Full Wadcutters anyone

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I'm just throwing this out there !
I used to carry reloads for my ccw purposes!
In the articles I have read and talking to lawyers that specialize in defensive shooting cases. After the incident is over, legal whoes can start. Whether by the purp's family, assuming they are deceases, one of the issues that can be avoided in trial is using ammo that is approved by some law agency, like FBI. They have spent millions on picking ammo they approve of. The issue of reloads is just one item that I would like to minimize ig I was in court. The other side's legal team will try to pick out reason why your ammo was wrong ???? ***, it worked didn't it:what:

Anyway I try to practice with ammo that is of same weight and velocity as the carry ammo. I replace the inventory of the carry ammo with a new box every year and that also gives me some practice with them.

Take this for what you paid for it which is $0.00. I am just saying :rofl:
 
I've carried factory hbwc in J frame guns for years and swcs for easier reload. A factory hbwc has been my choice as:

1. The bullet already in an efficient shape. A hollow point has to expand a bit.
2. It's easy on the gun and easy on you allowing quicker subsequent shots if needed.
3. It gets 12-14" of penetration in ballistics gel. It achieves this at the lower velocities because the weight of the bullet is all forward. If the bullet hits something hard (bone, heavy muscle, etc) it tends to keep on punching through. Any other bullet design with the weight concentrated to the rear may turn sideways or do a 180 and the base of the bullet keeps on penetrating. You even see round nose and hollow point do this in ballistics gel.

I've experimented with the reversed hbwc some time ago. I don't think they work that well. Their penetration is limited because the bullet turns as described in #3 above. When they work they work well but I've found the performance too inconsistent.
 
OK,this is splitting hairs..... literally;

"Technically" I'd say not a "full" WC because of the very slight reduction of diameter on the abbreviated nose,the crimp groove is just below that forward mini,drive band.The advantage is,speed loaders and slightly better alignment slamming into the forcing cone. Lyman made two versions IIRC,this one drops with range scrap @152g from the "smaller",nominal 148g size. The larger is sposed to be 160,adding in any extras for alloy,yadayada.

Of the 1/2 dz + WC moulds,this is BY FAR my favorite. Usually loaded with 700X round 850fps or so in 38sp cases. But is a DANDY mid range 357 mag bullet with Unique 'round 1000fps.... and a little more. VG "wack" on small game.

Lyman 358432,small.

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Back in the Stoneage in LE, I was issued a Colt .38 revolver ... Our hand load round nose lead issued ammo were crap any way, so over 50 feet they'd probably fall to the ground. One of our guys got involved in a shooting that was within 50 feet and one of his slugs hit the door jamb and we could pluck it out with our finger.
As I recall, the RNL 'standard' loading of the .38 Special was also called the widow maker (widows of those who carried it), the 'disservice' round and the 'halt or I'll dent your paint' round. It would work, but only in the way a dangerous game load works. Hit the right place.
 
I've concluded based on years of shooting and looking at recovered bullets, some water jug penetration tests and a lot of analyzing shooting incidents that a flat front lead bullet is every bit as useful in defense as a jacketed hollow point. They don't look as sexy, but what can I say? Wadcutters having a flat front tend to cut through obstacles rather than slide around the bits of blockage. They tend to penetrate well.

Matt's Bullets turns out a 157 grain .358' bullet with a nearly full diameter flat meplat. It is 'nearly' full diameter as the bullet is somewhat reduced on the front to allow it to chamber and miss the forward edge of the cylinder or the leade. It is loaded like a conventional bullet with a front and back (and crimp groove), not either way. They make similar bullets in .429", weight 250 grains; I use those in the .44 Special I use as a bed gun. Ultra high speeds are not required; moderate velocity loads seem to penetrate well.

Factory target .38 Special wadcutters probably work at least as well as the RNL Standard round. Which is a pretty low bar. They seem to allow for quicker subsequent shots on the same or different target. I prefer the greater weight and velocity.
 
I load Berry's plated DEWC 148 grain wadcutters over 4 grains of HP38. Haven't done anything but finish off wounded jackrabbits with them, but they definitely split a jack's wig at 10 paces.
 
I read performance/penetration reports and threads until my head hurt. Now I carry 148 gr wadcutters in my J frames. All the guess work and sorting through claims is over.
And - I have great confidence in my follow-up shots. Placement is king , after all.
 
I use Underwood 200 Gr. full wadcutters in my .44 Special Charter Arms Boomer (snubbie).

For my S&W 442 .38 Special I use these SWC from Underwood. I don't believe they achieve full 1250 fps, but closer to 1000 fps out of my 442, which is still pretty powerful.


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I use Underwood 200 Gr. full wadcutters in my .44 Special Charter Arms Boomer (snubbie).

For my S&W 442 .38 Special I use these SWC from Underwood. I don't believe they achieve full 1250 fps, but closer to 1000 fps out of my 442, which is still pretty powerful.


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You need to chrono them. Underwood claims 1200 FPS from their 125 grain hollow point 38+P's and I got an average of around 1180 or 1190 out of my SP101 2.25".
 
You need to chrono them. Underwood claims 1200 FPS from their 125 grain hollow point 38+P's and I got an average of around 1180 or 1190 out of my SP101 2.25".

I wasn't trying to state any facts on actual fps, but rather estimate the loss to my 442's 1.875" barrel. For defense purposes, anything 158 gr. going over 900 fps seems good enough for me.
 
I wasn't trying to state any facts on actual fps, but rather estimate the loss to my 442's 1.875" barrel. For defense purposes, anything 158 gr. going over 900 fps seems good enough for me.
Don't know why anyone would put anything less then a 2" barrel on a snubnose for...
 
I load them for my S&W Mdl 52 and revolvers. This M&P Ca. 1927, has been regulated to using only wadcutters and currently mostly using as pictured, WESTERN ammo from my long ago stash. See the little round holes they make. ? :)

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Somehow the Chief's Special has prevailed as the quintessential compact snub nose revolver for over a half century with it's 1 7/8" barrel.

Mine , by the way , is loaded with 148gr wad cutters.
 
In my house I keep a model 60 loaded with 148 grain Hollow Base Wad Cutters, loaded upside down. Will expand and put some hurt on an intruder, but not get through most walls and kill someone accidently in another room. I started doing that in the early 70s and I think I still have all of 5 of them!

Bob
 
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Not a true wadcutter. Should stop a bear or boar if the need arises. Underwood 340 grain 44 mag.
 
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