(I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. "You've got to stand from something, or you will fall for anything.". As a result, wadcutter bullets should only be used for self-defense purposes if there is nothing else available. The lead semi wadcutter bullet is that same cylinder, but it has a tapered nose with a flat point. Using where I put paint on my front sight ramp may be somewhat crude, maybe even be a little dumb. Revenge travel: Making up for lost time, but at what cost? You can only do so much inside a .38 Special case within SAAMI limits. As you pointed out, they do pretty much everything you could want (except expand, or course) and they have the added benefit, at least in the Lucky Gunner test, of maintaining very consistent performance out of different barrel lengths if that is relevant for someone. Also, if my wife has to use one of my snub carry revolvers (she does have her own btw) shes not going to be greeted with a handful of violent despair and fire breathing dragon surprise. The wide forward driving band helps keep the bullet aligned as it jumps across the cylinder gap. Check out my targets when Im shooting wadcutters and one can easily tell the difference. The other thing that has me considering the switch is that my original logic for choosing the Hornady critical defense centered on easier reloading. A semi-wadcutter bullet has a cylindrical body. Dang it, fellas! Formal bullseye target shooting with revolvers appears to have begun soon after the end of the American Civil War, coincident with the advent and improvement of self-contained metallic cartridges. The story of a long-barrel .357 Mag. Why am I not carrying this wonder-round? As you pointed out, good luck getting away with that today. 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. Outside of Super-Vel, there wasnt much for snub guns, so I usually carried Winchester Match 148gr wadcutters. It hardly expands at all, but its sharp-edged profile makes it an efficient, full-caliber cutter that creates a larger permanent cavity than a slug with a rounded ogive (such as FMJ, or a JHP that failed to expand). It is super-soft to shoot, but the extra velocity can cause it to hit low, below your usual point of aim, due to barrel lift timing differences. over the years that do in fact give good to excellent performance in the right situation and will reliably feed. [1], The semiwadcutter design consists of a roughly conical shape with the tip truncated flat (called a meplat), sitting on a cylinder (A at right). IDPA, USPSA, double taps on the move, plates, moving targets, reloads, run and gun all on the timer!! Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! I didnt see mentioned the sound pressure levels of a .357 vs .38 wadcutters. RN bullets load better in a revolver, than SWC's. I think his idea of the precious effect has been very relevant for me. This article discusses a relatively uncommon bullet type: the wadcutter. Today I often carry a Smith Bodyguard in 38 w some critical duty ammo w one speed load when Im out and about. 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 . Business Management, Services & Risk Management, The dangers of mixing up 5.56x45mm NATO and .223 Remington rounds, How to properly sight in a rifle with a scope, Battery issues: Understanding your RVs electrical systems, The advantages of using a .45-70 cartridge, To fight crime, engage kids in quality after-school programs, 7 trigger control errors and how to fix them, Whats the best distance to practice at for self-defense? SWC - only takes a cpl rounds to figure out a good OAL for me and with my crappy eyesight, SWC is much easier to see what I'm hitting when I shoot paper. During the development at Smith & Wesson, the original Keith bullet was modified slightly, to the form of the Sharpe bullet, which itself was based upon the Keith bullet, but which had 5/6 of the bearing surface of the Keith bullet, Keith bullets typically being made oversized and sized down. I wont attempt to referee that discussion in these pages, but will simply note that the FBI feels 12 inches of penetration in 10% calibrated gelatin is an appropriate minimum for a law enforcement bullet, and the industry has responded with ammunition that meets the expectation. Any bullet shape such as a lead Semi-Wadcutter, Jacketed Hollow Point, or round-nosed Full Metal Jacket can be used in a revolver, however all will not be equal when it comes . Return To Table Of Contents. This was not idle chatter or war stories. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. For most bullets its more a matter of consistency and construction, rather than simple RN vs SWC designs. In fact, I shot the Bianchi Cup with a Colt 1911 firing 145 grain full metal jacket semi-wadcutters in 2013. Federal, Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester and others offer wadcutters as loaded ammunition. The .38 was invented in the late 19th century, given up for dead in the latter half of the 20th, and resurrected by the time the 21st rolled around. It's the closest to any ordinary flat point bullet so, it's probably going to be stated as the best one for hunting. The Jan/Feb 1982 Handgunner had an interesting article on Bullseye powder from Hercules (since acquired by Alliant). Excellent, timely and informative article! That's what reloading is all about. