CHARTER ARMS BULLDOG .44 SPECIAL (MODIFICATION)

[jsmosby]

I have a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special 3" (1980).

When I practice pulling the pistol from a pocket, the hammer spur catches and drags.

I don't think that I need a single action option since I would most likely be shooting defensively at 10 feet.

I am planning to have a gunsmith either "bob" the hammer or saw off the hammer spur. If I do the latter, then I basically have an SP101 -- only in .44 caliber.

I would welcome advice. Should I modify the gun?

 

[lawson]

Charter sells a DAO spurless hammer on their website for $25. That way you can keep your original hammer and save on gunsmithing fees.

 

[Jim March]

If you end up with a "Bubba DAO" you have a safety issue.

A "Bubba DAO" revolver is one that doesn't have a hammer spur but still has the SA cocking notch internally. So you can still cock it SA and fire it that way...but then de-cocking is an adventure unless you know what you're doing.

You MUST throw the pad of your thumb in front of the hammer, trip the trigger and immediately release it AND GET YOUR TRIGGER FINGER COMPLETELY CLEAR OF THE TRIGGERGUARD, and then let the gun roll in your palm as the hammer goes forward. Only let it drop the last half inch or so as you slide your thumb clear.

On a revolver with a hammer-mounted firing pin, I consider "Bubba DAO" to be unsafe and insane. On a transfer-bar gun like yours with a flat hammer, it's possible to get your thumb "in there" far enough and deep enough to make this system work IF YOU ARE CAREFUL. It is unforgiving of error and your finger-off-trigger discipline must be ironclad. You must practice the decock routine with the gun unloaded.

I once had a guy show me his "DAO" Taurus snubby at a range. I asked it it was really DAO, he replied "yes". After confirming it was unloaded, I cocked it. And looked at him as he gasped. I handed it to him and asked if he knew what to do next had it been loaded...then I showed him. He'd had a gunsmith bob it but said "gunsmith" didn't finish the job - and didn't warn him of the issue created. In my opinion, VERY unprofessional.

That said, some people like this system enough that they take a checkering file and serrate the top of the hammer to make a "crude hammer-spur" to help facilitate a "Bubba DAO" action.

A factory DAO gun will have the SA hammer spur gone so it flat can't be cocked SA. That is a TRUE DAO action versus "Bubba".

 

[jsmosby]

Jim,

I have no interest in a "Bubba DAO" gun -- too much trouble and risk. The prior poster mentioned buying a DAO spurless hammer from the factory.

I don't have your knowledge of gunsmithing. If I ordered the DAO spurless hammer factory, and had a gunsmith install it, would I still have a "Bubba DAO" or would I have a gun that had been safely converted to DAO? I'm a good shot, but I'm not as knowledgeable on the mechanics of guns.

Sincerely,

JS Mosby

 

[BillinNH]

Changing out the hammer is fairly simple and does not require disasembling the gun, according to my local FFL who has done it. I think it's just removing the grips, propping the hammer back, drifting out a pin, remove hammer, install new hammer, install pin, remove the hammer prop, reinstall grips.

I can look at mine if you like or you can ask Charter.

Bill

I forgot to mention, Waller makes, or used to make, a hammer shield that fits the 44 Bulldog. Google them to check. It requires some drilling and tapping to install but solves the "catch on the pocket" problem while retaining a reasonable SA capability.

B.

 

[clown714]

that's what I had my smith do to mine.
bob the hammer,smooth and narrow the trigger.slim the trigger guard,
open up the rear sight channel.then bead blast the top.
very happy with the results.

clown

 

[Lonestar]

I would buy the charter arms spurless hammer. I know Charter Arms are not high priced revolver, but once your gun gets Bubbafied, it loses value.

 

[WC145]

I have a Bulldog that I bought used and sent back to Charter Arms to be checked out and tightened up before carrying it as an off-duty piece. I asked them to clean up the action, install a bobbed hammer, and fit the smallest boot grip they could to it while they had it. They did exactly what I asked, including cutting down the grip frame to fit the boot grips from the new Off-Duty .38. The gun is now easier to carry and conceal and, with the smoother action, shoots better than it did before. I'd recommend these mods to anybody looking for an inexpensive, reliable, small frame, large bore revolver for concealed carry.

 

[lawson]

The DAO hammer will not have the cocking notch that the standard hammer will have, so it will be rendered double-action only. It will be a true DAO, not a bubba.

And then if you decide at some point you want the original hammer back, you still have it.

 

[Jim March]

If the hammer is pre-bobbed by Charter, it will probably lack an SA cocking notch. Call Charter to confirm but that's probably the situation.