The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: jaybet on October 29, 2007, 04:09:54 PM
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So does anyone have experience with Charter Arms snubbies?
As I've been told they are pretty cheaply made except for the .44 Bulldog which is on a steel frame.
The idea of a .44 with a 2" barrel is pretty cool.
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MB likes his for ZOMBIES.
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I'm doin' ZOMBIES (and vampires and werewolves) for thise week's Halloween podcast, BTW!
I've got a Bulldog and have shot the snot out of it...no, it's not and S&W, and I wouldn't want to get much farther than 10 yards from the target, but I have no complaints. It shoots like a house afire, and is relentlessly unpleasant. I carried the thing for a couple of weeks in Arizona in a Simply Ruggest Sourdough Pancake...holster...holster...not breakfast...
Michael B
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Ha Ha! Michael you've done it again! "Relentlessly unpleasant" PERFECT!
One time my wife and I were watching a dog show (trying to see what kind of dog she might want) and they brought on a Neapolitan Mastiff. This big, gangly bag-o'bones thing with a head like a garment bag is running along and the announcer is talking about the strong points of the breed, and he says that the AKC description says that the perfect specimen should be, "unnervingly ugly". PERFECT!
So the .44 bulldog is ugly, unpleasant, and unreliable over (I'm being generous) 10 yards...it's the perfect close quarters machine. If you miss the bad guy he will still poop his pants and be so ashamed that he'll lay down and wait for the police.
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Charter Arms has always been an interesting beast. When I was in the retail side of the Industry I sold a lot of Charter Arms, the Off Duty, the Undercover and the Bulldog. Of course the price point was the key to sale. When selling them we never put them in the class of say a J-Frame S&W, but we also had the confidence to recommend them for the occasional user who needed a firearm that when the chips were down would work. I personally know of one person who successfully used his Bulldog to avoid having to physically confront an assailant. Firearms like Charter Arms and the old H&R (later NEF) represent a line of reliable (within their limits) self protection firearms that are available for people that can not afford the Smith’s, Colt’s, Sig’s, Beretta’s, etc. Keep them within their limits of usage and they should provide you with good service.
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I have had Charter Arms revolvers since 1973 and they have served me well.At present I only have a Undercover,DOA,parkerized, with Charter Arms copy of boot grips.
It is rated for +P , not a lot of range time yet,Its is snowing like mad here. Doug
(http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n48/canon6/DSCF0164.jpg)
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The interesting thing about Charter Arms is they make a left-handed revolver.
http://www.charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Undercover_Southpaw.html
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As a lefty, I tried the lefty model at a range ONCE. Almost broke my thumb trying to do a speed reload :-\. Too many years of hanging on my right thumb during the reload.
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I can recall examining a large number of Charter revolvers over the years but I can't recall ever firing one. I was never impressed with the guns. The only Charter I would even consider is the 44 Bulldog. And then only if I was walking around with extra folding money and the gun was the only thing in the LGS interesting.
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I bought a Charter 38 spl for my GF. It's one of the super light ones (12 oz). Haven't shot it yet.
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I note that the current issue of AMERICAN HANDGUNNER (Jan/Feb 2008) has a Charter Bulldog Pug .44 overhauled by Mag-Na-Port as their giveaway gun.....hmmmm...I didn't know Mag-Na-Port worked on little guns. They're not cheap, but their work is superb! Be nice to have my Bulldog civilized a bit, although I would like to reiterate that the thing has been a workhorse.
Michael B
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Read on a SW forum that the 44 Bulldog will be produced with 4 inch barrel and adjustable sites. It seemed to be a "reliable rumour" so I thought I would pass it on here.
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I had a Bulldog pug in .44 spl. blue great carry gun and surprisingly mild to shoot. I would go for one again as a bug if I needed a snubbie.
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Sent my Charter .44 to Ken Kelly at Mag-Na-Port...will let you know how it turns out!
Also, the BRITISH BULLDOG custom Redhawk project in 56-50 moves on forward!
Michael B
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I keep going back and forth- the 44 Bulldog would be fun, but I could also get 7 rounds with a Taurus in .357- that's no slouch.