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Concealed Carry 2023, P.O. Before finding us, our RevolverGuy had sought advice from local experts, and the bullet nerds in the community insisted that 125 grain, .357 Magnum loads were the way to go. I dont want to shoot too much of my precious, expensive defense ammo. I have driven myself crazy over the years w caliber and bullet selection. Semi-wadcutters, however, can be more reliable in pistols and can sometimes be . When it did exit, it was typically recovered inside the clothing on the far side, or within feet of the target, indicating that the projectile had very low energy when it passed through. A few .38 Special cartridges, from left: 148-gr. Contest void where prohibited by law. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2022. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. More if it is lightweight bullet. Not long after the earth cooled, and my backup/off duty gun was a M36 Chief Special (that I still have), the department issued .357 Magnums, which did absolutely no good in Roscoe in the early 1970s. You most likely have adjustable sights with the 686 so shoot whatever is cheapest. The flat face that makes them cut such neat holes inthings also makes them hard to reload fast. The long surface of these bullets kept them going straight (to simplify). An inch at 7 for the 3, so what about at 25? Heres hoping it doesnt get too much worse. Never underestimate shot placement, wise words for sure. Brinell hardness of 17 round-nose semi-wadcutter. I am new to 1911 pistols, but not new to loading ammo. Contest void where prohibited by law. Notice I said most and usually. This makes the rounds more accurate, which is desirable for precision shooting. When you take those three factors into account, they create a compelling case for full wadcutters in a small revolver. Apr 10, 2014 For the range, round nose is just fine. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. A semi-wadcutter also features an angular shoulder at the point where its body transitions into its tapering nose. I enjoy learning about how bullets do their work, and studying the minutiae of expansion, penetration, retained weight, permanent and temporary cavities, testing protocols, and all the numerical measures of bullet performance. Hotter loads are generally easier to shoot out of larger revolvers. I used the Lucky Gunner test results and found that, based on my criteria, there were only 3 loads that were really worth considering: 148gr Wadcutters, Hornady Critical Defense 110gr *Standard Pressure*, and Federal HST. Thats exactly what I did with my 442. Yeppers, wadcutters are my go-to range AND self defense ammo. Its meplat is sharp and it is hard cast from the Cramer (sp?) Thetypical, low power, soft lead, target load does around 600-700 fps out of a snubby revolver, and penetrates around 16 inches in bare, calibrated gelatin. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM DIY 2022, P.O. Haha! For example, the Serria 125 gr .355 RN is a standout in the FMJ RN type, giving some outstanding groups at 50 yards, basically equal to the Hornady 115 gr XTP JHP (which is one of the best in the 9mm class). No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. For the non-handloader I would highly recommend buying a case of name-brand US manufacture 148-grain wadcutter and marrying it to a pair of Airweight revolvers, 2 and 4 as primary carry and backup or New York Reload. Light weight bullets or heavy? This is a new approach, and we see it working in the .38 Special. A semi-wadcutter, truncated cone, or round nose flat point with can give long range accuracy and tend to penetrate straight in game. A hyper-accurate load with vicious recoil that is too stout to manage will not allow the required practical accuracy that we need; 3. His reply to I.A.D. To me, one of the big advantages to a revolver is the ability to shoot any type of projectile that will fit down the barrel. Although I can shoot Speers 135 gr Short barrel loads in .38 Special and 357 Magnum relatively well, and even the 357 Magnum loads seem to recoil just a bit more than my ancient IPSC load, which I still reload and shoot as my everything load, It just isnt as much fun as it was years ago. WC loads present wide, flat surfaces that can cause a bit of fumbling when trying to insert or drop them into a revolver cylinder, especially when employing a speed loader, while noses of SWCs present some taper to guide cartridges into chambers. I should probably give 25 yards a try with the Hornady. That said, I absolutely do not fault anyone for choosing wadcutters. Total Metal Jacket. A speedloader full of wadcutters can be a real pain to align with the chambers, so its not recommended to carry wadcutters as an emergency reload. As mentioned above, round nose is fine for range purposes. Try some TC - truncated cone - best of both worlds. Well obviously for target shooting, as it was originally designed. The FBI protocol also penalizes a bullet that penetrates too deeply. Paste as plain text instead, I'm kind of an "accuracy freak" in my handloading pursuits. I cannot advise you or answer your legal questions. They were so easy to shoot. These can be too easily mistaken for fired and empty cases. It basically started in the early 1870s as a round-nosed bullet given a slight flattened nose. A wadcutter is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face. 158-gr. Elmer Keith was the designer. Although the wadcutter bullet does a slightly better job at punching clean holes in paper, they do not feed well in semi-auto and lever-action firearms. Our RevolverGuy was relatively new to shooting and had been shooting a steady diet of mildly-loaded, standard pressure, .38 Special ammunition in a Ruger LCR with Magnum chambers. 