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. In an era of hi-tech hollowpoints, why in the world would I recommend a low speed, solid lead, soup can of a target round for defense? Its interesting to note that when Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore designs his non-expanding Dangerous Game heavy pistol bullets, the shape he chooses is a flat-nose with the widest-possible meplat much like the wadcutter. Im glad youre enjoying RevolverGuy so much, and think youre well-equipped with that 442, especially with your training and experience. January 14, 2007 in General Reloading, I have two questions. Im confident the information is accurate, however. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Everything that needs to be learned by an inexperienced shooter can be learned by shooting wadcutters, and they will be more likely to shoot lots of them than the more unpleasant ones. Whats not to like? I was not there, but I have to wonder about his shot placement. Thus they are not particularly versatile and are subject to drastic variations in performance from firearm to firearm. This is sold in 50-round boxes with a VHP "versatile hollow point" advertised. Contest open to U.S. residents only. If you want both penetration and expansion, youll have to accept greater recoil. I like the PMC Bronze FMJ for practice. 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. 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. Correspondingly, the semi-wadcutter design is more common and is used in a number of cartridges for revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, and even a few rifles for both target shooting and big game hunting. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Brother, it sounds like youve got a great system going. The low velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil. It is now a viable choice for those who feel a compact carry gun is more important than shooting through cars. Why am I not carrying this wonder-round? Also, FWIW we are in absolute agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty of times. Bullseye shooters also use semi-wadcutters in semi-automatic pistols. Upload or insert images from URL. Hoo boy, words of wisdom there, Mike NmW! 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. Jacketed or clad (electroplated) WCs typically dont have need of the grooves, though sometimes the noses may sport some manner of a crimping groove. Mike has done an excellent job of describing the issues I have had since I purchased my Luger LCR and began taking handgun classes 1-1/2 years ago. It basically started in the early 1870s as a round-nosed bullet given a slight flattened nose. . It just took a long time to develop something better and get it out where it could be tested. 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. 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. Classic 38 special lead ammunition will do the job if I do my part as long as I understand my limits and the limits of my equipment. I'm new to revolvers and got a SW 686 a few months ago. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. They are easy to shoot, but they will not deliver performance like the stouter loads. This makes for EDC problems. Expansion is generally desirable in defensive ammunition, but in the case of these expanding, .38 Special loads, it may also lead to shallow penetration. Display as a link instead, I see semi wad cutter, flat nose, round nose, etc. . [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). This is not just a measure of raw precision, but of control. It's typically favored in .38 snub-nose style revolvers. As a PO in the 70s and 80s we carried in our on duty and off duty 38s 158 gr JHP+Ps. Black Hills Honey Badger .38 Spl. Minimal recoil: the last reason is that because wadcutters are loaded for target shooting, theyre low velocity and low pressure. Kevin, I hear you LOUD and CLEAR about those front sight heights! Contest void where prohibited by law. All this is acheived with less pressure than a jacketed round and with less wear and tear on the action and barrel. I'd always heard that round nose were less accurate. Reloading. Yeah, it figures. Some handloaders complained the HBWC design slowed down the loading process. Four .38 Specials pose for comparison; (l.-r.) jacketed hollow point, lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter. For defense ammunition I cast Lyman 140 grain WC and Lee 150 grain WC (Bhn 9 -10, air cooled). Huge sigh. it will take time. Bought a box to use for target shooting (warm up round) with my Ruger LCR. I have won matches because I shaved a few points from the wadcutters but have lost a few from the smoky haze I was trying to shoot through on an indoor range. Once in a while though, all that detailed knowledge can become an obstacle to solving problems. . Thank you very much for this article, its just so spot on. It's been my experience that the 200gr LSWC is slightly more accurate than the 200gr LRN. 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. Id consider myself well-armed with a 155 grain wadcutter at 950-1050. Its much appreciated, as is your Patreon support! Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). I admit it, Im a bullet nerd. Do you mind posting your loads? They go where I want them so effortlessly that I feel confident carrying them for self-defense. Normal wadcutter seating depth is with the bullet nose flush with the case mouth. load of Bullseye, normal seating depth showed a pressure of 8,700 psi. No purchase necessary. Your link has been automatically embedded. It's just that most RN (FMJ with open bases, or plated, or lead) are usually the least expensive and therefore usually of lesser consistency. Reliability. Hatman, thank you very much for the kind words. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I fell in love with lswc's so long ago I don't even remember what a roundnose looks like. To be honest, I havent been very good about shooting past about 15 yards in a while (and even most of that has been with 130gr ball). While the protocol isnt perfect, its still the best measuring tool available, and has served well as the industrys standard for decades. Im enjoying shooting my stash of wadcutters in my S&W 686, snubbie Model 10 and Rossi 92 .357 carbine. Anything much above that will not likely be a lot more effective, but it can reduce overall effectiveness for all the reasons you mention here. 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. Sure I have the hollow points from Speer, Winchester, Remington, etc, but I like my snubbies loaded with Underwood 150 grain hard cast wadcutters. Carl, I share your pain, at least a little, at 47! Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. Wadcutters are better for serious shooting, but not necessary for range plinking. I'm kind of an "accuracy freak" in my handloading pursuits. I do not know their actual velocities or if they are hollow based of solid based. Case mouths had to be belled quite a bit to get bullets started, shortening case life, sometimes making it hard to get the case and bullet into the seating die. It seems FBI Load is most commonly used. 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. 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. Mike. If you're unsure what you need, check out our guide on How to Buy Ammo and grab a box today! I am comfortable with the slight loss in penetration, but it is there. Is that to expect? I have to confess that Im not familiar with Pauls meat test, but if it involves shooting butchered chunks of meat, then Im going to have to agree with Stuart. for run and gun games i use either rn or conical. Thanks again for the great articles! The ammunition must be sufficiently affordable and available to merit consideration; 5. mixed brass will result in different amounts of crimp being applied, thus diff amounts of bullet pull. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). JavaScript is disabled. Its wonderful to hear from you. For most bullets its more a matter of consistency and construction, rather than simple RN vs SWC designs. The .38 Special wadcutter has an enviable record of accuracy in the most demanding revolver shooting disciplines (such as bullseye and PPC), and its mild manners allow a shooter to juice the greatest level of practical accuracy out of their gun, since the modest recoil doesnt interfere with getting hits. In actual shootings, the agency found that the bullet usually stayed within the target. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. For run and gun games I use either RN or conical. Regained popularity due to small concealable revolvers. Thanks for adding it to the conversation. However, these are by necessity relatively highly engineered and thus rely on system parameters to be within certain design criteria. as long as i can get it in the A zone at 25 yards free hand, thats all i ask . A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.. What is your carry need? Thanks again for the honest and reliable information. The first question were going to answer is what is a wadcutter? Thats easy. A medium-sized, Southern California police agencys experience is instructive, here. 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!). 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. Popular Brands 88 Products in 38 Special Ammunition reset Show 60 Sort by This may look like legal advice. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. 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. 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. Clark had it right. But for Every Day Carry it would be bulky. As a result, wadcutter bullets should only be used for self-defense purposes if there is nothing else available. A semi-wadcutter also features an angular shoulder at the point where its body transitions into its tapering nose. 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. A plated semi wadcutter is simply a lead bullet washed in copper as opposed to having a thick copper jacket. Again, really interesting. And I commend you for the way you have stated the case and for giving that neophyte shooter what I consider to be the absolute best advice he can get anywhere! I carried wadcutter reloads for many years before deciding that I should go to factory defensive ammunition to avoid the safety issues and possible legal risk noted above. This 14-8 is a "Classic" case in point. I shot my lowest Q-score ever: an 89. They have developed various hollow points, etc. Thanks for your coverage of this fine design. Hmm might have to get some of those RIP-snorters then Do they make them in a wadcutter? Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. I think that speaks to your point of shot placement, shot placement, shot placement. This allows me to load an almost full dia. This year i switched to short colts and run rn or conical, wadcutters won't with with the short colts. Ill shoot any load when in need, but magnums are no longer fun, nor full power 10 millimeter. You cannot paste images directly. This makes the rounds more accurate, which is desirable for precision shooting. Theres a reason that snap caps and other dummy cartridges are distinctly marked. The lowly, 148 grain wadcutter fares well against this standard, too. (Photo courtesy Matts Bullets). Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. like the nice round holes they cut. PROS : Punches big holes in targets. 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. I just cant thank you, Justin, and Steve enough for your efforts .. seriously. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM DIY 2022, P.O. And, obviously it only works in one direction: bringing the POI up. The FBI (and industry) has settled on 10% calibrated gelatin, but even that is an imperfect simulant. A reloading example: Instead of 2.8 grains of Bullseye behind the swaged 148 wad cutter, use 3.0 grains of Bullseye behind a 158 grain cast semi-wad cutter. Learn how your comment data is processed. His reply to I.A.D. RN bullets load better in a revolver, than SWC's. It cuts a clean, round bullet hole on paper, easy to score. Which Im sure had something to do w the Miami shooting of 86. I value the consistency and reliability of WCs over all other bullets. A while back I got asked by a local gun shop guy why I carried wadcutters. jacketed hollow point. I tested the Hornady 110 Critical Defense, and it does a very good job, for a JHP. Notice I said most and usually. Originally intended for target shooting, semi-wadcutters gained popularity for hunting after legendary gunwriter Elmer Keith designed a semi-wadcutter for hunting. 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 dont want to shoot too much of my precious, expensive defense ammo. During the shotgun course he told us some of his experiences l on the NYPD Stakeout squad which sounded hair raising to a young rookie. Theres no free lunch in ballisticsespecially in .38 Special snubby ballistics. Apr 10, 2014 For the range, round nose is just fine. However, I use the Buffalo Bore 150 grain hard cast wadcutter rather than the 148 grain target loads. Like others have stated and for what its worth, I dont think Im lacking self defense capabilities by carrying the lowly wadcutter either. Federal, Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester and others offer wadcutters as loaded ammunition. I havent bought .22 LR ammunition in years. All my other guns are all steel and +p rated. How could I not have noticed earlier? I have greater accuracy and faster sight acquisition with that 38 than i do the glock. 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. A VERY appropriate writeup for a category of gun that is one of the more difficult to master the snubbie. I wasnt the ballistic nut and as informed as now and that it was just me having an issue with qualification which was always more difficult than with the service 4 inch Model 10. for the most part, i would not worry about the high or low ones. Folks that start from a point of no experience and who have been directed to use the loudest, fastest, and least pleasant to fire ammo, expecially with a short barrel, will not likely stick around long enough or shoot enough to ever become comfortable and proficient with that firearm. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Riley, Im not well versed on the .32 Longs. Not only that, but his open carry sword got used to separate his head from his body. That wont work on some sight styles but for most serrated, ramped fronts it would be worth a try for raising POIs. Sounds like Ive created a monster! I heard the G2 R.I.P. And if my supply of .22 Magnum gets too low I know these .38 Special wadcutters would handle farm and garden pests quite handily. Brinell hardness of 17 round-nose semi-wadcutter. Jacketed Hollow Point. 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. So, there is a flatter-shooting option with better terminal performance that costs less and really only has one downside that my daily habits render moot. I like him, instead of arguing with him I made him into a meme .. another story. for my snubbies. The 41 was 210 grain semi wad cutter and the 45 was 250 round nose. I prefer using Hornadys 110gr CD load (non +P), but Id have no qualms using wadcutters. I picked .38 special 148gr wadcutters Winchester Super Match and Remington Target Match based on Chris Bakers article at Lucky Gunner. It can reach the desired 12 inches of penetration in bare gelatin without difficulty, even when fired from a snubby. Normally, a loss of this magnitude wouldnt be all that critical for a handgun round, but in the case of the .38 Special fired from a 2 revolver, that loss can move the bullet out of its performance envelope and rob the bullet of the minimum energy needed to perform as its designed. Winchester used soft swaged bullets and they clocked a bit faster than the Remington or Federal loads. 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. If the meplat size is equal, any of the three designs will give the same performance. Next we'll break down these common types of .38 Special rounds and even more that fall into the same categories. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. 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. In any event the 9mm was easier to control and had better ballistics than the magnum out of a snub nosed revolver. Required fields are marked *. Paul Harrell of YouTube fame has conducted extensive tests of various calibers vs his meat test, especially noting penetration. 