Wadcutters...What are their uses?

[Dudester32]

Hey all!
Sorry for the newbie question but I am a newbie.

I've heard of the .38 wadcutter round, like the type S&W M52 uses, and I was wondering if this round is a pure 100% target/competition-round or if it is used in real-life..Such as in Law-enforcement or military or whatever.

Again, I'm a newbie...so please don't throw rotten fish at me for asking!

 

[rcmodel]

They were invented for NRA Bullseye target competition probably close to 100 years ago.
The wad-cutter cuts a clean sharp hole in a paper target to make scoring easier.
They can even raise your score, as a full caliber clean hole may touch the next higher scoring ring and count as a higher value hit.

They were consumed in mass quantities by the military AMU (Advanced Marksmanship Training) pistol teams.
Law enforcement used to practice with them also, and then switch up to full power ammo for duty.
That is no longer an accepted training method, as today the thought is to practice with what you carry.

They have some use in self-defense if the shooter is recoil sensitive and can't handle full power ammo.

rc

 

[Dudester32]

Ah! Thanks dude...So the round doesn't really have a pure self-defence/military/police-use?

Thanks for the info .

I've honestly been thinking of taking up target-shooting here in Sweden...And the S&W m52 looks cool enough for the job!

 

[chieftain]

The Smith 52 is a very cool, single purpose gun. 5 round magazines etc.

Think cookie cutter as to to how the wad cutter works. I carry them in my "j" frames. But not the reloads, because when reloading under stress, the wad cutter can be a 'bear'. I use the 110gr CorBons for reloads. Of course this would not be an issue with the magazine fed model 52.

good luck.

Fred

 

[rcmodel]

The S&W Model 52 is certainly cool enough for the job, Dude.
Way crazy accurate enough too, Dude.

But it has been out of production for almost 20 years, and parts are hard to find here in the USA, Dude.

I'd hate to even think about finding parts in Sweden, Dude!

rc

 

[hdjno83]

38 wadcutters are great for small game also.

 

[zxcvbob]

It's a great bullet profile for self-defense if you can find any ammo loaded to full-power. Even the low-powered target stuff penetrates better than you'd expect, and it makes a big hole. Sucks trying to use them in a speed loader though, so carry something else for that. (the ammo in your gun and the ammo on your belt don't have to match)

 

[Jim K]

Factory wadcutter bullets have a deep hole in the base to make sure they grip the rifling properly for best accuracy. Needless to say, some folks loaded them backwards to create a super expanding bullet (though one with little penetration).

Jim

 

[Dudester32]

The S&W Model 52 is certainly cool enough for the job, Dude.
Way crazy accurate enough too, Dude.

But it has been out of production for almost 20 years, and parts are hard to find here in the USA, Dude.

I'd hate to even think about finding parts in Sweden, Dude!

All right dude

Thanks for the reply all! Luckily I wont have to bother/worry about purchasing my own weapon for at least 6 months after joining a club. (thats the time required by law to recieve a gun license)

 

[Radagast]

The Dude abides!

As the Model 52 is long gone, I suggest you look at the S&W 952:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57896_757751_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

This is an exceptionally accurate 9mm handgun, the replacement for the .38 Special Model 52 in S&Ws catalog. If I was shooting ISSF (Bullseye) competitively I would look hard at this gun. It is not cheap, but it is a very high quality piece of machinery.

 

[trex1310]

Wadcutters are great when fired at steel silouette targets at 25
yards. Due to the soft lead they tend to ricochet straight back
towards the shooter. It teaches you to sidestep very quickly.

 

[Dudester32]

Veery nice! It looks like the Rolls Royce of competition shooting handguns

The Dude abides!

As the Model 52 is long gone, I suggest you look at the S&W 952:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y

This is an exceptionally accurate 9mm handgun, the replacement for the .38 Special Model 52 in S&Ws catalog. If I was shooting ISSF (Bullseye) competitively I would look hard at this gun. It is not cheap, but it is a very high quality piece of machinery.

 

[Dudester32]

Lets hope it wont come to that..I'm big and heavy, cant move that swiftly

Wadcutters are great when fired at steel silouette targets at 25
yards. Due to the soft lead they tend to ricochet straight back
towards the shooter. It teaches you to sidestep very quickly.