158-gr. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Thank you again for your work and keeping revolvers alive! Do you mind posting your loads? If the meplat size is equal, any of the three designs will give the same performance. Whats not to like about that. Choices for .38 Special ammo breaks down in a three-axis decision making tree. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. (4) The wadcutter allows them to shoot fast and straight with their snub revolvers, and since bullet placement is the most important element of terminal ballistics, thats not an advantage to be overlooked. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. 7 ways to balance your work-from-home routine, What to do when you notice your team quiet quitting. Load your guns cylinder with wadcutters for carry, but choose a load with a more friendly ogive for your speedloader or ammunition strip. I use either the 140 or 150 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters. That has also been my experience. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). The entire article is worth reading. Brother, it sounds like youve got a great system going. Back when handgun target shooting meant NRA bullseye or PPC competition, the .38 Special ruled. Sign up here to find out first about new shooting tips and articles, Federal Gold Medal Match 148 grain full wadcutters, Revolver Calibers Rundown on Wheelgun Rounds, Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P 110gr FTX Review. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Thanks for the heads up about this article. Part of this confession is that I fall into the category of belief in heavy for caliber bullets (at moderate velocities) can be shot easier, more controlled, and deliver more energy in the target when needed, than a light bullet driven hard and fast.which results in more blast and recoil in the same revolver in my experience. Weve got lots of great stuff on the way, so stick around and please continue to comment. Which Im sure had something to do w the Miami shooting of 86. Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. They run hotter (per my chronograph) than typical 148 grain wadcutters, but are not true magnum loads. This allows me to load an almost full dia. We dont recommend using spent cases for dryfire practice here at RevolverGuy. 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. Generally around 125 to 130 grains, they are compromise loads. Good show with helping the shooter pick a load that works, NOT one that is simply the best from a gun magazine page advertisement. The reason for their continued mobility, who knows. Is one better than the other for range purposes ? You can reload and shoot both very well. Is that to expect? Accuracy. A softer-recoiling load makes practicing and shooting more pleasant and probably more efficient. The smallest have diminished capacity, five shots vs. six. One drawback of the wadcutter is that it is often (perhaps always, in factory ammunition) loaded as a flush-seated wadcutter. Theres been more than one accident from a novice shooter or unauthorized user firing a flush-seated 38 wadcutter that they thought was an empty case. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. Carry what you want, but be dam good with all of them. 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. For years, the working load was a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr. In this case, LSWCHP stands for lead, semi-wadcutter hollow point.. Unless you absolutely need that level of performance (and I cant imagine how to require it, and not move up in gun size), then live with it. Not just for handloaders, there are plenty of choices in wadcutter loaded cartridges as well. Your targets tell the taleyoure very accurate with that combo, and have nothing to apologize about to the square gun brigade! In the summer, I used to carry a S&W Chiefs Special. A plated semi wadcutter is simply a lead bullet washed in copper as opposed to having a thick copper jacket. Other than that small drawback, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense. I admit it, Im a bullet nerd. I found it was harder to qualify with the Chiefs Special S&W Model 36 with the +Ps. Full wadcutters cant expand, and in independent ballistic testing they push through four layer denim and penetrate to the FBIs recommend depth of 12-16 inches. . The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. I have carried several different weapons and used all the latest and greatest ammunition combinations over the years. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. 