Why did I want this gun Again?!?!? Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special - is it really special?
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- Опубліковано 14 лип 2023
- I had a Charter Arms Bulldog Pug with a 2” barrel and bobbed hammer back in 2019, and I did not like shooting it. With ammo being $30 for 50 rounds back then, and the recoil (I was less experienced then) I sadly sold it. I regretted selling it several times, and kept my eyes open for another. I’m still after a classic blued Bulldog but for now this will have to suffice… I have found some on Gunbroker, but with shipping and FFL fees, they’re usually not worth it.
I bought reloading dies, starline brass, large pistol primers, and several different bullets to reload, so I should be able to get my cost per round down to about $0.57 a round once I get some once fired brass. It will take a while to pay back the equipment I had to buy to reload, but at least I’m more self sufficient now. - Спорт
I made some improper comments on David Berkowitz in this video -I edited out the comments.
It has been proven that David Berkowitz did work alone, but he definitely seemed to have some demons, and liked messing with people, so maybe that is what prompted all his fantastical stories...
Manny Grossman has a huge series on this if you are interested, and I really do not want to romanticize David Berkowitz, he was an evil man and I do not condone his actions by any means.
“..Freedom IS the greater good..” NiCE! 😊
@@johnnottahcal5725 stole that saying from Buffalos outdoors :) with permission
@@crankygunreviewsIs worth borrowing and passing along.
@@johnnottahcal5725 I agree!
i bought one the other day. Definitely one of my favorite purchases ever
I’m not sure why I hated it so much last time I had one- I guess I was just weak wristed or had little experience so I thought it was a lot of recoil
I got one a year ago and love it !! Mine is hammerless and it has a real smooth light double action trigger on it. I had one of the originals and it got stolen so I had to replace it.
I am SO happy..... I'm a Handloader.
@@keithfreeman5204 yeah I started recently
I’ve reloaded 190/200 grain lead semi-wadcutters over 4 grains of Red Dot with results. That pretty much duplicates 45 ACP ballistics and I can make soda cans dance at 40 yards with a 4” target Bulldog. And it’s a helluva lot cheaper. May get a stainless 2.5” version for concealed carry too.
Yeah, a regular diet of 240gr at near 1000fps can be brutal - so shoot lighter bullets. Lehigh makes some solid copper 125gr & 165gr bullets that are next on my list for my 44 Special.
Thanks for the suggestions
I have the Charter Arms Undercover in 38 special and it shoots nice. I like the old school look, very traditional looking.
I have 4 undercovers I think, they’re great. I’ll never sell them
I have a Charter Arms Off-Duty..it shoots very well- about 35 years old- old school cool! It's a great carry gun
@@user-nf6zs4sw7y I have had good luck with mine as well
Great video- I also sold my 44 spl. Bulldog. Now I'm sorry I sold it.
Well, you can always buy another one.
I'll agree with crankygunreviews. Find a way to buy another one. If you have to eat beans w/hot dogs a few times to save the money, then do it. You will become a well disciplined guy with a Charter Arms Bulldog, instead of a money-wasting, steak-eating mess of a person that women stay away from because you don't have a Charter Arms Bulldog. It's your choice...what's it gonna be?
By the way, I'm just having fun. No offense intended. Now go buy a Bulldog.
Close range belly gun for really bad moments.
Definitely
Just looked at this pistol yesterday with the bobed hammer .
Price was right since it was ,new used.
Ammo was 69.99 for 50 rounds of blazer aluminum casing.
Ammo stopped me from purchasing.
Miss my 357's
Shouldve never gotten rid of them.
Pricing is completely insane nowadays.
My 1st S&W was 175 bucks used
And my Taurus tracker wzy back cost me $369 brand new.
I’ve been reloading and loading my own for it- about 27-30 for 50 rounds, but I already had powder, loading press, and just needed dies and bullets.
I love my charter arms in 40 SW. I have been really wanting the 44 special. Probably get myself a Father's Day present and buy it at cabelas this weekend. Probably be a great nightstand gun.
They’re great in general! Heavy boolits
You mentioned Cowboy Loads, and I would highly recommend them for recreation shooting. I use HSM brand, and they are VERY noticeably softer shooting than standard power ammo. Naturally, one might prefer to use standard loads for SD.
I use my bulldog as an outdoor camp gun, woods companion, and occasional house gun. I have found the recoil to be stout, but with shot shells, an effective snake killer.
Great uses for it
I like big bore non magnum revolvers. I bought the Bulldog as a woods hiking and camping gun although I haven’t been to the woods in years.
