Charter Arms Bulldog XL 45 lc

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farm23

farm23

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Has anyone bought one yet and have a field report? I know they are available and wonder how they stack up compared to the Bulldog 44?
 
I tried a CA BD in 44 spl from Sheldon and it was a POS could not hit a pie plate at 15 yds I sent it back. The barrel was very rough and the bore and groove diameter were over saami spec.
 
I just put one on layaway - last one I could find in a 40 mile radius! Hopefully will pick it up tomorrow but the way this weekend is looking, may not get a chance to hit the range until next weekend...(boooo)
 
They are not listed on Charter's web site but I understand Charter has a new catalog and they are in there. I will have go make a buying decision based on others field experience as there is 0 chance of finding one locally.
 
Well I have my brand new Charter Arms BullDog XL in 45 Colt - Yay!
It is indeed called the Bulldog, even though the frame, cylinder, barrel, grips, hammer, etc are all basically the same as the CA Pitbill XL in 45 ACP.. I guess they just want to use "Bulldog" for rimmed cartridge revolvers and "Pitbull" for the rimless, semi-auto cartridge versions. Oh well - marketing types, I guess..
Once I find a new website to host&link my pics, I'll have some pics up of the new 'dog next to my S&W 642 to give you a size comparison.
When I bought it, I was also checking out a Ruger LCRX 3" in 38 Spl. I had been lusting for one of those for some time now, and almost ended up buying it instead, but chances are it will be easier to find again in the near future. This particular LCRX locked up perfectly tight with the hammer back on all chambers, had a nice b/c gap, and the usual long, but very smooth LCR trigger (like buttah!). The price was in the lower 400s for it and I was sorely tempted, but I got the Bulldog XL out the door for $385.

The Bulldog's bore was closely examined, and it was decidedly smooth and free of chatter marks that some have been describing in recent production units. CA also uses an 8-groove design on this rifling instead of a more common 6 groove, FWIW. It did weigh about 7-8 ounces more than the 3" LCRX. The Bulldog felt comfortably light, the LCRX felt like "air" almost. LCRX is physically significantly larger than my S&W 642, but basically weighs the same amount. The Bulldog XL was pretty much an inch and change shorter, end-end, than the LCRX, and a fairly strong inch less in height (from top of topstrap to bottom of grip). The Bulldog had absolutely NO end-play in the cylinder and there was just a slight amount of side play with the hammer cocked back on each chamber. B/C gap was very consistent on every chamber and trigger pull was also consistent across all chambers. The barrel *might* have a very slight cant to it, or it might be that the machining/fit of the barrel to frame is not 100% totally perfect, but the sight blade seem to line up vertically OK, we'll see when I get to the range. The cylinder appeared to have residue from being test fired in all 5 chambers. There was no test target like I had sometimes heard about being included.

So far, I've taken the grips off and found a few small silvery slivers of metal inside. I blew out the trigger/hammer area with compressed air, cleaned.the whole gun and lightly oiled the trigger, sear/ transfer bar as well as the crane pivot, end ejector. I've dry fired the revolver 200-300 times and worked the ejector rod probably half that many times, and it is all definitely smoother than it first was by a fair amount. The trigger itself has a little bit of creep. The double action pull is LOONG and pretty heavy, but it is much smoother with just the cleaning, oiling, and dry firing treatment. Single action trigger pull is actually pretty nice and clean. Not the 'glass rod breaking' clean of a high end target pistol, but not bad either.

I am eager to try it out at the range soon - after I do will report back on what it seems to like to eat.. I'll post pics to this thread after I get the picture link thing working.
 
Hopefully these links work:
Bulldog XL in my hand:
https://i.imgur.com/xm2Uh1z.jpg
xm2Uh1z

S&W 642 in my hand:
https://i.imgur.com/cjiv3Pj.jpg
cjiv3Pj

S&W642 left, CA Bulldog XL Right:
https://i.imgur.com/1okdJyt.jpg?1
1okdJyt

S&W642 in pocket:
https://i.imgur.com/8B2P8dg.jpg
8B2P8dg

Bulldog 45 Colt XL sticks out of pocket a bit:
https://i.imgur.com/DkbR5jy.jpg
DkbR5jy
 
greenmtnguy said:
Well I have my brand new Charter Arms BullDog XL in 45 Colt - Yay!
It is indeed called the Bulldog, even though the frame, cylinder, barrel, grips, hammer, etc are all basically the same as the CA Pitbill XL in 45 ACP.. I guess they just want to use "Bulldog" for rimmed cartridge revolvers and "Pitbull" for the rimless, semi-auto cartridge versions. Oh well - marketing types, I guess..
Once I find a new website to host&link my pics, I'll have some pics up of the new 'dog next to my S&W 642 to give you a size comparison.
When I bought it, I was also checking out a Ruger LCRX 3" in 38 Spl. I had been lusting for one of those for some time now, and almost ended up buying it instead, but chances are it will be easier to find again in the near future. This particular LCRX locked up perfectly tight with the hammer back on all chambers, had a nice b/c gap, and the usual long, but very smooth LCR trigger (like buttah!). The price was in the lower 400s for it and I was sorely tempted, but I got the Bulldog XL out the door for $385.

The Bulldog's bore was closely examined, and it was decidedly smooth and free of chatter marks that some have been describing in recent production units. CA also uses an 8-groove design on this rifling instead of a more common 6 groove, FWIW. It did weigh about 7-8 ounces more than the 3" LCRX. The Bulldog felt comfortably light, the LCRX felt like "air" almost. LCRX is physically significantly larger than my S&W 642, but basically weighs the same amount. The Bulldog XL was pretty much an inch and change shorter, end-end, than the LCRX, and a fairly strong inch less in height (from top of topstrap to bottom of grip). The Bulldog had absolutely NO end-play in the cylinder and there was just a slight amount of side play with the hammer cocked back on each chamber. B/C gap was very consistent on every chamber and trigger pull was also consistent across all chambers. The barrel *might* have a very slight cant to it, or it might be that the machining/fit of the barrel to frame is not 100% totally perfect, but the sight blade seem to line up vertically OK, we'll see when I get to the range. The cylinder appeared to have residue from being test fired in all 5 chambers. There was no test target like I had sometimes heard about being included.

So far, I've taken the grips off and found a few small silvery slivers of metal inside. I blew out the trigger/hammer area with compressed air, cleaned.the whole gun and lightly oiled the trigger, sear/ transfer bar as well as the crane pivot, end ejector. I've dry fired the revolver 200-300 times and worked the ejector rod probably half that many times, and it is all definitely smoother than it first was by a fair amount. The trigger itself has a little bit of creep. The double action pull is LOONG and pretty heavy, but it is much smoother with just the cleaning, oiling, and dry firing treatment. Single action trigger pull is actually pretty nice and clean. Not the 'glass rod breaking' clean of a high end target pistol, but not bad either.

I am eager to try it out at the range soon - after I do will report back on what it seems to like to eat.. I'll post pics to this thread after I get the picture link thing working.
Click to expand...
Where did you find it? I WANT ONE SO BAD!
 
Was going to buy from hinterland outfitters, but they went out of stock and I found the only one my LGS had...but I JUST GOT A MESSAGE THEY HAVE MORE IN STOCK AT HINTERLANDoutfitters.com so I would check there, and do it quick
 
Pretty neat. Always nice to be the first guy on block with the newest toy.

I'm wanting a SA or DA revolver in .45 COLT, and the Blackhawks, Vaqueros
or the Judge doesn't appeal to me much.

Did have a .44 Bulldog once, but as I no longer reload, ammo was hard to come by.

Plenty of .45 LC in local shops though and I already own a 1894 and a Bond Arms.
 
greenmtnguy said:
When I bought it, I was also checking out a Ruger LCRX 3"
Click to expand...

I have a Ruger 3" LCRX. My complaint is... it is very light. I had to put the 22 caliber front sight on it to get 158gr bullets to hit POA = POI. I just shot low with it. I think it is just me with it being so light. I think I hold it to tight.
 
For those who have bought them already, are there any ammo restrictions issued by Charter Arms in the manual or inserts, on the 45 Colt or the 41 magnum for that matter
 
^ I'd have to believe that so long as they're within SAAMI spec that Charter will say they're okay. I mean, I don't think Charter made the .45 Colt Bulldog only to tell owners to only shoot Cowboy Ammo only. Doesn't mean I'd be shooting any 300 grain loads in the .45 Colt tho.
 
Funny thing...During the great “ammo shortage”, when you couldn’t touch hardly any of the popular calibers, certainly no 9mm or 22lr, my local Walmart always had Winchester PDX1 45 colt hollow points.
 
amd6547 said:
Funny thing...During the great “ammo shortage”, when you couldn’t touch hardly any of the popular calibers, certainly no 9mm or 22lr, my local Walmart always had Winchester PDX1 45 colt hollow points.
Click to expand...
Kind of surprised Walmart carried any .45 Colt ammo at all, but I guess with the popularity of .410 handguns, they'll at least carry self defense .45 Colt.

But yeah, it's stories about the ammo shortage I hear that make me happy I have a couple .40 S&W guns around and have a reloading setup for .32, .38, and .45 revolvers.
 
