Paul Gomez
Member In Memoriam
Recently there has been a bit of buzz about the SafeStop ammo, particularly for use in J-frame snubbies. The SafeStop bullet was designed by Jim Cirrillo and is manufactured by Fuzzy Fletcher of the "Village MetalWorks". Fuzzy's site is www.SafeStop.net.
The deal is that the old standby 158gr Lead Semi Wad Cutter Hollow Point +P generally kicks more than most people find comfortable, doesn't reliably expand in the IWBA 4-layer denim/calibrated geletin tests out of snubbies and cannot be used in the new titanium/scandium guns. Given this, the general recommendation of IWBA members and other non-Marshall/Sanow types has been to utilize the lowly 148gr wadcutter as carry ammo in snub nosed guns.
The thinking is that the 148gr wadcutter is easy to shoot, penetrates to roughly the same depth as the 158gr LSWCHP +P, and exhibits similar recovered diameter [ie it is a full .35 upon recovery, most of the SWCHPs offer a lesser diameter across the leading edge]. One concern expressed regarding the lead wadcutter has been that the lead used is fairly soft and the edges of the bullet become deformed [ie lose their initial edge] rather easily. The SafeStop is a plated wadcutter with a fairly distinct and sharp edge which, theoretically, will allow it to cut more tissue as it travels through the body.
Gary Roberts, of the IWBA, and David DiFabio, of AmmoLab infamy, both have expressed favorable opinions of the SafeStop ammo.
Here is all the data that I've been able to cull regarding the SafeStop .38 ammo. If anyone has additional info or experiences with it, please join in.
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148 grain cup-faced wadcutter [non +p] @ 700 fps [j-frame snub]
148 grain safestop [v-notch wadcutter] @ 850 fps [j-frame snub]
Copper Plating over soft Lead [0% antimony] projectile, reformed to a wadcutter face with a sharp edge
Initial ammolab test results of pre-production +p Safestop show 13.2-inches of penetration in IWBA 4-layer denim test & a Recovered diameter of .68-inch.
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"this ammo works the best because of the "V" groove meant to allow expansion, if driven at appropriate velocities, & the very sharp outer edge caused by reswaging the parent bullet. The non +P wadcutter is not designed to expand, it does it's work with the sharp edge and is loaded to non +P velocity to allow for faster follow up shots and better control, thus more accurate bullet placement. The +P version of the Safestop round is designed with the same sharp edge and a "V" notch cut across the face to allow for expansion in as many scenarios as possible. It is very difficult to get expansion of any bullet unless the velocities are enough to cause it. The "V" notch will not fill with material as a hollowpoint would." --quoted from Fuzzy Fletcher, the guy who makes them.
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Personally, I like the idea of a plated wadcutter for my J-frame.
I would like to see more IWBA-protocol testing of this round, along with current testing of the 158gr LSWCHP +P out of a J-frame snubbie, and independent testing of the Speer 135gr +P Gold Dot and testing of some of the standard wadcutter loadings and I'd like to see some enterprising handloaders work up a variety of 148gr wadcutters of differing harnesses and platings and run them at velocities from 650 on up to 850 and see how they perform on the standard tests.
Here's a pic of the v-notch, +P SafeStop round.
The deal is that the old standby 158gr Lead Semi Wad Cutter Hollow Point +P generally kicks more than most people find comfortable, doesn't reliably expand in the IWBA 4-layer denim/calibrated geletin tests out of snubbies and cannot be used in the new titanium/scandium guns. Given this, the general recommendation of IWBA members and other non-Marshall/Sanow types has been to utilize the lowly 148gr wadcutter as carry ammo in snub nosed guns.
The thinking is that the 148gr wadcutter is easy to shoot, penetrates to roughly the same depth as the 158gr LSWCHP +P, and exhibits similar recovered diameter [ie it is a full .35 upon recovery, most of the SWCHPs offer a lesser diameter across the leading edge]. One concern expressed regarding the lead wadcutter has been that the lead used is fairly soft and the edges of the bullet become deformed [ie lose their initial edge] rather easily. The SafeStop is a plated wadcutter with a fairly distinct and sharp edge which, theoretically, will allow it to cut more tissue as it travels through the body.
Gary Roberts, of the IWBA, and David DiFabio, of AmmoLab infamy, both have expressed favorable opinions of the SafeStop ammo.
Here is all the data that I've been able to cull regarding the SafeStop .38 ammo. If anyone has additional info or experiences with it, please join in.
----------------------------------------
148 grain cup-faced wadcutter [non +p] @ 700 fps [j-frame snub]
148 grain safestop [v-notch wadcutter] @ 850 fps [j-frame snub]
Copper Plating over soft Lead [0% antimony] projectile, reformed to a wadcutter face with a sharp edge
Initial ammolab test results of pre-production +p Safestop show 13.2-inches of penetration in IWBA 4-layer denim test & a Recovered diameter of .68-inch.
---------------------
"this ammo works the best because of the "V" groove meant to allow expansion, if driven at appropriate velocities, & the very sharp outer edge caused by reswaging the parent bullet. The non +P wadcutter is not designed to expand, it does it's work with the sharp edge and is loaded to non +P velocity to allow for faster follow up shots and better control, thus more accurate bullet placement. The +P version of the Safestop round is designed with the same sharp edge and a "V" notch cut across the face to allow for expansion in as many scenarios as possible. It is very difficult to get expansion of any bullet unless the velocities are enough to cause it. The "V" notch will not fill with material as a hollowpoint would." --quoted from Fuzzy Fletcher, the guy who makes them.
---------------------
Personally, I like the idea of a plated wadcutter for my J-frame.
I would like to see more IWBA-protocol testing of this round, along with current testing of the 158gr LSWCHP +P out of a J-frame snubbie, and independent testing of the Speer 135gr +P Gold Dot and testing of some of the standard wadcutter loadings and I'd like to see some enterprising handloaders work up a variety of 148gr wadcutters of differing harnesses and platings and run them at velocities from 650 on up to 850 and see how they perform on the standard tests.
Here's a pic of the v-notch, +P SafeStop round.