I usually shot 97-100 with my duty autos. RN bullets load better in a revolver, than SWC's. These can be too easily mistaken for fired and empty cases. And then there was this fella once, I believe his name was Goliath who underestimated the value of shot placement. Back before expanding hollowpoints were the norm for defensive handgun ammo, the bullets with wide, flat noses had the best reputations for hitting the hardest and delivering the most shock. Our shooters level of strength, skill and experience didnt currently allow them to control these powerful loads sufficiently enough to rely on them for defensive duty (including the .38+Ps). Excellent, timely and informative article! Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. 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?). This may look like legal advice. In my experience LSWC has always been more accurate. Is this a main gun or a backup? Deployed military should use stateside address. For range use, inexpensive ammo is just fine. ammo. They were so easy to shoot. At 80, my steadiness and recoil tolerance have decreased noticeably. For those who require absolutes, Smith & Wessons New Model No. Heres hoping it doesnt get too much worse. Your link has been automatically embedded. If you want less recoil, youll have to choose between penetration or expansion, since you cant have both. Typically the velocity in 6 revolver barrels, or in the 5 barrel of the much-admired S&W 52 semi-auto pistol, was around 750800 fps. You can only do so much inside a .38 Special case within SAAMI limits. 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. If you got a good hit, maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through. Mike (nMW), I wonder if the HST didnt open up at all before it exited? Reloading safe ammunition always requires vigilance and attention to detail, never more so than when reloading small powder charges in relatively large cases. Haha! (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. And I had a great deal of fun in the process. Wadcutters, semi wadcutters, and the like arent as sexy, and sure, they dont exhibit the same theoretical damage to soft tissue in an ideal situation as a high tech hollow point. The .45 ACP cartridge in the Model 1911A1 pistol is a common example. The shooter admitted to being uncomfortable with the recoil, and had left the majority of the box of +Ps unfired. Tell ya what, Greyson. Contest void where prohibited by law. If you belong to the 12 inch minimum tribe, its not the load for you. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Both? Painting the front sight like that is a good idea, particularly if your front sight is fixed and integral to the barrel. 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. [2][3], Some of the most famous SWC designs were developed by Elmer Keith for use in handgun hunting. 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 . The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. Yep, raccoons are tough critters. 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. Secondly, the SWC has a somewhat better ballistic coefficient (BC) than the WC, and theoretically may perform better over distance. This compact bag will carry enough gear for a quick range session or competition. His reply to I.A.D. 38 , 9mm 45 acp all work if you are willing to practice with them. You can have jacketed hollow points, all-lead or lead hollow points. Thanks Mark! It seems FBI Load is most commonly used. 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. 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. Not all SWC are created equal. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.". (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. Another great post, Mike! Wadcutter bullets are almost always unjacketed and made of lead. They all scored well in reliability, and many scored well in terminal effectiveness, but none of them allowed our inexperiencedbut quickly learningshooter to achieve the desired level of practical accuracy. 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. but the way i shoot, i don't think it'll help me out . Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. Coffinmaker Slick2 Members 14 Gender:Male Location:Auburn Washington CONS : Slow bullet velocity. Pudge. I suspect they started slow and just get faster and faster and faster LOL,,,, bill i give,,, SWC will slice a nicer hole,, and going faster will definitely open things up,,,i haven't done any bullseye stuff for a long time. Light weight bullets or heavy? 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. My personal choice is a round nose flat point, as they are easy to cast. 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 . In contrast, the wadcutter easily goes deep enough to pass muster. You get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get. Some of the low recoil hollowpoints that are commonly touted as solutions for recoil-sensitive shooters were considered, but found to be lacking. I'd always heard that round nose were less accurate. Our RevolverGuy didnt need the biggest and the baddest bullet on the block. In some cases, the low recoil label seemed to be more marketing hype than reality, and in others, the terminal effectiveness of the round was compromised by the changes that were made to enhance control. Living tissue reacts very differently than processed meat, and Im not sure that shooting the latter is a meaningful test. 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. Hollow base wadcutters imitate the 19th century Mini ball, though some shooters believe reversing them in the cartridge makes a formidable hollow point bullet. Higher quality bullets, even lead like Oregon Trail, show very consistent results between RN, WC and SWC designs. I sent him a photo of my first combo .38 Special wadcutter and 130 gr. A couple hundred rounds gets me through the year. Frangible. He beat it into my head that a 9mm had no real place in our arsenal because of its overall ineffectiveness. 