@@robertonavarro7713 it’s a great woods gun, lightweight so you can pack it all day, and packs a decent punch even though it’s not magnum
@@crankygunreviews My friend is planning to hunt wild boars in central California and am planning to join him but only as an observer.
Of course, I'll be carrying my Bulldog just in case because he said that last time he was out, he said he missed
and the hog charged him but was killed by his professional guide.
I’m still working on feeling comfortable with 9mm.
🤣
Great series!
After shooting some 357 magnum or 40 Smith and Wesson defense loads, you’ll be a pro with 9mm lol
With the lightest Winchester Silver Tip (175 grains, maybe 170? Which is also considered one of the more effective rounds for one like this) the recoil is fairly manageable, not a pussycat, but manageable.
With a full size walnut grip, it’s not bad regardless
I have the Bulldog Target 4" barrell 44spl. It helps the recoil alot. I carry it often . With a speed loader in my pocket.
I like it
I have five other revolvers
And five Semi Auto pistols .
For some reason i am drawn
To the bulldog most often
I just loaded a few hundred rounds of 240 grain lead flat nose and some hollowpoints so I’m hoping to get back out and shoot some of that soon.
Great firearm!!
Yes it is
Just love the style and look of that older model pug in blue with that sweeping front ramp sight and bobbed hammer(but traditional hammer would be okay). Older guns just have more style. I have a Hawes Western Marshall in .44 Magnum and I'll definitely take the .44 Spl over .44 mags in that light Colt SAA design frame.
I agree, I want a 3” bulldog, blued, but having trouble finding one locally
Gods Blessing
I like the 210 grain Sierra HP bullets for the 44 Special.
Yeah those are
Nice
44 special is very mild shooting A 357 magnum with 158 grain will not just hurt out of an 605 taurus but it will numb your hand
👍
There's nothing "mild" about the setting off that .44 Special, 19 oz. Charter Arms, Bulldog Pug.
@@johnl.5117 after shooting a lot of big guns, this really isn’t that bad. Had some fiocchi loads that were mild, and even some 240 grain lead round nose that aren’t bad
Cranky, let me know if you are ever down for a quick livestream on my channel about this ins and outs of this gun. I think it would be very instructive for my audience to see this.
I think that may be cool, timing would be difficult as I work full time and have a family. I usually do all my stuff when my kids are in bed, and my wife is at work lol
My 357 is bad enough LMAO
Glutton for punishment 🤷🏻♂️
Having fired a Bulldog, anything in 357 was much worse recoil wise
Yeah, at the time I first had a bulldog, I was just surprised by the recoil as I had only shot like 110 and 130 grain 38 special out of even my 357 magnum guns. Now the 44 special doesn't feel bad at all@@johndilliner7232
I saw one of these a couple of years ago at a show , it was under $400 . But I could find 44 magnum ammo more , and those and the 44 special can be mild to wild . The only 44 special I've seen lately is the critical defense.
I’ve only seen target 44 special. There’s a small Mom and Pop shop near me that loads ammo and sells to local gun stores for resale, usually pretty decent price. I think resale was $27.95 for 25 rounds of target ammo, still over $1 a round, which is why I’m going to load my own.
It's readily available online every day.
Yeah for $60 a box of 50 rounds. I can load for half that- I loaded about 1100 rounds already. I’m set for a while
I used to have a Bulldog, and it's the only gun I regret selling. I'm not sure how much more effective 44spl is than 38+p, given modern ammo technology, but it was a really cool piece of hardware.
44 special is better mainly because it’s heavier and propelled at similar velocity. But has more recoil so harder for some to handle
@@crankygunreviews It's funny I found this video now. I went to the range today and happened to see a gently used Bulldog in the case for a fair price. Needless to say, it came home with me.
My old one was a Charter2000 model, and this one appears to be a good bit newer. Shelton model with good timing and lockup. I'll be sure to hang on to this one!
Thanks for the great content. I'm now subscribed!
@@CarolinaRimfire thanks man and congrats on you’re new bulldog! Yeah the charter 2000 were said to be the worst quality of them but I still think they have a lifetime warranty
I would load 180 grain lead bullets. Easier on the hand and gun!
I loaded what I could find
Looking at the smoke when you shoot it, it looks like a black powder load..
I think that’s silhouette powder. It’s Smokey-they are cowboy action loads, meant to be a bit Smokey I think
Always wanted one but money is short
Yeah, I sold mine to buy something else- I think my S&W Victory 22. If you subtract the cost of the ammo I got with this, the gun was really cheap.
The Bulldog is a good home defense gun but could also be a good woods gun because the 44 Special is a powerful and accurate round against 4-legged predators.
