Anyone Shoot/Load for an Old 3" Charter Bulldog?

[35 Whelen]

Picked up one of these little gals today for a mere song. I started with 5.0 grs. of HP-38 and a 170 gr. RNFP from an Accurate mould then a 260 gr. 429421 from an NOE mould (both ACWW). Both ran a little under 700 fps, leaded pretty bad, AND hit the target sideways at 15 yds. Tried the RCBS 44-250KT, also ACWW, with much better results. With the same load it ran 669 fps. Still leaded some but grouped around 3.5" @ 15 yds.

Next I tried one of the Penta HP's (9.0 Bhn, 247 grs.) out of a Mihec mould over 6.5 of AL20/28. 830 fps and shot 2" to 2 1/2" with substantial recoil.

Any of you guys have any load suggestions?

35W

[Silver Jack Hammer]

I've carried mine for years, it shoots well but not fun to shoot a lot. Mine is the blued model, I've been told it's better than the stainless newer ones, I don't personally know tho.

I carry it with the RCBS 44-250-K with 5.2 gr of Bullseye which clocks at 757 fps. The 429667 Lyman over 7.5 gr of IMR SR 7625 clocks at 795 fps.

It's one of those that's easier carried than shot.

[HeavyMetal]

heavy boolits and the 44 Charter are a bad idea!

Trust me I have a 4 inch 44 TARGET and went with a 429348 180 gr full wadcutter and found this worked very well over both bullseye and Greendot.

Got tired of casting two at a time and bought a 200 grain wadcuuter from a MM gruop buy a few years ago worked so well the 429348 went down the road.

Find a 429348 and call it a day!

HM

[MT Gianni]

I shot mine with 429421 and 7 gr Unique. I just didn't shoot it a lot. It was accurate with 5 shots under 1 1/2" @ 25 yards but 4 " left. I traded it off on something.

[35 Whelen]

I shot mine with 429421 and 7 gr Unique. I just didn't shoot it a lot. It was accurate with 5 shots under 1 1/2" @ 25 yards but 4 " left. I traded it off on something.

I may try 7.0 grs. of Unique. I'm glad you mentioned yours shot left because I forgot to mention mine does too; 2" to 2 1/2" @ 15 yds.

35W

[oger]

I use 6gr of Unique with what ever 240 cast I have handy and really don't like it. Like was said try the 348 Lyman it shoots well with much less recoil and the flat point should work just fine at close range.

[deerspy]

I had one not trying to bash, I had 44spl sent it back to factory twice and it still shaved lead and leaded bad Finley got read of that would like to but a 44spl some day but never buy another Charter! just saying they would not fix it.

[Ragnarok]

I owned an older Charter Arms bulldog .44 and it was a great little revolver.

Probably best to keep the loads within published specs..as the gun I had would crack the grips(factory walnut) and also tended to shake the screw out of the cylinder latch button.

[CJR]

I've been shooting and working on CA 44 Specials ever since they came out. Great guns. The new ones that I've worked on and fired are excellent quality.

My defensive load is 7.5 gr. Unique behind a Lyman 429421; my range load is 5.2-5.5 gr. Trail Boss behind the Lyman 429421; my fun/hold-on-tight load is about 7.5 grs. of Blue Dot behind a 300+gr. LBT LFN. When the Bulldogs are set up right they are superb in fast accurate double-taps; i.e. both rounds very close w/fast DA.

Best tip is to buy or whittle new grips to control recoil and DA accuracy based on your actual hand dimensions. There are many good books to show the proper dimensions; "No Second Place Winner" by Jordan and "Experiments of a Hangunner" by Roper to name a few.

Best regards,

CJR

[Catshooter]

CJR,

Got some pics of those well-used beauties? Love to see some.


35,

Leading and keyholing are classic signs of too small a boolit. What does your bore and throats measure?

