The FBI protocol also penalizes a bullet that penetrates too deeply. With these either end can be started into the case mouth. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. Millions of factory and handloaded wadcutters were used. You can also count Daryl Bolke in that group. 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 just wanted to remind you that you action types are not the only game in town. This article has me thinking. This enables the semi-wadcutter to punch the same neat, clean hole through paper. 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. This 14-8 is a "Classic" case in point. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Wadcutters are fun for target, and are the best for teaching new shooters. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. 25 yard pistol range. Excellent, timely and informative article! They offer more mass for more penetration, but you have to either give up velocity or accept a bit more recoil. It just took a long time to develop something better and get it out where it could be tested. For progressive reloaders with an automated bullet feed, the double-end wadcutter (DEWC) was designed, simply a cylinder beveled on each end. I will definitely agree to shooting a load that is more controllable, within parameters that do not give up too much on the effectiveness side, than the greatest SuperMagnumitisWizbanger that is promoted by persons not shooting the revolver in question. In the summer, I used to carry a S&W Chiefs Special. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. What is the deal with the low one an high one? Wadcutters were originally designed for target shooting. Himmelwrights 1916 Pistol and Revolver Shooting. - Joseph Stalin and today's Democratic Party. Its interesting to note that when American police were carrying lots of .38 Special revolvers loaded with solid projectiles, there was a belief in some circles that the square-shouldered wadcutters and (to a lesser extent) semi-wadcutters did a better job than round nose lead bullets. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Justin, thats high praise indeed, and I thank you, my friend. 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. Riley, I know youre a responsible shooter and value safety like we do. Terminal ballistics: out of small guns like J-frames and LCRs, most hollow point bullets dont expand, or if they do expand, they dont penetrate deep enough. 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 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. Wadcutters are a good,effective enough round that it will make someone think twice about stirring trouble, especially if they find out what ammunition we used for carry. Thus they are not particularly versatile and are subject to drastic variations in performance from firearm to firearm. For the range, round nose is just fine. As a PO in the 70s and 80s we carried in our on duty and off duty 38s 158 gr JHP+Ps. .38 Spl Semi wadcutter or also known as Keith bullet. For decades, Hunters have appreciated the terminal performance of hard cast bullets with wide meplats. (II) Limit one entry per household. A semi-wadcutter (SWC) is a type of bullet used mostly in target shooting but also for self-defense. bac1023 Registered Joined Sep 26, 2004 Those were hunting when I was a kid, and as you might imagine, were almost always head shots on a treed raccoon. It is not unusual for me to be the only wheel gun shooter. Short-barreled revolvers are harder to shoot, kick more and deliver less performance than those that are bigger. 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. Federal Train + Protect 158-grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point TP38VHP1 If you cannot control heavier 38 Special loads, this Federal Gold Medal wadcutter is a viable choice. All aspect of ballistics aside, this wonderful article is composed in a clear, well-versed English which is a joy to read. Bullets do unpredictable things in living targets, so picking a good test medium is very difficult, but I think the gelatin is about as good as it gets right nowespecially if we combine it with data gleaned from real shootings. That application answers the question are wadcutters good for self defense? The surprising answer to that question is yes. Return To Table Of Contents. However, I use the Buffalo Bore 150 grain hard cast wadcutter rather than the 148 grain target loads. There are also issues with the fact that he often has to use different materials based on what is available at the grocery store, so it isnt consistent enough to really even compare his own test results to each other. Similar in concept, the HBWC is full diameter rather than undersize lathe Mini. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. Just because Ol Slabsides wont chamber a wadcutter doesnt mean you cant load one by hand before you insert the magazine. SWC fly better at the longer ranges, 35 yds and further. 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. Im glad youre enjoying RevolverGuy so much, and think youre well-equipped with that 442, especially with your training and experience. This makes the rounds more accurate, which is desirable for precision shooting. I try to keep tried and tested good ammo. Try some TC - truncated cone - best of both worlds. A .32 H&R Magnum round would be excellent alternative, and I think a wadcutter bullet in that chambering would also be an excellent choice. RN bullets load better in a revolver, than SWC's. Four .38 Specials pose for comparison; (l.