Wadcutters for .38 S&W??

[NoAlibi]

Visual Comparison - .38 S&W & .38 S&W Special

Most shooters are familiar with the .38 S&W Special (.38 Spl.), but there are also quite a few that have never shot or even seen a .38 S&W.

I’ve posted this photo so a visual comparison can be made between the two. The photo also depicts how I use the second (lower) crimp groove.

For a suggestion on reloading the .38 S&W (.361 bullet) with .38 Spl. hollow base wad cutters (.358 bullet) see post #17.....Doc

 

[Walkalong]

PS - Walkalong: where'd you get that wadcutter bullet? Nice looking item.
Pete

Berrys HBWC on the left and X-Treme SWC on the right. A little bit of N320 and presto...

 

[barnetmill]

i thought I should add a word of caution here for the .38 S&W case that is much shorter than the .38 special. The case capacity of the shorter S&W is much less and depending on the seating depth of the bullets, loads intended for the longer special case could certain give dangerous pressures. It is not really just case length but the seating depth of the projectile that will determine the case capacity. In a .38 S&W modern revolver one should be able to work up loads that equal standard loads in the .38 special.

 

[TarDevil]

Thanks for the input. Been at a business conference all week and unable to keep up with the thread after I started it.

 

[murf]

tardevil, why don't you get the wet phone books out and do a penetration test. compare the wadcutters to factory ammo to 38 spl factory ammo.

i would be interested in the results if you do.

murf

 

[woad_yurt]

The skirt on the bullet obturates and takes care of the 3 thousandths larger bore and gives excellent accuracy out of my gun.

Yup. I use .358 hollowbase wadcutters in my Webley MKIII and in an old Iver Johnson, both of which use .38 shorts. They work perfectly with me, too.