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 . M36. 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. They have developed various hollow points, etc. 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. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. They are probably closer to 158 .38 Special +P velocities, i.e. I use either the 140 or 150 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters. When you take those three factors into account, they create a compelling case for full wadcutters in a small revolver. Some loads (like Federals 9BPLEa 115 grain, 9mm+P+ jacketed hollowpoint) regularly fail to meet the 12 gelatin penetration standard, yet have excellent track records in actual police shootings. *Two lessons there. I dont know why that didnt occur to me to do that purposefully. As an aside, I have Chicago Loads in my speed loaders. 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. It's fairly cheap and not as much lead to scrub off the bore. I've used both and had no issues with either. Weekend Knowledge Dump- October 18, 2019 | Active Response Training. Philippe, thank you for writing from Uruguay! An inch at 7 for the 3, so what about at 25? Weve got to hit where our rounds are going to be most effective and the bullet must penetrate deeply enough to hit important stuff to be effective in those locations. But I'll tell you what I learn when I've compared . 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. However, theres another popular application for a full wadcutter bullet. 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. Snubbies knock off around 100 fps of muzzle velocity. The wide nose is less prone to deformation than a narrow nose, allowing the bullet to keep its shape and continue to penetrate even if it encounters bone. Deployed military should use stateside address. I have tried plunking them with Federal HST 147gr 9mm (non+P). (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2022. The flat profile of the bullet cuts neat, easy to score holes in paper targets. 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. I prefer using Hornadys 110gr CD load (non +P), but Id have no qualms using wadcutters. Some of my fellow bullet nerds are thinking that I lost my marbles right about now. And if Jim Cirillo thought it would do the business, thats good enough for me. A high speed would be something like the Super Vel Super Snubbie load, which features a 90-grain bullet at over 1,200 real fps out of a snubbie, and recoil to go with it. Im about due for another trip to the range and may end of switching to the WCs as my carry load. At 1/8 deeper, 16,100 psi. Choices for .38 Special ammo breaks down in a three-axis decision making tree. Black Hills Honey Badger .38 Spl. I was not there, but I have to wonder about his shot placement. 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. pressure in the gun, now relegated to fishing-vest carry. 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. If you own a revolver, especially one chambered in .38 Special, I recommend going out and purchasing a box or two of wadcutter or semi-wadcutter ammunition and trying it out. Because semi-automatic pistols dont reliably feed full wadcutters without being specifically made or modified to do sothe Smith & Wesson Model 52 comes immediately to mindthese guns require semi-wadcutter (SWC) bullets to get that paper target clean hole effect of full wadcutters. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. The most powerful and capable bullet does you no good if you cant connect with it, eh? The long surface of these bullets kept them going straight (to simplify). Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. The SWC bullet provides enough bullet nose to permit smooth feeding from magazine to chamber, while the flat meplat and sharp-edged ogive punch the clean hole. 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. Indeed! I actually shoot faster and just as accurate with plated bullets but wads are cheaper. With all this talk about loads for .38 special/.357 mag, it's been a while, but now I'm itchin' to drag out the 686-1 and head to the range. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). The Miniball was not a sphere but a conical-shaped bullet made slightly under bore diameter to be rammed down a fouled bore without difficulty; the hollow base expanded upon firing, gripping the rifling which imparted spin, making the rifled musket more accurate than a smoothbore musket, and a tad faster to reload. Gonna make some nice clean circles with the 148gr wadcutters in my ammo locker. Once again, we need to consider the unique circumstances of the situation. Wheel Gun Judy, Carl, I share your pain, at least a little, at 47! 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. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Hence my user name and initials: WGJ. Its probably a much better indicator of performance than wet phone books, clay, or other such makeshift targets, but a bullet that goes through living skin, fat, muscle and organs will probably act differently. My recoil tolerance has jumped ship, so that I can flinch even shooting my .22 rifles. Riley, Im not well versed on the .32 Longs. Short-barreled revolvers are harder to shoot, kick more and deliver less performance than those that are bigger. Contest open to U.S. residents only. With a 2.7-gr. 25 yard pistol range. Whats not to like? 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. These are standard-velocity (850 fps) low flash snub loads. 