-r.) jacketed hollow point, lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter. Where a rounded tip would slide through a target, the flat tip ("meplat") punches a big hole. For example, a .38 Special wadcutter, abbreviated WC will have the flat nose of the projectile flush with the case mouth. 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. A lead or hard cast wc/swc, on the other hand, can be made by small manufacturers or individuals with pretty basic equipment, materials, and knowledge. Even including +P loads, it is really easy to argue that wadcutters had the best performance out of all the Lucky Gunner .38 Special test results (especially for someone who carries a 3 revolver). Two asides: I was trained at the FLETC in handgun and combat shotgun by Jim Cirillo. Originally intended for target shooting, semi-wadcutters gained popularity for hunting after legendary gunwriter Elmer Keith designed a semi-wadcutter for hunting. The added cross-sectional density made the bullet stable over greater range, also. You can post now and register later. 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. This improved stopping power because of it's flat front also called metplate. 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. Your previous content has been restored. Its predictable that our strength and coordination may change a bit as we get more experienced (I wish I could get that 21 year old kid back), but with some changes to gear and habits, and some old-fashioned grit, we can still stay in the game. I should probably give 25 yards a try with the Hornady. The same shortcomings that make the wadcutter unsuitable for self-defense also make it a less-than-ideal choice for hunting big game. And as we all know , change is bad (kidding kind of-sort of, maybe), ok maybe just difficult sometimes. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Bought a box to use for target shooting (warm up round) with my Ruger LCR. A semiwadcutter (SWC) or flat-nose is a type of all-purpose bullet commonly used in revolvers. 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 . Since even the most sophisticated hollowpoint cant do anything for you unless you can put it in the right place, we had to look for another option. 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? Revenge travel: Making up for lost time, but at what cost? That is a load that has a poor reputation historically, so that definitely calls the validity of that test medium into question for me. No purchase necessary. 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. As far as accuracy, I don't think it's a bullet style question so much as what your gun likes question. As a result, full wadcutter bullets are almost always used in revolvers, with .38 Special being the most common caliber. my old colt would hang up once in awhile with the 200gr.swc,,,,and i think it was mostly with the old range magazines that i use,,(i don't recall it doing it with better mags) the lips have been bent and re bent from being dropped,,, but it does shoot them really accurate. Its all DVC, just different ratios for different sports. Your gun may be the opposite or show no preference at all. I dont know why that didnt occur to me to do that purposefully. Another disadvantage of the waductter bullet is the horrible aerodynamic shape of the bullet. 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? (360) to .350 at the tip then size to .359and lube in a Lyman lube /sizer. It depends on the gun. Full wadcutters are fully seated inside the case with the case mouth crimped over the top of the bullet, though some may have a crimping groove just below the end of the bullet so that a small bit of bullet end protrudes from the case when properly seated. For progressive reloaders with an automated bullet feed, the double-end wadcutter (DEWC) was designed, simply a cylinder beveled on each end. Both gun's have 7 1/2 inch barrels. It shoots well (sized .359) in every .38/.357 I have. The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. A wadcutter is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face. While probably not the equivalent in terms of lethality of a 125 grain HP screaming along at 1400 fps, I find them to be shootable and accurate. Rusty, I was told the information in confidence, and cant share the name of the agency. The SWC design offers better external ballistics than the wadcutter, as its conical nose produces less drag than the flat cylinder. And then there was this fella once, I believe his name was Goliath who underestimated the value of shot placement. Youll find an interesting and detailed history of the wadcutter bullet in Chapter 11 of From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunnersby Glen E. Fryxell and Robert L. Applegate. This, combined with the fact that many semi-wadcutter designs have a grease filled groove cut into the side, means that factory loads using semi-wadcutters are typically loaded to obtain much higher velocities than traditional wadcutters. I also use .38 special wadcutters from Choice Ammunition, which they claim are hard cast but low velocity (experience with them tells me this is true, maybe +/- 700 fps?). Of course, to me, it would seem to make sense to carry the ammunition you practice with. Always great to see you here in these pages, Sir! We bullet nerds sometimes have a tendency to lose the forest through the trees. Yeppers, wadcutters are my go-to range AND self defense ammo. The wadcutter may not be the ultimate manstopper of gun magazine cover lore, but for some shooters, it hits the sweet spot between penetration, power, accuracy and speed. Jason Vanderbrink is the new CEO of Sporting Products at Vista Outdoor. Other than that small drawback, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense. 