Charter Arms Bulldog Range Review - Update!

[Wheelgun Dunn]

Well I did it!  After a post on July 24th requesting opinions and thoughts on the Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special I bought one and shot it.  My original opinion was Charter was a piece of junk, but Michael and others spoke very highly of it so I figured I would give it a try.  Hey, I have been wrong before why should this be any different?    Many of you responded that it was a good gun and I appreciate all of your input.  Anyway, I took it out to the range and stoked it with Magtech .44 special LRN cowboy loads as I have never shot .44 special and did not know what to expect in such a light frame gun.  When I attempted to load all five cylinders I was unable to do so.  One of the flanges on the ejector star was bent over the mouth of the cylinder preventing a cartridge from seating all of the way into the cylinder.  This aggravated me but I figured I could fix it when I got home.  So, I loaded the other 4 cylinders and proceeded to fire the gun.  Accuracy was excellent and recoil was very manageable despite the light weight frame of the gun.  Sadly, the first round out of each cylinder full caused the trigger to lock in the rear position.  After I pulled the trigger it would lock in the rear position even if I released my finger from it.  Now I was really getting frustrated.  I can't count on it for personal defense with that kind of poor quality and performance.  So I drove home wondering what to do.  Do I take it back to the store and trade the problem away?  That isn't fair to someone else.  Do I contact Charter?  Do I tie it to the bumper of the truck and drag it down the interstate on my way home?  No, I called a cowboy gunsmith friend of mine who cut his teeth on PPC action jobs on double action revolvers in the 80s.  He said I can fix it up for ya'.  So away it went.  When I got it back it was much smoother than before and I could load five for five.  Also the trigger locking back only happened once and then stopped doing it.  I believe it is now a keeper and more testing is forthcoming.  I subsequently fell in love with the round and picked up a S&W Thunder Ranch Special in .44.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Wheelgun 

[Rob10ring]

If the gun is new, I'd send it back to them. I've heard they are easy to deal with, but it may have to be sent through your dealer.

I bought an Undercover a few months back. Everything is great so far. The first cylinder full was difficult to eject the empty cartridges from, but has been like butter ever since. My only complaint is that the front site is almost completely obstructed from view by the hammer when firing in double action. I know that isn't really a problem with the Bulldog or their 6-shooter .38. I love mine and the price was right. I may get a .44 later. I have too many other guns that I'm interested in and since we only have 1 more year to buy new semi-auto handguns in California, I'm concentrating on those.

[ericire12]

Dunn-

I dont know if you have heard about this yet or not, but there is a new shooting range in Greenville 

http://www.allenarms.net/

[Michael Bane]

If it's new, send it back to Charter, and say in your message that you talked to me and I said SEND IT BACK!

They'll stand by their gun...if there's any problem, have them ask Charles Brown, the president of the company, to contact me!

Michael B

[Wheelgun Dunn]

Thanks Michael!  I appreciate your help.  I think my gunsmith fixed the problem and I am not sure if CA would take it back after a smith worked on it anyway.  But if it doesn't prove reliable on the next trip to the range I will take you up on your offer.  Thanks again, nice to have support from you, Majordomo!

Ericire12, thanks for the link, I have been there and it is a really nice range with good folks.  Thanks again!

Wheelgun

[Sponsor]

[Rob10ring]

Charter's new revolver for rimless cartridges is pretty interesting.

http://www.gunpundit.com/1487.php

[ericire12]

Charter's new revolver for rimless cartridges is pretty interesting.

http://www.gunpundit.com/1487.php

Brilliantly simple and simply brilliant!

[Fatman]

Charter's new revolver for rimless cartridges is pretty interesting.

http://www.gunpundit.com/1487.php

The 9mm model will chamber .380 also. 

[lonedog]

Wheelgun, I am not picking on you but I see this a lot and it is kind of a pet peeve of mine, but all revolvers have only ONE cylinder. The five holes you load the rounds in are chambers not cylinders. One cylinder housing 5 chambers.

[ericire12]

Wheelgun, I am not picking on you but I see this a lot and it is kind of a pet peeve of mine, but all revolvers have only ONE cylinder. The five holes you load the rounds in are chambers not cylinders. One cylinder housing 5 chambers.

Hell of a first post there, lonedog 
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CLIP!