Big Bore Guns with Big full wadcutters

[lee n. field]

Who here believes that full wadcutters are a good defensive round to carry in their ccw revolver. I carry them as my primary rounds in my Rossi 720 (44 Special).They are 200gr Underwood FW. I carry a speed strip with 5 Blazer 200gr JHP as spare rounds.
I have 100% belief that if needed, these will do the job and cause major damage to end the threat against me or my family.

I saw that Underwood (or was it Buffalo Bore?) had "Charter Bulldog safe" .44 special wadcutter loads. Which got me to find and order in some 200 grain .44 wadcutter bullets, and start experimenting.

4.6 grains of Bullseye, with that bullet, is a reasonably pleasant shooting experience, by the numbers and by feel about equivalent to shooting .45 ACP.

Yeah, I'd carry it.

 

[Archie]

I'm not a fan of wadcutters as a substitute for a jacked hollow point.
There just hasn't ever been any serious development over the years.

No, there hasn't. None has been required.

 

[Hal]

No, there hasn't. None has been required.

What an incredibly naive and uninformed thing to say. If the wadcutter was such an effective design, for something other than cutting a nice sharp hole in the paper, do you think ammunition manufacturers would have just ignored it in favor of other designs?
The very lack of such a thing is proof the concept has little merit, beyond the fancy of kitchen table ballisticians..

& please - don't drag out the boutique & niche ammunition companies and tell me about them.
Companies like Federal spill more powder - than places like BB and Underwood load into their ammunition.

 

[StrawHat]

As mentioned, the 240 grain wadcutter at 850 fps in a 45=ACP revolver is a decent round for many purposes. Is it for everyone? No, some can not see past JHPs others can not fathom anything but factory.

For me, it works.

Kevin

 

[Archie]

What an incredibly naive and uninformed thing to say.

Spoken by one who thinks popular magazines are holy writ.

If the wadcutter was such an effective design, for something other than cutting a nice sharp hole in the paper, do you think ammunition manufacturers would have just ignored it in favor of other designs?

And you really think ammunition manufacturers, or manufacturers of any sort promote established ideas over new technology for which they can derive a profit?
I do not derive profit or personal reward for either. Nor am I of the 'new is always better' school.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The wadcutter never seems to have caught on as a GP bullet, relegated to Bullseye shooting. Years ago Skeeter Skelton noted that the RNL was still in production long after its ineffectiveness was proven.

 

[Buckeye63]

@westernrover - the Lucky Gunner clear jel pics I posted were to illustrate how a non-expanding bullet (WC) compares to one that expands.
OP starts with: "Who here believes" and the comparison was in support of my opinion that 11 rounds 9mm is preferable to 5 rounds wadcutter.
I could link a Youtube video using sim-test rather than clear gel; Nah, if one is inclined they can look for a different test, or not. Doesn't affect me.

I've got one bullet test that was not in gel, a 155 XTP 10mm that expands to about .65 in gel managed to make a hole bigger than a quarter in tissue:
View attachment 1125597

Do I think a 44 wadcutter would make a hole that big? Nope. But, like, ... that's just my opinion.

Big 10mm fan .. since 1993 … but … my Glock 20
is a bit different in size and weight as my
Charter Arms Bulldog .. and 44spl is a low pressure round ..
so their is times I carry my Bulldog in place of my Glock 20 & XDME Compact 10mm

And a meat target is much better than gel
A 10mm with real ammo is devastating ..
A .430 200gr HCLWC will act like a .430 hole puncher ..deflated lungs .. poking a huge hole in a heart .. breaking bones … momentum …

 

[Brian Williams]

Nope, I do not see the need for a target round to be used when you can get a LRNFP that can be used.
Loads fairly quickly and still has a large meplat that mimics a wadcutter.
I prefer a gas check version.

 

[StrawHat]

Nope, I do not see the need for a target round to be used when you can get a LRNFP that can be used.
Loads fairly quickly and still has a large meplat that mimics a wadcutter.
I prefer a gas check version.

View attachment 1127257

Don’t confuse a target round with a target bullet. The traditional 38 S&W Special Target round was, or still is, a 148 grain hbwc at 700-750 fps. The full power wadcutter load takes a 148 grain dewc to 950+ fps. A very large difference.

If I were to need the small bore, I would load the full power rounds.

But, others may feel differently.

Kevin

 

[Brian Williams]

I am a believer in heavier bullets. I load and shoot mostly 38 spec and 357 mag. I like a 160g LRNFPGC for 38 and 180g for 357. That big meplat on these makes them hit like a LWC and the bit of round nose aids in reloading. I also am a believer in bullet weight to carry the energy. I am not loading buffbore level loads but the 90% meplat LRNFP, 160g load at close to 900fps makes carries it's energy further with a better BC because of a longer bullet. Cast 50/50 with old wheel weights and pure lead and a gas check mitigates any leading. The harder lead penetrates thru bone better than a soft lead DEWC. The bit smaller meplat and a partial RN aids penetration thru heavier clothing.
Reasons for 160g LRNFPGC
1, heavier to carry energy further
2, large meplat
3, gas check reduces leading
4, Round nose portion aids reloading
5, Round nose aids penetration
6, longer bullet gives a better BC
7, harder alloy helps penetration thru bone.

Cons
1, more recoil

 

[35 Whelen]

Who here believes that full wadcutters are a good defensive round to carry in their ccw revolver. I carry them as my primary rounds in my Rossi 720 (44 Special).They are 200gr Underwood FW. I carry a speed strip with 5 Blazer 200gr JHP as spare rounds.
I have 100% belief that if needed, these will do the job and cause major damage to end the threat against me or my family.
Chronographed at 925fps. That's 380flb of .44 caliber muzzle energy. If I can do my job, these rounds will do theirs.

I know this is the part of the discussion where people lose interest, when facts overtake conjecture, but all one need do is ask some serious handgun hunters what kind of bullets they use. Those who hunt large game by and large use bullets with the largest possible meplat such as SWC's, LFN's and WFN's, all of which are similar to wadcutters. The reason is that bullets such as these are a great balance of deep penetration and a large wound channel. So if they work so well on game, they'll work just as well on 2-legged ne'er do wells.

35W

 

[the Black Spot]

Yep, 45 colt 250 gr Matt’s bullet