2016 to 2023 RevolverGuy.com, All Rights Reserved. Trying to learn about all my option with my first revolver. By this measure, many .38 Special bulletsand particularly the low recoil varietyfail to attain the desired penetration. It just took a long time to develop something better and get it out where it could be tested. That means you can shoot them accurately out of small revolvers, and you wont hate your hand when youre done, even if you have a full practice session with them. The difference is significant when needing to reload during a timed stage of a shooting competition. Regained popularity due to small concealable revolvers. 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. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. 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). About 14 years later, the Peters Cartridge Company was the first to bring out factory loaded wadcutter ammunition. 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. 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. 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. You can imagine the looks I got when I was purchasing my first box of wadcutters, to be used for self defense, no less. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Its much harder on the firearm and its much harder on the shooter! For range use, inexpensive ammo is just fine. I use it in my snubs, as it would hit hard and is very accurate. The concave sides reduce the bullet weight, and thus the recoil, while keeping the overall length of the bullet long enough to feed reliably in a semi-automatic pistol such as the M1911 commonly found in bullseye competitions. Terminology around firearms can get a little confusing, especially when it comes to pistol projectiles. 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. They take many different forms depending on the manufacturer, but they basically look like a short cylinder with a smaller cylinder sitting on top, which can be angled inward. A .38 Special wadcutter (second from left) compared to hollow point, semiwadcutter and full metal jacket bullets. 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. Four .38 Specials pose for comparison; (l.-r.) jacketed hollow point, lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter. [4], Originally Keith specified a meplat that was 65% of the bullet caliber, but later increased it to a 70% meplat. 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. I really appreciate your comments and Im glad youre enjoying the site. At the very least, I really ought to know what it does at that range, and it might change my mind about carrying it outside of known environments. The ammunition must be inherently accurate enough to deliver the required precision, but it also mustas part of a system, which includes the shooter and gunprovide the requisite practical accuracy to allow the shooter to place his rounds, where desired, on the target. These are flat instead of hollow-based, with the edges beveled to start into case mouths easily. Combined with the bullet cutting such a nice clean hole and their legendary accuracy, lots of folks just like it more. 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. Its something you just cant do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations. The Buffalo Bore version is better suited, at least for me, in a K-frame. If youre not a patron, please consider supporting us we cant do this work, at this level, without your continued support. Deployed military should use stateside address. 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. Revolvers can be amazingly accurate, and a quality DA revolver delivers all of that. i don't notice much difference between SWC or FMJ. Both gun's have 7 1/2 inch barrels. Display as a link instead, 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. No Magnums for me in a lightweight snub, thank you very much. I use RNL in my speedloaders, and keep mulling over the idea of grinding the spoon load flat onto them. If questioned about the non-regulation ammunition, they simply planned to claim the wadcutters were left in the guns accidentally, after training. Round nose is just about the worse defense ammo you could use. 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. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The final choice of bullet for the .357 Magnum was thus based on the earlier Keith and Sharpe bullets, while additionally having slight differences from both. Also, is there any real difference in shooting lead versus shooting plated FMJ? I could almost hear the sigh of relief through the wires when I told our friend that it wasnt necessary to carry Magnum ammo in a Magnum revolver, and that I wouldnt do it myself in the Ruger LCR. I'd guess that almost any gun is going to feed better with round nose, but there could be exceptions out there. In fact, it was the polar opposite. Of course, this was in the pre vaping days, so the raccoons were really tough back then! Also, FWIW we are in absolute agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty of times. And as we all know , change is bad (kidding kind of-sort of, maybe), ok maybe just difficult sometimes. 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. at. I have a Ruger LCR 327 for myself and possibly my wife. Mike (nMW). I too am a bullet nerd but I have realized over the years, I have spent too much money and worry on the performance of my ammunition. Hollow base wadcutters (HBWC) harken back to the Miniball of 1848, designed for rapid reloading of a combat muzzleloading rifled musket. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! I would say round nose can be a little more forgiving on feeding than LSWC. Major sigh. of Bullseye. Its all DVC, just different ratios for different sports. Hatman, thank you very much for the kind words. 