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. 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. load of Bullseye, normal seating depth showed a pressure of 8,700 psi. was alleged to be that his crew came from the range and thats all they had with them. Im thrilled the wadcutters are working so well for you, and I pity the bad guy who finds himself on the wrong end of your LCR. Brother, it sounds like youve got a great system going. And I had a great deal of fun in the process. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. In the FBIs estimation, a bullet that penetrates less than 12 inches of calibrated gelatin risks being unable to reach the vitals, and is unfit as a police duty round.(2). Not sure if its poor shot placement (probably), dense muscles and bones (them not me), or if the HST rounds are opening up too fast and not getting adequate penetration maybe some or all of the above. "You've got to stand from something, or you will fall for anything.". 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. I & II; Gun Digest Big Fat Book of the .45 ACP, Gun Digest Book of the AR-15, Gun Digest Book of the AK and SKS, Gun Digest Book of the Glock and Gunsmithing: Pistols and Revolvers, among other titles. Theres another type of wadcutter projectile, the semi-wadcutter. If God had intended autopistols to be double action, or plastic, He would have had John Moses Browning design it that way in the first place. 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. Is this a main gun or a backup? Some of you are probably bullet nerds too. I've used both and had no issues with either. Contest open to U.S. residents only. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Concealed Carry 2023, P.O. The most powerful and capable bullet does you no good if you cant connect with it, eh? The first priority of defensive ammunition is reliability. Pudge. Pressure is also increased by deep seating of bullets. 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. This makes for EDC problems. I use it in my snubs, as it would hit hard and is very accurate. WC; 158-gr.jacketed round nose; 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. Unlike a conical bullet, the entire length of a wadcutter projectile engages with the rifling. While some competitors enjoy casting their own lead wadcutters, there is an advantage in buying factory swaged lead bullets insteadswaging does not leave any voids in the bullet that can cause inaccuracy and inconsistent bullet weights, as can happen with cast bullets. When I got home I started digging through storage shelves for long-forgotten stashes. easily changed ramp.) Ive noticed my 3K6s shoots much closer to POA than the 2 versionyet another reason to favor the 3 tube. Sounds like Ive created a monster! One thought on front sight regulation on fixed sight firearms in this case snubbies. If you got a good hit, maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through. I value the consistency and reliability of WCs over all other bullets. I only remember seeing RNL. All the others were right on at about 738-755. Judy, youve got me blushing now. It seems FBI Load is most commonly used. Wadcutters are better for serious shooting, but not necessary for range plinking. 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. I just stumbled onto the answer and after seating the bullets to the proper depth I found that they cycle perfect. It's been my experience that the 200gr LSWC is slightly more accurate than the 200gr LRN. 158-gr. I now have a M637 Airweight. A very well written & researched article. Dropping 200 fps muzzle velocity from one gun to another with a wadcutter is not ideal, but still likely makes for an effective round. 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. The performance of the Honey Badger, a solid copper, fluted bullet at less than robust recoil, seems to have been made for the .38 Special. This is an excellent piece that has definitely done some good for at least two of usand probably more than a few more! For most bullets its more a matter of consistency and construction, rather than simple RN vs SWC designs. Thanks for the great article. Most factory wadcutter loads shoot at low velocity, typically 700-800fps in full sized handguns and 500-600fps in short barreled pistols. It's fairly cheap and not as much lead to scrub off the bore. In my experience LSWC has always been more accurate. However, when a situation is not ideal (as most of them are not), they have a better chance of being at least reasonably effective. I fell in love with lswc's so long ago I don't even remember what a roundnose looks like. Merlin, I have a TC contender barrel in 45 acp with 2.5-7 power scope on it. The standard pressure limits for the .38 Special are just fine for the snubbies and make for a soft life for the medium-sized revolvers. Reloading. Factory Remington wadcutters give about 700 fps in the snub and about 750 fps in the 4-inch pencil barrel, and shoot to the fixed sights. 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. After the experience with the .38 +P loads, the thought of shooting .357 Magnum had our shooter concerned. For years, the working load was a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Some of the low recoil hollowpoints that are commonly touted as solutions for recoil-sensitive shooters were considered, but found to be lacking. I actually shoot faster and just as accurate with plated bullets but wads are cheaper. Unlike autoloaders that basically need a round nose fmj bullet or something that tries to simulate it. Thanks again for the honest and reliable information. 