Making the Old Bulldog Bark Again

The Goose · May 22, 2016, 06:40:12 AM

A recent acquisition, a Belgian copy of a British Bulldog made by Lambin & Theate (L&T). Lambin-Theate operated from 1877 to 1886 when it became Lambin & Theate which operated from 1886 - 1894. So this revolver was made sometime between 1886 and 1894. It is chambered for the .442 also known as the .44 Webley. It is a pretty well made copy with a very good bore and tight lock up. It was left in the white and I doubt it was shot very much.

There is a book by George Layman entitled "The British Bulldog Revolver / The Forgotten Gun That Really Won The West". In the 19th century these little pocket guns were incredibly popular. They were cheap and could be carried in a pocket. Many more of these were owned than Colt Peacemakers, S&W Schofields etc. They were made all over the world, England, Belgium, Spain, the United States and on and on. They ranged in quality from excellent (Webley's) to down right dangerous to shoot. Many survived because they were not shot much. Like the modern day snubby they were carried a lot and shot little. Below is the L&T next to an old S&W 36 in .38 special for comparison.

So the trick for me is how to shoot this old dog without spending as much on loading paraphernalia as I spent on the revolver. When I started looking at the cost of brass, a custom bullet mold and dies I was up over $500.00. Frankly this is not a gun that I plan on shooting much, but I have to shoot it at least once (or a few times). Brass for the .442 runs $2.00 a piece if you can find it. I know they typically make it from shortened .44 special brass with a thinned rim. The 11mm French Ordnance that I already load and shoot comes from the same parent and costs .77 each (and I already have a few hundred). The case length on the 11mm is 0.710" and the length for the .442 is 0.690", but I popped one into the Bulldog cylinder and it slipped right in. The bullet for the .442 is usually a heeled bullet with a case mouth diameter of about .430 and a body diameter of anywhere from .436 - .444 depending on the gun. As always I slugged the bore and got .427 (which is why I always slug the bore) with a cylinder throat of .429. So I took a Lee mold with a .430 200 gr bullet and cast up a few almost pure lead bullets. I sized them to .427. Used a .44 special size die for the brass then just touched the rim with a .45 acp expander and used a .44 special seating die. Loaded the case with 12 grains of 3F black powder and seated the bullet as deep as a little compression would allow leaving 2 grease grooves exposed. Ran the loaded round up into the sizing die (sans decapping pin) to eliminate the slight flare and it chambered perfectly. I dipped the nose of each bullet into some melted SPG lube. The rounds below are actually 11mm loads, but look about the same. So I was able to load this round without purchasing anything new. When you read the range report below you will see why I am glad that I did not spend a lot getting this gun to shoot.

Hit the range and fired 15 rds. All I can say is OUCH, OUCH and OUCH!! That is why these were fired very little. I may never shoot this little demon again. Typical snubby accuracy, but frankly I could not even work on that. Just OUCH!

Johnson Barr · May 22, 2016, 12:28:40 PM

My late Uncle Elmer was fond of saying about these 'get off me' guns; "don't worry you'll stop hurting long before the other guy". Contact rib shots. Repeat as necessary.

Dave T · May 22, 2016, 02:57:17 PM

Goose,

Would I be correct in thinking the biggest source of pain came from the "recoil shoulder" coming in contact with the web of your shooting hand immediately upon firing?

I would think designing the gun as a single action, without the protruding hump, would allow it to roll back in the hand absorbing more of the recoil. Then you could reposition as you cock the hammer for you next shot, much like the British gentleman did defending Candice Bergman in "The Wind and the Lion".

Just sayin',

Dave

PS: Cool gun by the way!

Coffinmaker · May 23, 2016, 10:06:39 AM

Nah. That little hump on the back of the grip would be just a loving gentile massage compared to what that trigger guard would/will/does
do to ya. Not exactly my idea of fun. OUCH!!

Coffinmaker

Dave T · May 23, 2016, 05:55:17 PM

Coffin guy, you wouldn't actually try to squeeze your middle finger behind that trigger guard, would you??? (LOL)

Dave

Coffinmaker · May 23, 2016, 10:22:05 PM

Wouldn't, doesn't, won't matter what/which/whose finger you stick in there, it's gonna HURT. Just looking at that really show little grip
makes my whole hand hurt. Some guns were so poorly designed with regard to ergonomics they are just DUMB. There just ins't
enough grip there to hang on to.

Coffinmaker (whose a card carrying, confirmed, absolute, no apologies WIMP)

Dave T · May 24, 2016, 10:27:05 AM

Quote from: Coffinmaker on May 23, 2016, 10:22:05 PMSome guns were so poorly designed with regard to ergonomics they are just DUMB.

You have struck the nail upon the wide flat part at one end. (smile)

Dave

The Goose · May 24, 2016, 01:03:48 PM

I found that if I tried to press the trigger with the pad of my index finger that the trigger guard would just smash my middle finger. I did 2 shots that way. Then I put my index finger all the way up to the second knuckle on the trigger which at least allowed me to keep control over the little gun, but made accuracy very difficult.