joed]

My experience with the new bulldog was about the same. At 10 ft mine shot 10" to the right and about 16" low. The cylinder dragged, on opening I found pieces of the jacket material everywhere.

I cleaned the gun and put it up for consignment and never looked back. I replaced it a few months later with a Taurus 445 that was very similar in appearace but about 400% nicer then the bulldog.

The older bulldogs weren't bad but the new ones are junk.

 

[jglcolosprgs]

Sounds like the powder was contaminated with oil or water or something.... you never said if you thought the ammo or box looked "different".

I'd try a different brand of ammo.

What you are describing sure doesn't sound like a revolver problem. I mean it sets off the primer. It's up to the powder then....

Let us know what you find out.....

 

[BillyBothHands]

So I finally got mine hands on some other various 44spl loads. The primers on the Winchester cowboy loads are very telling. With the other loads i've tried the primer strikes look about the same, however the Winchester are showing light strikes on rounds that didn't go bang. The first time out having only one brand of ammo I didn't want to admit it was the gun... oh well guess I'll be sending it in to see if I can get it fixed. If they repair that one and send it back and it does work then it will have to see more than a significant number of rounds before I trusted it.....

Live and learn I suppose...

Oh and the kicker this range trip was that I also had a new aquisition with me. A 100 year old H&R 32 that goes bang every time! The new one sucks the old one rocks. Now I remember why I love the old ones.


And my apologies to Corbon for throwing stones too early lol

 

[BillyBothHands]

New Update! I ordered an XP(extra power) spring from Wolff. Now the little bull dog goes bang everytime, but the trigger pull is horrible. The extra trigger weight really brings out the rough spots i'm assuming are on the sear. I have to assume that their polishing job there is no better than the rest of the gun and probably has tool marks all over like the exterior lol. Anyhow I've decided to hang on to it and keep it as a little project gun. It will give me something to work on once I feel I've read enough to trust myself.

The forcing cone looks like it was done by a sewer rat and the muzzle crown as well. Its become a personal challenge to see if I can bring it up to the level of being an "ok revolver" besides it makes me appreciate the smiths and rugers so much more!

I'll update here as I have new adventures in charter arms land.

 

[rcmodel]

Check the barrel / cylinder gap..

If the gap is excessive, too much pressure is lost out the gap to get the slow powder CorBon is likely using to burn properly.

Use an automotive feeler guage to check it.
If it will accept more then an .008" - .010" guage, that right there is likely your problem.

The last two Charters I will ever own both had very excessive cylinder gaps that got progressively worse in short order.

rc

 

[BillyBothHands]

thanks rc! I'll give that a check too. I had wondered that. I'm not sure how accurate my eyeball is but it definately has more gap than my the rugers and smiths, so I'll dig around for my guages and see.

Any one recommend good reading material on cleaning up a double action sear?

 

[rcmodel]

I wouldn't recommend it unless you have sear jigs and first-hand knowledge of the Charters inner workings.

It's real easy to screw up a DA revolver big-time if you don't.

Best I could recommend is a good cleaning and lube with graphite (Gun-Slick) or moly grease, then a lot of shooting to smooth it up.

rc