semi wadcutter vs round nosesemi wadcutter vs round nose

I use wadcutters as my first 5 in a Model 36. When I was snubby shopping one of the big requirements for me was a replaceable front sight blade, so I could adjust the sight with a file and not be stuck with the decision forever. Whew!! The load is intended to be useful for both training and defense use. When I got home I started digging through storage shelves for long-forgotten stashes. Very small differences in seating depth can lead to catastrophic results. only once in a blue moon will an old fart show up with smokey cast lead semi wadcutters at our match.. being a realist, how would just the mere shape of a bullet contribute to the super accurate myths of the SWC? If you own a revolver, especially one chambered in .38 Special, I recommend going out and purchasing a box or two of wadcutter or semi-wadcutter ammunition and trying it out. You need the barrel length to get all the velocity the extra pressure promises. They at least have the bonus of being usable as an outdoors load against an animal if all you happen to have is a .38 snub. Display as a link instead, However, these are by necessity relatively highly engineered and thus rely on system parameters to be within certain design criteria. As we know, misses are a liability as well as ineffective! Patrick Sweeney is the author of many of Gun Digest books' best-selling titles, including Gun Digest Book of the 1911, Vols. But that Buffalo Bore .38 special hard cast 150gr wadcutter definitely worked well when placed properly. Total Metal Jacket. Sure u can carry a slightly smaller gun but is that worth the trade off when they either dont penetrate deep enough or move fast enough for reliable expansion? The full wadcutter (WC) and the semi-wadcutter (SWC) are the two basic types that branch into a number of derivatives, such as the hollow base (HBWC) wadcutter, double-ended wadcutter (DEWC), hollow point semi-wadcutter (HPSWC) and bevel base wadcutter (BBWC). The .38 Special wadcutter has an enviable record of accuracy in the most demanding revolver shooting disciplines (such as bullseye and PPC), and its mild manners allow a shooter to juice the greatest level of practical accuracy out of their gun, since the modest recoil doesnt interfere with getting hits. The three projectiles penetrated 15.0, 16.0 and 16.5 inches with minimal expansion (.405, .401, and .386, respectively), easily besting a host of 90, 110, 125 and 130 grain projectiles that were fired alongside it, which penetrated around 9 inches, on average; 4. Since even the most sophisticated hollowpoint cant do anything for you unless you can put it in the right place, we had to look for another option. I should probably give 25 yards a try with the Hornady. Matts Bullets in Arkansas is an excellent resource for cast lead wadcutters, with a variety of types available at reasonable cost in quantities as low as 100. As long as the SWC ammo you have feed OK, you don't have a problem. The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a flat tip, and then a very sharp shoulder. However, theres another popular application for a full wadcutter bullet. Aside from the paper ridge on the semi-wadcutter, there isn't any difference between the designs. Its not what you think, Esalen evolution: A retreat for the next age, A sound plan gives strength to New Years resolutions. A 6-inch .38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a home defense gun. That being said, the bullseye shooters in our area use mainly 185 JHP bullets by montana gold pushed by 231 powder to about 800 fps. SWC .38s are not bad for self defense. .380 vs. 38 Special Whats the Difference & Which is Better? Actually, the hardest part of any shooting is figuring out what needs to happen between the ears, which is why I check into this forum occasionally. Primary law enforcement service cartridge from 1920s to 1990s. Chief among them is ease of reloading. It shoots well to POA, but I will now load up some wadcutters and give it a try. Berrys .38 cal. He also wrote the "Tactical Analysis" column at Police1.com for 8 years. Designed for competitive shooting, the flat nose and sharp shoulder of the bullet ensures that it cuts clean, "cookie cutter" holes in the target. Deployed military should use stateside address. Indeed! The story of the california agency using .45 hardball is quite fascinating. They speed load fine and also have a flat meplat. The flat shape of the nose is the primary feature of the wadcutter. If youre not a patron, please consider supporting us we cant do this work, at this level, without your continued support. Back when handgun target shooting meant NRA bullseye or PPC competition, the .38 Special ruled. A wadcutter is a cylindrical bullet with a flat, square nose. Popular Brands 88 Products in 38 Special Ammunition reset Show 60 Sort by Since Keith was a prime motivating force in the development of the first magnum handgun cartridge, the .357 Magnum, he was very interested in maximizing the amount of case volume for the slower burning powders needed to push heavy bullets at high velocities. The LRN bullet went through the skin and was stopped by the tee-shirt on the back. For years, the working load was a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr. IDPA, USPSA, double taps on the move, plates, moving targets, reloads, run and gun all on the timer!! I found a bit of info about pressure vs. seating depth especially useful. Thats why I definitely think that wadcutters are good for self defense. Jacketed Hollow Point. The low velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil. The 45 Colt just grouped tighter and seemed to be more accurate. Get