As far as ammo goes, I've heard people say, and I saw in (1) review "no +P rounds" for the 45ACP Pitbull. This uses the same size cylinder and frame as the 45 Colt Bulldog.
Charter Arms - or any mass manufacturer is only going to say "SAAMI compliant ammunition" anyways. But even non+P 45ACP leaves you with plenty of good options in 45 ACP. As far as 45 Colt goes, I am sure that Charter will also only say "SAAMI spec" ammunition in it also. I intend to run factory ammo or reloads that are at the 14K-15K spec for 45 Colt (or a bit less) anyway, though I would assume there is some margin in those cylinders for them to be perfectly safe with a 20K 45 ACP standard load pressure. Nonetheless, a standard pressure 45Colt, with ~60% or more case volume than the 45ACP, can generate some substantial wallop while keeping the pressure at normal levels. Even if it can handle some of the Brian Pearce Tier II 45 Colt loads like the new flattop Rugers, it would be a handful and will likely shorten its life. I'll keep the Ruger Only loads in my Rugers, only.

Still, I should be able to get a 230-255 grain hollowpoint or LSWC up in the 800+ FPS range easily , I think. Just gotta start things off with the usual 7.8 grains of Unique and take it from there.. If I find some of the Corbon 225 gn wadcutter loads (std pressure 45 Colt) I may give those a try if the price isn't ridiculous.

I had to entertain family this weekend (the liberal side) so there was no sneaking out to the range - hopefully next weekend the weather will be good and I'll test 2-3 factory loads, and maybe a handload or two.

JDMB03 - please let me know how the Desantis holster works out - I am wavering between ordering one of those or a silver dollar type holster from Simply Rugged (they make good stuff)
 
Last edited:
greenmtnguy said:
As far as ammo goes, I've heard people say, and I saw in (1) review "no +P rounds" for the 45ACP Pitbull. This uses the same size cylinder and frame as the 45 Colt Bulldog.
Charter Arms - or any mass manufacturer is only going to say "SAAMI compliant ammunition" anyways. But even non+P 45ACP leaves you with plenty of good options in 45 ACP. As far as 45 Colt goes, I am sure that Charter will also only say "SAAMI spec" ammunition in it also. I intend to run factory ammo or reloads that are at the 14K-15K spec for 45 Colt (or a bit less) anyway, though I would assume there is some margin in those cylinders for them to be perfectly safe with a 20K 45 ACP standard load pressure. Nonetheless, a standard pressure 45Colt, with ~60% or more case volume than the 45ACP, can generate some substantial wallop while keeping the pressure at normal levels. Even if it can handle some of the Brian Pearce Tier II 45 Colt loads like the new flattop Rugers, it would be a handful and will likely shorten its life. I'll keep the Ruger Only loads in my Rugers, only.

Still, I should be able to get a 230-255 grain hollowpoint or LSWC up in the 800+ FPS range easily , I think. Just gotta start things off with the usual 7.8 grains of Unique and take it from there.. If I find some of the Corbon 225 gn wadcutter loads (std pressure 45 Colt) I may give those a try if the price isn't ridiculous.

I had to entertain family this weekend (the liberal side) so there was no sneaking out to the range - hopefully next weekend the weather will be good and I'll test 2-3 factory loads, and maybe a handload or two.

JDMB03 - please let me know how the Desantis holster works out - I am wavering between ordering one of those or a silver dollar type holster from Simply Rugged (they make good stuff)
Click to expand...
Might want to give .45 Schofield or .45 Cowboy Special cases a try. You can load those to the same velocity as the .45 Colt, but with less powder and the shorter cases will eject no problem. Normally I wouldn't say this, but given how much case capacity there is in the .45 Colt and how this .45 Colt Bulldog isn't exactly a strong revolver, there's no need to saddle yourself with .45 Colt at standard pressures, not when you might get better results with the shorter cases.

Can't say I'll be doing this if I get this revolver as I'm going to be using my double round ball load.
 
greenmtnguy said:
JDMB03 - please let me know how the Desantis holster works out - I am wavering between ordering one of those or a silver dollar type holster from Simply Rugged (they make good stuff)
Click to expand...

Funny you mention Simply Rugged, I was on their site as well. I will be going with them and will cancel the DeSantis. The DeSantis is a thumb break which I don't mind if I have to but I prefer without. The DeSantis is $75 with shipping. That seems high for a DeSantis but Charter is the only one with this 41/45 holster.
 
Has there been any progress on developing good loads for the .45 colt bulldog? Is it restricted to 200ish grain bullets to shoot straight like the other bulldogs? What is the rate of twist?

How has it held up as a service pistol, how is the action a year later, and do you still like it?

I'm eager to find out
 
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