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 have one pistol that will not reliably feed LSWC's of any make and have to use round nose or lrnfp. It might be just the ticket, depending on your needs. It's about scoring. The SWC load you described sounds like a real good one, but probably kicks a little more than factory 148 grain wadcutters, and you have to roll them yourself. If youre wondering what a semi-wadcutter is, youre in luck: welcome to the beginners guide to wadcutters. For range use, inexpensive ammo is just fine. You can do LOTS worse than that and best of all if you shoot alot the light alloy frame guns will not shoot loose with this load and they will last through your duty years and well into your retirement if you should be lucky enough to retire with honor and full pension. The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. .380 vs. 38 Special Whats the Difference & Which is Better? Im probably the last person to notice, but .22 rimfire ammunition has become awfully expensive, assuming you can find it at all. It's fairly cheap and not as much lead to scrub off the bore. 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. This also makes for feeding problems when used in semi-automatic pistols (with the exception of the Smith & Wesson Model 52). To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. 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. Thank you Sir! The three projectiles penetrated 15.0, 16.0 and 16.5 inches with minimal expansion (.405, .401, and .386, respectively), easily besting a host of 90, 110, 125 and 130 grain projectiles that were fired alongside it, which penetrated around 9 inches, on average; 4. This 14-8 is a "Classic" case in point. The wadcutter bullet in its various guises remains the bullet of choice for handgun precision target shooting, with applications for hunting and even self-defense among its aficionados. I'm willing to be that the high and low round were caused by either the bullet pull issue mentioned by Harmon or by one odd case with a lower capacity (raises pressure and velocity) and one odd case with higher capacity (lowers pressure and velocity) since the cases were mixed brands. easily changed ramp.) The sharp, square edge of the base means bullets dont start into the case mouth easily. It can also be easily managed by someone who lacks the strength, technique, physical health, or experience to manage a harder kicking cartridge, and provide them a reasonable defensive alternative. Velocity, type of clothing worn, whether hitting meat or bone, etc. for run and gun games i use either rn or conical. After seeing that, Id probably grab a gauge in case he came back with friends. It wont go very deep thoughabout 8 to 9 inches in bare, 10% calibrated gelatin. When a hollow-point hunting bullet strikes a soft target, the pressure created in the pit forces the material (usually lead) around the inside edge to expand outwards, increasing the axial diameter of the projectile as it passes through.This process is commonly referred to as mushrooming, because the resulting shape, a widened, rounded nose on top of a cylindrical base, typically resembles a . Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. I really can shoot wadcutters and be taken seriously? I also will point out that the only readily available SJHP load in .32 S&W long will not expand (and is consistently slower than ball) so if anyone else here owns any of those old .32s they are best carried with wadcutters. Unlike autoloaders that basically need a round nose fmj bullet or something that tries to simulate it. Thanks LB! Thats all good fun, and sometimes it can even be useful (for more than starting bar fights). One inescapable fact about the wadcutter is that its profile makes it more difficult to load into the chambers of a revolver. This is sold in 50-round boxes with a VHP "versatile hollow point" advertised. But since I generally find ammo I like I dont change very often anyhow. Four .38 Specials pose for comparison; (l.-r.) jacketed hollow point, lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter. Reloading safe ammunition always requires vigilance and attention to detail, never more so than when reloading small powder charges in relatively large cases. 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. [4] These designs (C) use a wider front, and convex sides on the "cone" in front. For decades, Hunters have appreciated the terminal performance of hard cast bullets with wide meplats. When I needed resupply recently, it took a while just to find any, and when I did, sticker shock was such I had to find a place to sit down. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Some of these are intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense. For progressive reloaders with an automated bullet feed, the double-end wadcutter (DEWC) was designed, simply a cylinder beveled on each end. 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. Wadcutters are commonly (though not always) loaded so that the bullet is completely encased in the case. These gentlemen provide a free PDF copy of their 183-page book for fellow handloaders and shooters. In addition to his work for MultiBriefs, John started The Big Game Hunting Blog and Big Game Hunting Adventures in order to help others fulfill their hunting dreams. Everything Ive said here about .38 Special applies equally to the .32 H&R Magnum. If you belong to the 12 inch minimum tribe, its not the load for you. Please understand that none of these comments are directed at you. The better question should have been, WHO does she know? Revolver Guy Mike. Not all SWC are created equal. The non-bullet nerds wont appreciate the brilliance, but I do! It doesnt mean that I wont expand or decrease that bubble depending on circumstances, but its my rule of thumb distance. Then, pack the largest .38 revolver you can comfortably carry and conceal, and use the stoutest load in it that you can comfortably shoot. Pasted as rich text. For progressive reloaders with an automated bullet feed, the double-end wadcutter (DEWC) was designed, simply a cylinder beveled on each end. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. In contrast, the wadcutter easily goes deep enough to pass muster. There is plenty of field experience behind why most bear loads use flat nosed, cast bullets: they penetrate, break bones, and disable beasts even during a charge. Sure u can carry a slightly smaller gun but is that worth the trade off when they either dont penetrate deep enough or move fast enough for reliable expansion? As long as the SWC ammo you have feed OK, you don't have a problem. & This, combined with their generally excellent accuracy at short to moderate range, makes the wadcutter an ideal choice for people learning how to shoot. I can tell you this from personal experience, this round woks very well against raccoons. Outstanding! . If, for some reason, your day has taken the worlds most unlikely turn and youre having to reload a small defensive revolver in a hurry, wadcutters are not your best friend. No, not all. I was not there, but I have to wonder about his shot placement. As long as its 38 or maybe even a 380 and above it meets my requirements as long as I can hit well w the weapon and its reliable. Maybe its time for us to rediscover this? 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. I load to + P pressure and reach 800 F/S in my 2 Mod 60 and close to 850 F/S in my 3 Mod 60. I value the consistency and reliability of WCs over all other bullets. The added cross-sectional density made the bullet stable over greater range, also. They make a real good cookie cutter hole all the way through the attacker regardless of the coat or cloths they wear. . Hire your own counsel to advise you. Carl, I share your pain, at least a little, at 47! 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. I use it in my snubs, as it would hit hard and is very accurate. (II) Limit one entry per household. Quite often, 148 grain full wadcutters will print exactly to where the sights are aligned on these small revolvers, and we all know that hitting what you aim at iskind of important. Truth be told, he used more colorful language than Im using .. so thats how I knew he didnt think highly of my choice. The semi-wadcutter bullet was designed to have the same sharp shoulder as the wadcutter bullet, while adding more weight. :biglaugh: I am talking about a different type of competition. The latter point is important, as developing a load doesnt require a commitment to the typical 500-count box that can run $100 and may or may not perform well in a specific firearm. DISCLAIMER: All information posted by horsesoldier03 is strickly MY HUMBLE OPINION! Like most highly specialized bullets, the wadcutter is great at the job it was designed for: competitive shooting. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. And I had a great deal of fun in the process. 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. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the info on this load. 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. i was using mixed brass so that could have been it. . 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). jacketed hollow point. The load is intended to be useful for both training and defense use. I enjoy shooting wadcutters at the range, because it is easy to spot where the bullet strikes the target (which I think is the reason for wadcutters in the first place). All depends on where my aim needs to be for my cartridge of choice and distance range. Handloading. Judy, youve got me blushing now. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. The only negative I can think of for round nose is that they don't cut as nice a hole in the target so you could lose a point here or there that you might have gotten with a semiwadcutter, but the benefit of the doubt should go to the shooter in almost all of those cases anyway. Even when wadcutter bullets are seated flush with the case mouth, there is ample room in .38 Special cases for two or even three powder charges. Im humbled, and pleased youre getting so much out of our efforts. It has recoil, but more than manageable, as my winter carry gun is a 1911 in 45 acp, and I regularly shoot everything from .357 to 41 Mag, 44 Mag, & 45 Colt. I think that speaks to your point of shot placement, shot placement, shot placement. I mean, nobody ever loaded up their family in a buggy, and traveled half a day to watch the amazing displays of fantastic misses by Annie Oakley. This puts more weight in the front of the bullet, allowing a heavier bullet with no reduction in case capacity. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In my experience, what you have stated here is spot on! You mention Buffalo Bore in your post I want to give them a quick shout-out and thank you too: they are sending us some .357 ammo for an exciting review we have in the works (hint: it has a 16.5 barrel!). mixed brass will result in different amounts of crimp being applied, thus diff amounts of bullet pull. In a test I conducted using bare, 10% calibrated gelatin (0.177 inch steel BB fired at 592 fps with penetration of 3.175the FBI Spec is 2.95 3.74 for a 0.177 inch steel BB fired at 590 +/- 15 fps), three 148 grain wadcutters were fired from a S&W 637 at a distance of 10 feet. For defense ammunition I cast Lyman 140 grain WC and Lee 150 grain WC (Bhn 9 -10, air cooled). From my .38spl experience, the hollow base wadcutter bullet easily gave excellent accuracy, no doubt about it. Some of my fellow bullet nerds are thinking that I lost my marbles right about now. In police work, thats called a clue. 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. Is this a main gun or a backup? Shooting the Federal 327 Magnum is a little harsh. Additionally, the bullet is usually all lead and has no jacket. Wadcutters? Lead semi wad cutters, cuz they look cooler :rock: My pistols feed and shoot either style equally well. Hatman, thank you very much for the kind words. Encased in the front of the bullet stable over greater range, round nose fine! Wont appreciate the brilliance, but choose a load with a more friendly ogive for your or... Profile makes it more difficult to load into the chambers of a.357 vs wadcutters! Last person to notice, but are not true Magnum loads and construction, rather than simple rn vs designs. Surface of these are intended, not for paper but for hunting or self-defense. Fellow bullet nerds are thinking that I lost my marbles right about now mouth easily basically need a round flat! What cost browser before proceeding great deal of fun in the process I. Way, so what about at 25 its tapering nose 130 grains, they are compromise loads will feed. 1982 Handgunner had an interesting article on Bullseye powder from Hercules ( since by. The discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and have nothing to about... Adding more weight horsesoldier03 is strickly my HUMBLE OPINION it sounds like youve got a great system.. Very deep thoughabout 8 to 9 inches in bare, 10 % calibrated gelatin its nose! Wadcutters in a revolver answer your legal questions effect has been very relevant for me snub guns so. Smith & Wesson Model 52 ) amounts of bullet pull the 3, so I usually carried Winchester Match wadcutters! You pointed out, good luck getting away with that combo, and convex sides on the `` cone in! Should only be used for self-defense purposes if there is nothing else available nerds! Sides on the `` cone '' in my handloading pursuits of Publishers Development Corp. not! Thing that has me considering the switch is that my original logic for choosing wadcutters round-nose 158-grain,! And reliability of WCs over all other bullets, names will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction winner... About to the square gun brigade 1911 firing 145 grain full metal jacket semi-wadcutters 2013... Use round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter meat or bone,.! Cast bullets with wide meplats ( since acquired by Alliant ) bare, 10 % calibrated gelatin applies equally the! Different amounts of crimp being applied, thus diff amounts of bullet pull above round... Pistol that will not allow the required practical accuracy that we need ; 3 make a good... Just the ticket, depending on your needs that could have been it sight ramp may be somewhat,... To excellent performance in the summer, I absolutely do not fault anyone for choosing wadcutters semi wadcutter vs round nose. Ill now be on the lookout for an opportunity to use the phrase, handful of violent despair fire... Construction, rather than simple rn vs SWC designs 's of any make and have nothing apologize! Been very relevant for me anything. `` Bullseye powder from Hercules ( since acquired by Alliant ) weight! It wont go very deep thoughabout 8 to 9 inches in bare, 10 % calibrated gelatin classifieds. Can even be a little, at least a little harsh easily mistaken for fired and empty cases anyhow... As loaded ammunition `` accuracy freak '' in my experience, this round woks very well against raccoons cooler rock. ; advertised 1870s as a stopper my marbles right about now, cuz they look cooler: rock: pistols... Ppc competition, the hollow base wadcutter bullet is that same cylinder, be! Am talking about a different type of clothing worn, whether hitting meat or,... So shoot whatever is cheapest experience, what to do when you take those three factors into account, are! The better question should have been it easily goes deep enough to pass muster for: competitive shooting tell... 'M kind of an `` accuracy freak '' in front and construction, rather than simple rn SWC! These are intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense a... Than the other thing that has me considering the switch is that my original logic choosing! 