The purpose of the Bulldog was to offer big performance in a small, compact frame, and Charter knocked it outta the park. In fact, this now-ubiquitous feature was actually invented by Charter way back when.īy its build alone, you can already see that the Bulldog is no ordinary revolver. In order to eliminate the common safety issues of carrying a wheel gun, the solid-framed Charter contains the dependable hammer block transfer bar safety system. As a result, Charters are not only significantly more dependable than more-traditional revolvers, they are also excellent for self-defense.Īlthough the Bulldog has no external safety mechanism, it is nonetheless regarded as one of the safest CCWs on the market. To keep it around 20 oz., Charter removed a few excess internal parts, hoping to keep their gun as simple as possible. However, Charter’s engineering team has somehow managed to keep the Bulldog at a comfortable, easy-to-handle 20 ounces! But with all of these extra durability-boosting features, you’d expect the Bulldog to feel like an S&W 500 Magnum. In fact, they even ditched the conventional small retention screws for a more modern route –having the cylinder yoke secured into the strong steel frame. Clearly, Charter was determined to create a CCW that could handle tons of abuse. Furthermore, to boost their durability, these guns have their barrels threaded into their frames. Charter Arms abandoned the traditional side plate and opted for a stronger single-piece frame. While the Bulldog may look like your standard snub nose revolver from afar, take a closer look and you’ll be surprised to see how special it really is. 44 Special rounds tend to be plenty strong when it matters most. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, I must first say that the only complaint I’ve ever heard about the Bulldog was about its capacity.
The immensely powerful handgun is built from 100% American-made components that are as durable as they are reliable.
While it has been featured in movies like Killing Them Softly and Blade Runner, the Bulldog made news in the late 70’s after the notorious serial killer, the “Son of Sam”, utilized the weapon in his reign of terror in New York.Įnough chit-chat, let’s get down to business – This is the Gunivore rundown of Charter Arms’ Bulldog revolver! Charter Arms Bulldog Spec Sheetīulldog Build & Construction Single Piece Bulldog FrameĬharter Arms’ feature snub nose firearm has endured the test of time as one of America’s best concealed carry revolvers, and for good reason.
As Charter’s trademark revolver, the Bulldog has seen its fair share of attention, but it hasn’t always been so positive. 44 Special was finally released ten years ago. After outlasting a couple of halts in production and receiving a few overhauls, the final version of the. However, while Charter was battling bankruptcy and struggling to manage their operations, the Bulldog fell victim to several manufacturing complications. Originally released in 1973, the Bulldog quickly became Charter’s top-selling product and was even one of the best-selling revolvers in the country.
William Petersen with a Bulldog in the Movie Manhunter (1986)
For an in-depth breakdown of Douglas McClenahan’s resilient enterprise, check out my company overview here. The here today, gone tomorrow Charter Arms is a thing of the past The New England firearm producer currently boasts a catalog filled with first-class, heavy-punching revolvers. Unfortunately, Charter has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the years, so it will take some time for their reputation to catch up to where it truly belongs. 44 Special revolver is as practical as they come and it won’t break the bank either. Unfortunately, he was still undecided, even after reading my Top CCWs of 2017 piece. Considering that he already owns the impressive Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 and Taurus 709, I think he was looking for something smaller to keep in his glove compartment or holstered on his ankle. Then I got thinking about the new and improved, totally revamped, Charter Arms Bulldog. That being said, he’s been an adamant semi-auto shooter for as long as I can remember, so I was hesitant to suggest a wheel gun. Because he’s my father, I only want the best for him, and that means I have to consider price, weight, reputation, reliability, concealability, and more. My father has recently been pressing me to recommend a new backup carry gun for him, and I’ve been struggling to find the right one.