I shoot an older Ideal 429421 that drops at .434, the same exact size as my throats. Over 7.0 grains of Universal Clays it does a bit better than 800 feet and cuts one hole at seven yards. That the furthest I've shot it so far. Mine too shot to the left so I filed on the sights a bit.


Cat

[35 Whelen]

My bullets are sized .430" and slip through the cylinder throats with a little pressure. The 170 gr. RNFP, NOE 429421 and RCBS44-350KT were all ACWW but the pistol evidently likes the fat driving band on the RCBS. The SCWHP's were much softer, didn't lead and shot very well. I didn't slug the bore.

35W

[Forrest r]

I've owned/used/shot ca bulldogs for decades, found that the 200gr-220gr gr bullets perform extremely well in the snub noses bd's that I've always owned.

A 200gr cast hp bullet for the bd's, it's a thompson design (same as the 358156 but on steroids). Putting the gas checks on & getting them ready to tumble lube with 45/45/10.

97159

Another beautiful bullet for the bd's are the mihec (they do have a group buy going on right now for the hbwc molds) 220gr hbwc's. I like to cast these around 8bhn for target work/plinking in a 624. But they are also devestating when their turned around to make a huge hp.

97160

That recovered flattened hbwc was shot from a snub nosed bulldog. I don't do allot of range time with any of the bulldogs I've owned, only a couple 100 rounds a year. These little revolvers are pretty hard to beat, their extremely light, fit into vest or back pockets easily & will thump just as hard as the 1911 45acp ball ammo with the right load. The 44spl is 1 of those forgotten rounds that will easily put the smack on anything it gets a hold of.

forrest r

[CJR]

Cat,

Sorry, no pics of my CA BDs. I see you're only shooting at 7 yds. For a fun day at the range, sit down at the 100 yd range, crank in some "Kentucky Windage/Elevation" and in SA touch off a few into the berm. You don't need a paper target because you can clearly see the dirt hits with the 250 gr Keiths. Once you've dialed in the windage and elevation, go to DA. It's amazing and great fun to see what a snubby CA 44 Special BD can do with Keiths.

Best regards,

CJR

[Treeman]

Not a 3 inch but a 2.5 inch,. Mine is dielad in with 200 grain boolits. Light loads and 180s are fun to shoot and hit close enough or close range plinking.

[Combat Diver]

Got a older 3" Bulldog here too, owned since the mid 80s. I cast a Lee 240gr SWC-TL under 6.3-6.5grs Unique or load Speer Shotcapsules (7grs Unique) for the copperheads/cottonmouths around the house (also Unique)

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/CA_Bulldog.JPG

CD

[Thumbcocker]

I have an oldie with a 00xxx serial number. Cylinders and forcing cone look like they were cut with a dull rock. It groups about 3" left of poa but surprisingly tight with 429421's over 6.0 0f Unique. Cylinder mouths are around .433+ and my boolits were .431 so I got some leading. If it hit point of aim it would be very accurate for it's size.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I`ve recently come into a nib LEE 44-214 WC. Anybody try shooting these in a CA? I have an older model 2 1/2" barrel model with Pachmyers on the grips.Robert

[35 Whelen]

Got a older 3" Bulldog here too, owned since the mid 80s. I cast a Lee 240gr SWC-TL under 7-7.5grs Unique or load Speer Shotcapsules for the copperheads/cottonmouths around the house (also Unique)

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/CA_Bulldog.JPG

CD

Nice little rig! Wish mine had grips like that.

I haven't measured my throats but judging from the ease with which my .430" sized bullets slide through the cylinder throats, I'd say they're .432-ish.

I really appreciate the loads you guys post. I chrono'ed a little more tonight, both with 6.5 AL20/28. A 258 gr. SWC (RCBS 44-250KT, ACWW) averaged 830 fps, and a 248 gr. SWC (older Lyman 429421, ACWW) 806 fps. My Bulldog DEFINITELY shoots more accurately and leads less with softer bullets.

I really need to either get a mould for a lighter bullet, preferably a HP or WC or just buy some from a member here.

