Let's Talk .38 Wadcutters

cal44mag I am a fan of 32s also. I load my own 32 WC loads and bump the speed up to 850fps from a 2" barrel. Lee used to an 85gr tumble lube WC mold but dropped it several years ago. Many would like to have one, me included but I have never seen one for sale. I just use commercial cast WC bullets.

Hi all, glad we're talking wadcutters here. I wonder if you can help me ID a load that I shot about 10 years ago, which I can't find anymore. These were 148gr 38spl wadcutters, with headstamp W-W. They came in a plain brown box with a cardboard divider grid that looked very vintage military surplus. It said something like "target, clean-cutting" on the front. Anyway, these were the MOST accurate load I've ever fired out of any pistol! I would love to shoot these again but can't find them anywhere - I'd appreciate any help.

A quick search shows a W-W headstamp as "Winchester-Western". Somebody here will probably come up with a line on the plain-box cartridges; why they existed and where to find them. Heck, they might even sell you some.

However, Winchester still sells 148g LWC. You can try those out and see if they are as good as the old ones. For example, here are some for sale at Midway:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...per-match-38-special-148-grain-lead-wadcutter

Dain Bramage said:

A quick search shows a W-W headstamp as "Winchester-Western". Somebody here will probably come up with a line on the plain-box cartridges; why they existed and where to find them. Heck, they might even sell you some.

However, Winchester still sells 148g LWC. You can try those out and see if they are as good as the old ones. For example, here are some for sale at Midway:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...per-match-38-special-148-grain-lead-wadcutter

Click to expand...

The accuracy of different makes can vary over time. That particular make may not have the exact same results in a current loading. I recall people in bullseye shooting mentioning that. When they found a particular lot number of cartridges of a specific make that was particularly good accuracy wise, theyd buy many cases of them to ensure a consistent supply for target use.

There are a number of people selling 148 grain "mid range" full wadcutter ammo online. Not positive, but Winchester, Remington and Federal all may currently load the 148 gr loads for 38 special.

As a side note, it appears that a fatal shooting of a volunteer for a police training scenario was shot with 38 spl full wadcutter ammo in a revolver, the ammo being given to the officer by someone else in the department (possibly non-gun person) that may not have understand what they were either, being left over from revolver days. With no bullet protruding, the wadcutters look similar to the blanks they also had. Others, it seems, had noticed bullet strikes on the berms when doing trainings, and for some reason, nobody mentioned it.

stu1ritter said:

I liked the idea of a wadcutter that you could pack some powder under. All Accurate molds, .32, 38 and 44.

Stu

Click to expand...

Whether one could pack more powder under them or not, its generally figured that the hollowbase wadcutters are best not loaded very hot. Manuals suggest that guns can be damaged from doing so. The bullets shown in your post should be an improvement in that regard. The wadcutters available in the 60s and earlier looked like those in the picture, with part of the bullet sticking out of the case. I have an older Ideal mould for a similar bullet.

It was when the flush seated bullets became common, they started making wadcutter cases. The 38 spl cases with 2 cannelures are supposedly thinner for farther back into the case to reduce the chance of deforming the base of the bullet on deep seated soft wadcutter bullets. I haven't checked the differences, so such is internet legend, rather than personally substantiated information.

Sunray said:

Light-recoiling is the key there. However, when a nice, soft, pure lead, WC hits something hardish it flattens to approximately .60 calibre upon impact. Bones are hardish.
.22 LR rifle bullets are usually plain lead too. They'll basically disintegrate upon impact. Little fellows that they are.
Tests done into ballistic gel don't really mean a lot.

Click to expand...

The only bullets I have seen disintegrate were cast from pure linotype.