shootnlead
Active Member
Back in early November, I was trying to come up with something for us to give our 22yr old son for Christmas. Now, he is gun nut, but I wanted to get him something that I thought he would really like. One morning I was reading on the forums as I usually do and wound up on Gunbroker…as I usually do…and ran across this Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special Target. It has a 4.2” barrel and adjustable sights…I suppose the sights justifies calling it the “ Target” model. Well, when I saw it, I immediately thought that I had found “the” gun that he would enjoy. The reason for thinking this is that he carries the snub Bulldog a lot and really likes it. So, I immediately ordered the gun and could hardly wait to get my hands on it as I had never seen one…actually, I had somehow missed this gun over time and did not even know they made it.
Now, I know that a lot of folks consider the Charter guns to be junk and if I had not had any experience with them, I would probably be the same. But, I bought my first Bulldog back in 1983 and an Off Duty .38spc in 1984…both guns have given excellent service. Then last year, my son ordered his Bulldog and it has been great. I understand that these guns will not take a lot of shooting…but we have Ruger’s that we shoot also, so we shoot the Charter’s kind of sparingly…but they do serve a purpose and serve it well.
I am a 44 special fanatic…it is my cartridge of choice, with Skeeter loads, it will settle the dander of most anything on 2 or 4 legs...that I am subject to encounter. I have a Cimarron Model P that is the gun that goes with me 90% of the time, when going hunting or just going to the woods. I have the new Ruger flattops and New Vaguero’s…but I just prefer the way the SAA clones handle and shoot. With all of these Specials around, I are pretty well familiar with most any handload for them, known to man. We rely on the Skeeter load using my favorite, the 429421, bullet with Unigque for our “hunting” capable load. But, for the majority of our shooting, we use 210gr full wadcutters and HP38/231…makes for some SWEET shooting…I just never get tired of those loads in the Special. While I prefer the single actions...he does not share my passion for them and that is the reason that I thought he would like this gun, so much. A lightweight DA 44 special with adjustable sights and adequate barrel length that he would feel comfortable taking a 40yd shot on a deer, if he decided that he wanted to use it instead of the rifle, if the right shot presented itself while rifle hunting.
Anyway, I could barely contain my excitement about giving him this gun and could hardly wait for Christmas morning…and it made my Christmas to see his reaction to the gun…now this is a kid that has had most any gun that he has wanted…mostly 1911’s…so, his great reaction to this gun, just made my Christmas. I also loaded some ammo of varying bullet weights and charges…so, he would be set to try it out as soon as we got a break in the Christmas activities with all of the family….the day after Christmas. We took the gun out and both of us were very pleased with the way it shot all of the rounds…from 180gr full wadcutter to the 250gr 429421 Skeeter loads…puts them all where you aim it…with very little recoil. He will probably shoot this gun a couple of hundred rounds a year and enjoy having it take along while hunting.
I will have to say, this is a nice little gun that will serve his purpose as a woods gun, very well. With Skeeter loads, it is a powerful little gun…it uses a jframe pach grip and is probably about the size of the kframe Smith’s…and it weighs 22ozs empty…a lot of firepower in a gun that you barely notice that you have on your hip. And, perhaps the best part of all…it cost $438 including delivery and FFL fee.
Now, I know that a lot of folks consider the Charter guns to be junk and if I had not had any experience with them, I would probably be the same. But, I bought my first Bulldog back in 1983 and an Off Duty .38spc in 1984…both guns have given excellent service. Then last year, my son ordered his Bulldog and it has been great. I understand that these guns will not take a lot of shooting…but we have Ruger’s that we shoot also, so we shoot the Charter’s kind of sparingly…but they do serve a purpose and serve it well.
I am a 44 special fanatic…it is my cartridge of choice, with Skeeter loads, it will settle the dander of most anything on 2 or 4 legs...that I am subject to encounter. I have a Cimarron Model P that is the gun that goes with me 90% of the time, when going hunting or just going to the woods. I have the new Ruger flattops and New Vaguero’s…but I just prefer the way the SAA clones handle and shoot. With all of these Specials around, I are pretty well familiar with most any handload for them, known to man. We rely on the Skeeter load using my favorite, the 429421, bullet with Unigque for our “hunting” capable load. But, for the majority of our shooting, we use 210gr full wadcutters and HP38/231…makes for some SWEET shooting…I just never get tired of those loads in the Special. While I prefer the single actions...he does not share my passion for them and that is the reason that I thought he would like this gun, so much. A lightweight DA 44 special with adjustable sights and adequate barrel length that he would feel comfortable taking a 40yd shot on a deer, if he decided that he wanted to use it instead of the rifle, if the right shot presented itself while rifle hunting.
Anyway, I could barely contain my excitement about giving him this gun and could hardly wait for Christmas morning…and it made my Christmas to see his reaction to the gun…now this is a kid that has had most any gun that he has wanted…mostly 1911’s…so, his great reaction to this gun, just made my Christmas. I also loaded some ammo of varying bullet weights and charges…so, he would be set to try it out as soon as we got a break in the Christmas activities with all of the family….the day after Christmas. We took the gun out and both of us were very pleased with the way it shot all of the rounds…from 180gr full wadcutter to the 250gr 429421 Skeeter loads…puts them all where you aim it…with very little recoil. He will probably shoot this gun a couple of hundred rounds a year and enjoy having it take along while hunting.
I will have to say, this is a nice little gun that will serve his purpose as a woods gun, very well. With Skeeter loads, it is a powerful little gun…it uses a jframe pach grip and is probably about the size of the kframe Smith’s…and it weighs 22ozs empty…a lot of firepower in a gun that you barely notice that you have on your hip. And, perhaps the best part of all…it cost $438 including delivery and FFL fee.
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