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Post by bulasteve on Apr 4, 2015 12:02:50 GMT -5
I've finally gotten somewhat serious about coming up with ONE load for the little Bulldog. A do everything, file the sights if needed, we gone! Thing. Just in from peroxiding the inside of my right thumb. Even with easy going loads, the Bulldog bites at both ends. The Penn 185gr DEWC has been doing me fine, and puts me into .40S&W territory quite easily, but with a full bore wide meplat. Then I played with some 255gr WFN's, but looking at that small frame and skinny cylinder walls made me nervious, so. The search continued. Now playing with some 210gr RNFP from Matt's Bullets. A compromise in weights and style. With 6.5grs of Unique, just saw the best groups I've shot with that little cannnon. Doing the happy dance here. Ya, I know, not T-Rex killin' loads, but the .44spec will still do what it's always done. Penn. trout season opens in 2 weeks and the bears are coming out. A heavier full wadcutter is being considered, I just can'y help myself, sigh.. Next up, the Ruger .44spec NM Vaq. Sheriff ! More horsepower can be applied ! steve
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Post by Cholla on Apr 4, 2015 12:16:57 GMT -5
I picked up an old Bulldog for a song about a year ago to go with all my other .44 Specials. My favorite practice load is 6.5 grs. of either Unique or (preferably) AL 20/28 under a cast SWC which usually weigh 255-258 grs. depending on which mould I use. So naturally that was the first load I tried. JIMINY CHRISTMAS I wasn't prepared for that! The load shot well but jarred all sorts of things loose in my body. But it ran 835 fps and grouped 2" - 2 1/2" offhand at 15 yds. I messed around with other loads but finally settled on a cast 185 gr. full wadcutter. loaded over 4.5 grs. of Clays. This load runs 853 fps and groups very well. You may find, as did I, that some cast bullets hit the target sideways. I eventually traced the problem to bullets that were too soft and the short lands in the barrel. Once I cast the bullets in the 12 - 13 Bhn range, everything worked fine. Enjoy!
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Post by bulasteve on Apr 4, 2015 12:41:44 GMT -5
An old friend of mine bought the Bulldog in the early '80's, then we traded it back and forth until I wouldn't trade anymore. The Speer 3/4 jacket 225HP is a good choice for it, but only one box left here. The Ray Thompson 215gr SWc might be the one...more playing to do I see. Neosporin and band-aid applied. Time for a beer and some gun cleaning. The Bulldog has been my dog walking, go to the outhouse, fishing gun for some time now. Have some more filing to do on the right side of the front sight, EVERYTHING shoots left for me. Short pudgy finger syndrome.
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Post by medicdave on Apr 4, 2015 12:58:55 GMT -5
My little 396ng gets toted around with buffalo bore 200gr tac-xp all copper hollow points at 1000fps out of the short barrel. Absolutely wicked little round. C.O.P. sells a similar load with the same bullet at 945fps out of their test barrel for about half the price. Im going to try them next order from Midway.
Cast wise all of my 44's have liked the thompson design in both solid and hp persuation.
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Post by bulasteve on Apr 4, 2015 13:25:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the thumbs up on the Thompson SWC idea. I think John Taffin needs to write a cute 'lil book on cute'lil .44's. Just sayin', you heard it here first.
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turbo
.30 Stingray
Posts: 465
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Post by turbo on Apr 5, 2015 13:07:09 GMT -5
PICS??
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Post by bulasteve on Apr 5, 2015 14:12:29 GMT -5
Yeah I know, but no pic capabilty here. Did take pics w/phone and sent to friends.
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Post by Frank V on Apr 9, 2015 21:23:25 GMT -5
I'm a fan of the Bulldog too. They can be carried in the vest pocket of a Carhartt vest without showing. A load I've used is the good old RCBS 44-200-FN this is a bullet designed for the .44-40, I use it over 7-1/2grs of Unique. It is kind of snappy, but can be controlled & it's over 800 in the short bbl.
I'm kind of like bulasteve, I wish someone would write a book about the CA Bulldog. I think Mike Venturino wrote an article about it, but it really does need a book. It's a nice big bore carry gun for those times when we can't or don't want to go packing a big heavy gun. It can be slipped into a vest or bathrobe pocket & go with us without showing armed. The .44 starts out as big as most 9s or .38s will ever get. Even at moderate velocity it's a big heavy slug that will make a big hole in what it hits.
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Post by bulasteve on Apr 10, 2015 8:48:15 GMT -5
I must have missed the Venturino article ! John Taffin gives the Bulldog an honorable mention kinda treatment in Book of the .44,but then,well, I wish he'd done more with it. An author/writer some yrs back said CA kept the flame of the .44spec alive when all the big factories had dropped it. Come short pant weather, I live in Carhart duck work shorts. If in the yard here, or at camp, you'll find the Bulldog in my back pocket. Here in the am I wander around the house in a fleece vest with the Bulldog in my pocket. Next weekend it will go to camp for the Penn. trout opener. We fish a stretch of water called Bear Creek. It's aptly named. In the outhouse at camp is a Penn Game News mag from I don't know what year, but one of the "this happened to me" articles is of a trout fisherman that was pounced on by a bobcat as he was squated down cleaning his fish. There will be another camp member toting a Bulldog, then a few SP101's likely. Stay safe folks. I think the folks at CA have helped to keep us safe by offering the little Bulldog for all these years in our favorite caliber. Thank You.
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Post by Cholla on Apr 10, 2015 10:00:39 GMT -5
I have an article over the Bulldog, written by Taffin if I remember correctly, saved on my computer. Lots and lots of load data. I'll try to remember to post a link to it when I get home.
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Post by bulasteve on Apr 10, 2015 10:32:14 GMT -5
Cholla, that'd be cool. Consider yourself man-hugged. That's where I hand you a cold beer. McPhearson's article is the most in-depth I've seen to date on load data for the Bulldog, but he uses a bunch'a powders I don't.
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Post by Cholla on Apr 10, 2015 18:01:25 GMT -5
Cholla, that'd be cool. Consider yourself man-hugged. That's where I hand you a cold beer. McPhearson's article is the most in-depth I've seen to date on load data for the Bulldog, but he uses a bunch'a powders I don't. Sorry...the article I'd remembered WAS the McPherson article. Here's a link several articles with .44 Special data as well.
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Post by rjm52 on Apr 11, 2015 5:47:59 GMT -5
I had one of the early ones back in the 1980s... It unfortunately was one of the ones that had the flat spot on the lower side of the forcing cone and would turn most bullets sideways. Had another a few years ago when I was searching for a .44 to play with and while it shot much better than the original one I had I ended up with a Mountain Gun.
My current "fishin" gun is a Smith 60-10 .357Magnum with the old 158 grain spire point metal piercing loads..
Bob
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Post by Frank V on Apr 13, 2015 14:06:31 GMT -5
The Bulldog is a pretty nice handgun & small enough to go a lot of places. With some loads it is pretty powerful too. Some of the limiting factors may be recoil tollerance?
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Post by bulasteve on Apr 14, 2015 7:34:53 GMT -5
Violence of recoil is an issue. This comes under the "no free lunch" column. Note to self, I'm just gonna go and put a band-aid in the usual place next time I plan to shoot more than a cylinder full. Started a thread on the Rugerforum yesterday, asking for salt load recipes. Saw the first wasp out yesterday. HATE wasps. Sigh, another load ! I don't have any dogs in the .41 hunt, but think of how neat a .41spec the Bulldog would make !
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