35W

[richhodg66]

Got a older 3" Bulldog here too, owned since the mid 80s. I cast a Lee 240gr SWC-TL under 7-7.5grs Unique or load Speer Shotcapsules for the copperheads/cottonmouths around the house (also Unique)

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/CA_Bulldog.JPG

CD

Mine looks just like that, even the grips. Have owned it about 23 years and like it, though I don't shoot it often, recoil is pretty stout with most loads. It sits loaded in a drawer here at the house.

Never had a keyhole and it doesn't lead. The 429348 wadcutter is nice to shoot. I don't have the mold, but my Dad cast me a bunch years ago and I only shoot the gun a couple of times a year or so now. I'd definitely grab another one if I found one for the right price.

[Jeff H]

CJR knows his Charters. Pay close attention when he posts.

I've run about everything through the 3" Charters I could dream up, but 5.5 grains of W231 and the 429421 has been my workhorse load for a long time.

200 grain bullets shoot really low at 25 yards, 240s to 250s always shot very close to POA for me. 265s make short work of bowling pins but the 240s and 250s seem to work just as well.

I ran across an old load card a month or two back where I had kept the target from load development of one load or another that had ten shots in two and a half inches. I would not consider that at all unusual at 25 yards from those I have had.

I was younger when I started shooting the Bulldogs and shot loads through them I am now embarrassed to mention - but I do when someone recommends shooting them infrequently so they don't wear out.

[35 Whelen]

The same day I bought mine, I found TWO more in another pawn shop in town. He wanted $325 apiece, or about 1 1/2 again what I paid for mine. I didn't really try to deal with him because he's one of those sort of arrogant, "I don't care if I have your business or not" types. One of them was in pretty good shape, the other had some surface rust and the wood grips were chewed up pretty good. Maybe I should go back and offer him $425 or so for the pair....

35W

[Catshooter]

CJR,

Nah, I said 7 yards was as far as I had shot it, yet. :)

I started with Bulldogs in the early 70s. I love 'em. I was away from them for years and years and just recently got one. I've fallen back in love.

They are much tougher than most people think. Back when I was first into them I used pretty much two loads: 7.5 grains of Unique and 18.5 grains of 2400. Both under the 429421. The 2400 load does have some kick to it. :)

I was just starting to get going with my new BD and then I moved. Now I'm starting to get settled back in, when it warms up a bit I want to get back to it.

I look forward to it.


Cat

[35 Whelen]

CJR,

Nah, I said 7 yards was as far as I had shot it, yet. :)

I started with Bulldogs in the early 70s. I love 'em. I was away from them for years and years and just recently got one. I've fallen back in love.

They are much tougher than most people think. Back when I was first into them I used pretty much two loads: 7.5 grains of Unique and 18.5 grains of 2400. Both under the 429421. The 2400 load does have some kick to it. :)

I was just starting to get going with my new BD and then I moved. Now I'm starting to get settled back in, when it warms up a bit I want to get back to it.

I look forward to it.


Cat

HOLY FECAL MATTER!! 18.5 grs. of 2400?!?!? That's a full 1.5 grs. over what I have fired in my NM Blackhawk .44 Special! I'd be far less concerned about the wear and tear on the Bulldog (I've read for many years that they are TOUGH) than I would be on your wrists!!!! Mine only weighs a hair over 21 oz. and recoil is memorable at best!

35W

[Catshooter]

Yep, it do recoil a bit. :)

Recoil is a funny thing. Three rounds out of most '06s and I'm not happy. That load out of the Charter I didn't like and it did hurt, but I shot more than a few. I still shoot an American Derringer in 45 AR with a 265 grain Keith at about 900. That little gun weighs 16 ounces loaded so it kicks some too.

That is the old Elmer Keith load. He developed it before the advent of the 44 magnum.

Of course that was some 40 years ago. I've grown some smarter since then and wouldn't repeat that mistake. Now I use 7.0 grains of Universal Clays under the same boolit and am happy.


Cat