OR I could say the hell with it and go 3" XD, Taurus MillienniumIII, lil' bitty Glock...
I want a small gun and I love autoloaders, but the snubbies are also callin' me. Bulldog-5 rounds, 357-7 rounds. What to do...
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Jaybethel,
Remember "Wheel Guns are Real Guns". ;D
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And steel is REAL
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Jaybethel,
Remember "Wheel Guns are Real Guns". ;D
That saying is not lost on me Haz...I'm getting wifey the Ruger GP-100 blued with 6" barrel for Christmas. (She's a revolver girl who has always craved that model)
Trouble is, we have to keep things even, so the next one (by formula) has to be a bottom feeder. But maybe I'll just break the cycle.
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I like auto loaders to but the sp101is a good snubbie for carry. and if mag n port is going to make one from a redhawk then I migh just have to take a trip down state and get one. Is been a while since I've been in the shop anyway.
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I keep going back and forth- the 44 Bulldog would be fun, but I could also get 7 rounds with a Taurus in .357- that's no slouch.
OR I could say the hell with it and go 3" XD, Taurus MillienniumIII, lil' bitty Glock...
I want a small gun and I love autoloaders, but the snubbies are also callin' me. Bulldog-5 rounds, 357-7 rounds. What to do...
I have the Taurus 617, 7-Shot .357. Am Carrying it right now in fact. I carry it about 6 days a week. It's a great gun. My advice is to get the Taurus first. Around here you don't see a whole lot of them, but the Charter .44's Are more common. If you get the Taurus first, and decide you want the Bulldog too, it won't take that long to save up the money for the Charter Arms.
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Do any of you Bulldog fans pocket carry yours? Just wondering how well that .44 would conceal in a blue jean pocket. I checked one out a bit yesterday, and it concealed real well in the pocket of my 5.11 Tactical pants. But, so does a government model 1911. So I'm curious how the Bulldog packs in a jean pocket.
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I keep going back and forth- ...............................
I want a small gun and I love autoloaders, but the snubbies are also callin' me. Bulldog-5 rounds, 357-7 rounds. What to do...
Simple, carry several! OK, OK...I'll lighten up. I'm hoping I don't get "ARFcom'ed" here like MB did mentioning the "wrong" thing on a board somewhere, but on a companion Outdoor Channel show Todd Jarrett walked up to a table and dumped 6 or 7 concealed carry weapons on a table...it was pretty cool to see that. Not so kewl as MB's shows, of course, but still a good photo op kind of a thing....and your solution!
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Most I've concealed carried is four. But I was cheating a bit because one of them was a Kel-Tec P32. The rest were .45's. ;D A friend of mine just got his Concealed Handgun license in the mail 2 days ago. My Dad asked him if he was packing. He said he'd probably never carry. My dad and I told him He needs to get himself something Pocket sized that can be with him all the time. Something like a Kel-Tec P32 (Which my dad offered to sell to him. He said he'd rather have the 380. Dad understands. That's why he quit carrying the 32. He got himself a .380 Kel-Tec that he carries now.), or even a Derringer. What's the best gun to have in a fight? Whatever one you have with you. He says he has a J-Frame .357, but his son borrowed it and he's trying to get it back from him.
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I carry a Browning HP in 40s&w almost all the time. It's the almost part that gets me. It's a big gun. Depending on what I'm wearing It's hard to carry concealed. That's why I think I'm going to get a J-frame in 38 +P. With some of the great new ammo out there the balistics are just about the same as a 357 out of a short barrel.
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I carry my BOND but it's just to get me to a real gun in the truck .
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I carry my BOND but it's just to get me to a real gun in the truck .
Hope it never has to come to that!
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Those buffalo bore rounds are the thing for short barrels, ;)
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I worked part time at a local gunshop during the early 80's, the owner had a Charter Arms Backpacker, it was a .44 with a 2" magnaported barrel with their logo on the side, alloy frame, wooden grips that did not go past the grip frame ( the charter grip frames are very short) and a Tyler T grip adapter. Found this picture at guns america. It was a beastie to shoot.
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Those buffalo bore rounds are the thing for short barrels, ;)
So many ideas and so little dollars!. I'm leaning toward big bore- after all, the chances of having to use the gun at very close range makes "knock down" a big issue.