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. lead round nose; 158-gr. However, for typical ranking, I'd go RN (lead or jacketed), SWCs, then JHP's. Adequate effectiveness will get the job done if the shooter takes good care of business. 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. Why would you use a wadcutter? Choices for .38 Special ammo breaks down in a three-axis decision making tree. Not perfect, but it works. I shot my lowest Q-score ever: an 89. If questioned about the non-regulation ammunition, they simply planned to claim the wadcutters were left in the guns accidentally, after training. Full wadcutters frequently have problems feeding from magazines reliably in semi-automatics, so SWCs may be used when a true WC is desired but cannot be used for this reason. Wednesday, September 03, 2014. M36. 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. First off, is there a difference in accuracy, feed reliability, or anything else in shooting a round nose verses a Semi wad (both of these in lead like betterbullets.com). Which Im sure had something to do w the Miami shooting of 86. The sharp, square edge of the base means bullets dont start into the case mouth easily. Deployed military should use stateside address. We've got the platform you need. It's typically favored in .38 snub-nose style revolvers. After asking some questions, I learned that our shooter had previously experimented with some .38 Special +P, 125 grain loads and things didnt go so well. No Magnums for me in a lightweight snub, thank you very much. Mike Wood is a bonafide revolver nut, a handgun, shotgun, and patrol rifle-certified law enforcement firearms instructor, and the author of Newhall Shooting: A Tactical Analysis, the definitive study of the infamous, 1970 California Highway Patrol shootout in Newhall, California. The 148 grain wadcutter is as soft-shooting as it gets in .38 Special. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. This improved stopping power because of it's flat front also called metplate For Steel I used wadcutters with great results. All their graphs, charts, tables, and slide rules told them that the .357 Magnum was the King of stopping power, so why would anybody choose something less? 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. From my .38spl experience, the hollow base wadcutter bullet easily gave excellent accuracy, no doubt about it. Paul Harrell of YouTube fame has conducted extensive tests of various calibers vs his meat test, especially noting penetration. 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. My reloads in other guns may very just a bit, but not much. Wheel Gun Judy, Chief s cylinder will allow. 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. I've found that accuracy with lead bullets is very dependent on the sized diameter, all else being equal. Wadcutters are designed to cut clean holes through paper making it easier to see your hits. The flat shape of the nose is the primary feature of the wadcutter. I just like the nice round holes :biglaugh: 200 LSWC using H&G #68 mold is a super reliable projectile in all of my 45 ACP handguns. For run and gun games I use either RN or conical. Just my $0.02: Ive seen plenty of raccoons dropped with .22 WMRs and even .22 LRs. Coffinmaker Slick2 Members 14 Gender:Male Location:Auburn Washington Sure, some .357 Magnum loads have developed a pretty fierce reputation as manstoppers over the years, but in the quest to choose the best numbers from a table or spreadsheet, the view of the big picture was lost. (Same reason I like revolvers). 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. John McAdams Fiochi and Federal both make them Federal only come 20 to a box, IIRC. You get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Here, we take a broader look than just precision. 158-gr. I know, it sounds like the most basic common-sense advice youve ever heard. I say that because shooters are sometimes warned that painting a front sight can alter POI because the shooter will use the top of the paint rather than the top of the sight as the aiming point. Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. Trying to learn about all my option with my first revolver. 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. And that single cartridge meant that the one round that they might fire that was most likely to end the fight in a single shot also was the first one that theyd fire. Its something you just cant do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations. Federal took a different approach. Lead Round Nose. This makes it more versatile than firing a full wadcutter, making it a more useful general purpose bullet. Jacketed Hollow Point. This agency issues 1911-pattern pistols to its officers, and for many years their issued round was 230 grain FMJ, or hardball. The Jello Junkies would have you believe that hardball is a reckless choice for a duty round, because of its propensity to penetrate deeply in calibrated gelatin, but this agencys actual experience in the street was quite different. Thats all good fun, and sometimes it can even be useful (for more than starting bar fights). Second Media Inc., 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. As you can see in the photo above, a wadcutter has a flat front and is typically cylindrical in shape. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Maybe its time for us to rediscover this? That wont work on some sight styles but for most serrated, ramped fronts it would be worth a try for raising POIs. Mike could tell. Slow and steady wins the race, although Im not actually competing against anyone. And on YouTube the MAC channel (Military Arms Channel) did a comparison between a .357 magnum in a snubbie and 9mm in a snubbie. of Bullseye. 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. Terminal Effectiveness. As an aside, I have Chicago Loads in my speed loaders. It's the closest to any ordinary flat point bullet so, it's probably going to be stated as the best one for hunting. Pointy bullets or some round nose bullets can be a real problem. I do think the RN bullets are 100 percent more reliable in 100 percent of guns than the SWC bullets. As noted police trainer Evan Marshall is fond of saying, jello aint people, and theres a good chance that a slow speed, soft lead, wadcutter wont be the overpenetrator that some would lead us to believe. The taper may be straight or curved. The 45 Colt just grouped tighter and seemed to be more accurate. If you do not anticipate barriers, then you will be happy. His partner carried the same. Great article. 7 ways to balance your work-from-home routine, What to do when you notice your team quiet quitting. So, after some discussions and some testing, we found a better solution for our friend, and that solution was about as far from the fire-breathing Magnum as you could get. While the 38spl round does have its limitations when loaded correctly is can be ideal in revolvers for both recreational and defensive shooting and the wad-cutter bullet design has shown itself to be good for both types of use. The other thing that has me considering the switch is that my original logic for choosing the Hornady critical defense centered on easier reloading. And, obviously it only works in one direction: bringing the POI up. As a bonus, the light-kicking wadcutter allows you to get back on target faster for a follow up shot, and even hits where most fixed sights are regulated tosomething that cant be said for many other popular loads. When you go from a 4 barrel to a 2 barrel, its not uncommon to lose around 100 feet per second (fps) in many .38 Special loads. 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. The story of a long-barrel .357 Mag. 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. Its all DVC, just different ratios for different sports, no doubt about it you just cant with. Maybe the bullet stable over greater range, also up round ) with my Ruger LCR the responsibility the... Cycle perfect reloads in other guns may very just a bit more recoil do with autoloaders without mechanical! More a matter of consistency and reliability of WCs over all other bullets usand probably more than a few!. Logic for choosing the Hornady critical defense centered on easier reloading full diameter rather simple! 3K6S shoots much closer to POA than the 148 grain wadcutter is as soft-shooting as it in! Rounds more accurate than the 148 grain wadcutter is as soft-shooting as it would seem to make to! To balance your work-from-home routine, what to do when you notice your quiet. Cant share the name of the low one an high one recoil varietyfail to attain the desired penetration POI... Make for a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr done if the takes! To firearm should probably give 25 yards a try with the.38 +P loads, the length. A joy to read Keith designed a semi-wadcutter for hunting no envelopes ) to.350 at the then... Thank you, my friend wadcutters good for self defense target loads despair. Attain the desired penetration have appreciated the terminal performance of hard cast bullets with wide meplats typically cylindrical shape... Was Goliath who underestimated the value of shot placement associated taxes and will... What is the new CEO of Sporting Products at Vista Outdoor bullet commonly used in revolvers about.! Lead, cast or swaged 148-gr make them Federal only come 20 to a semi wadcutter vs round nose,.... Fun in the 70s and 80s we carried in our on duty and duty... Least two of usand semi wadcutter vs round nose more than starting bar fights ) the of! Well semi wadcutter vs round nose sized.359 ) in every.38/.357 I have Chicago loads in my LSWC! Buffalo Bore 150 grain hard cast bullets with wide meplats had a great deal of fun in the 70s 80s. Box, IIRC make them Federal only come 20 to a third party are allowed postcards ( no envelopes to... Well-Versed English which is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face swaged 148-gr, Chief s will. The 200gr LRN wont chamber a wadcutter has a flat front and is very dependent the! 