Charter Arms Bulldog XL .45 Colt

[Cornhusker77]

I'm a .45 Colt fan so when this one was back in stock for about 3 minutes, I grabbed it.
So far I've only fired 5 rounds through it to make sure it functioned. As for accuracy, I was aiming at the ground and hit it dead center every time.
Anyone have experience with these?

 

[tommy.duncan]

My LGS got one.
I handled it, liked it, and put it down to look at something else.
When I turned around someone else was doing paperwork on it.

I won't let the next one get away!!

 

[Tinman357]

I had one. It was good for what it was. I doubt it would hold up to steady shooting for years, but if you want/like a big bore snub, its a solid choice.

I called Charter about a .45acp cylinder for the XL framed 45 colt. They said to send it in and they could do it for $100.

Dual caliber appealed to me. Ended up selling it to an acquaintance who wanted it more than I did.

It was a decent little pistol.

 

[Tallball]

As far as store-bought range ammo goes, 44 special, 45acp, and 45 colt all feel about the same to me.

I have Charter Arms revolvers in 44 special and 45acp. I bought them both used. The 44 had been shot a fair amount and I've never had a problem, other than you have to watch the screws for loosening (I finally used blue Loctite). The 45acp had barely been shot. Apparently someone bought it new, discovered it had a problem, and traded it to the LGS without disclosure. I don't even remember what the problem was, but the factory fixed it for me quickly and for free, so that was cool. It hasn't given me any trouble since.

They're not only small for their caliber, they're light. That makes them very carryable. I carry my 44 often. The trigger has an odd feel to it, but it's not heavy. The fixed sights are fine. The factory grips are fine. The recoil is noticeable, but not sharp. I can shoot them about as accurately as most snubbies, which is plenty good enough for SD. The fat bullets are comforting to carry.

Are they a tiny bit smaller than a K-frame, or does it just seem like it? They're more lightly built, that's for sure. My Rossi 720 is a smilarly-sized five shot 44 special, but it's built thicker like a Smith K-frame. It's faster and friendlier to shoot, but I would need a thick belt to carry it. My Charter Arms will fit in a large pocket and not even sag that bad.

I shoot a few cylinders of light range ammo through them every once in a while, just for fun and to make sure they're in good shooting order. I have N-frames in the same calibers that I can shoot thousands of rounds through if I want to shoot a bunch of big bullets. And I have practice snubbies in 22lr and 38 special if I want to work on snubby basics. I figure the Charters will last longer than I will, if I don't overwork them.

This is the 45acp model. It has cool little spring thingies to hold the ammo in the cylinders.

Charter Arms Pit Bull 45acp

• Tallball
• Nov 19, 2018

 

[skfullen]

What is the going price for this revolver? For some reason, I'm intrigued.

 

[Cornhusker77]

What is the going price for this revolver? For some reason, I'm intrigued.

I paid around $440 for it. I saw one on Gunbroker awhile back for $425

 

[aaaaa]

My local gun shop has one in 45 Long Colt. I think they are asking $550. Been sitting there a few weeks.

 

[Buckeye63]

I like my Charter Pitbull in 45acp

 

[the Black Spot]

Love mine!

 

[Cornhusker77]

Love mine!

View attachment 1086108

That thing has seen some love

 

[greenmtnguy]

I like mine, carry it most times when I am hiking or just in the woods. Few hundred rounds through it, both factory and my loads. The trigger has smoothed up some and the revolver is still tight.

For me, I find the chambers and cylinder are pretty much at the 45Colt SAAMI dimensions and not much more. So, longer nosed or heavier bullets just won't work without case trimming or seating deep. With me shooting it, the sights seem regulated the same as the 45ACP version. Bullets in the 225-230gn range seem to hit closer to POA then when I shove 250-270 grn ones in it. With 225grn SWC or hollow points in it it is easy to keep palm sized DA groups at 10 yards. Not a hunting gun by any means, but good enough for SD.

 

[Cornhusker77]

This seems to hit low right for me with the 250 grain Berry's flat point plated.
Going to try some lead 230 grain and see how that does.

 

[SwampWolf]

If you can find one, the Taurus model 415, chambered in .41 Magnum, makes for an interesting alternative.

 

[aaaaa]

I am thinking of grabbing the Charter Arms 45 Colt snub revolver for $450 at my local gun shop. My big concern is the rim on the 45 colt is much narrower (0.016") than on a 44 Special (0.0285"). How likely is this to cause an ejection malfunction such as the rim going under the ejector star.