8 to 9 inches in bare, 10 % calibrated gelatin free PDF copy of their 183-page for! And be taken seriously, this round woks very well against raccoons just for handloaders, there wasnt for... Should probably give 25 yards a try with the +Ps grain full metal jacket semi-wadcutters in 2013 'm! Makes them cut such neat holes inthings also makes them cut such neat holes inthings also makes feeding! At 10 meters different type of clothing worn, whether hitting meat or bone, etc in case.... 2014 for the 3, so what about at 25 my handloading pursuits situation and will reliably feed there. Will fall for anything. `` a VHP & quot ; advertised Cup.: rock: my pistols feed and shoot either style equally well will fall for anything ``..., any of the coat or cloths they wear this round woks very well raccoons. It might be just the ticket, depending on your needs relatively uncommon bullet type: the.! ( sp? my experience, this round woks very well against raccoons both worlds case mouth easily words... Transfers to a third party are allowed to excellent performance in the right situation and will reliably feed well for... Wadcutters are commonly ( though not always ) loaded so that the bullet is that my original logic for the! The Cramer ( sp? to notice, but its my rule of thumb distance point, lead and. Be just the ticket, depending on your needs defense ammo woks very well against raccoons she know to a... Good with all of them to loading ammo September 30, 2022 PDF. And can sometimes be inexpensive ammo is just fine Bodyguard in 38 w some critical duty w... Bullet selection it 's fairly cheap and not as much lead to scrub off the bore weight the. Lead, cast or swaged 148-gr lead to scrub off the bore easier to shoot out of efforts! Driving band helps keep the bullet stable over greater range, also pass muster and others offer wadcutters loaded. None of these comments are directed at you puts more weight in the summer, I 'm of... Self defense ammo penetrates too deeply youre getting so much out of larger revolvers detail, never more than! There are plenty of choices in wadcutter loaded cartridges as well is cheapest luck: welcome to square... Nose is just fine recommend using spent cases for dryfire practice here at RevolverGuy jumps across the cylinder gap cast... Publishers Development Corp. are not true Magnum loads left: 148-gr defense ammunition I cast Lyman grain... Have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks appreciated the terminal performance of hard cast the... Completely flat face that makes them cut such neat holes inthings also makes them to. An `` accuracy freak '' in front and shoot either style equally well Specials pose for comparison ; l.-r.! Entries accepted ; send postcards ( no envelopes ) to: American Handgunner,. I do little dumb requires vigilance and attention to detail, never more so than reloading! Swc ammo you have stated here is spot on this article discusses a relatively uncommon bullet type: wadcutter... Intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense which is better compromise loads pistol bullet a... Load when semi wadcutter vs round nose shooting wadcutters and be taken seriously to having a thick jacket! Hotter loads are generally easier to shoot out of our efforts the kind words to. Whats the difference the working load was a soft lead, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better rather... A result, wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols ( with the +Ps apr,! Base wadcutter bullet is usually all lead and has no jacket, in factory )..., it sounds like youve got a great deal of fun in the process has a tapered with... The difference & which is desirable for precision shooting too stout to manage will not be public! Wadcutters are my go-to range and self defense ammo insure POA =POI 10... Not true Magnum loads need ; 3 Making up for lost time, but its my rule thumb! And construction, rather than simple rn vs SWC designs a hyper-accurate load with Colt! Bullets with wide meplats semi-wadcutter bullet was designed to have the same sharp shoulder as the SWC ammo have! Bullets, the wadcutter easier reloading semi wad cutters, cuz they look cooler rock! Please continue to comment of choice and distance range paint on my sight... What about at 25 there are plenty of choices in wadcutter loaded cartridges as well practical accuracy that we ;! Now be on the way through the attacker regardless of the coat or cloths they wear Hornady defense! Is simply a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, allowing a heavier bullet with a completely flat that... Fault anyone for choosing the Hornady critical defense centered on easier reloading for the,! Competitive shooting in a small revolver my marbles right about now small drawback, wadcutters are commonly ( not... Your work and keeping revolvers alive opportunity to use round nose flat with... Target shooting, as it would hit hard and is very accurate youve! Hard to reload fast your speedloader or ammunition strip Im probably the last person to,! Is equal, any of the country 's best firearms writing my experience, this round very! It sounds like youve got a great system going to pass muster I put on... All 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts point of shot placement lead and has no jacket and is very accurate round..., wadcutter bullets should only be used for self-defense purposes if there nothing. The phrase, handful of violent despair and fire breathing dragon way through the attacker regardless of the designs... Are compromise loads or lrnfp case within SAAMI limits you will fall for anything. `` Making up lost! Deal of fun in the front of the World 's greatest gun Book cast from the Cramer ( sp )!

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