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So many ideas and so little dollars!. I'm leaning toward big bore- after all, the chances of having to use the gun at very close range makes "knock down" a big issue.
You know, you guys are gonna get me in trouble if you keep talking about this big bore snubby thing. I ain't got one but I'm gonna have a tax refund early next year and my wife thinks she has it spent. You guys are gonna get me in trouble.......I can feel it now. Oh, the reason that buying this really get's me in trouble...I'm already committed to an integrally supressed Ruger M77 in 44 mag (whaddya' 7.62 guys say now with your 165+/- grain subsonic rounds, eh?).
But, before I go and repaint the doghouse in anticpation, just exactly what are ya'll saying is the best in a 44 mag? An old model off Guns America or a brand new one?
Paint, doghouse, cold couch..boy you guys are trouble.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heavy .44 Special Printed Order Form
Item No. 14A 180 gr. JPH 1150 fps
543 ft. lbs.
(personal defense load) Per Box of 50
$64.04
Order Now! Per Box of 20
$30.86
Order Now
Item No. 14B 255 gr. SWC (Keith-type)
gascheck 1000 fps
566 ft. lbs.
(for big game up to 500 lbs.) Per Box of 50
$64.04
Order Now! Per Box of 20
$30.86
Order Now
1. 6" Ruger .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk
a. Item #14A - 1203 fps
b. Item #14B - 1044 fps
2. 3.25" S&W Model 396
a. Item #14A - 1155 fps
b. Item #14B - 984 fps
This Heavy .44 Special ammunition can be fired in every .44 Special or .44 Magnum gun made EXCEPT CHARTER ARMS .44 SPECIAL BULLDOG.
this may be the way to go in a shorty.
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Rastus, you can't blame your regular trips to the dog house on us, because you would get yourself there all on your own.
I know...
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Jaybeth,
I know of a Smith shorty .357 for sale. Not sure of modle but it is stainless and has less than 10 rounds through it. Probably get it for 250 and shipping.
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Hey Haz, that's a maybe. My problem is, even at 250 it has to be shipped into a NJ dealer who will tack on about $51 in handling fee (it's not all their fault) so it then becomes 300 plus shipping.
I'd be interested in what exactly it is, though.
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Be aware that the Buffalo Bore heavy .44 Specials are THUMPERS! My inclination might be to keep them out of alloy-frame guns of any flavor (296, 395, Taurus alloy snubs). I carry the 255-gr Buffalo Bore "reduced recoil" .44 Magnums in my field gun, currently a 3-inch 629 from Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision. The rounds are "reduced recoil" only in the sense that they kick less than 300-gr .454 Casulls out of my Ruger Alaskan...
Michael B
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Good point MB they arent for casual shooting, but with the bullets and velocities stated they look like dandy defense rounds.
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I thought Buffalo Bores were SUPPOSED to be thumpers. Isn't every load they make a thumper??? That's what I hear anyway. 8)
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I wonder Why Charter Arms makes the Bulldog in .44 Special but not in .45 Colt.
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OK- I think I've settled my snubby dilemma. For now I'm looking at a Rossi Model 461, 2" barrel- a blued .357
I know it's not a S&W or even a Taurus maybe, but I haven't heard anything awful about them.
So here's your chance my friends. If you're out there and you want to talk me out of it NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!
I know it's not the "best" revolver, but I'm not using it for target shooting and I can spend what I save on ammo or
another nicer gun. So...have at it!
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Jatbeth,
Haven't heard anything catastrophic about them. If you like, works for me.
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I wonder Why Charter Arms makes the Bulldog in .44 Special but not in .45 Colt.
Taurus makes one in .45 Colt. Five shots, and a slabby 2.5 inch barrel. Love at first eyeball.
'Course, my heart is taken by the Smith and Wesson Airweight Bodyguard. The name. The humpback. The adorable liliputian nature, making it an enhancement of the proven 5 shot J. Taurus' little Protector looks good too. Heck, looks identical, and it's a full .357.
