Who makes GOOD, HOT .38 spl WC?

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Texan Scott

Member
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
3,184
Location
The Texas Hill Country
I've come to the conclusion that i'm not comfortable with my current choice of non- +P .38s for my Colt. One of the things i'm looking at is finding a source of good full wadcutter rounds. I don't handload, and won't be taking it up any time soon (time/ money), so I'm limited to commercially manufactured stuff.
I've done a LOT of web surfing, and everyone and their brother makes a really lame 690-710 fps WC. This, to me, is inadequate, especially since actual V from a sub-2inch snubbie will likely be appreciably less.
A company i've never heard of, BHAC (or some such) has a hot load on CTD, but gets consistantly bad reviews for quality and fouling.
Buffalo Bore makes one I wouldn't put in my vintage aluminum-framed Colt, it's that overstuffed. Also, it's nearly $2 a round!
Prvi Partisan makes one that works out to 803 fps, better than the other stuff anyway; I have no experience with any of their products. Is this reliable stuff, decent? Anyone with recent experience with them at all, or especially the 38WC?
Does anyone know of another maker i've missed with a particularly nice load I should consider?
Thoughts, opinions, and experiences GREATLY appreciated, THANKS!
 
So you don't like the 710 FPS stuff, the 803 FPS is still slow, but the Buffalo Bore STANDARD PRESSURE WC at 850 FPS is too strong for your gun???

Exactly what are you looking for, something like 827.874 FPS? You really think it makes that much difference? Maybe you ought to save up for a better gun that can at least handle standard pressure ammo.
 
Prvi Partisan makes high quality ammo, as good as anybody's.

If you were close I'd just give you some of my wadcutter reloads to try out.

Double ended wadcutters is all I load and shoot in 38 anymore. They also are devastating out of a 357 case.

Also, commercially loaded 38+p is still a low pressure round.
 
1. The Al alloy frame Colt is what I'd call a gun that goes in a flashy bag of cool.
Maybe swap for a steel snub if you want more performance.

2. Speer Gold Dot, 135gr @~870-900 fps. That's what I use in my stainless snub. It moves fast enough for the hp to actually expand. Any slower and you need to use wc projectiles.
 
Last edited:
Texanscott,

If your after good wad cutter ammo and know of the Cirillo Safe Stop Ammo drop Pete950 an e- mail. He bought the equipment used to make the Safe Stop and offers them loaded, or just the components for reloaders.

I believe it's optimized for the .38 special and the price isn't prohibitive. If you google Cirillo, the reading is worth the time. Pretty interesting guy. Full wad cutters are excellent for target shooting but are loaded slow for that purpose.

However, change the hardness of the wad cutter and run them a little faster and you may have found what your looking for and they won't necessarily harm your classic Colt. I think you will find your Colt will hold up better than people think if properly fed and taken care of.
 
Buy the PRVI Partisan WC's with confidence - they make a great product. I've personally used some ZERO reloads in 148gr full LWC in my 642 & 4" 64. It offers considerably less recoil than my usual +P 158gr LHPSWC Remington R38S12 carry ammo - which makes 850-860 fps from the 642 and 950+ from the 4" 64. I haven't chrono-ed the ZERO reloads.

Stainz
 
From the description, you have a Colt Cobra or Agent, neither of which is intended for +P loads over the long term. Neither gun is going to blow up or stretch from one cylinder full of +P if that's what you decide to go with for a carry load. The thing to do is to ignore the rubbish about "you must practice with the same ammunition you are going to carry". My Colt Agent gets 158gr. RN lead at about 700fps. for practice, and should last a long time without any damage from shooting. If I ever carry it for self-defense, it will loaded with handloads a lot more potent. In that role, it will hopefully never be fired, so no worry about damaging the gun.

If you must practice with a lightweight snubbie with hellfire loads to feel secure, get a Ruger LCR and pass the Colt along to somebody that will appreciate it.
 
Georgia Arms makes a good 900 FPS semi wad cutter that I carry. I'm sure they test from a longer barrel than what's on my Airweight but that's the case with a lot of ammo makers. You do have some hard to meet specifications so maybe a newer snub is in order.
 
Buy a new S&W 442 or 642 and carry some Buffalo Bore SWC. Hell, carry their standard pressure ammo in your Colt and just keep from shooting hundreds of rounds.

On the subject of price, with BB you do get what you pay for.

-Jake
 
The Buffalo Bore cartridge you say you don't want is exactly what you've described that you need.
 
45 auto and skoro raise a good point- the buffalo bore i was looking at, i had the figures for a 3" sp101 barrel @ 961... far different from the 2" barrel at 868 fps- a difference of some 23% in fp/s (308 vs. 251). so, not as overloaded as i thought, and i appreciate it being brought to my attention.
 
I am confused.

You don't want to use the same ammo that your gun was designed to shoot?

Today's "+P" is the same pressure as pre-1970 "regular" .38 ammo.

My old Cobra (1953 if I remember right) has digested a ton of the mild target load now known as "+P". And I bought the old girl used. Who knows what she had run through her before?
 
Guillermo,

I just picked up a Colt Cobra 4" yesterday, made in '57. Can one shoot the +P rounds thru these light weight revolvers? After reading your comments about pre-1970 regular ammo, I am now really curious. Thanks
 
Plus P ammo wasn't invented in 1957 but like Guillermo said he's shot plenty plus P's in his Cobra. Having said that, after the "invention" known as plus P the owners manuals might have said "this revolver may wear faster with constant use of plus P ammunition" or words to that affect. It's CYA in my opinion as well.

If your revolver will be a safe queen I probably wouldn't leave anything to chance. If you plan to shoot it constantly with plus P the recoil may help you decide. Personally, I find full or semi lead wad cutters loaded under 800 fps a pleasure to shoot in these older alloy guns and more importantly the guns are remarkably accurate with those loads.
 
Last edited:
So you don't like the 710 FPS stuff, the 803 FPS is still slow, but the Buffalo Bore STANDARD PRESSURE WC at 850 FPS is too strong for your gun???

Exactly what are you looking for, something like 827.874 FPS? You really think it makes that much difference? Maybe you ought to save up for a better gun that can at least handle standard pressure ammo.
Click to expand...

^^^^ This ^^^^^

Seems like you have a really narrow window of desired performance.

This is precisely the Niche that handloading fills.

WTH do you need a specific pressure WC for anyway ? Is the paper you are shooting that picky ?

If you are choosing them as some sort of +/- P defensive round, you are being underserved by your choice and were ill advised in the selection.... Get some decent HP's and be done with it.
 
The Bitterroot Valley Ammo Company makes a full wadcutter that sounds like what you're after.

I shoot them and S&B wadcutters (both 148 grain) through my snubbies, and the BVAC stuff is a lot more powerful than the S&B. The S&B is a true "powder puff" target load. I don't have a chrono, so I can't help you on what their velocities are.

The Bitterroot Valley stuff is smoky as hell, but has been very reliable and accurate for me.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
Who makes high quality, non +P factory .38 spl ammo?
2
Replies
31
Views
3K
cocojo
cocojo
M
  • Locked
WC 820 reloads
Replies
3
Views
1K
malnwah
M
Legionnaire
  • Locked
What's the basis for making a recommendation?
Replies
8
Views
393
Legionnaire
Legionnaire
tipoc
  • Locked
Accuracy and the fixed sight .38 Snub (pics)
Replies
16
Views
1K
ChuckB
C
G
  • Locked
Revolver conversions - what's it cost?
2
Replies
29
Views
3K
45 Dragoon
45 Dragoon
Back
Top