Charter Arms Pitbull 45acp?

[defjon]

Saw one under the glass locally. I think it was around 450. I was in a hurry, no one at the counter so no chance to scope it out yet!

Anyone own one? I already have 45acp on hand. I like the idea of loading from a 1911 mag, and that unlike my SW Governor, moonclips are not necessary for the Pitbull.

...if they called it The Shepherd and had a little picture of a GSD vs Pitbull it would probably already be coming home with me, lol.

 

[Tallball]

I have one. I bought it barely used from the LGS. Had to go back to Charter to get something done (can't remember what). Works fine now.

The recoil doesn't bother me. My shooting buddy thinks it's a bit much. Shrug. I'm used to larger calibers and he's not?

I haven't shot it for a while, but I don't recall the spring-loaded cylinder thingies as being suitable for a fast reload. I don't ever carry a reload, though, so it's not something I paid a lot of attention to.

IMHO, 45acp will be relatively cheap and available long after 44 special and 45 colt have completely become handloader/boutique calibers.

Charter Arms Pit Bull 45acp

• Tallball
• Nov 19, 2018

 

[reddog81]

Moonclips are not necessary and won't work in the gun, however I don't consider that a good thing. Like Tallball says, the spring mechanism works OK but it's not really ideal for quick reloads. If you want a relativity cheap 45 ACP revolver, it fills that role.

 

[Sarge7402]

Bought one last year. Worked fine right out of the box. All loads were cream puffs except for powRball loads which were sharp.

There's a trick to loading the cylinder. Pushing the extractor out about an eighth of an inch and the new shells slip right in

 

[lincen]

Most of you already know about this but a friend showed me his “speed loader” for a 45acp revolver, it was an officer size 1911 magazine. Fits flat in your pocket !

 

[defjon]

Went back by, still no help at the counter but I see they have all the dog family there...9mm, 45, 44...I didn't see a 380, I did see a 22 pathfinder.

The 9mm was 419, but the 45 was 469. 44 special was somewhere in the middle

 

[Tallball]

A 9mm revolver is sure a nice practice tool for someone who doesn't reload. 22lr and 9mm range trips are very inexpensive.

The Charter triggers are kind of weird and toylike, but they're not stiff.

My buddy, bless his heart, managed to get a squib stuck in my preferred HD revolver yesterday, so my 44 Bulldog slept next to me last night. It will go back in its kennel after I get the squib out this morning. I've had it for ten years or so and know it goes bang. 38's and 9mm and such are supposedly as effective as 44's and 45's, but those big fat bullets sure do hit inanimate objects hard when I try them out.

 

[Buckeye63]

You can purchase a 45 Colt cylinder assembly from Charter .. takes 3 to 5 minutes to swap out
Due to the availability of 45acp ball and 45acp SD loads .. personally I see no reason for that option.. but … with a 45 Colt 250 grain hardcast would make a thumper..

 

[Mark_Mark]

anybody know how to strip the finish and give it a worn crime scene look? kinda want to do a project

 

[Lo-Profile]

Had one and sold it.
Not because it was a bad gun
It's a fine gun, loved that it didn't need clips for loading

 

[Mosin77]

I just got myself a 44spl bulldog and man it’s a sweet gun. I find myself seriously contemplating carrying the thing. 45acp would be amazing too. There’s something to be said for bullets almost 1/2 inch across. Old school stopping power!

 

[Buckeye63]

anybody know how to strip the finish and give it a worn crime scene look? kinda want to do a project

My Pitbull has a Black Nitride finish over stainless .. I Imagine its a fairly tough finish…
I really couldn’t imagine how strip the finish
I have 3 Charters with this finish , so far after years of carry and use .. finish hasn’t worn.

 

[TTv2]

View attachment 1197513
You can purchase a 45 Colt cylinder assembly from Charter .. takes 3 to 5 minutes to swap out
Due to the availability of 45acp ball and 45acp SD loads .. personally I see no reason for that option.. but … with a 45 Colt 250 grain hardcast would make a thumper..

I've never heard this before. Have you spoken with people at Charter to confirm this can be done? How much does the .45 Colt cylinder cost?

 

[defjon]

Had one and sold it.
Not because it was a bad gun
It's a fine gun, loved that it didn't need clips for loading

What made you sell it. If I may ask?

How bad do you eat your hat if you decide to sell it?

 

[lee n. field]

I've never heard this before. Have you spoken with people at Charter to confirm this can be done? How much does the .45 Colt cylinder cost?

If I remember right from prior postings, I think he actually contacted them to do it.

 

[Lo-Profile]

What made you sell it. If I may ask?

How bad do you eat your hat if you decide to sell it?

Getting older and the recoil was bothering me since it's fairly lighter than a FS 1911. Resale wasn't too bad. They're not expensive to begin with.

 

[Buckeye63]

I've never heard this before. Have you spoken with people at Charter to confirm this can be done? How much does the .45 Colt cylinder cost?

Sent a email asking cost

 

[NorthBorder]

I have the Bulldog in 45 Colt. The frame, I believe is actually a bit bigger, thus the Bulldog XL designation for the 45 Colt.
BTW it's an ok gun that had to go back to the mother ship to make the cylinder turn when loaded.
The trigger is still a bit rough. When I pull the trigger I have to practically remove my finger from the trigger or I will short stroke the trigger and it will lock up.
All that said, it is a good gun if you don't compare it to a Smith or Ruger.

 

[Tinman357]

I said earlier that I had the Bulldog in 45 colt and contacted Charter about getting a 45acp cylinder for it. They wouldn't send me one. But did fit one to the gun for $154.00 plus shipping.

When I got it back the action was smoother on both cylinders and the turn around time was just short of a month. Good C/S, nice people.

Wish I would have kept it. Had a life event that had me believing that I needed to sell off all but one or two favorites. But I've since gotten through it and this thread has me thinking about getting another in 45acp.

After getting the last one fitted, I rarely ever used the 45colt cylinder. I have several worn 1911 magazines that make a dandy speedloader if you clip a bit off the spring.

 

[Buckeye63]

I have the Bulldog in 45 Colt. The frame, I believe is actually a bit bigger, thus the Bulldog XL designation for the 45 Colt.
BTW it's an ok gun that had to go back to the mother ship to make the cylinder turn when loaded.
The trigger is still a bit rough. When I pull the trigger I have to practically remove my finger from the trigger or I will short stroke the trigger and it will lock up.
All that said, it is a good gun if you don't compare it to a Smith or Ruger.

Charter has the following calibers in the XL frame
45 Colt , 45ACP , 41 Magnum & the 6 shot 357 Magnum

 

[defjon]

I remember the 45 recoil impulse being very different across platforms. It's great from a government size 1911!

I recall noticing it a lot more from a ruger commander. It may have been a lightweight model.

But my sw governor is fairly light, and 45s are a real pussy cat. It could be the way a revolver recoils vs and auto.

My xd45 was a pleasant shooter too. Just couldn't hit a barn from inside of a barn.

I bet a small 22 oz 45 acp is gonna wake you up and smack your giblets. So far I haven't turned up any mousefart/cowboy wadcutter type options for the 45 acp: something that would choke and auto but be great in a revolver.

 

[defjon]

This stupid gun is on my mind way too much. Argh.

 

[jeepnik]

Sure wish they would make a Southpaw version.