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I have the undercover and like it as a backup. Yep, close range duty. I was practicing doing some point shooting with it on Monday at 10 feet. Pulled the trigger, went bang, paper had hole. Bought it new for $135 about 3 years ago!
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Taurus makes one in .45 Colt. Five shots, and a slabby 2.5 inch barrel. Love at first eyeball.
'Course, my heart is taken by the Smith and Wesson Airweight Bodyguard. The name. The humpback. The adorable liliputian nature, making it an enhancement of the proven 5 shot J. Taurus' little Protector looks good too. Heck, looks identical, and it's a full .357.
Doug,
I checked the Taurus site for the .45 snubby and didn't see it.
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Doug,
I checked the Taurus site for the .45 snubby and didn't see it.
FUSSBUDGET! They discontinued it. It used to be there, as was the .44 Special. The only survivor seems to be the .41 Magnum Variant.
AH, here she is... under the Titanium revolvers:
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=228&category=Revolver
Sadly listed as "discontinued."
They also had a nice .45 ACP snub too...
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=118&category=Revolver
Again, discontinued.
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FUSSBUDGET! They discontinued it. It used to be there, as was the .44 Special. The only survivor seems to be the .41 Magnum Variant.
AH, here she is... under the Titanium revolvers:
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=228&category=Revolver
Sadly listed as "discontinued."
They also had a nice .45 ACP snub too...
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=118&category=Revolver
Again, discontinued.
Don't give up. Lots of time the distributors have enough to keep selling discontinued models for a year or two!
Also....check the online auction sites for unfired guns. I've always done well that way.
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Thanks, Rastus. Again, Michael Bane was talking about the return of the 296, so my need for stubby .44's is being met.
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Taurus makes one in .45 Colt. Five shots, and a slabby 2.5 inch barrel. Love at first eyeball.
'Course, my heart is taken by the Smith and Wesson Airweight Bodyguard. The name. The humpback. The adorable liliputian nature, making it an enhancement of the proven 5 shot J. Taurus' little Protector looks good too. Heck, looks identical, and it's a full .357.
They used to make it.... Discontinued. I had one in bright blue finished Titanium.... It was stolen. I WANT IT BACK BADLY!!! You never see one for sale anymore either. It's been discontinued for more than 3 years I believe.
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Price of Titanium tripled, If you have one its worth more as scrap metal than as a gun
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Was in Kieslers yesterday and the Charter 44 Special Bulldog was $379. My LGS sells Smith Airweights for $399. Like Charter guns of years past I wasn't that impressed with the Charter quality. Nor am I convinced the 44 Special is light years ahead of the better 38 Special loads available.
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Gotta say the new S&W "Night Guards" are sweet, especially the 5-shot L-frame .44 Special...which I ordered on the spot at SHOT (and, as the handgun manager for S&W said, "You, John Taffin and six of your closest friends...that's why we build the .44 Specials!). You can read about 'em on the blog, here:
http://michaelbane.blogspot.com/2008/02/period-exclmation-point-on-concept-of.html
Little bigger than the Charter, though...I can't wait to get my Charter back from Mag-Na-Port...we'll be doing a full report on it on DOWN RANGE.
Michael B
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A left handed revolver! Seems like I should buy one just to thank them for thinking of us. Problem is, I've been working a revolver for so many years, I don't know if I could change my habit. Probably shoot myself in the foot.
Art
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Well, I actually found a 44 Bulldog in a gunshop this weekend and handled it, and I have to say it really was not very impressive. It felt rough, and God knows how it stands up to 44 rounds. Also saw a 38 Rossi. It had the firing pin on the hammer and the action was really rough. So in the world of revolvers it looks like you definitely get what you pay for.
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Well, I actually found a 44 Bulldog in a gunshop this weekend and handled it, and I have to say it really was not very impressive. It felt rough, and God knows how it stands up to 44 rounds. Also saw a 38 Rossi. It had the firing pin on the hammer and the action was really rough. So in the world of revolvers it looks like you definitely get what you pay for.
Agreed.
I think I would spend the extra few clams to get a Taurus .38 or a .44. If I had some Benjamins burning a hole in my pocket I would get an S&W but I know I can get teh job done with a Taurus as I have one of their Model 669's.