Tried to buy a Bulldog...

[Drm50]

My advice is to save up for a S&W or a Ruger. I want no Charters or Taurus of any stripe. I don't refuse them on trades but don't get any because of the value I put on them.

[megasupermagnum]

They aren't the fanciest looking revolvers, but they don't seem bad to me, not at all for the price. I almost got one in 41 mag, but can't stand fixed sights. I wish they would get out of the snub nose routine, and come out with something bigger. There's a guy at my range with the target model 357 mag, it shoots every bit as good as any Ruger, and doesn't cost a paycheck.

[FergusonTO35]

Shot my 69 for the first time today with some 44 Russian loads. Shot real well! I was able to shoot a tennis ball size group, offhand, at 25 yards. Just a little mild lead/antimony wash in the bore, nothing to worry about. The finish work on the Smith looks real good. The only thing can find wrong with it is a burr on the muzzle where the rifling was cut. It could easily be polished out, but I probably won't mess with it unless I think accuracy is suffering. I'll probably keep an eye out for a decent 4" Bulldog, but not holding my breath! I might mount a reflex micro red dot on the 69 for deer season next year. Hmm, wonder if anyone has put a red dot on a Bulldog...not sure I'd want to drill holes in the top strap!

Charter makes a target model Bulldog with adjustable sights and 5" tube.

[W.R.Buchanan]

The S&W 696 is what all those other guns would like to be.

Randy

[winelover]

The S&W 696 is what all those other guns would like to be.

Randy

Except for the weight and bulk. Ain't putting that in a pocket holster.

Winelover

[EMC45]

Saw a Bulldog in a pawnshop the other day. .44 Special and an older model in exc shape.

[FergusonTO35]

How much did they want for it? In my experience, the 1960's-70's guns tend to be really good as long as they haven't been abused.

[Catshooter]

Except for the weight and bulk. Ain't putting that in a pocket holster.

Winelover

And Price!!


Cat

[Uncle Grinch]

Just bought a new Bulldog 44 for my wife and it appears to have no issues that I can see. Finish looks good, Barrel and forcing cone look good, fit is nice and close. The DA trigger pull is somewhat gritty, but it’s new and needs some range time.

Looking to get a 200 grain mould, maybe a wadcutter style.

[EMC45]

How much did they want for it? In my experience, the 1960's-70's guns tend to be really good as long as they haven't been abused.

Can't quite remember. It was in East TN

[FergusonTO35]

Biggest problem with the first generation Charters I have found is how they have usually been treated over the years. Most people bought them because they were the cheapest, non-Saturday Night Special snubnose .38 available at the time. As such, they spent alot of time in glove boxes, drawers, tackle boxes, pockets, ankle holsters, and so on with little to no care. My own 1970's Undercover .38 has most of the finish rubbed off on the cylinder and had surface rust when I got it. I figure it spent most of it's life in a pocket or glove box. I also don't think it was ever fired much. No cylinder turn line at all and lockup is tighter than alot of new guns. I actually had some light strikes at first until the oil had worked it's way through the internals. Now that I've put a few hundred rounds through, it is a fine little pocket piece!

[HATCH]

I have only had a Pitbull.
40 S&W version of the Bulldog
I did send it back to Charter twice.
Once because it had a issue with the extractor.
Got it back and it would no longer accept cast boolits. Well some chambers did and some didn't.
Back it went.
I haven't fired it since it came back but it does accept cast boolits now.

Its a cheap truck gun that I don't worry about if it gets lost.