I just got one 3 months ago and hoping that you can get your dream Bulldog soon. Stay safe.
@robertonavarro7713 I shot mine again today with some of my 240 grain lead semi-wadcutters, and it’s a great feeing gun.
@@crankygunreviews I really haven't shot mine yet. I have a few boxes of 240 grain flat nose. I am sure I will enjoy shooting my big bore Bulldog. Thanks for the info.
Good luck finding 44.special ammo
I bought brass, I’m loading my own. Brass is pretty readily available online.
I love my Bulldog.
Cowboy action ammo will produce less recoil than standard ammo. Do what you will with that.
The best advice I can give is to get a set of the Hogue grips for Charter Arms. They do a great job of taking a lot of that recoil (don’t worry, you’ll still feel it).
I do plan to replace these grips, still undecided on what to get though, I like the Pachmayr Grippers on these guns, add a little length, and they fit my hands perfectly. I also like the vintage Charter Arms walnut target grips- they’re even bigger than the traditional bulldog grips, but they’re hard being wood so…
@@crankygunreviews I have a set of those. The traditionalist in me digs the look. Ultimately the snubs I carry were all outfitted with recoil-absorbing rubber grips.
If I ever get my hands on a classic blued 3” model, I’d definitely install those wood grips for that old school let’s-go-terrorize-NYC look.
@@matttheknife8293 yeah I’m after one of those vintage look ones too, the new manufacture aren’t on the “approved” roster in my state so I need to find and old one which makes it harder…
@@crankygunreviews You live in California too?
Reload. Can tame down
That’s exactly what I am doing.
I have the .44 special bulldog which I love. It’s accurate and event more so than I expected because of the short barrel.
It’s a powerful round, and accurate with all different loads.
I agree- I can be very accurate with these, and the rounds have a lot of power
I'd like to get one but in 38 special. I don't want all that recoil
Yeah the 38 special are good too, I have several of them.
I am the founder of the NO NAMES
Okay…
Try an ultralight .44Mag. 29oz. 305 Gr. @1200
GReat vid. One thing though. Berkowitz acted alone. I've proved it extensively on well over 100 videos using the actual forensics and police evidence. Also his own words since he himself initially made terrible fun of Maury Terry and his cult theory. I will share this video with my subscribers though because despite that one error, you made an excellent video showing the recoil of this gun. It really helps to explain some of the wildness of his shooting in some of the incidents.
Well, I guess in the future the context of this gun, I will just say it’s infamous for the son of Sam murders. I will leave it at that and people can do their own research
@@crankygunreviews Cool. I don't mean to come off as a stickler and I apologize if I did. I am just very sensitive about this issue because the cult story is a really horrible myth that has further victimized Berkowitz's victims and their families. One of the mothers died thinking Berkowitz didn't shoot her daughter when not only did he, but he wrote extensively how he did it and how much pleasure and satisfaction he derived from it.
@@mannygrossman well it’s odd cause I was reading that years after he was imprisoned he was interviewed and he said he didn’t kill most of them, and that’s why the police reports had multiple sketches that looked nothing like Berkowitz and multiple cars fleeing the scene including a yellow beetle which he did not own, but someone in the cult did. The sad thing is the internet and books make it too easy to propagate theories and lies as truth and it gets muddled and for someone like me researching it, it’s tough to decipher the truth when so many things seem plausible… people love to instill doubt.
I can’t win though, first time I posted about it, someone wrote me a lengthy message saying he didn’t do any of the killing and I was way off propagating lies, so I did more research, and it seems he could have acted with a group… I don’t know, like I said I wasn’t there. I’ll stick to “Son of Sam” gun as a reference in the future. Most people don’t care one way or the other.
I appreciate your commentary, and thank you for coming to my channel
@@crankygunreviews Thanks man. If you ever have time and the interest, I have well over 100 videos debunking not only those things you mentioned but many more as well. I started out as a huge Cult believer, but my video series became so popular it led to the release of thousands of previously unseen NYPD investigative files and tons of Berkowitz's own writings. All of them point to him being the sole killer and the cult theory a joke that he went along with to troll Maury, who he is on record as saying was "stupid" and a "terrible investigator." Thanks!!
@@mannygrossman you have them listed on your channel? I’d love to watch them!
I hate how easy it is to spread misinformation and lies as truth these days. The internet is the single best and worst invention that Al Gore ever made 🤣🤣
Got a question I have a .44 spl as well and the ammo cartridges don’t fit in all the way
Have you cleaned the cylinder with CLP and brush? You sure the ammo isn’t 44 magnum?
