Shot Wadcutters, wow, I’ve been missing out!

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I shot a lot of full DEWC for USPSA matches many years ago. I liked the holes in the targets which made scoring easier. I also used them for Bullseye competiton. Wadcutters are very accurate and my load was 2.8 grains of Bullseye with a 148 grain projectile.

I also used the wadcutters to practice my speedloading with Safariland Comp IIs and IIIs. If you can load a wadcutter at speed RNL just becomes that much easier.
 
First time I shot wadcutters was back in 82. I had purchase my 686 (which I chose over the colt python). I was on base and had gone to the range. There was another man in a suit shooting like the dickens. Turned out to be an FBI agent. We got to chatting and he came over to admire the 686 and I invited him to shoot it. He went to his car and had a ton of ammo got 3 boxes and they were all wadcutters. He asked if I would mind if he shot a box and I said no. Figured it would be better broken in my him. Shot everything double actions putting a fist size hole in the target at 25 meters, not yards. He handed the gun back to me and he said I'm getting one come payday. He gave me 100 rounds of wadcutters, and never saw him again at the range.
 
Seymour380 said:
Thank you for the great thread and all the information!

You have inspired me to load some wadcutters for my Ruger GP-100. Our local vendor sells 148 gr. wadcutters for $42.00/500 coated lead bullets, so I am going to give it a try.

It is hard to tell from the previous posts whether the wadcutters generally work better with a taper crimp or a roll crimp. I guess it depends on the presence or absence of a cannelure on the bullet, and whether or not you load the bullet flush with the top of the case. I'd appreciate some advice on that please.
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My GP100 6" loves HBWC (BEAR CREEK COATED) in . 38 cases with 3.0 BE or 3.2 231. Gets .75" groups @ 20 yards, sometimes less. Using a 2 minute red dot with a rest. Makes an old guy happy. Cases are all range brass trimed to 1.142" sized, expanded and taper crimped enough to get rid of the expansion. COAL is 1.235". The . 38 cases more accurate than. 357 cases. No idea why... These HBWC have no crimp or lube grooves.
PXL_20220731_171717518~2.jpg
 
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Tried wadcutters for the first time and I have been missing out!

Loaded 2 sets of 10 test rounds with 2.6 grs. and 2.9 grs. of AA#2 with 148 gr. DEWCs and CCI primers.
20220809_050346.jpg

The lighter load had better tight grouping for 7 rounds, with 3 fliers due to operator error. The heavier load cut nicer holes with about the same overall group size.
20220809_065943.jpg

The plan now is to load up some more test rounds and see if I can get some better consistency.
 
Seymour380 said:
Tried wadcutters for the first time and I have been missing out!

Loaded 2 sets of 10 test rounds with 2.6 grs. and 2.9 grs. of AA#2 with 148 gr. DEWCs and CCI primers.
View attachment 1095219

The lighter load had better tight grouping for 7 rounds, with 3 fliers due to operator error. The heavier load cut nicer holes with about the same overall group size.
View attachment 1095220

The plan now is to load up some more test rounds and see if I can get some better consistency.
Click to expand...

“Operator error.”

Welcome to the club. Maybe we need a belt buckle.
 
I would love to get into handloading and my 500+ rds of once fired brass would be all wadcutters! I’d really like to have a local buddy that knows what’s he’s doing get me started though. That man was my pal lance but he went to be with THE LORD. I’ll get loading someday. Love the WC pics. Please post more. And 44 spl WC please
 
Any recommendations for a factory .38 special wadcutter? Also wondering if wadcutters cause excessive leading in the barrel. Looking for a wc load for my S&W model 640.
Thanks
 
I don’t think I’ve ever seen factory loaded wadcutters on the shelf. I don’t have any leading as best I can tell. I use the Hornady swaged HBWC. they are wax lubed. I’m only pushing them about 700 fps though.
 
Not to say there aren’t any out there but I didn’t start shooting them until about 6 months ago. I haven’t seen a lot of things on the shelves during that time.
 
I quit reloading a few years ago, so just looking for factory load recommendations. The cast bullets do look good though.
 
No problem. Just wanting to try some wadcutters as arthritis in my shooting hand is becoming a real problem and I have read that wadcutters are softer shooting.
 
Marine Dad said:
No problem. Just wanting to try some wadcutters as arthritis in my shooting hand is becoming a real problem and I have read that wadcutters are softer shooting.
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That's my experience for sure, larger revolver helps as well. Carpal both sides for me, so I can relate.

Hope you find a good solution so you can keep shooting.
 
I was kind of surprised that so many shooters were unfamiliar with wadcutter ammunition. A good target load with wadcutter bullets is about the most accurate, easy shooting, practice one can get. Match wadcutter ammunition is scary accurate. I also like the fact that reloading this ammo is cost effective.

One thing I always enjoyed about shooting target wadcutters out of a .38 is that you can often see them as they head down range.
 
I had a Kimber Custom II 45acp 1911 that ate wadcutters like a fat kid eats candy.

My Norinco, and Colt like them too, but that base model Kimber shot them like it was designed for it.
 
DR505 said:
I was kind of surprised that so many shooters were unfamiliar with wadcutter ammunition. A good target load with wadcutter bullets is about the most accurate, easy shooting, practice one can get. Match wadcutter ammunition is scary accurate. I also like the fact that reloading this ammo is cost effective.

One thing I always enjoyed about shooting target wadcutters out of a .38 is that you can often see them as they head down range.
Click to expand...

Mine are going so slow I can just about beat them to the target and move it where I want as the bullet comes in.
 
DR505 said:
I was kind of surprised that so many shooters were unfamiliar with wadcutter ammunition. A good target load with wadcutter bullets is about the most accurate, easy shooting, practice one can get. Match wadcutter ammunition is scary accurate. I also like the fact that reloading this ammo is cost effective.

One thing I always enjoyed about shooting target wadcutters out of a .38 is that you can often see them as they head down range.
Click to expand...

Yes, I was surprised by this too. I first encountered it some years ago, when I went to a number of gun stores and could not find ANY 38 wadcutter ammo on the shelves. For some reason, 130 grain RN-FMJ had become the default cheap 38 Special load by then. I did not notice at first, because I had a 38 revolver that was actually more accurate with 130 FMJ than with 148 WC, so I had not bought any wadcutter ammo for a while. By the time I began shooting other 38 Special revolvers, 38 wadcutter had disappeared.
 
Marine Dad said:
Any recommendations for a factory .38 special wadcutter? Also wondering if wadcutters cause excessive leading in the barrel. Looking for a wc load for my S&W model 640.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Fiocchi makes a 38 SPL HBWC. Midway has em in stock. Buffalo bore, Magtech/Sellier and Bellot, and Underwood all make them too. Midway has em all. You can also find 32 S&W long, 44 special, 44 mag, and 45 Colt with a full or HB wadcutter
 
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