For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about (slaawour to our Kurdish readers), the self-proclaimed Son of Sam serial killer used a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 to murder his victims. Hence his other nickname: The .44 Caliber Killer.
Terrible crimes. Wicked gun. Simple. Powerful. Reliable. Popular.
During the 70s and 80s, the Bulldog was a best-seller. The company that made it eventually bit the bullet…and then rose from the dead. And went belly-up. And came back.
In its latest incarnation, which may or may not have much to do with the original company, Charter Arms offers a line of value-priced revolvers, only one of which has a non-sub-nosed barrel that gave the Bulldog its perfect proportions: the Charter Target Mag Pug (review to follow). Which has a four-inch nose and chambers .357.
Revolver and dog lovers note: Charter Arms is set to re-introduce the Bulldog Classic. Sam…I mean same caliber as David Berkowitz’s weapon (.44). Same three-inch barrel. Same rosewood grip. Same blued steel. It’s due out at the end of June.
Would make a decent carry gun for somebody on a budget, and concerned about stopping power, but maybe uncomfortable with the sharp recoil of a .357 Magnum. An unfortunate thing that a gun of these proportions is linked to a sick killer.
Went to Charter Arms' website…found several listings for .44 special, but all were for 2.5 inch barrel, either blued steel or stainless, either bobbed hammer or not. One listing for a .44 special Target with 4" barrel, shrouded ejector, and adjustable sights…I had one of the original .44's back in the 70's, and their target model isn't the same firearm. No bulldog classic listed in .44 special.
hehe. this is very true. basically says it all.
Does anyone else see something very wrong about basically profiting off of the notoriety of Burkowitz and the lives he took to turn a buck? That company should be ashamed.
Nothing for the company to be ashamed about. They're simply reintroducing a classic and highly popular revolver. That one of the originals was criminally misused is besides the point.
I nearly bought one in 1980 and I just might get one this time around. I like the 3" barrel. Should carry easier than my 4" S&W .44. I don't like the oversized, shrouded barrels that they have on their "pug" models – they just don't look right, too bulky.
It’s been 8 months since the June deadline. Any idea when this classic is going to become available?
I just heard from Charter that they will be avalable in the next 30 days.
j
Yeah, Lissa at Charter told me back in January the gun would be available within weeks. Halfway through June, it still isn’t on the shelves.
i have been dealing with a lot of drug users running through my back ysrd.i have done all i can.talked to the police more than 3 times and nothing……my question is will this gun completly stop a man in his tracks and how long of a distance is most accurate?
No gun will stop a man in his tracks save, maybe, a 12-gauge shotgun with 00 buck.
Get a dog good bite in the ass goes a long way
I actually saw and handled one at Bill’s Gun Shop & Range in Robbinsdale, MN, last weekend. Looked very interesting.
Pretty f***ing stupid to call this a “Son of Son of Sam Bulldog”. You act like nobody ever owned a Bulldog but that filthy murdering slob. I don’t believe Charter Arms ever mentioned an association with that idiot whatsoever when reissuing this gun.
I bought the “new” .44 Bulldog w/ 3″ bbl A couple of months ago off budsgunshop.com. I bet I owned 3-4 over the years. This is a correct version of the old .44 except for the rubber grips. I bought the walnut grips direct from Charter Arms. The pistol shoots just like I remember. I carried a bulldog in the 70’s off and on plain clothes duty. Still a good pistol.
Outstanding! It’s time our politicians enjoy the same *protection* as our children – a bunch of laws enforced on the honor system and a few “no guns or weapons” signs on school doors.
I still carry my Charter Arms BULLDOG .44 SPL 3″ manufactured in Stratford, Connecticut and purchased NIB in 1979. It was the perfect personal protection weapon back then and is today for CCW mode, especially with the more modern commercial loads that are available these days. Back in 1979 the 246 gr. lead solid was about the only round available off the shelf. My choice of ammo is Georgia Arms .44 SPL 200 gr. Gold Dot HP at 850 fps. The optional Charter Arms labeled 400 Series holster that was available back then was OK but these days I use the excellent Bianchi # 5BHL. Keep your loads under 950 fps and this revolver will last a long time.
Gary
I’ve always wondered how many people follow the “NEVER KEEP AMMUNITION IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE FIREARM” advice. I mean, how many store their ammo in their gun safe? It might be wise to put it in a locked ammo box inside the safe, but most I’ve seen just stack it up on a shelf. And of course, if you are keeping your gun nearby for safety, who stores their mag on the other side of the house? Wouldn’t make much sense, would it?
That said, it’s ABSOLUTELY stupid for a LEO to store a loaded gun in a cabinet with the mag in and a round chambered. Clearly he took his eye off of it, which is bad. I’d say he’s lucky it wasn’t him, but I could imagine no fate worse than losing my child, especially due to my own negligence, and then having to live with it.
If you’re going to store it in the safe, why not store the gun with the loaded mag out. Maybe sitting next to it. Or maybe with the loaded mag concealed somehow. But certainly not with a round chambered. Be smart.