Underwood ammo 200 gr wadcutters would be perfect in that gun for self defense
Yes…
@amdelux1 I got some of those for my Bulldog Classic and Cimarron Model P, but I have yet to try them out.
@@linguisticman let us know how they shoot
Carefull when buying underwood ammo. Most of their 44 special ammo has warning against using it in this revolver. Just this one. I do not know why. Is it really that weak? I think wadcutters are ok to use. But once I saw that warning for this revolver..I dont want it any more lol.
My Bulldog Pug shoots great with 4gr HP 38 under a 240 hcsw.
Thanks for the tip!
Noice
Yep!
I bought one this year in 2023 and it’s been a big disappointment since day one. Every time I took it to the range it’s missed one shot out of every five if not two. Hammer strikes very lightly on the primer. Got a hold of the factory they sent me out a green Firing pan spring and that didn’t do a bit of good. So now I’m stuck with trying to figure out how to fool the mail service in the believing that is machine parts I’m sending back to them to see if they can fix it.
Why fool the mail? I think Fed Ex or UPS will ship firearms- or have an FFL ship it back. Did you try cleaning it and piling it first? Using spent cases or snap caps and firing it a few hundred times?
@@crankygunreviews I tried different ammo Hornady high-quality ammo after half a dozen time to trying to get it to fire five shots completely to no avail. I don’t know what FedEx or anybody will say. Most of the times I’ve sent guns back to factory for warranty work, they sent me a shipping tag but not these guys.
@edwardschoolcraft2958 yeah I’ve heard Charter Arms makes you pay shipping. I would check UPS and FedEx policy on shipping guns- I think I shipped a handgun via fed ex last time I did it. Better to know than take a chance with mail.
I have a 2nd generation "Ansonia CT" model which I bought almost 30 years ago and also had a light hit problem in double action firing. I fixed it by replacing the weak spring. A little heavier pull but reliable firing now.
Accuracy is still ok from the 2.5" barrel out to 25 yards.
@@Not_MindlessAndGullibleAlways excellent
Why not use wadcutters? Mild recoil and good for selfdefense.
I didn’t have any at the time.
Does anyone know why does Underwood ammo have warning for most of their 44 special ammo : safe for any firearm chambered in 44 special except for Charter Arms Buldog. I was trying to find why is that, but cant find anything about it. So what? It can not handle hot loads?
Probably it’s more like a 44 special +P. No big deal, just don’t shoot it in a charter arms. They probably had one with and issue and put a disclaimer out to protect themselves
@@crankygunreviews Well yeah most of Underwood and Buffalo Bore stuff is hot ( they both have warning coz underwood just copy BB loads).. We know that. But it is weird that this is only revolver that canot handle that stuff. So you dont know about any problems?
@@aljosaskrabelj8412 nope, but I shoot what are essentially cowboy loads
Marris County
If you say so
Can see where someone filed down the front sight because it shot to low ,Got one just like it , Very inaccurate, Disappointed I bought it
You just have to learn how it shoots and compensate
So your promoting Charter Arms firearms an gun ownership...thatz good...but on the other hand you bring up Son of Sam an go on an on about this deranged mental case an your opinion of these murderz...well herez my opinion..you probly turned alot of potential buyerz away from this brand aimply because they dont wanna be associated with anything like THAT !..Why did U even bring that up ? Has nothing to do with ur opinion of that firearm...with all the BS goin on about AR's your giving the other side more fuel for their cause...WTF is wrong with you ? U jus shot yourself in the foot an put a black mark on a fine brand. You wanna be a big shot on You Tube...watch what you say ! It would'nt be surprised if Charter Arms has you in their crosshairz an talkn with their lawyers...jus sayn
On the contrary, lots and lots and lots of people want guns that were made famous by criminals. It’s just one of those things. It’s kind of a morbid curiosity that people have to own guns similar to those that were used in crimes. I think there’s more people that want to buy them, then people that don’t. And so what… I buy what I want it has no effect or bearing on anybody else. Charter arms, lawyers, or not after me, and if that was the case, they would be after a lot of other people, there are way more people on UA-cam showing a lot more information about these crimes than what I put in my few little videos. I HIGHLY DOUBT their lawyers sit around watching every video from UA-camrs and chasing people down for malice or because they talk bad about a product, come on…. It’s free speech- me they would go after everyone who says something bad about their product, which never happens. I always talk good about Charter Arms, love their products, and will continue to support them. I have like 8 or 9 of their revolvers, and always look to buy more.
You are a tool, I never intended to get big and famous on UA-cam, I just post fun videos about things that I’m passionate about, and if people happen to watch them, that’s their business. I am not propagating crimes or glorifying criminals. I am merely talking about the history of a particular firearm.