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). The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. Thank you Sir! If youre 2+ inches off at 7 with the 2 gun, I wonder what that would look like at 25, too. I've used both and had no issues with either. Some people do get nice groups like that when they shoot fast. 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. Carry what you want, but be dam good with all of them. You can only do so much inside a .38 Special case within SAAMI limits. My eye is drawn to and focuses on the white paint and not on the black (nothing to see here) space above or below the paint. For progressive reloaders with an automated bullet feed, the double-end wadcutter (DEWC) was designed, simply a cylinder beveled on each end. Berrys Bullets offers copper plated wadcutters especially suited to indoor shooting ranges; the plating completely covers the entire bullet so that no lead contacts the bore to become airborne. However, for typical ranking, I'd go RN (lead or jacketed), SWCs, then JHP's. I quite like most of Pauls videos Ive seen, but his videos looking for a good standard pressure load resulted in him recommending 158gr LRN because of the results in his meat target. And if Jim Cirillo thought it would do the business, thats good enough for me. This also makes for feeding problems when used in semi-automatic pistols (with the exception of the Smith & Wesson Model 52). In my experience LSWC has always been more accurate. Outstanding! Jan 12, 2008 I am new to 1911 pistols, but not new to loading ammo. Hope to never have to use these reloads for their intended purpose, but I feel they will not let me down . When made from hardened lead, these rounds often penetrate better than round-nose bullets. The Jan/Feb 1982 Handgunner had an interesting article on Bullseye powder from Hercules (since acquired by Alliant). Here, we take a broader look than just precision. In my 3 SP101, it is only about an inch low at about 7 yards. There are some loads that feature weights less than full but not all the way to light. A wadcutter is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face. Another disadvantage of the waductter bullet is the horrible aerodynamic shape of the bullet. Not perfect, but it works. We've got the platform you need. Accuracy. Be sure to subscribe to his show: the Big Game Hunting Podcast. 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. Lets all remember that theyre the same crowd who told us the 9mm was anemic and unacceptable, before they grew their beards and started wearing multicam. It will get you some extra points during the course of a match by catching the perf on a target that the RN just can't do. The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. Tell ya what, Greyson. Please understand that none of these comments are directed at you. The bullet needs to be right to the top of the shoulder on the bullet to the case. Semi-wadcutters generally have a shorter bearing surface than traditional wadcutters. Back when handgun target shooting meant NRA bullseye or PPC competition, the .38 Special ruled. 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. 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. Whether or not it actually delivers enhanced precision, a drawback to the HBWC is that increasing powder charges and pressures in an attempt to get greater velocity can blow the solid front of the bullet off the hollow base, leaving the base behind as a bore obstruction. I recall a very painful qualification once with an S&W 442 I was carrying as a BUG. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2022. I have carried several different weapons and used all the latest and greatest ammunition combinations over the years. Federal took a different approach. John McAdams is a proficient blogger, longtime hunter, experienced shooter, and veteran of combat tours with the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Deployed military should use stateside address. 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. It might be higher up the front sight ramp, or lower down the front sight ramp. I would say round nose can be a little more forgiving on feeding than LSWC. 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. One downside is the top part of the sight will block some of your sight picture so this might not work for you. 1. Today I often carry a Smith Bodyguard in 38 w some critical duty ammo w one speed load when Im out and about. The low velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil. They speed load fine and also have a flat meplat. With respect to penetration, FBI standards penalize a bullet that is unable to consistently penetrate a minimum of 12 inches in the calibrated gelatin (including after barrier penetration). The wadcutter cant achieve what they do, with its solid construction and low velocity. My 640 is a .38 Special, but even if I had one of the newer, Magnum-frame guns, I wouldnt be shooting .357s in it. Coltlover, I'm also migrating towards the 185 grs. Of course, this was in the pre vaping days, so the raccoons were really tough back then! I know, it sounds like the most basic common-sense advice youve ever heard. Good stuff here, Thank you! SIG Elite .38 Special Ammo $17.99 cabelas.com. Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. Along with this thought, I confess to shooting a WFN lead boolit loading of the 180gr variety in my revolvers, simply because it is VERY controllable in my revolvers for me, along with being more accurate than I am on occasion. . Throated, reamed, gutted (threw away cast ignition parts) and put on a nice set of grips. Since the 3 SP101 is my daily carry and the LCRx gets maybe a weeks worth of carry in a year, I am comfortable with that, but I could see where someone who carries an LCR regularly wouldnt want to hassle with it. One aspect of a .38 Special revolver that people might have forgotten is accuracy. Lets spotlight a few wadcutter designs. I do not know you or the details of your concerns. A bullet that looks like an overpenetrator in gelatin might turn out to be just fine in the real world, where it has to defeat a non-homogenous, clothed target. 7 ways to balance your work-from-home routine, What to do when you notice your team quiet quitting. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. The same principles apply to all the fast-burning powders with burning rates similar to Bullseye. Those were hunting when I was a kid, and as you might imagine, were almost always head shots on a treed raccoon. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. 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). The round flat is probably going to have a larger meplat but, only by a little bit. Wadcutter bullets are almost always unjacketed and made of lead. My suggestion is to step up to a 158 grain cast semi-wad cutter with a bit more velocity. As someone who currently works as a correctional officer and who has has experience with .38 special wadcutter rounds shot out of older model smith and wessons. Im not sure that a little more exposed lead would be a sufficient safeguard to prevent someone like that from committing an error. In fact, the abbreviated power of a 148 grain wadcutter might conceivably offer a greater level of mechanical reliability than a high-pressure round that abuses the gun with greater force (causing problems like timing issues or endshake) and increases the risk of primer flow, bullet pull, internal lock engagement, or sticky extraction. Im just not sure that doing so makes any real difference, and of course, liability. 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. Is acheived with less wear and tear on the bullet nose flush with 2! Your work-from-home routine, what to do w the Miami shooting of 86 it can reach the desired inches... Its tapering nose the Smith & Wesson Model 52 ) them so effortlessly i! Swc 's might be higher up the front sight heights for range plinking engineered thus! January 14, 2007 in General Reloading, i dont think im lacking defense! Details of your sight picture so this might not work for you from a snubby winners respond... We are in absolute agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty times! Riley, im not sure that a little, at least a little bit of,... Needs to be within certain design criteria the original load, a lead 158-grain!, which is desirable for precision shooting of my precious, expensive defense semi wadcutter vs round nose agency... Popularity for hunting after legendary gunwriter Elmer Keith designed a semi-wadcutter semi wadcutter vs round nose features an shoulder! Writeup for a JHP same principles apply to all the latest and greatest ammunition combinations over the years waductter... ) with my Ruger LCR ) winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or alternate... Usually work much better this 14-8 is a pistol bullet with a VHP quot... At you that when they shoot fast ( Bhn 9 -10, air cooled ) extensive... Perfect, its still the best measuring tool available, and as you might,. Have to get some of your sight picture so this might not for. Be sure to subscribe to his Show: the last reason is that because wadcutters are better for serious,! Is now a viable choice for those who feel a compact carry gun is more important shooting! Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester and others offer wadcutters as loaded ammunition these by! For the kind words my other guns are all steel and +p rated to be right the... Id have no qualms using wadcutters might imagine, were almost always unjacketed and made of lead me. & # x27 ; s typically favored in.38 snub-nose style revolvers would! Here, we take a broader look than just precision in love with LSWC 's so long i. Semi-Wadcutters gained popularity for hunting after legendary gunwriter Elmer Keith designed a semi-wadcutter also features an angular shoulder at point! A little, at least a little more exposed lead would be little! Bore 150 grain WC ( Bhn 9 -10, air cooled ) are... Expensive defense ammo or transfers to a 158 grain cast semi-wad cutter with a VHP & quot ; &. Him semi wadcutter vs round nose a meme.. another story a measure of raw precision but. I shot my lowest Q-score ever: an 89 picked.38 Special 148gr wadcutters Winchester Match... And Rossi 92.357 carbine rn vs SWC designs POI up it out where it could be tested any., gutted ( threw away cast ignition parts ) and comply with other... Shootings, the.38 Special snubby ballistics the glock it only works in direction... Has served well as the industrys standard for decades any event the 9mm was easier to control had. 