Is that a Bulldog 44 in your pocket or are you happy to see me?

Heh-heh!

On the Second most important anniversary in my life, the 44th anniversary of my first enlistment, I decided to commemorate the occasion.

Off to the local gun emporium, Keith's, and NOT waiting for a consignment I have there to sell, I got the last Charter Arms Bulldog 44 in the place. It was my second choice, actually, I REALLY wanted this one, but the one I bought probably would have gone to the big Gunshoe this weekend, and might not have been there next week when the rifle I was selling got sold.

First impression: GAWD, THIS THING IS LIGHT! Less than 21 oz, more than 4 ounces lighter than my Ruger SP-101s. It fits in the same holsters as those Ruger snubbies, too. I bought a Galco Hi-Ride OTB unit to carry it in, but it's the wrong one, has to go back, the restraint strap doesn't clear the hammer spur. Both of my Uncle Mike's Size Zero will fit, though.

Here's the as-yet un-named heavy snub, not ready for action:

Here it is, charged, with two reloads standing by. Extra credit if you can name those quick-loaders:

Give up on the quick-loaders? They're chargers for the venerable Enfield No. 4 Mk 1, one of my ready-to-go battle rifles.

The ammo? For now it's Cor-Bon 165-gr JHP. That will probably get heavier as time goes on and I get more familiar with how the gun handles. My objective is to load up something with the Xtreme Bullets 240-gr Copper-Plated Round-Nose Flat Point. Probably not up to Keith-level, but maybe something like this:

240-gr Xtreme CPRNFP, seated to cannelure, heavy roll crimp. Powder 14.0-gr Hodgdon H-110, increasing in stages to 16.0 maximum. Speed should start around 900 with the light charge, and work up to around 1050 with the heavier load, which is SAAMI-standard, (not +P). Muzzle energy there starts at 430, very respectable, and ends up at 588, SERIOUS level. I hear that Elmer hisself had run as much as 19.0gr of H-110, which would CUP-out at around 30K, pretty hot, maybe too hot for the light revolver.

Can't wait to get to the range, but first, I have to get to the bench. I priced out some cowboy loads at the shop, and they were $35/50, a bit steep for my blood, so I will brew up some light 240-gr LSWC loads to get started, maybe 6.0-gr Unique. A couple boxes of those should get me used to the trigger and the feel of the gun in my hand. Next trip out, I'll move up to the Xtreme-bullet stuff.

Re-Do: Lyman 44 says 6 grains of Unique is too light, start with 9. Speer # 8 says 6.0 is a fine starter with a 250-gr cast boolit, Hmmmm....needa refereee here.