EDIT to correct rim widths. I was off by a factor of 10 and would have had some top-hat sized rims!

 

[StrawHat]

I am thinking of grabbing the Charter Arms 45 Colt snub revolver for $450 at my local gun shop. My big concern is the rim on the 45 colt is much narrower (0.160") than on a 44 Special (0.285"). How likely is this to cause an ejection malfunction such as the rim going under the ejector star.

That all depends on how you eject the shells. If the muzzle is pointed strait up, no problem. Point it horizontally, lots of problems.

Proper technique wins everytime!

Kevin

 

[IlikeSA]

Nice gun! How large is it? Is it concealable in pocket carry?

 

[aaaaa]

Nice gun! How large is it? Is it concealable in pocket carry?

Probably can pocket but might be a tad large for it. I think it is this one or very similar to this one.
https://charterfirearms.com/products/model-74530
Have not had it in hand since when they first got it in stock a couple months ago.

 

[TTv2]

One of the few Charters I would buy as few make a snub .45 Colt.

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

For me, I'd choose the Charter over a Taurus. You can't go wrong with .44 Spl or .45 Colt as defense/night stand guns. Perfect calibers, easy to shoot, no controls to fumble with in high-stress situations. I own a lot of 'hi-speed' guns and this is the sort of gun I keep handy for '2AM Social Work".

 

[TTv2]

For me, I'd choose the Charter over a Taurus. You can't go wrong with .44 Spl or .45 Colt as defense/night stand guns. Perfect calibers, easy to shoot, no controls to fumble with in high-stress situations. I own a lot of 'hi-speed' guns and this is the sort of gun I keep handy for '2AM Social Work".

For the nightstand I'd rather have the Taurus Judge, not so much for the .410 (tho it is an option) but because I trust Taurus much more than Charter these days.

Plus, the .410 adapters make shooting the Judge very fun.

 

[aaaaa]

They have a Taurus .45/.410 for $600 at another LGS. I don't care for the extra long cylinder though. For $450 the CA 45 Colt is a great buy. I was looking at a Taurus 44 for $650 and the Smiths are even more. Even though I find the crane function clunky compared to a Smith, the budget price is agreeable.

 

[Tallinar]

I've been eying one of these for a long time, but seems like one of those guns I'd really want to handle before I buy it. Not sure where I'll get the chance to do that though, since they are kind of a niche item that local gunshops are unlikely to carry.

 

[Gordon]

I felt the need of something smaller in .45 Colt than my S&W 25 or my Ruger BH 4 5/8" , was considering the CA but in person they seemed rougher than a cob and just bigger than my .44 Bull dogs that it wouldn't fit in pocket easily. I wound up getting a stainless Taurus Public Defender , I am not sorry of the decision . Even with the tiny grips on it it is a bit much for the pocket, tho it fits as good as the CA XL .45 does. With the bigger grips it is a bunch of fun for hiking ! With Federal 225 grain .45 LC ammo the thing prints 3" groups at 15 yards if I do my part, which I can as the action in SA is great and good in DA . The Federal 4 000 2 1/2" .410 shells are pretty awesome and print 6" groups at 15 yards ! They must have made mine on a good day, it is well finished and no problems, it is an earlier one and now has about 500 rounds thru it mixed.

 

[aaaaa]

Probably can pocket but might be a tad large for it. I think it is this one or very similar to this one.
https://charterfirearms.com/products/model-74530
Have not had it in hand since when they first got it in stock a couple months ago.

It is the one linked above and I just bought it!

 

[TTv2]

I felt the need of something smaller in .45 Colt than my S&W 25 or my Ruger BH 4 5/8" , was considering the CA but in person they seemed rougher than a cob and just bigger than my .44 Bull dogs that it wouldn't fit in pocket easily. I wound up getting a stainless Taurus Public Defender , I am not sorry of the decision . Even with the tiny grips on it it is a bit much for the pocket, tho it fits as good as the CA XL .45 does. With the bigger grips it is a bunch of fun for hiking ! With Federal 225 grain .45 LC ammo the thing prints 3" groups at 15 yards if I do my part, which I can as the action in SA is great and good in DA . The Federal 4 000 2 1/2" .410 shells are pretty awesome and print 6" groups at 15 yards ! They must have made mine on a good day, it is well finished and no problems, it is an earlier one and now has about 500 rounds thru it mixed.
View attachment 1090990

That's what I have and I can report the same good results.

One thing people tend to forget with the Judge is that while the cylinder is long, so too is the sight radius. The only downside to them is the leading in the bore that the big throats cause.