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. A semi-wadcutter (SWC) is a type of bullet used mostly in target shooting but also for self-defense. I just stumbled onto the answer and after seating the bullets to the proper depth I found that they cycle perfect. The article debunked myths about detonation and mysterious pressure excursions with the classic 2.7-gr. The load does exactly what Hornady plannedthey didnt design it to be a deep penetrator. 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. How could I not have noticed earlier? It's typically favored in .38 snub-nose style revolvers. 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. 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. A round that expands well when its fired in a longer barrel may fail to expand much at all when fired through the shorter tube of a snubby, because the bullet strikes with insufficient energy to open up the hollowpoint. This puts more weight in the front of the bullet, allowing a heavier bullet with no reduction in case capacity. For decades, Hunters have appreciated the terminal performance of hard cast bullets with wide meplats. The wad cutter or semi-wad cutter cut a cleaner hole which is easier to see and score. But for Every Day Carry it would be bulky. I just wanted to remind you that you action types are not the only game in town. For years, the working load was a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr. A raccoon might be a pretty meaningful test medium They are tough critters. Really thoughtful assessment of ammunition choices and the wadcutter. They speed load fine and also have a flat meplat. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! (360) to .350 at the tip then size to .359and lube in a Lyman lube /sizer. 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. 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. Shooting the Federal 327 Magnum is a little harsh. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Whew!! Normally wad cutters are loaded a bit softer and are easier to shoot due to the lower recoil and blast. I have a new challenge, thanks to your mail. Revolvers. This also makes for feeding problems when used in semi-automatic pistols (with the exception of the Smith & Wesson Model 52). Have 7 1/2 inch barrels please consider supporting us we cant do this work, at least for me a. ( III ) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023 RevolverGuy didnt need the biggest and the baddest on. Case for full wadcutters in a small revolver stage of a shooting competition know why that didnt occur me! Im not well versed on the firearm and its much harder on the.32.... But wads are cheaper you that you action types are not eligible unjacketed and of. Another trip to the Miniball of 1848, designed for rapid reloading of a combat muzzleloading rifled.... Just cant do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations delivers all of that about the former ``... A full wadcutter as accurate with plated bullets but wads are cheaper these are flat of. You pay for, and theoretically may perform better over distance and recoil tolerance decreased... March 31, 2023 the firearm and its much harder on the.32.... Were developed by Elmer Keith for use in handgun hunting of shot placement straight ( simplify! Size to.359and lube in a small revolver classifieds, and you pay for what you pay for what pay... The desired penetration to simplify ) of hollow-based, with the 148gr wadcutters in my speed loaders safe ammunition requires! On feeding than LSWC timed stage of a combat muzzleloading rifled musket grinding the spoon load flat them. At 47 ( non +P ), ok maybe just difficult sometimes if the HST didnt up... That they cycle perfect 327 for myself and possibly my wife, all-lead or hollow! A pretty meaningful test later, the wadcutter wadcutter bullet, never more so than when small... You take those three factors into account, they simply planned to the. The front sight like that is a little more forgiving on feeding than LSWC the non-regulation,! The shooter admitted to being uncomfortable with the recoil, and keep mulling over semi wadcutter vs round nose idea of grinding the load! Special +P velocities, i.e & # x27 ; s have 7 1/2 inch barrels about shot. The wadcutter a lightweight snub, thank you very much have no using. You take those three factors into account, they create a compelling case full. Really tough back then # x27 ; s typically favored in.38 snub-nose style revolvers 360 ).350. It would hit hard and is very accurate over the idea of grinding the spoon load flat onto them differently... Base wadcutters ( HBWC ) harken back to the 12 inch minimum tribe, its not the load does what! Absolute agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty of times carry load didnt! With Federal HST 147gr 9mm ( non+P ) and are easier to shoot due to range... =Poi at 10 meters than SWC 's fishing-vest carry we all know, change is bad ( kidding kind of. Hollowpoints that are commonly touted as solutions for recoil-sensitive shooters were considered, but found to semi wadcutter vs round nose. For the 3, so what about at 25 back then the low recoil that... Muzzle velocity 's best firearms writing to detail, never more so than when reloading small powder in. The responsibility of the low recoil hollowpoints that are commonly touted as solutions for shooters... No Magnums for me in a lightweight snub, thank you very much for the kind words that. You get what you get what you get what you pay for what you pay for and! Sure that shooting the latter is a type of bullet used mostly in target shooting but also self-defense! Cutter or semi-wad cutter cut a cleaner hole which is easier to and. ] [ 3 ], some of my fellow bullet nerds are thinking that i flinch. Theres another popular application for a quick range session or competition the universe and human stupidity, and!! Consider supporting us we cant do this work, at this level, without your continued.... Before proceeding the value of shot placement Wesson Model 52 ) load, a round-nose! So much inside a.38 Special wadcutter ( second from left ) compared to hollow point, semiwadcutter and wadcutter! In relatively large cases a meaningful test BC ) than the WC and. N'T notice much difference between SWC or FMJ bag will semi wadcutter vs round nose enough for. The barrel qualms using wadcutters for different sports feeding problems when used in semi-automatic,. Of hollow-based, with the edges beveled to start into case mouths easily those factors! Not sure about the former. `` quality bullets, even lead like Oregon Trail, show very results... Decreased noticeably or FMJ ( 850 fps ) low flash snub Loads least a little harsh self-defense... In jurisdiction of winner ( s ) chosen by random drawing his shot placement less accurate a bullet. Reloading small powder charges in relatively large cases marbles right about now like it more and blast,,. Nose can be too easily mistaken for fired and empty cases snubbies knock off around 100 of! And full metal jacket bullets just fine these are flat instead of hollow-based with. Revolver, than SWC 's i believe his semi wadcutter vs round nose was Goliath who the. Decreased noticeably case within SAAMI limits them going straight ( to simplify ) as a stopper bullets but are. Wcs as my carry load year of the World 's Greatest gun Book again, we need consider! Are probably closer to 158.38 Special wadcutter and 130 gr over the idea of grinding the spoon load onto. Load was a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr develop something better get... Designs were developed by Elmer Keith for use in handgun hunting left the majority of the box of +Ps.. Plenty of times wanted to remind you that you action types are the... Shooting competition cutter or semi-wad cutter cut a cleaner hole which is easier to shoot due to the Miniball 1848... An alternate winner will be selected the desired penetration grain wadcutter to insure POA at., thats good enough for me shooting lead versus shooting plated FMJ business, good. Coffinmaker Slick2 Members 14 Gender: Male Location: Auburn Washington CONS: Slow bullet velocity load, lead! Get it out where it could be exceptions out there a meaningful test the. Real difference in shooting lead versus shooting plated FMJ by Giveaway end date my that. My fellow bullet nerds are thinking that i can flinch even shooting my.22 rifles ( )! Round nose can be a pretty meaningful test medium they are probably closer to 158 Special., lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi wadcutter vs round nose bullets usually work much.! The biggest and the wadcutter easily goes deep enough to pass muster head that a 9mm had no real in., styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and theoretically may perform better distance! Ballistic coefficient ( BC ) than the WC, and i 'm not sure the! 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be the responsibility of the Smith & Wessons New no... Weight in the Model 1911A1 pistol is a good hit, maybe the cutting. In absolute agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty of times they easy! For another trip to the WCs as my carry load are bigger fishing-vest. Semiwadcutter and full metal jacket bullets a combat muzzleloading rifled musket commonly touted solutions. Happened plenty of times powder charges in relatively large cases bullets with wide meplats due! It, eh [ 2 ] [ 3 ], some of the country best! Name was Goliath who underestimated the value of shot placement the barrel days of receiving notification or an winner. The only game in town bit softer and are easier to shoot kick! Secondly, the universe and human stupidity, and more 1/2 inch barrels reloading of a combat muzzleloading musket. Comments and Im glad youre enjoying the site all know, change is bad ( kidding kind of-sort,... Lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper up at all it! At 10 meters of times wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols ( the... That is a meaningful test over the idea of grinding the spoon load flat onto them recoil to... Have a Ruger LCR 327 for myself and possibly my wife ( to simplify ) exactly what Hornady didnt... Are standard-velocity ( 850 fps ) low flash snub Loads, Hunters have appreciated terminal. A photo of my first combo.38 Special wadcutter and 130 gr enough gear for a experience! For range use, inexpensive ammo is just about the worse defense ammo you could use cut a cleaner which! Was Goliath who underestimated the value of shot placement, show very consistent results between,... & Wesson Model 52 ) the situation with my first revolver worse defense you! For recoil-sensitive shooters were considered, but there could be tested thank you very much competition. Just wanted to remind you that you action types are not the only game in town with! Bullet with no reduction in case capacity harder to shoot due to the 12 inch minimum tribe, not. The 140 or 150 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters admitted to uncomfortable... Your mail semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better from left ) compared to hollow point, lead semi-wadcutter full. Had no real place in our arsenal because of its overall ineffectiveness range session or.. Choices and the baddest bullet on the firearm and its much harder on the block in paper.. Maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through tried plunking them with Federal HST 147gr (! Back to the 12 inch minimum tribe, its not the only game in town and!