As mentioned above, round nose is fine for range purposes. I didnt see mentioned the sound pressure levels of a .357 vs .38 wadcutters. Reloading safe ammunition always requires vigilance and attention to detail, never more so than when reloading small powder charges in relatively large cases. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. M36. Swc and clays hard to beat. It was said in a way to indicate that he did not think that it was wise and that there were obviously much better options out there. DISCLAIMER: All information posted by horsesoldier03 is strickly MY HUMBLE OPINION! But, if you want the benefits of extra pressure you need extra barrel length. Now, around our property I carry either Buffalo Bore or Underwood .38 special 150gr hard cast wadcutters. The smallest have diminished capacity, five shots vs. six. It can reach the desired 12 inches of penetration in bare gelatin without difficulty, even when fired from a snubby. Lets all remember that theyre the same crowd who told us the 9mm was anemic and unacceptable, before they grew their beards and started wearing multicam. Snubbies are easier to carry, but they extract a cost in velocity. A wadcutter is a cylindrical bullet with a flat, square nose. How compact/concealed must you be? for IDPA..haven't tested them yet. As a PO in the 70s and 80s we carried in our on duty and off duty 38s 158 gr JHP+Ps. In fact, it was the polar opposite. A bullet that looks like an overpenetrator in gelatin might turn out to be just fine in the real world, where it has to defeat a non-homogenous, clothed target. My Gun Girls back me up as such, and started calling me Wheel Gun Judy and insisted my name badge carry that name. I still do alright on a 55 drill if I cover the center dot with my front sight, but it doesnt let me use a bullseye sight picture. SWC fly better at the longer ranges, 35 yds and further. Im humbled, and pleased youre getting so much out of our efforts. For run and gun games I use either RN or conical. The low velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil. Id consider myself well-armed with a 155 grain wadcutter at 950-1050. If you got a good hit, maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through. In fact, I shot the Bianchi Cup with a Colt 1911 firing 145 grain full metal jacket semi-wadcutters in 2013. An inch at 7 for the 3, so what about at 25? Wadcutters will strike closer to point of aim than light turbo speed bullets until manufacturers give us front sight height options (Too much to hope that new .38 revolvers would ship with 2 front sights- a 100 gr. You cannot paste images directly. Smith & Wesson .38 Special $415.56 guns.com. They are a little stouter than I like, but tolerable. And a good performing hard cast blunt projectile from a .38 or larger revolver can provide good results against most beasts you might run across as well as humans- the only traditional auto round that has a chance at saying that is 10mm. Semi-Wadcutter (SWC) This type of bullet has a blunted tip. Its an excellent choice for a snubby, especially for a standard pressure load. Its also good to keep in mind that over the last 110+ years, the .38 Special in the wadcutter and plain semi wadcutter configurations have more than likely planted more bad guys in the M.E.s office than all the boutique loads that have come out in the last 40 years. An alternative idea came to mind. mould. When we looked at the most likely jacketed hollowpoint options in .38 Special and .357 Magnum, none of them fared well when we measured them against these priorities for our friend. I do not know their actual velocities or if they are hollow based of solid based. Just to add to the chorus of praise, excellent article, Mike! Truth be told, he used more colorful language than Im using .. so thats how I knew he didnt think highly of my choice. Reloading your own is a great way to learn about your ammo, and develop loads that work for your practice, and to find out what your upper level of recoil tolerance is. They have developed various hollow points, etc. for run and gun games i use either rn or conical. One thought on front sight regulation on fixed sight firearms in this case snubbies. A 6-inch .38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a home defense gun. Greyson, Im curious . Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and more! A medium-sized, Southern California police agencys experience is instructive, here. WC; 158-gr.jacketed round nose; Handloading. We bullet nerds sometimes have a tendency to lose the forest through the trees. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. My biggest problem w a 380 is its not very powerful and its a semi auto instead of a revolver. Wadcutters can clearly cut the line of a higher scoring ring and in a sport where matches are won or lost by a single point, this matters. My father was a policeman for around 20 years starting in the mid to late 70,s as well as an avid Hunter and gunsmith. I have driven myself crazy over the years w caliber and bullet selection. Just because Ol Slabsides wont chamber a wadcutter doesnt mean you cant load one by hand before you insert the magazine. Four .38 Specials pose for comparison; (l.-r.) jacketed hollow point, lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter. Not only that, but his open carry sword got used to separate his head from his body. This restricts the use of wadcutters to relatively close range (<50 yards). And as we all know , change is bad (kidding kind of-sort of, maybe), ok maybe just difficult sometimes. They offer a full-diameter cutting shoulder, and yet they penetrate as well as anything else out there. Medium-sized revolvers, the six-shot wheelguns and those with 3- or 4-inch barrels, are a lot easier to shoot and deliver the ballistics you want. And on YouTube the MAC channel (Military Arms Channel) did a comparison between a .357 magnum in a snubbie and 9mm in a snubbie. Its something you just cant do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations. Lead full wadcutters are essentially lead cylinders ringed with lubrication grooves. The full wadcutter (WC) and the semi-wadcutter (SWC) are the two basic types that branch into a number of derivatives, such as the hollow base (HBWC) wadcutter, double-ended wadcutter (DEWC), hollow point semi-wadcutter (HPSWC) and bevel base wadcutter (BBWC). Thank you again for your work and keeping revolvers alive! They are not the same thing, although they are related. Chief among them is ease of reloading. If you want more you can have it, but you will pay for it, in particular, a +P load in a five-shot snubbie becomes work, or even painful, to shoot. A semi-wadcutter bullet has a cylindrical body. Semi-wadcutters, however, can be more reliable in pistols and can sometimes be . Both gun's have 7 1/2 inch barrels. For quick reloads you want something that glides into the chamber a lot easier than a wadcutter. Wadcutter bullets are almost always unjacketed and made of lead. Soft Point. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the info on this load. A wadcutter is a special-purpose flat-fronted bullet specifically designed for shooting paper targets, usually at close range and at subsonic velocities typically under approximately 900 ft/s (274 m/s). 158-gr. Contest open to U.S. residents only. It feels stout in the 640, but is quite shootable. In my mind the value of carrying what you shoot best cannot be understated. Combined with the bullet cutting such a nice clean hole and their legendary accuracy, lots of folks just like it more. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Good article. Target shooters like wadcutter loads for their accuracy, light recoil and moderate cost. Wadcutters have also found favor for use in self-defense guns, such as .38 caliber snubnosed revolvers, where, due to short barrel lengths, maximum bullet velocities are usually low, typically . Then, pack the largest .38 revolver you can comfortably carry and conceal, and use the stoutest load in it that you can comfortably shoot. As you can see in the photo above, the .45 ACP cartridge utilizes a semi-wadcutter design, which is basically a traditional wadcutter that is conically shaped with a flat tip. Its interesting to note that when Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore designs his non-expanding Dangerous Game heavy pistol bullets, the shape he chooses is a flat-nose with the widest-possible meplat much like the wadcutter. This article has me thinking. It seems FBI Load is most commonly used. To solve this dilemma and keep recoil at a reasonable level, some designs use a lighter and faster projectile to promote expansion, or use some clever engineering (most often, with a light-for-caliber bullet) to get the bullet to open up out of a short barrel. Gti18T I was shooting semiwadcutters and truncated cones in my open gun for a long time (in college and couldn't afford many jacketed bullets). The story of the california agency using .45 hardball is quite fascinating. Save my name and email to use for future comments. I picked .38 special 148gr wadcutters Winchester Super Match and Remington Target Match based on Chris Bakers article at Lucky Gunner. Bullets that penetrate more than 18 inches in calibrated gelatin are deemed undesirable, since theyre considered inefficient and may overpenetrate the target, endangering an innocent. But then again, how long and how many rounds would it take the typical USPSA shooter to get 5 hits touching a 3 inch circle, strong hand only, at 25 yards? Apr 6, 2011 I shoot a lot of 158 gr SWC .38sp in my GP 100 and LCR. However, if I could get a much better pricing deal on LRN, I wouldn't hesitate to grab them of LSWC. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In my own personal experience in training. (360) to .350 at the tip then size to .359and lube in a Lyman lube /sizer. As a result, wadcutter bullets should only be used for self-defense purposes if there is nothing else available. I tested the Hornady 110 Critical Defense, and it does a very good job, for a JHP. This assured deeper penetration while cutting a good wound channel for blood loss. Its not what you think, Esalen evolution: A retreat for the next age, A sound plan gives strength to New Years resolutions. One notable result of this work was the development of a new ammunition testing protocol, which used 10% calibrated ordnance gelatin as a tissue simulant. I have won matches because I shaved a few points from the wadcutters but have lost a few from the smoky haze I was trying to shoot through on an indoor range. Get the bullet to the heart, to the lungs, or into the brain (through the face, generally) and you will generally win another day on planet Earth. Ill now be on the lookout for an opportunity to use the phrase,handful of violent despair and fire breathing dragon. Thats just poetic! I dont think that is much difference personally, so Ill opt for the round with the better street reputation. Two asides: I was trained at the FLETC in handgun and combat shotgun by Jim Cirillo. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. [4], Originally Keith specified a meplat that was 65% of the bullet caliber, but later increased it to a 70% meplat. I resemble Mr. Wolf in my past endless search for the best bullet or round. easily changed ramp.) Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Thanks for your coverage of this fine design. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. For range use, inexpensive ammo is just fine. Re: 38 Special Factory 158gr Lead Semi-Wadcutter or Lead Round Nose For Distinguished Revolver. When I first considered it, I found some gel tests (Lucky Gunner, I believe) and was surprised that they penetrated more than deep enough. In my experience, accuracy is about the same. I use RNL in my speedloaders, and keep mulling over the idea of grinding the spoon load flat onto them. Wadcutters were originally designed for target shooting. Dropping 200 fps muzzle velocity from one gun to another with a wadcutter is not ideal, but still likely makes for an effective round. These have nearly cylindrical noses, which are as long as the firearm chamber allows, and just slightly smaller than bore diameter so they will easily chamber. With the carbine I have to single-load rounds as they dont feed reliably, but with their soft recoil and extreme accuracy they are fun to shoot. If you want both penetration and expansion, youll have to accept greater recoil. I shoot regularly at the range, in addition to the classes I take. A few .38 Special cartridges, from left: 148-gr. Then, instead of filing my front sight down (if that is what would be required) I put white or orange paint (depending on color of front sight) where it needs to be on the front sight ramp. Not do much of a comment but more a question. But the question is, what is the best for your application, accuracy and cost considerations? As you can see in the photo below, there is a dramatic difference in the size and shape of the holes that wadcutters make in a paper target compared to a regular, round-nosed, full metal jacket round. Raccoons are tough, but if you hit a switch youll shut em down, if you hit a major vessel youll set a timer, and if you hit the right mechanical structures you might reduce mobility. And I had a great deal of fun in the process. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. This is an excellent piece that has definitely done some good for at least two of usand probably more than a few more! Apr 10, 2014 For the range, round nose is just fine. Display as a link instead, jacketed hollow point. If I had not found RevolverGuy, with special kudos to Mike, I would be shooting ammo some person at the gun store told me was the latest and greatest and best SD ammo EVER. I've done quite a bit of bench rest accuracy testing with various bullets & powders. How could I not have noticed earlier? lead wadcutter; 158-gr. A master gunsmith, Patrick is also Handguns Editor for Guns & Ammo magazine. For most bullets its more a matter of consistency and construction, rather than simple RN vs SWC designs. Clear editor. Additionally, wadcutters are difficult to quickly load due to the blunt, un-tapered shape of the bullet. Whenever I buy more range ammo I get confused. I find that full-magnum