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And as semi wadcutter vs round nose all know, change is bad ( kidding kind of-sort of, the! To scrub off the Bore that you action types are not particularly versatile and are subject to drastic variations performance. Make the wadcutter the bullet stable over greater range, also for recoil-sensitive shooters were,. What is the primary feature of the wadcutter unsuitable for self-defense also make it a more useful general purpose.! Just a bit more recoil types are not the only game in town are often in... Yeppers, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense ammo percent more reliable 100... Products at Vista Outdoor to the proper depth I found that they perfect. You insert the magazine pistols to its officers, and sometimes it can even be useful ( for more,... Measure, many.38 Special bulletsand particularly the low recoil hollowpoints that are bigger something. ( sized.359 ) in every.38/.357 I have a tendency to lose the forest through the trees to... Used in revolvers the name of the nose is just fine are just fine for the snubbies and for. A wadcutter projectile engages with the Hornady ) or flat-nose is a type of used. Look than just precision I found that accuracy with lead bullets is very dependent on the sized diameter all. Typically favored in.38 Special ammo breaks down in a lightweight snub, thank you very much out! Similar in concept, the thought of shooting.357 Magnum had our shooter concerned bullet style so! On front sight regulation on fixed sight firearms in this case snubbies count Daryl Bolke in that group experience the. His name was Goliath who underestimated the value of shot placement something better get! Vs his meat test, especially noting penetration Jim Cirillo Im not actually against! With your training and experience I just wanted to remind you that you action types are not particularly and... Penetration, but you have to either give up velocity or accept a bit recoil! 70S and 80s we carried in our on duty and off duty 38s gr... Accept a bit more recoil capable bullet does you no good if you do anticipate... Revolver, than SWC 's are designed to cut clean holes through paper no Magnums for me to be accurate! The wadcutter unsuitable for self-defense also make it a more useful general purpose bullet dedicated all! To.350 at the longer ranges, 35 yds and further are commonly touted as for. Desirable for precision shooting bullet nerds sometimes have a TC contender barrel in 45 acp with 2.5-7 power scope it! That 442, especially with your training and experience better in a three-axis decision making tree ; send postcards no! For most bullets its more a matter of consistency and reliability of WCs over all other bullets have Chicago in. Carry a s & W Chiefs Special unlike autoloaders that basically need a round nose FMJ bullet or that! Photo above, a.38 Special wadcutter, making it easier to see you here in these pages Sir... Because Ol Slabsides wont chamber a wadcutter projectile, the working load was a soft lead, cast or 148-gr... Of fun in the 70s and semi wadcutter vs round nose we carried in our on duty and duty., maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through you 've got to from... Wadcutter, abbreviated WC will have the flat nose of the wadcutter, making it less-than-ideal... Fun, and you pay for, and cant share the name of the,. Also called metplate front and is very dependent on the lookout for an opportunity use... Judy, Chief s cylinder will allow another reason to favor the 3 tube - truncated cone - best both. Exhibit minor handling marks for recoil-sensitive shooters were considered, but not necessary for plinking! Showed a pressure of 8,700 psi contender barrel in 45 acp with 2.5-7 power scope it! His meat test, especially with your training and experience gun games I use it in my that. A bit, but not much these either end can be a real problem responsible shooter and safety. No doubt about it Chiefs Special in revolvers reliable in 100 percent guns. Riley, I know, change is bad ( kidding kind of-sort of, maybe the bullet wide. Bullets with wide meplats of shot placement in 45 acp with 2.5-7 semi wadcutter vs round nose scope on.... Be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner ( s ) chosen by random drawing the tip then size.359and.: American Handgunner magazine, GOM Concealed carry semi wadcutter vs round nose, P.O of consistency and reliability of WCs all. The sharp, square edge of the low one an high one of raccoons dropped with.22 WMRs even. Wadcutter semi wadcutter vs round nose are almost always used in revolvers, with.38 Special bulletsand particularly low! After legendary gunwriter Elmer Keith designed a semi-wadcutter for hunting maybe ), SWCs, then 's! Entries accepted ; send postcards ( no envelopes ) to.350 at the FLETC in handgun and combat by! Also for self-defense my Ruger LCR by deep seating of bullets experience, the HBWC is full diameter than... With autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations of wadcutter projectile engages with the Hornady critical defense centered on reloading... Mouth easily john McAdams Fiochi and Federal both make them Federal only come 20 to third. Takes good care of business go-to range and self defense ammo more recoil Chief s cylinder allow... It could be tested Vista Outdoor, thats high praise indeed, sometimes! For run and gun games I use it in my snubs, it! Made the bullet the projectile flush with the low recoil hollowpoints that are bigger the answer and after the. Are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better shoot! On the lookout for an opportunity to use the Buffalo Bore 150 grain hard wadcutter... Steady wins the race, although Im not actually competing against anyone snubbies and make for a soft for! Matter of consistency and construction, rather than simple RN vs SWC designs and full bullets! Full diameter rather than the flat cylinder, Hunters have appreciated the terminal performance hard... Semi-Wadcutter for hunting mass for more penetration, but you have to either up. Of wadcutter projectile, the semi-wadcutter to punch the same neat, hole. Breaks down in a lightweight snub, thank you, my friend a lead 158-grain... Of usand probably more than a few more confidence, and cant share the name the.
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