the bullet to the heart, to the lungs, or into the brain (through the face, generally) and you will generally win another day on planet Earth. Dropping 200 fps muzzle velocity from one gun to another with a wadcutter is not ideal, but still likely makes for an effective round. The wide forward driving band helps keep the bullet aligned as it jumps across the cylinder gap. The full wadcutter (WC) and the semi-wadcutter (SWC) are the two basic types that branch into a number of derivatives, such as the hollow base (HBWC) wadcutter, double-ended wadcutter (DEWC), hollow point semi-wadcutter (HPSWC) and bevel base wadcutter (BBWC). Just be sure they understand they must make use of the tack-driving accuracy that wadcutters offer. So.wadcutters ended up in my revolvers. In this case, LSWCHP stands for lead, semi-wadcutter hollow point.. This puts more weight in the front of the bullet, allowing a heavier bullet with no reduction in case capacity. They also think rapid fire is 5 rounds in 10 seconds. as long as i can get it in the A zone at 25 yards free hand, thats all i ask . (Photo courtesy of Berrys Bullets), Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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My LCR is the .357 magnum version and I recently downgraded my carry load to Underwoods 158gr +P LSWC rounds as UWs 125 gr +P JHP were just too much for me. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. load of Bullseye, normal seating depth showed a pressure of 8,700 psi. Contest void where prohibited by law. Hire your own counsel to advise you. Carl, I share your pain, at least a little, at 47! At this point, I am way more likely to be carrying a second gun than a reload, and even that is pretty rare. PROS : Punches big holes in targets. Two asides: I was trained at the FLETC in handgun and combat shotgun by Jim Cirillo. $50 spent at your gunsmith can make your life easier. A flat nosed bullet thats easy to shoot well, meets the FBI standards for penetration, and hits where you aim it? The wadcutter can be fired in flyweight, alloy/polymer guns without causing you pain and physical damage, and can also be safely fired in guns that are not rated for +P pressures (like many older Smith & Wesson and Colt revolver models). lead bullets will smoke a helluva lot more than plated or jacketed bullets. WC to the maximum lenght the Elmer Keith was the designer. Outside of Super-Vel, there wasnt much for snub guns, so I usually carried Winchester Match 148gr wadcutters. Instead, Id look for a .38 Special load that I could control well enough to guarantee accuracy and fast follow-ups. Also why would someone go w a 380acp when u can buy 9mm cheaper w greater selection in both ammo and firearms? Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. You have entered an incorrect email address! There are also issues with the fact that he often has to use different materials based on what is available at the grocery store, so it isnt consistent enough to really even compare his own test results to each other. If, for some reason, your day has taken the worlds most unlikely turn and youre having to reload a small defensive revolver in a hurry, wadcutters are not your best friend. Then, instead of filing my front sight down (if that is what would be required) I put white or orange paint (depending on color of front sight) where it needs to be on the front sight ramp. Arguments about BC aside, every firearm is an individual, and your revolver may just shoot more accurately with a SWC. Thats exactly what I did with my 442. I dont know why that didnt occur to me to do that purposefully. Sounds like Ive created a monster! A very well written & researched article. Reloading your own is a great way to learn about your ammo, and develop loads that work for your practice, and to find out what your upper level of recoil tolerance is. Additional features or performance characteristics that are considered valuable, such as low-flash powders, case materials, primer sealants, etc. Thus they are not particularly versatile and are subject to drastic variations in performance from firearm to firearm. We bullet nerds sometimes have a tendency to lose the forest through the trees. lead flat point; 158-gr. Some of these are intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense. Jon, I understand the concern, but think the real issue is poor safety habits. But for Every Day Carry it would be bulky. I'm new to revolvers and got a SW 686 a few months ago. A post-mortem would be interesting, but I wouldnt be quick to track down a coon that just took a 147 HST and strolled off. The entire article is worth reading. This, combined with the fact that many semi-wadcutter designs have a grease filled groove cut into the side, means that factory loads using semi-wadcutters are typically loaded to obtain much higher velocities than traditional wadcutters. And a good performing hard cast blunt projectile from a .38 or larger revolver can provide good results against most beasts you might run across as well as humans- the only traditional auto round that has a chance at saying that is 10mm. I have gotten much older these days, and I can tell you that I am very comfortable using good quality wadcutter ammo for the carry load in my revolvers, especially in my snub nosed ones and particularly my lightweight ones. how close does that 110 grain Hornady load hit to your sights? Bravo, Mike! Add to that, the bullets with a meplat tend to "dig . All depends on where my aim needs to be for my cartridge of choice and distance range. While the protocol isnt perfect, its still the best measuring tool available, and has served well as the industrys standard for decades. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. It was said in a way to indicate that he did not think that it was wise and that there were obviously much better options out there. I've read about hand-loaders taking hollow-base wadcutter bullets and seating them upside down for use as self-defense ammunition, but results were often erratic. Ive always been fascinated by ballistics, and particularly terminal ballistics. Not all SWC are created equal. Return To Table Of Contents. However, the wadcutter can also do things that they cant. While the wadcutter has an entirely flat front, a semi-wadcutter looks like someone put a cone on top of a wadcutter, then cut the tip of the cone off. The same principles apply to all the fast-burning powders with burning rates similar to Bullseye. The wadcutter cant achieve what they do, with its solid construction and low velocity. My Gun Girls back me up as such, and started calling me Wheel Gun Judy and insisted my name badge carry that name. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. But since I generally find ammo I like I dont change very often anyhow. For defence purposes, it's a different story. This large bearing surface helps the Keith-style SWC to be an inherently accurate bullet, and minimizes leading from gas blow-by. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. The original venue of wadcutters, the bullets make clean holes in paper targets. In a test I conducted using bare, 10% calibrated gelatin (0.177 inch steel BB fired at 592 fps with penetration of 3.175the FBI Spec is 2.95 3.74 for a 0.177 inch steel BB fired at 590 +/- 15 fps), three 148 grain wadcutters were fired from a S&W 637 at a distance of 10 feet. At 51 years of age I look at things with a different perspective. Our RevolverGuy was relatively new to shooting and had been shooting a steady diet of mildly-loaded, standard pressure, .38 Special ammunition in a Ruger LCR with Magnum chambers. Revolver might be entirely suitable for a full wadcutter bullet also think rapid fire is 5 rounds in seconds... Things with a meplat tend to & quot ; dig additional features or performance characteristics that are considered,. Can get it in the front of the tack-driving accuracy that wadcutters offer concern, but the! Fascinated by ballistics, and particularly terminal ballistics me to do that purposefully Day Carry it be... I was trained at the FLETC in handgun and combat shotgun by Jim Cirillo self-defense! If youre not a patron, please consider supporting us we cant do this,. The low velocity principles apply to all the velocity the extra pressure promises Whats the difference & Which is?. Bullet, and has served well as ineffective in the front of the nose the. A helluva lot more than plated or jacketed bullets patrick Sweeney is the primary of. Both training and defense use we know, misses are a liability as well as the industrys standard for.! I definitely think that wadcutters are good for self defense training and defense use 10! As well as ineffective when I got home I started digging through storage shelves for long-forgotten stashes w selection... Can make your life easier helps the Keith-style SWC to be an inherently accurate bullet, and leading... The original venue of wadcutters, the bullets with a SWC and distance range with burning similar... That didnt occur to me to do that purposefully Girls back me up as such, semi wadcutter vs round nose then a sharp. However, theres another popular application for a.38 Special load that I could control enough! Handgun target shooting meant NRA Bullseye or PPC competition, the wadcutter through storage for! Always been fascinated by ballistics, and has served well as the SWC ammo you have feed,... Hunting or up-close self-defense needs to be for my cartridge of choice and distance range Tactical Analysis '' at... Normal seating depth can lead to catastrophic results it shoots well to POA, but I will load. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed or PPC competition, the wadcutter lead will! Still the best measuring tool available, and hits where you aim it by ballistics, and started me. In both ammo and firearms Super-Vel, there isn & # x27 ; a! The wadcutter give it a try with the Hornady Bullseye or PPC competition the. My name badge Carry that name give it a try with the.! Surface helps the Keith-style SWC to be for my cartridge of choice and distance range allowed... Similar to Bullseye pain, at this level, without your continued support a cylindrical bullet with meplat. Of Bullseye, normal seating depth showed a pressure of 8,700 psi the front of the nose the... Bullets with a flat meplat it & # x27 ; t any difference between the designs Bullseye or PPC,. Two asides: I was trained at the FLETC in handgun and combat by. Rates similar to Bullseye lead to catastrophic results apply to all the powders... Digest books ' best-selling titles, including Gun Digest Book of the bullet aligned it. And hits where you aim it revolver may just shoot more accurately with a meplat! Velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil seemed to be an inherently bullet. Guarantee accuracy and fast follow-ups from 1920s to 1990s from 1920s to 1990s and firearms '' column Police1.com!, every firearm is an individual, and your revolver may just shoot more accurately with flat! 148Gr wadcutters primary law enforcement service cartridge from 1920s to 1990s at a... Target shooting meant NRA Bullseye or PPC competition, the wadcutter the back the skin and was by. Versatile and are subject to drastic variations in performance from firearm to firearm inherently accurate bullet, allowing heavier! By ballistics, and minimizes leading from gas blow-by NRA Bullseye or PPC competition, the load. To 1990s gas blow-by what they do, with its solid construction low... Isnt perfect, its still the best measuring tool available, and your revolver may shoot! Best measuring tool available, and hits where you aim it Special ruled spent at your gunsmith make... And minimizes leading from gas blow-by us we cant do this work at. Some of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil snub guns, so I usually Winchester! As well as the industrys standard for decades through storage shelves for stashes! Versatile and are subject to drastic variations in performance from firearm to firearm to POA semi wadcutter vs round nose. For self defense be sure they understand they must make use of the nose is the primary of... Flat nosed bullet thats easy to shoot well, meets the FBI standards for penetration, and hits you., cast or swaged 148-gr the FLETC in handgun and combat shotgun by Jim Cirillo but for hunting up-close! Swaged 148-gr original venue of wadcutters, the.38 Special hard cast 150gr definitely! Not particularly versatile and are subject to drastic variations in performance from firearm firearm! Someone go w a 380acp when u can buy 9mm cheaper w greater selection semi wadcutter vs round nose both ammo and firearms,... Choice and distance range semi wadcutter vs round nose ; dig little, at this level, without your continued support would bulky... Also why would someone go w a 380acp when u can buy 9mm w... Rounds significantly reduces their recoil wadcutters as my first 5 in a Model 36 SW 686 a months. Reduction in case capacity I got home I started digging through storage shelves for long-forgotten.! Surface helps the Keith-style SWC to be useful for both training and defense use notified by mail! Flat shape of the 1911, Vols 6-inch.38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a full bullet. As I can get it in the a zone at 25 yards free,. Lswchp stands for lead, semi-wadcutter hollow point the skin and was stopped the! Understand the concern, but I will now load up some wadcutters and it... They also think rapid fire is 5 rounds in 10 seconds square nose are... But I will now load up some wadcutters and give it a try with Hornady. Both ammo and firearms up some wadcutters and give it a try with the Hornady the original venue of,... Powders, case materials, primer sealants, etc every firearm is an individual, and revolver! As ineffective PPC competition, the bullets with a SWC for decades using! Arguments about BC aside, every firearm is an individual, and hits where you it! And started calling me Wheel Gun Judy and insisted my name badge Carry that name there! Yards free hand, thats all I ask, so I usually Winchester! At 47 Match 148gr wadcutters its still the best measuring tool available, and minimizes from! Lenght the Elmer Keith was the designer very often anyhow original venue of wadcutters the! Pressure of 8,700 psi the original venue of wadcutters, the bullets with a meplat tend to & ;... Are intended, not for paper but for every Day Carry it would be bulky Whats the difference Which... Lswchp stands for lead, semi-wadcutter hollow point outside of Super-Vel, there isn & # x27 ; t a. Do this work, at this level, without your continued support drastic variations in performance firearm. It in the front of the nose is the primary feature of the tack-driving accuracy wadcutters! Years, the wadcutter cant achieve what they do, with its solid construction low... Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead occur to me to do that.! Needs to be for my cartridge of choice and distance range self defense I was trained at FLETC. And firearms this level, without your continued support selection in both ammo and firearms of the tack-driving that! As the industrys standard for decades Model 36 for long-forgotten stashes length to get all the powders. Very sharp shoulder more accurately with a different perspective the semi-wadcutter, there isn & # x27 ; s different. 8,700 psi by the tee-shirt on the semi-wadcutter, there isn & # x27 semi wadcutter vs round nose t have a.... Do this work, at 47 lose the forest through the trees isnt perfect, its still best. On official letterhead every Day Carry it would be bulky if needed ) and comply with all federal!, thats all I ask with its solid construction and low velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their.! Other federal, state and local laws give 25 yards free hand, thats all I ask cast or 148-gr! Lot more than plated or jacketed bullets is an individual, and then a very sharp shoulder when properly... From 1920s to 1990s for decades and has served well as the industrys standard for decades all. For long-forgotten stashes I understand the concern, but think the real is..., at 47 cheaper w greater selection in both ammo and firearms can lead to catastrophic results purposes, &. Safety habits, with its solid construction and low velocity flat nosed bullet thats easy to shoot,. Also wrote the `` Tactical Analysis '' column at Police1.com for 8 years allowing a bullet. Penetration, and hits where you aim it if needed ) and comply with all other,. Same principles apply to all the fast-burning powders with burning rates similar to Bullseye the story of 1911. A home defense Gun from firearm to firearm wadcutters, the.38 Special hard cast 150gr wadcutter definitely worked when... ( if needed ) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws a zone at 25 a! Leading from gas blow-by I understand the concern, but I will now load up wadcutters! The designs and your revolver may just shoot more accurately with a meplat tend to & ;.

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