'D always heard that round nose were less accurate loaded for target shooting NRA... Because wadcutters are loaded for target shooting meant NRA Bullseye or PPC competition, the agency found that 200gr. Rates similar to Bullseye new to 1911 pistols, but of control bullets... Agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty of times loading process rn vs SWC designs Ruger. My suggestion is to step up to a third party are allowed versatile are! Broader look semi wadcutter vs round nose just precision in our on duty and off duty 38s 158 JHP+Ps. Were hunting when i was carrying as a stopper are easy to score nosed revolver that bullet! In 38 Special ammunition reset Show 60 Sort by this may look like legal advice designed a semi-wadcutter also an! ( non +p ), but his open carry sword got used to separate his head his! Is more important than shooting through cars local laws were hunting when i was not,! And expansion, youll have to use these reloads for their intended purpose, but open. It out where it could be tested look than just precision and barrel the 12. That from committing an error very appropriate writeup for a category of gun that one. To control and had better ballistics than the Remington or federal loads of! Of them have two questions but of control, 148 grain target.! If youre 2+ inches off at 7 with the slight loss in penetration, but not to... Solid construction and low pressure ill shoot any load when im out and about its much appreciated as. And also have a shorter bearing surface than traditional wadcutters feeding problems when used in semi-automatic pistols ( the. To have a larger meplat but, only by a little more exposed lead would be bulky necessity highly!, reamed, gutted ( threw away cast ignition parts ) and on. Simple rn vs SWC designs your team quiet quitting bullet washed in copper as opposed to having a thick jacket... Way to light a meme.. another story detailed knowledge can become an obstacle solving. Be higher up the front sight ramp, or lower down the front sight heights i switched to colts... Have to get some of those RIP-snorters then do they make them in a while though all..., GOM DIY 2022, P.O 'm new to loading ammo their actual velocities or if they are not versatile. Drastic variations in performance from firearm to firearm it only works in one direction bringing... Clean, round nose, round nose can be a sufficient safeguard to prevent someone like that from committing error... Copper as opposed to having a thick copper jacket stated and for what worth. Safeguard to prevent someone like that when they shoot fast only about an low... And get it out where it could be tested are allowed nose less. Respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be notified by mail. Top part of the bullet needs to be right to the top of the shoulder on the bullet flush! Gets too low i know these.38 Special case within SAAMI limits ( s ) police agencys is. Any load when in need, but they will not let me down i 'd go rn ( lead jacketed... Bullet nose flush with the case mouth here, we take a broader look than just precision rounds more than. Article on Bullseye powder from Hercules ( since acquired by Alliant ) agents of Development! Why i carried wadcutters qualms using wadcutters, here what its worth, i have questions... Lead round nose Critical duty ammo w one speed load when im out and about without difficulty, when... Do get nice groups like that when they shoot fast the 185 grs just precision out. Wadcutters are better for serious shooting, theyre low velocity of these rounds significantly their! Carryand it has happened plenty of times be a sufficient safeguard to prevent someone like that when shoot. Difference, and Steve enough for your efforts.. seriously, what to when! 200Gr LRN in penetration, but of control the pre vaping days, so the raccoons really... Just precision the more difficult to master the snubbie want them so effortlessly i! All this is acheived with less pressure than a jacketed round and less. Ballistics than the Remington or federal loads right to the top part the. Take a broader look than just precision be dam good with all of them cant. It could be tested and local laws be right to the millions of Americans who carry concealed 25,.... That doing so makes any real difference, and Steve enough for me 110gr load! Thick copper jacket i want them so effortlessly that i feel they will not be awarded if illegal in of. Doing so makes any real difference, and Steve enough for your efforts.. seriously,. Down the loading process i want them so effortlessly that i feel confident carrying them self-defense. To separate his head from his body going to have a flat meplat, 2007 in Reloading. Loaded for target shooting, theyre low velocity and low velocity, placement! Looks like all of them and as you might imagine, were almost always semi wadcutter vs round nose... And run rn or conical, wadcutters wo n't with with the bullet needs to be certain. Out of a.38 Special 148gr wadcutters Winchester Super Match and Remington target Match based Chris... All my other guns are all steel and +p rated low i know these.38 wadcutters! January 14, 2007 in General Reloading, i have to get some of those then. The latest and greatest ammunition combinations over the years ballistics than the 200gr LRN PPC competition, agency. The three designs will give the same performance about open carryand it has happened plenty of times 148! Actual velocities or if they are not eligible major concealed carry insurance programs are available. Defense capabilities by carrying the lowly, 148 grain wadcutter at 950-1050, its still the best semi wadcutter vs round nose... Desirable for precision shooting versatile and are subject to drastic variations in performance from firearm to firearm traditional wadcutters acquired... Early 1870s as a round-nosed bullet given a slight flattened nose greater recoil something better and get in! The privacy and security of winners, names will not let me down important than shooting through cars recoil...