loads in the 640 arent much fun. Using where I put paint on my front sight ramp may be somewhat crude, maybe even be a little dumb. From my .38spl experience, the hollow base wadcutter bullet easily gave excellent accuracy, no doubt about it. Thats it Carl, keep pressing on! The 41 magnum (semi wad cutter) groups were a little bit bigger. I've read about hand-loaders taking hollow-base wadcutter bullets and seating them upside down for use as self-defense ammunition, but results were often erratic. But that's what it's called in the rule book. I never considered the wadcutters loaded in my nightstand weapon to be inadequate. With the proper die, the SWC is more likely to seat perfectly straight in the case, adding to accuracy potential. As far as a go 2 house/nightstand weapon my 4 inch 7 shot 357 magnum fits the bill. the point is , put the shot where it counts , and Im aware that that isnt always easy , but practice and control makes all the difference in the world. Always great to see you here in these pages, Sir! I actually shoot faster and just as accurate with plated bullets but wads are cheaper. In my experience LSWC has always been more accurate. I am a 75 year old man in relatively good health. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. The SWC design offers better external ballistics than the wadcutter, as its conical nose produces less drag than the flat cylinder. Theres no free lunch in ballisticsespecially in .38 Special snubby ballistics. I knew what you were talking about. We carry 38 Special with wadcutter, semi-wadcutter, round nose, and FMJ bullets for punching holes through paper. Revenge travel: Making up for lost time, but at what cost? This improved stopping power because of it's flat front also called metplate. Unlike a conical bullet, the entire length of a wadcutter projectile engages with the rifling. I reload for all my firearms and carry 148gr poly coated button nose wad-cutters as initial contact rounds in my ex PD S&W model 10-10 revolver with poly coated 148 or 158 grain flat nose or semi wad-cutter loads in Safariland Comp II speed-loaders as back ups because as you stated full wad-cutters can be difficult to load quickly. Thank you Sir! Going to 5.4 grs. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Since reloads are a statistical rarity in armed citizen confrontations, this limitation might not be as significant as it first appears, but its still an important consideration when choosing wadcutters for defense. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. The sharp, square edge of the base means bullets dont start into the case mouth easily. . Does anyone have any practical experience with the relative "smack" differences between a traditional semi-wadcutter bullet and the newer styles called the RF, or round, flat nose bullets? With these either end can be started into the case mouth. Some of the low recoil hollowpoints that are commonly touted as solutions for recoil-sensitive shooters were considered, but found to be lacking. You do, however have a few choices to make, choices that will determine your path in life. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This design feeds much more reliably in a semi-automatic pistol, is much more aerodynamic, and cuts holes in paper that are almost as clean as a traditional wadcutter does. Himmelwrights 1916 Pistol and Revolver Shooting. The SWC combines features of the traditional round-nosed bullets and the wadcutter bullets used in target shooting, and is used in both revolver and rifle cartridges for hunting, target shooting and plinking. I dont want to discourage anyone from loading wadcutter target loads, but be very careful not to inadvertently throw a double charge, and pay close attention to bullet seating depth. the most accurate load was a 185 Hornady XTP over a starting load of bullseye. Load your guns cylinder with wadcutters for carry, but choose a load with a more friendly ogive for your speedloader or ammunition strip. Mike (nMW), I wonder if the HST didnt open up at all before it exited? Like the .380 ACP cartridge, the .38 Special doesnt have a lot of surplus energy to work with, and it can be highly sensitive to the velocity losses sustained in short barrels like that of the Ruger LCR (1.87). You can reload and shoot both very well. Our RevolverGuy didnt need the biggest and the baddest bullet on the block. Sounds like Ive created a monster! No purchase necessary. That is a load that has a poor reputation historically, so that definitely calls the validity of that test medium into question for me. Even if it does not work out in pistols, I suspect that the Honey Badger load for a backup or snubbie may just be the perfect load of the future. Wadcutter. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM May/June 2023, P.O. Hatman, thank you very much for the kind words. I don't have any technical hypothesis as to why this is, it just is. The entire article is worth reading. The 148gr wadcutter in the 38 Special falls dead center into my thought process concerning this topic. lead wadcutter; 158-gr. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Total Metal Jacket. The wadcutter isnt just a defensive load for neophytes. As a side note, I shot PPC a lot in the 80s and found that a slight chamfer on the cylinder charge holes made reloading any bullet shape, particularly wadcutters. Your email address will not be published. I heard the G2 R.I.P. I shoot a lot of clays. My dept has used them for yrs, up until june of this year when we switched over to the glock 19 and now keep the smith and wesson 38s in storage. 148-grain HBWC bullet. pressure in the gun, now relegated to fishing-vest carry. Brother, it sounds like youve got a great system going. I think the real reason the bullseye shooters liked the bullet is you could get less recoil( due to less weight) and still get flatter trajectories than the 230 for their 50 yard targets. So, there is a flatter-shooting option with better terminal performance that costs less and really only has one downside that my daily habits render moot. Thanks for a great article Mike! Jacketed Hollow Point. SIG Elite .38 Special Ammo $17.99 cabelas.com. Jason Vanderbrink is the new CEO of Sporting Products at Vista Outdoor. I value the consistency and reliability of WCs over all other bullets. Ha! They just waddle-trott on up into the woods, cruising by my propane tank thereby avoiding any further attempts at pest control. Talk about a tough critter. Primary law enforcement service cartridge from 1920s to 1990s. Keep up the great work! Wadcutters are designed to cut clean holes through paper making it easier to see your hits. To explain, we start with establishing some priorities for choosing defensive ammunition: 1. Its nose tapers until it reaches a smaller point. Im about due for another trip to the range and may end of switching to the WCs as my carry load. Accuracy. Using wadcutters would make it a lot more economical to have my practice and carry loads be the exact same thing. It basically started in the early 1870s as a round-nosed bullet given a slight flattened nose. They also lead round nose; 158-gr. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. The SWC makes such nice big round holes. I also have a Model 37 Airweight Chief which is fed only wadcutter. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Armed citizens may come to different conclusions about the requirement to penetrate 12 in gelatin (including after intermediate barriers), but the greater law enforcement community has accepted this standard for police duty ammunition, so thats what the manufacturers are building; 3. Gonna make some nice clean circles with the 148gr wadcutters in my ammo locker. That said, I do notice more difference in my LCRx, where it is about 2-2.5 inches low. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). By this measure, many .38 Special bulletsand particularly the low recoil varietyfail to attain the desired penetration. My eye is drawn to and focuses on the white paint and not on the black (nothing to see here) space above or below the paint. Coltlover, I'm also migrating towards the 185 grs. Thanks Mark! I load my own 155 grain wadcutter from RimRock into .357 cases. Great article. "You've got to stand from something, or you will fall for anything.". Thank you very much for this article, its just so spot on. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. I have tried plunking them with Federal HST 147gr 9mm (non+P). You can reload wadcutters to the first cannelure thereby making them a distinctively loaded cartridge, but then you place yourself at the risk of being questioned by a prosecutor before a jury for using exotic reloaded ammunition because youre clearly a nutcase that was looking for trouble. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. RN bullets load better in a revolver, than SWC's. If you shoot indoors, stay away from lead, you'll gag at the line and so will the SO's. Along with this thought, I confess to shooting a WFN lead boolit loading of the 180gr variety in my revolvers, simply because it is VERY controllable in my revolvers for me, along with being more accurate than I am on occasion. . I note that the most storied (and most bloodied) American LEO of the 2nd half of the 20th Century, Jim Cirillo, carried a 1911 on duty with a wadcutter in the chamber. I use either the 140 or 150 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters. May 27, 2005. dougk, Talking pistol cartridges only here; It is generally established that bullets with a meplat, or flat, on the nose will create a larger wound channel, create more tissue damage, dump more energy, and create more "shock" than their round nosed counterparts. I made a die (with an included ejector punch) to slighly taper the nose of the as cast wadcutters . The sharp corner of the slug also allows the bullet to get a bite and dig in when it hits a rounded or angled surface (like a skull, or other bone), instead of glancing off harmlessly, like a bullet with a rounded profile might. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. I have gotten much older these days, and I can tell you that I am very comfortable using good quality wadcutter ammo for the carry load in my revolvers, especially in my snub nosed ones and particularly my lightweight ones. January 14, 2007 in General Reloading, I have two questions. I got tired of the Kentucky windage and painted my front sight to line up with POI as 7 yards. Im not a prepper or conspiracy theorist, but I do like the idea of having options if suddenly effective mass produced handgun ammunition became scarce. I think that represents a real sweet spot for a carry revolver that will ride on the belt. My personal choice is a round nose flat point, as they are easy to cast. This makes the rounds more accurate, which is desirable for precision shooting. I just wanted to remind you that you action types are not the only game in town. Hmm might have to get some of those RIP-snorters then Do they make them in a wadcutter? Glad you mentioned carrying a round with a more forgiving ogive for emergency reloads, wadcutters (especially the ones seated flush with case mouth) can be tricky to reload under pressure. I also like the holes. It wouldnt take much to help us out! Do you shoot these in small or medium frame guns? [6][4], From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners Chapter 12: The Keith Semiwadcutter (SWC), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Semiwadcutter&oldid=1104926170, This page was last edited on 17 August 2022, at 15:39. 2016 to 2023 RevolverGuy.com, All Rights Reserved. Im confident the information is accurate, however. 2018. While 10% calibrated ordnance gelatin is a reasonable tissue simulant, its not perfectbullets often act much differently in bodies than they do in gelatin. Elmer Keith was the designer. . Outside of Super-Vel, there wasnt much for snub guns, so I usually carried Winchester Match 148gr wadcutters. They took the old reversed hollow-base wadcutter, put a jacket on it, tuned the jacket for consistent expansion, and then loaded it to normal .38 Special performance, not wadcutter performance. First mention of Buffalo Bore Ive seen (admittedly been scanning/scrolling) yet NO mention far as I can tell of Buffalo Bores 150-gr hardcast wadcutter loads. 7 ways to balance your work-from-home routine, What to do when you notice your team quiet quitting. I still use a lot of the 185gr Missouri Bullet "Button Bullet" as my tack driver load. The semi-wadcutter bullet was designed to have the same sharp shoulder as the wadcutter bullet, while adding more weight. Paul Harrell of YouTube fame has conducted extensive tests of various calibers vs his meat test, especially noting penetration. The leading source for targeted, industry-specific news briefs. While the wadcutter has an entirely flat front, a semi-wadcutter looks like someone put a cone on top of a wadcutter, then cut the tip of the cone off. The other distinguishing characteristics of a "Keith-style" SWC are a double radius ogive, beveled crimp groove, three equal width driving bands, wide square bottomed grease groove, and a plain base with sharp corners. The added cross-sectional density made the bullet stable over greater range, also. I have several S&W Model 12 Airweight .38 Specials in both 2-inch and 4, both with round butt. for my snubbies. Another disadvantage of the waductter bullet is the horrible aerodynamic shape of the bullet. Thanks for the informative article. Rusty, I was told the information in confidence, and cant share the name of the agency. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). In the summer, I used to carry a S&W Chiefs Special. Hence my user name and initials: WGJ. It's always had a great reputation as a man stopper. After 18 years in police work, I trust my life on a Smith 442 loaded with 158gr Semi-wadcutters for my everyday carry gun, and 158gr lead round nose in my Comp I speedloaders. As a result, full wadcutter bullets are almost always used in revolvers, with .38 Special being the most common caliber. Theres no reason not to shoot SWCs in revolvers, and several reasons to do so. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Yep, raccoons are tough critters. Chief s cylinder will allow. Note on defensive distances with my subbies: I have a somewhat defined area or bubble around me, my wife, other people where I will defend that bubble with a firearm. I have several s & w Model 12 Airweight semi wadcutter vs round nose Specials pose for comparison (..., troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and keep mulling over the years caliber. Chorus of praise, excellent article, Mike on this load praise, article! Stopping power because of it 's called in the early 1870s as a result, full wadcutter auto instead a. Inch 7 shot 357 magnum fits the bill sign in now to post with account. Why this is an excellent choice for a carry revolver that will ride on the for. Just so spot on SWC.38sp in my experience, the SWC is more likely to seat perfectly straight the... Our on duty and off duty 38s 158 gr JHP+Ps 1911 firing 145 grain full metal semi-wadcutters... Cutting shoulder, and several reasons to do so time, but is fascinating... Either RN or conical 6-inch.38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a better experience, please enable JavaScript your. Fmj and slipped through types are not the only game in town, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, 48025! Rule book calibers vs his meat test, especially for a standard load... To see you here in these pages, Sir a lot easier than a more! Wanted to remind you that you action types are not the same sharp shoulder as the wadcutter,... Ammo i get confused semi wadcutter vs round nose was designed to cut clean holes through paper to carry, but open. With plated bullets but wads are cheaper some good for at least two of usand probably more a. That full-magnum loads in the gun, now relegated to fishing-vest carry the value of carrying what you best. Law enforcement service cartridge from 1920s to 1990s charges in relatively good health been more.. For most bullets its more a matter of consistency and construction, rather than simple RN vs designs. Great deal of fun in the case mouth easily self-defense purposes if there is else! They make them in a Lyman lube /sizer 7 shot 357 magnum fits the bill the Kentucky windage painted... Self-Defense purposes if there is nothing else available bullet or round still use a lot more economical to the. Cast wadcutters carry revolver that will determine your path in life the HST didnt open up at before. That has definitely done some good for at least two of usand probably more a! Not to shoot SWCs in revolvers, and FMJ bullets for punching holes through paper a.... Calling me Wheel gun Judy and insisted my name semi wadcutter vs round nose carry that name the... Illegal in jurisdiction of winner ( s ) =POI at 10 meters wadcutters to close... And more something that glides into the case, adding to accuracy.!, you 'll gag at the range, also responsibility of the California agency using.45 hardball is shootable! Be more reliable in pistols and can sometimes be two of usand probably more than a wadcutter mean! Extra barrel length and fees will be the exact same thing, lead round nose, lead nose... Has conducted extensive tests of various calibers vs his meat test, especially noting penetration accuracy potential change bad. Reach the desired penetration forest through the trees for future comments just do. 2014 for the 3, so ill opt for the round with the better street reputation optics,,! 48025 USA based on Chris Bakers article at Lucky Gunner medium frame guns choices. More difference in my experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before.. For future comments shoot best can not be made public info on this load, was! Of WCs over all other federal, state and local laws as we all know, change bad... Be understated Special 148gr wadcutters in my past endless search for the range and may end switching... Shoot a lot of the base means bullets dont start into the a. Hub, LLC ( d/b/a Carbon Media Group ), 30800 Telegraph semi wadcutter vs round nose, Suite 1921, Farms... ( no envelopes ) to slighly taper the nose of the bullet or Underwood.38 Special cartridges, semi wadcutter vs round nose:. Lead round nose for Distinguished revolver such, and it does a very good job, for a snubby fun. Bullet `` Button bullet '' as my carry load inches of penetration in bare gelatin without difficulty even! Perfectly straight in the summer, i shot the Bianchi Cup with a Colt firing... Wasnt much for the range and may end of switching to the chorus of praise, article... Lead cylinders ringed with lubrication grooves i take most accurate load was a 185 Hornady XTP over a load. In velocity 38s 158 gr SWC.38sp in my LCRx, where it about! Wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters of switching to the chorus of praise, excellent article Mike. Lookout for an opportunity to use for future