Revolver · Obsolete

.44 Bull Dog

.44 Bulldog.44 Webley Bulldog

Short, stubby pocket revolver cartridge for the Webley Bull Dog revolver — a widely copied design popular across Europe and America as a civilian pocket sidearm in the late 19th century..

Caliber
0.445″ · 11.303 mm
Introduced
1878
Case
Rimmed
Primary use
Self Defense
Status
Discontinued
Velocity650–700 fps
Energy188–218 ft·lb
Typical grains145 gr
Identity
Introduced
1878
Type
Revolver
Origin
United Kingdom
Inventor
Various / British commercial
Manufacturer
Webley
Standard
Obsolete
Status
Discontinued
Availability
Antique
Build
Case capacity
15 gr H₂O
Twist (typical)
1:20
Primer
Large Pistol
Case type
Rimmed
Pressure & range
Max pressure
18,000 psi
Eff. range
25 yd
Max range
50 yd
Recoil
2.5–4 ft·lb
Subsonic
Capable

Ballistics

Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd
25 yd · zero0″−124″124″ drop @ 200 yd0100200Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
Parent case

Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).

Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds

Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.

Wikipedia · approximate
Measuremmin
Bullet ⌀11.300.445~
Neck ⌀11.350.447
Shoulder ⌀n/a
Shoulder anglen/a
Base ⌀11.530.454
Rim ⌀12.390.488
Belt ⌀n/a
Rim thickness
Neck lengthn/a
Case length13.360.526
Overall length23.220.914

Size vs familiar rounds

Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .44 Bull Dog is highlighted below.

Factory loads

In production — 2 active loads across 2 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 20 →.

BrandLoadGrainBulletFPSft·lbBC
FiocchiLead RN145Lead RN600116
Graf & SonsLead RN Reproduction145Lead RN600116
CBCClassic145LRN750181
RWSClassic145LRN750181
BertramAntique145Lead RN748180
HirtenbergerClassic145LRN745179
EleyCommercial200LRN700218
GrafStandard200Lead Round Nose650188
FiocchiClassic200Lead Round Nose650188
NormaClassic200Lead Round Nose650188
KynochSoft Nose200Lead Round Nose650188
RWSClassic200Lead Round Nose650188
PPULRN200Lead Round Nose650188
Sellier & BellotLRN200Lead Round Nose650188
Buffalo ArmsCustom200Lead Round Nose630176

Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.

Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory

Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.

Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.

Connected reference

History

Developed for the Webley Bull Dog revolver, introduced in 1878. The compact five-shot revolver and its stubby cartridge became enormously popular as pocket arms for civilians, police, and travelers throughout the 1880s–1900s. Bull Dog revolvers were copied by Belgian, Spanish, American, and German manufacturers. The cartridge's short case delivered modest ballistics but in a package small enough for genuine pocket carry. Charles Guiteau used a Bull Dog revolver to assassinate President James Garfield in 1881.

FAQs

What twist rate does .44 Bull Dog use?
.44 Bull Dog typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
What bullet diameter is .44 Bull Dog?
.44 Bull Dog uses a 0.445″ (11.303 mm) diameter bullet.
Is .44 Bull Dog still in production?
.44 Bull Dog is discontinued; typical availability is antique.
What is .44 Bull Dog used for?
.44 Bull Dog is primarily used for self defense.

Sources & provenance

Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 2 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →