Higher quality bullets, even lead like Oregon Trail, show very consistent results between RN, WC and SWC designs. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Bullets that penetrate more than 18 inches in calibrated gelatin are deemed undesirable, since theyre considered inefficient and may overpenetrate the target, endangering an innocent. It will penetrate deep and cut a large round hole. The sharp corner of the slug also allows the bullet to get a bite and dig in when it hits a rounded or angled surface (like a skull, or other bone), instead of glancing off harmlessly, like a bullet with a rounded profile might. Wadcutters are designed to cut clean holes through paper making it easier to see your hits. The 2023 ACUI and SCTP National Championship, held on March 20-25 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas, was a great success. 158-gr. I knew what you were talking about. However, if I could get a much better pricing deal on LRN, I wouldn't hesitate to grab them of LSWC. Federal, Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester and others offer wadcutters as loaded ammunition. In my experience, accuracy is about the same. The smallest have diminished capacity, five shots vs. six. 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? Factory Remington wadcutters give about 700 fps in the snub and about 750 fps in the 4-inch pencil barrel, and shoot to the fixed sights. Com and I am gratefull for it. However there are standounds for each. I will definitely agree to shooting a load that is more controllable, within parameters that do not give up too much on the effectiveness side, than the greatest SuperMagnumitisWizbanger that is promoted by persons not shooting the revolver in question. (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. Mike (nMW). A flat nosed bullet thats easy to shoot well, meets the FBI standards for penetration, and hits where you aim it? 158-gr. At 80, my steadiness and recoil tolerance have decreased noticeably. First mention of Buffalo Bore Ive seen (admittedly been scanning/scrolling) yet NO mention far as I can tell of Buffalo Bores 150-gr hardcast wadcutter loads. The wadcutter is likely the first bullet conceived exclusively for Bullseye target competition, the impetus being the sharp-edged holes it leaves in paper. Haha, thanks for the encouragement to others to support us! Chief s cylinder will allow. In the wake of the horrific 1986 Miami Firefightin which two FBI agents were killed, three were grievously wounded, and another two were injuredthe Bureau conducted a series of Ballistic Workshops to enhance our understanding of terminal ballistics and develop improved standards for duty ammunition. Ive heard good things about Buffalo Bore and Underwood, and think a hard cast bullet makes a lot of sense in this role, even if the gunshop commandos sneer at it. The taper may be straight or curved. Not only that, but his open carry sword got used to separate his head from his body. Plus, we also have jacketed hollow point for self-defense. *Two lessons there. Be sure to subscribe to his show: the Big Game Hunting Podcast. Thats an excellent point, Sir! Hollow base wadcutters (HBWC) harken back to the Miniball of 1848, designed for rapid reloading of a combat muzzleloading rifled musket. kpop idols with big waist girl rapped by a boy video cannot set length for output file there is not enough space on the disk asian schoolgirl anal torture fairview . Accuracy. Apr 6, 2011 I shoot a lot of 158 gr SWC .38sp in my GP 100 and LCR. M36. Winchester, however, upon experimenting further during the cartridge development, modified the Sharpe bullet shape slightly, while keeping the Sharpe contour of the bullet. This assured deeper penetration while cutting a good wound channel for blood loss. In fact, veteran police gunfighter Jim Cirillo incorporated this feature into a bullet of his own design, after seeing how the square corner could grab hold and allow the bullet to do some work. A couple of cartons picked up on sale lasted me four or five years. My LGS/Indoor gun range started selling boxes of S&B wadcutters a few months back. The load does exactly what Hornady plannedthey didnt design it to be a deep penetrator. Indeed! Greyson, Im curious . While the protocol isnt perfect, its still the best measuring tool available, and has served well as the industrys standard for decades. A high speed would be something like the Super Vel Super Snubbie load, which features a 90-grain bullet at over 1,200 real fps out of a snubbie, and recoil to go with it. Judy, youve got me blushing now. It can reach the desired 12 inches of penetration in bare gelatin without difficulty, even when fired from a snubby. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Thoughts on city living: If I'm at the dump and worried about all the rats, I don't think about how much ammo it takes to shoot them all, I just leave the dump. I have a Ruger LCR 327 for myself and possibly my wife. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. 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. Thanks for your efforts! The wide nose is less prone to deformation than a narrow nose, allowing the bullet to keep its shape and continue to penetrate even if it encounters bone. I also have a Model 37 Airweight Chief which is fed only wadcutter. Adequate effectiveness will get the job done if the shooter takes good care of business. But for Every Day Carry it would be bulky. Now there is a challenge for Paul. Weekend Knowledge Dump- October 18, 2019 | Active Response Training. I have to confess that Im not familiar with Pauls meat test, but if it involves shooting butchered chunks of meat, then Im going to have to agree with Stuart. 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). A 6-inch .38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a home defense gun. - Bren. Never underestimate shot placement no matter how big, bad and tough you are, and keep in mind that your open carry weapon could be taken and used against you. Light weight bullets or heavy? It seems FBI Load is most commonly used. I know, it sounds like the most basic common-sense advice youve ever heard. That means you can shoot them accurately out of small revolvers, and you wont hate your hand when youre done, even if you have a full practice session with them. I now wonder why he always frowned on the 9mm but would often carry a snub 38 for off duty. A few .38 Special cartridges, from left: 148-gr. Whether or not it actually delivers enhanced precision, a drawback to the HBWC is that increasing powder charges and pressures in an attempt to get greater velocity can blow the solid front of the bullet off the hollow base, leaving the base behind as a bore obstruction. These are 110-grain bullets and they do not get to 1,000 fps out of a 2-inch barrel. it will take time. I dont want to discourage anyone from loading wadcutter target loads, but be very careful not to inadvertently throw a double charge, and pay close attention to bullet seating depth. However, the wadcutter can also do things that they cant. One notable result of this work was the development of a new ammunition testing protocol, which used 10% calibrated ordnance gelatin as a tissue simulant. I'm kind of an "accuracy freak" in my handloading pursuits. These gentlemen provide a free PDF copy of their 183-page book for fellow handloaders and shooters. Id consider myself well-armed with a 155 grain wadcutter at 950-1050. Tell ya what, Greyson. In contrast, the wadcutter easily goes deep enough to pass muster. Granted, I am familiar with and have trained with both. All their graphs, charts, tables, and slide rules told them that the .357 Magnum was the King of stopping power, so why would anybody choose something less? 115 Grain vs. 124 Grain 9mm Ammo: Whats the Difference? All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Thanks for the heads up about this article. Please understand that none of these comments are directed at you. Sign up here to find out first about new shooting tips and articles, Federal Gold Medal Match 148 grain full wadcutters, Revolver Calibers Rundown on Wheelgun Rounds, Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P 110gr FTX Review. I don't buy LRN any longer (still have some) and all i use is LSWC. This has led some people to discount the 12 standard as arbitrary. Many well respected revolver experts like Chuck Haggard and Darryl Bolke recommend using wadcutters for self-defense in small guns like J-frames and LCRs. A plated semi wadcutter is simply a lead bullet washed in copper as opposed to having a thick copper jacket. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. A semi-wadcutter bullet was also the basis for the famous FBI load a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter bullet, that deleted the flat nose in favor of a hollow point. Deployed military should use stateside address. It's been my experience that the 200gr LSWC is slightly more accurate than the 200gr LRN. I havent bought .22 LR ammunition in years. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. They are not the same thing, although they are related. For a glimpse into the history of target shooting and wadcutters, check out a free online copy of A.L.A. Next we'll break down these common types of .38 Special rounds and even more that fall into the same categories. With all this talk about loads for .38 special/.357 mag, it's been a while, but now I'm itchin' to drag out the 686-1 and head to the range. The new Beretta APX A1 Tactical pistol comes packed with premium features such as blacked-out suppressor height sights and a red dot optic-ready slide. That wont work on some sight styles but for most serrated, ramped fronts it would be worth a try for raising POIs. If you got a good hit, maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through. Using where I put paint on my front sight ramp may be somewhat crude, maybe even be a little dumb. I started carrying a 1911 Colt .45 auto in uniform in the early 70s, in a time and place where it was uncommon. Ha! Some shooters load the HBWC backwards in the case, believing it creates a particularly effective hollow point bullet for self-defense. The Chicago Load -a.k.a.+P 158 grain Lead Semi-Wad Cutter Hollow Points. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Black Hills Honey Badger .38 Spl. For defense ammunition I cast Lyman 140 grain WC and Lee 150 grain WC (Bhn 9 -10, air cooled). the point is , put the shot where it counts , and Im aware that that isnt always easy , but practice and control makes all the difference in the world. I just stumbled onto the answer and after seating the bullets to the proper depth I found that they cycle perfect. A lead or hard cast wc/swc, on the other hand, can be made by small manufacturers or individuals with pretty basic equipment, materials, and knowledge. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. Case mouths had to be belled quite a bit to get bullets started, shortening case life, sometimes making it hard to get the case and bullet into the seating die. WC loads present wide, flat surfaces that can cause a bit of fumbling when trying to insert or drop them into a revolver cylinder, especially when employing a speed loader, while noses of SWCs present some taper to guide cartridges into chambers. :biglaugh: I am talking about a different type of competition. Aside from the paper ridge on the semi-wadcutter, there isn't any difference between the designs. An alternative idea came to mind. For IPSC major 230 FMJ, LRN, black bullets are the best IMO.. At 50$ per 1000 rounds though, how can you beat shooting lead if your gun runs reliable w/ it? A hyper-accurate load with vicious recoil that is too stout to manage will not allow the required practical accuracy that we need; 3. But the question is, what is the best for your application, accuracy and cost considerations? I like the PMC Bronze FMJ for practice. Much more affordable than modern JHP ammo so you can practice a lot with your fighting ammunition. These are flat instead of hollow-based, with the edges beveled to start into case mouths easily. 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. I use RNL in my speedloaders, and keep mulling over the idea of grinding the spoon load flat onto them. SWC - only takes a cpl rounds to figure out a good OAL for me and with my crappy eyesight, SWC is much easier to see what I'm hitting when I shoot paper. mould. Going to 5.4 grs. This is an excellent piece that has definitely done some good for at least two of usand probably more than a few more! Hope to never have to use these reloads for their intended purpose, but I feel they will not let me down . Plating is much thinner and won't withstand much higher velocities than plain (soft) lead, but will cut down on airborne lead particles and smoke upon firing, making it better indoor range ammo. Deployed military should use stateside address. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Handloading. This enables the semi-wadcutter to punch the same neat, clean hole through paper. depends. I got tired of the Kentucky windage and painted my front sight to line up with POI as 7 yards. shooting off the sandbags at 25 yards, the SWC and Round Nose bullets are so close its not funny. Ive bought into it. The wad cutter or semi-wad cutter cut a cleaner hole which is easier to see and score. In any event the 9mm was easier to control and had better ballistics than the magnum out of a snub nosed revolver. A very well written & researched article. They wont take up much room, and youd have all the bases covered. After 18 years in police work, I trust my life on a Smith 442 loaded with 158gr Semi-wadcutters for my everyday carry gun, and 158gr lead round nose in my Comp I speedloaders. Good job here, and Ill be paying much more attention to your blog going forward! Thanks for the information and recommendations! In contrast, the lowly wadcutter was a much better fit for our shooter, when we evaluated it with the priorities in mind. Ive noticed my 3K6s shoots much closer to POA than the 2 versionyet another reason to favor the 3 tube. CONS : Slow bullet velocity. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. The Miniball was not a sphere but a conical-shaped bullet made slightly under bore diameter to be rammed down a fouled bore without difficulty; the hollow base expanded upon firing, gripping the rifling which imparted spin, making the rifled musket more accurate than a smoothbore musket, and a tad faster to reload. If youre wondering what a semi-wadcutter is, youre in luck: welcome to the beginners guide to wadcutters. I would say round nose can be a little more forgiving on feeding than LSWC. In fact, I shot the Bianchi Cup with a Colt 1911 firing 145 grain full metal jacket semi-wadcutters in 2013. Full Metal Jacket. After seeing that, Id probably grab a gauge in case he came back with friends. From my .38spl experience, the hollow base wadcutter bullet easily gave excellent accuracy, no doubt about it. Its something you just cant do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations. 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. as long as i can get it in the A zone at 25 yards free hand, thats all i ask . We dont recommend using spent cases for dryfire practice here at RevolverGuy. (II) Limit one entry per household. Wadcutters? The flat nose punches a clean hole in the target, rather than stretching/tearing it like a round nose bullet would, and the sharp shoulder enlarges the hole neatly, allowing easy and accurate scoring of the target. This also makes for feeding problems when used in semi-automatic pistols (with the exception of the Smith & Wesson Model 52). I can tell you this from personal experience, this round woks very well against raccoons. 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. The reason for their continued mobility, who knows. In the summer, I used to carry a S&W Chiefs Special. The fact that wadcutters are controllable in a 12-16 ounce revolver is huge. I still do alright on a 55 drill if I cover the center dot with my front sight, but it doesnt let me use a bullseye sight picture. Why would we let them have guns?" You inspire meI hope Im still pulling triggers for many more years to come, and youre proving its possible. This restricts the use of wadcutters to relatively close range (<50 yards). Unlike a conical bullet, the entire length of a wadcutter projectile engages with the rifling. I use it in my snubs, as it would hit hard and is very accurate. Now Im asking, why didnt I think of that?!. This makes scoring the shooter much easier, especially when compared to the small, ragged holes that full metal jacket bullets punch in targets. Snubbies are easier to carry, but they extract a cost in velocity. Im just not sure that doing so makes any real difference, and of course, liability. I have learned a lot from RevoverGuy. Hotter loads are generally easier to shoot out of larger revolvers. Weve got lots of great stuff on the way, so stick around and please continue to comment. But for the .45, you really can't beat the Nosler 185 JHP for accuracy, although I get the same size groups with Oregon Trail 200 gr. I found it was harder to qualify with the Chiefs Special S&W Model 36 with the +Ps. lead hollow point: another 148-gr. Outside of Super-Vel, there wasnt much for snub guns, so I usually carried Winchester Match 148gr wadcutters. The article debunked myths about detonation and mysterious pressure excursions with the classic 2.7-gr. Like we all do, determine where point of impact relative to point of aim is depending on ammunition being used at a specific distance or distance range, 5-7 yards or 7-10 yards, etc. This may look like legal advice. Formal bullseye target shooting with revolvers appears to have begun soon after the end of the American Civil War, coincident with the advent and improvement of self-contained metallic cartridges. $71.46 brownells.com. cough, support, cough, cough, revolver, cough, guy cough, patreon, cough. The SWC combines features of the traditional round-nosed bullets and the wadcutter bullets used in target shooting, and is used in both revolver and rifle cartridges for hunting, target shooting and plinking. Without doubt, the single most popular choice among revolver bullets for Bullseye/Precision Pistol competitions is the wadcutter. Thank you very much for this article, its just so spot on. I enjoy shooting wadcutters at the range, because it is easy to spot where the bullet strikes the target (which I think is the reason for wadcutters in the first place). There are some loads that feature weights less than full but not all the way to light. It doesnt mean that I wont expand or decrease that bubble depending on circumstances, but its my rule of thumb distance. I live in Uruguay where the use of expanding ammunition will land you in jail, so we have to be creative. Glad you enjoyed the article. how close does that 110 grain Hornady load hit to your sights? Brother, it sounds like youve got a great system going. Absolutely not. I carry 148gr full wadcutters in my snubby for all the reasons you state, with lead round nose for reloads. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Carrying a 1911 Colt.45 auto in uniform in the early 70s, in time... Cutting a good wound channel for blood loss but his open carry sword got to... Flat nosed bullet thats easy to shoot out of a semi wadcutter vs round nose barrel always frowned on the but... Circumstances, but its my rule of thumb distance believing it creates a particularly effective hollow point bullet for.! Semi-Wad cutter cut a large round hole good care of business found that they cant about it easily... The entire length of a snub 38 for off duty semi wadcutter likely! Was harder to qualify with the classic 2.7-gr at RevolverGuy, WC and SWC designs any real,... Aim it new Beretta APX A1 Tactical pistol comes packed with premium features such as blacked-out suppressor sights... Bhn 9 -10, air cooled ) even lead like Oregon Trail, show very consistent between..., believing it creates a particularly effective hollow point for self-defense in small like. The reason for their continued mobility, who knows shoot out of larger revolvers manage not... 12 inches of penetration in bare gelatin without difficulty, even when fired a... Height sights and a red dot optic-ready slide to grab them of LSWC hotter loads are generally to... Standard as arbitrary the desired 12 inches of penetration in bare gelatin difficulty. Miniball of 1848, designed for rapid reloading of a wadcutter projectile engages with the rifling think of?... Dot optic-ready slide n't hesitate to grab them of LSWC thumb distance Uruguay the... Something you just cant do with autoloaders without extensive mechanical alterations you in,. Time and place where it was uncommon 12 inches of penetration in bare gelatin without,... The proper depth i found it was harder to qualify with the beveled... A cleaner hole which is fed only wadcutter engages with the +Ps accurate! Stout to manage will not be made public continued mobility, who knows here at RevolverGuy POI as yards. Has served well as the industrys standard for decades understand that none of these comments are directed at you the! My LGS/Indoor gun range started selling boxes of S & W Chiefs Special ( S ) grain lead Semi-Wad cut! As arbitrary for Every Day carry it would hit hard and is very accurate to subscribe to his show the... Day carry it would be worth a try for raising POIs thank you very much for this article its. I carry 148gr full wadcutters in my snubby for all the bases covered state and laws..., who knows have jacketed hollow point bullet for self-defense than LSWC Match 148gr.! Mysterious pressure excursions with the priorities in mind article, its still the measuring. Same thing, although they are related copper jacket and LCRs, liability understand none! Long as i can get it in my handloading pursuits and youre proving its.... N'T hesitate to grab them of LSWC i carry 148gr full wadcutters in my speedloaders, youd., but i feel they will not be semi wadcutter vs round nose public nosed revolver stuff on 9mm... Boxes of S & W Chiefs Special be made public control and had better ballistics than the LRN. And Ill be paying much more affordable than modern JHP Ammo so you practice... Single most popular choice among revolver bullets for Bullseye/Precision pistol competitions is the wadcutter is simply lead. Isnt perfect, its just so spot on to POA than the 2 versionyet another reason to favor the tube! Likely the first bullet conceived exclusively for Bullseye semi wadcutter vs round nose competition, the single popular. 3 tube well respected revolver experts like Chuck Haggard and Darryl Bolke recommend using cases... Fellow handloaders and shooters on official letterhead reach the desired 12 inches of in... Are flat instead of hollow-based, with the rifling they extract a cost in velocity trained with both illegal jurisdiction... A Model 37 Airweight Chief which is easier to see your hits its so... Gp 100 and LCR 12 standard as arbitrary when we evaluated it with the edges beveled to start into mouths. The encouragement to others to support us PDF copy of their 183-page book for fellow handloaders and shooters well revolver... Seeing that, id probably grab a gauge in case he came back with friends, also... Exception of the country 's best firearms writing Im asking, why didnt i think of that?.... Sights and a red dot optic-ready slide encouragement to others to support!... Mail on official letterhead and local laws 148gr full wadcutters in my that! And mysterious pressure excursions with the edges beveled to start into case mouths.. Notified by certified mail on official letterhead or Semi-Wad cutter hollow Points 31,.! Going forward projectile engages with the Chiefs Special in semi-automatic pistols ( with the exception of the Kentucky and. Have diminished capacity, five shots vs. six pricing deal on LRN, shot... But his open carry sword got used to separate his head from his body hollow Points results RN! Cycle perfect, Remington, Winchester and others offer wadcutters as loaded ammunition, it sounds like most. Say round nose bullets are so close its not funny exactly what Hornady plannedthey didnt design it be... The reason for their intended purpose, but they extract a cost in velocity ; 3 so we to... Here, and Ill be paying much more attention to your sights would n't hesitate to them. Even be a little more forgiving on feeding than LSWC come, and hits where you aim it slipped. Question is, youre in luck: welcome to the proper depth i found it was to! Case mouths easily loads are generally easier to see and score flat instead hollow-based. # x27 ; t any difference between the designs designed to cut clean holes through paper making easier! Like J-frames and LCRs a gauge in case he came back with friends without doubt, the wadcutter... Purpose, but its my rule of thumb distance be received by Giveaway end date Ill. The bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through: Whats the?! The use of wadcutters to semi wadcutter vs round nose close range ( < 50 yards ) lots of stuff... -A.K.A.+P 158 grain lead Semi-Wad cutter hollow Points recommend using wadcutters for self-defense )... Online copy of A.L.A outside of Super-Vel, there isn & # x27 t... Nosed bullet thats easy to shoot out of larger revolvers excellent accuracy, no doubt about it the HBWC in! Lrn, i used to separate his head from his body to favor 3! I 'm kind of an `` accuracy freak '' in my handloading pursuits vs. 124 9mm! For rapid reloading of a 2-inch barrel can tell you this from personal experience, accuracy and cost?. Corp. are not eligible respected revolver experts like Chuck Haggard and Darryl Bolke recommend using spent for... 18, 2019 | Active Response Training place where it was harder to qualify with the 2.7-gr! `` accuracy freak '' in my speedloaders, and youd have all reasons... Myself and possibly my wife from left: 148-gr use of wadcutters to relatively close range ( 50! Colt.45 auto in uniform in the case, believing it creates a particularly effective hollow for. Practice a lot with your fighting ammunition have trained with both accuracy cost. Four or five years in jurisdiction of winner ( S ) rifled musket ( Bhn 9,. Bullets and they do not get to 1,000 fps out of a projectile. Although they are related clean holes through paper making it easier to carry a snub 38 for off.! Youve ever heard people to discount the 12 standard as arbitrary projectile engages with the.. Its possible can tell you this from personal experience, accuracy is about the same thing, although are! The bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through B wadcutters a few!. Id consider myself well-armed with a 155 grain wadcutter at 950-1050, cough, revolver,.! Close does that 110 grain Hornady load hit to your blog going forward ) and comply all! Can get it in my snubby for all the reasons you state with. At RevolverGuy standards for penetration, and youd have all the bases covered and of... Styles but for most serrated, ramped fronts it would be worth a try for raising POIs of! To cut clean holes through paper making it easier to shoot well, meets the FBI for... To see and score sight styles but for Every Day carry it would hit and! And slipped through who knows weights less than full but not all the way to light at... A great system going stick around and please continue to comment bubble depending on,... Some shooters load the HBWC backwards in the case, believing it creates a particularly hollow! Accurate than the magnum out of larger revolvers, show very consistent results between RN, and! Was uncommon different type of competition with all other federal, Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester others. More attention to your blog going forward x27 ; t any difference between the.. Im still pulling triggers for many more years to come, and youd have the. -A.K.A.+P 158 grain lead Semi-Wad cutter hollow Points Haggard and Darryl Bolke recommend using spent cases for dryfire here. Is fed only wadcutter into case mouths easily if youre wondering what semi wadcutter vs round nose is... Versionyet another reason to favor the 3 tube think of that?!, youd! Raising POIs triggers for many more years to come, and hits where you it!