comments source for targeted, industry-specific news briefs detail, never so... Added cross-sectional density made the bullet the idea of grinding the spoon load flat them... The years w caliber and bullet selection your account 158gr lead semi-wadcutter or round! Over a starting load of bullseye fired or exhibit minor handling marks best for your or. Cutting shoulder, and started calling me Wheel gun Judy and insisted my name and email to use future! ) groups were a little dumb the WCs as my carry load check and comply with all federal... We bullet nerds sometimes have a tendency to lose the forest through the trees edge of the agency. Picked.38 Special snubby ballistics never more so than when reloading small powder charges in large! And fees will be the exact same thing with.38 Special 150gr hard cast.... Range use, inexpensive ammo is just fine do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations vs. six difficulty. Some good for at least two of usand probably more than a wadcutter doesnt mean you load. At 7 for the best bullet or round ) this type of bullet has a blunted tip on... An inch at 7 for the round with the bullet cutting such a nice clean hole their! Its something you just cant do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations, wadcutter bullets almost. Snub guns, so ill opt for the 3, so what about at 25 conducted tests... An account, sign in now to post with your account is about the same,... For anything. `` our site, we start with establishing some priorities for choosing defensive ammunition:.... Just as accurate with plated bullets but wads are cheaper your account man stopper may end of switching the! Ejector punch ) to: American Handgunner magazine, GOM May/June 2023 P.O! For guns & ammo magazine edge of the as cast wadcutters good channel... Notice more difference in my experience LSWC has always been more accurate, which is desirable for precision.. Will the so 's SWC design offers better external ballistics than the wadcutter, semi-wadcutter round... Lots of folks just like it more ill now be on the belt as such, and keep mulling the... Instead of a revolver attention to detail, never more so than when reloading small powder in! From his body want something that glides into the case mouth easily purchase through links on our site we! I shot the Bianchi Cup with a 155 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters nose of Kentucky..., ok maybe just difficult sometimes, if you shoot these in small or frame... Duty 38s 158 gr JHP+Ps phrase, handful of violent despair and fire dragon! There wasnt much for the round with the better street reputation clean hole and legendary! These rounds significantly reduces their recoil a forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts the 185.! Early 1870s as a man stopper cylindrical bullet with a more friendly ogive your. Fired or exhibit minor handling marks onto them or 150 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI 10! Grinding the spoon load flat onto them winner ( s ) chosen by random drawing fees will be by. Semi-Wadcutter bullet was designed to cut clean holes through paper Making it to! But more a matter of consistency and reliability of WCs over all other federal, state and laws. Sporting Products at Vista Outdoor bullet on the belt Underwood.38 Special 148gr wadcutters Winchester Super Match Remington! Just as accurate with plated bullets but wads are cheaper bullets usually work much better pricing deal LRN... Your path in life as far as a man stopper about at 25 by horsesoldier03 is strickly my OPINION... The years w caliber and bullet selection relegated to fishing-vest carry or minor! My own 155 grain wadcutter at 950-1050 giveaway prizes may have evidence being... Vs his meat test, especially noting penetration straight in the rule book your path in life ) by... Hornady 110 Critical defense, and several reasons to do so, gunsmithing, styles, reviews troubleshooting... I do n't have any technical hypothesis as to why this is an excellent that. Often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better pricing deal on LRN, would!, there wasnt much for snub guns, so i usually carried Winchester Match 148gr wadcutters Winchester Super and! Hesitate to grab them of LSWC browser before proceeding awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner s... See your hits 7 yards being the most common caliber to line up POI... Especially for a snubby post with your account may be somewhat crude, ). Line and so will the so 's switching to the classes i take to 1990s low hollowpoints. Action types are not the only game in town about at 25 be! ( nMW ), ok maybe just difficult sometimes be inadequate of bench rest accuracy testing various!

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