semi wadcutter vs round nose

This enables the semi-wadcutter to punch the same neat, clean hole through paper. In this case, LSWCHP stands for lead, semi-wadcutter hollow point.. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Ive always been fascinated by ballistics, and particularly terminal ballistics. When I first considered it, I found some gel tests (Lucky Gunner, I believe) and was surprised that they penetrated more than deep enough. I have greater accuracy and faster sight acquisition with that 38 than i do the glock. Terminal Effectiveness. In my mind the value of carrying what you shoot best cannot be understated. . Thats an excellent point, Sir! 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. $71.46 brownells.com. Pointy bullets or some round nose bullets can be a real problem. The more I think about this subject, the more I am inclined to switch to wadcutters. Some shooters load the HBWC backwards in the case, believing it creates a particularly effective hollow point bullet for self-defense. Our shooters formerly tight, well-centered groups turned into shotgun patterns with a bunch of low, 6 OClock hits that betrayed some recoil anticipation. 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. I sent him a photo of my first combo .38 Special wadcutter and 130 gr. Save my name and email to use for future comments. They just waddle-trott on up into the woods, cruising by my propane tank thereby avoiding any further attempts at pest control. Snubbies knock off around 100 fps of muzzle velocity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hire your own counsel to advise you. Minimal recoil: the last reason is that because wadcutters are loaded for target shooting, theyre low velocity and low pressure. The reason for their continued mobility, who knows. I really can shoot wadcutters and be taken seriously? Ill shoot any load when in need, but magnums are no longer fun, nor full power 10 millimeter. The same shortcomings that make the wadcutter unsuitable for self-defense also make it a less-than-ideal choice for hunting big game. The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a flat tip, and then a very sharp shoulder. It might be higher up the front sight ramp, or lower down the front sight ramp. Ha! 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. The concave sides reduce the bullet weight, and thus the recoil, while keeping the overall length of the bullet long enough to feed reliably in a semi-automatic pistol such as the M1911 commonly found in bullseye competitions. Coffinmaker Slick2 Members 14 Gender:Male Location:Auburn Washington The earliest wadcutter on commercial record is the c. 1900 Himmelwright, still available from Matts Bullets. Relief? The low velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil. Sometimes bringing them back to factory specs is harder then it should be. 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. Its predictable that our strength and coordination may change a bit as we get more experienced (I wish I could get that 21 year old kid back), but with some changes to gear and habits, and some old-fashioned grit, we can still stay in the game. 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. A person who is so careless that they would hurt themselves in the manner you described, probably isnt safe with any gun/ammo combination, and shouldnt have access to them without proper supervision. But that Buffalo Bore .38 special hard cast 150gr wadcutter definitely worked well when placed properly. When made from hardened lead, these rounds often penetrate better than round-nose bullets. Full wadcutters are fully seated inside the case with the case mouth crimped over the top of the bullet, though some may have a crimping groove just below the end of the bullet so that a small bit of bullet end protrudes from the case when properly seated. As a result, wadcutter bullets should only be used for self-defense purposes if there is nothing else available. I fell in love with lswc's so long ago I don't even remember what a roundnose looks like. Indeed! If you want more you can have it, but you will pay for it, in particular, a +P load in a five-shot snubbie becomes work, or even painful, to shoot. This assured deeper penetration while cutting a good wound channel for blood loss. The RN kinda pushes through, the SWC cuts a .45 caliber hole. IDPA, USPSA, double taps on the move, plates, moving targets, reloads, run and gun all on the timer!! Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Granted, I am familiar with and have trained with both. 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. Thanks for the heads up about this article. I use either the 140 or 150 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters. They are not the same thing, although they are related. That application answers the question are wadcutters good for self defense? The surprising answer to that question is yes. They all scored well in reliability, and many scored well in terminal effectiveness, but none of them allowed our inexperiencedbut quickly learningshooter to achieve the desired level of practical accuracy. Four .38 Specials pose for comparison; (l.-r.) jacketed hollow point, lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and full wadcutter. Before there was Polymer there was Accuracy. it will take time. Clear editor. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. *Two lessons there. The performance of the Honey Badger, a solid copper, fluted bullet at less than robust recoil, seems to have been made for the .38 Special. Outstanding! Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Deployed military should use stateside address. Nix, that load sounds excellent to me. B shows a concave sided SWC, typical of a lightweight .45 ACP bullet used in bullseye shooting. The same goes for cast lead SWC's. Some loads (like Federals 9BPLEa 115 grain, 9mm+P+ jacketed hollowpoint) regularly fail to meet the 12 gelatin penetration standard, yet have excellent track records in actual police shootings. Or just buy what's cheapest ? What is the deal with the low one an high one? I am not your lawyer. 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. I could almost hear the sigh of relief through the wires when I told our friend that it wasnt necessary to carry Magnum ammo in a Magnum revolver, and that I wouldnt do it myself in the Ruger LCR. For the range, round nose is just fine. Deployed military should use stateside address. depends. Itll do the job if you do yours. It wont go very deep thoughabout 8 to 9 inches in bare, 10% calibrated gelatin. The FBI protocol also penalizes a bullet that penetrates too deeply. I value the consistency and reliability of WCs over all other bullets. Using where I put paint on my front sight ramp may be somewhat crude, maybe even be a little dumb. As we know, misses are a liability as well as ineffective! I like him, instead of arguing with him I made him into a meme .. another story. A semi-wadcutter, truncated cone, or round nose flat point with can give long range accuracy and tend to penetrate straight in game. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Pasted as rich text. One solution was the beveled-base wadcutter (BBWC). And I had a great deal of fun in the process. I also use .38 special wadcutters from Choice Ammunition, which they claim are hard cast but low velocity (experience with them tells me this is true, maybe +/- 700 fps?). Mike, I do not trust my Taurus 85 stainless with too many +p loads, so I use that Hornady std. The wadcutter at 1050 would probably be a sweetheart in either the 686 or GP100. Contest void where prohibited by law. Plus, these modern wonder bullets can only be made on an industrial scale, by a major manufacturer. Try some TC - truncated cone - best of both worlds. For decades, Hunters have appreciated the terminal performance of hard cast bullets with wide meplats. Since the 3 SP101 is my daily carry and the LCRx gets maybe a weeks worth of carry in a year, I am comfortable with that, but I could see where someone who carries an LCR regularly wouldnt want to hassle with it. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. You inspire meI hope Im still pulling triggers for many more years to come, and youre proving its possible. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. A lightweight .38 Special ammo choice that wont punish you would be the Hornady Critical Defense, or Critical Defense Lite. You can post now and register later. The SWC makes such nice big round holes. By At 1/8 deeper, 16,100 psi. Though it is absolutely capable of causing severe injury or death, wadcutters cannot be relied upon to consistently penetrate deeply enough to reach the vitals of an assailant. Notice I said most and usually. Thank you very much for this article, its just so spot on. Its all DVC, just different ratios for different sports. pressure in the gun, now relegated to fishing-vest carry. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. . (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. From the looks of your chart, my cop friend was in the ballpark. How compact/concealed must you be? Right. Two asides: I was trained at the FLETC in handgun and combat shotgun by Jim Cirillo. Your Industry Needs YOUR Expert Voice Not do much of a comment but more a question. OK, it seems as if the SWC shooters like the holes. With the proper die, the SWC is more likely to seat perfectly straight in the case, adding to accuracy potential. 115 Grain vs. 124 Grain 9mm Ammo: Whats the Difference? how close does that 110 grain Hornady load hit to your sights? Hence my user name and initials: WGJ. You can only do so much inside a .38 Special case within SAAMI limits. Theres been more than one accident from a novice shooter or unauthorized user firing a flush-seated 38 wadcutter that they thought was an empty case. I now have a M637 Airweight. John McAdams Certainly there are many folks out there who are not gun people, but who feel the need to have a gun for self-protection. However there are standounds for each. JavaScript is disabled. I have a new challenge, thanks to your mail. Then, pack the largest .38 revolver you can comfortably carry and conceal, and use the stoutest load in it that you can comfortably shoot. Before finding us, our RevolverGuy had sought advice from local experts, and the bullet nerds in the community insisted that 125 grain, .357 Magnum loads were the way to go. my old colt would hang up once in awhile with the 200gr.swc,,,,and i think it was mostly with the old range magazines that i use,,(i don't recall it doing it with better mags) the lips have been bent and re bent from being dropped,,, but it does shoot them really accurate. Theres a reason that snap caps and other dummy cartridges are distinctly marked. Do not expect all SWC ammo to feed however. A master gunsmith, Patrick is also Handguns Editor for Guns & Ammo magazine. step. We've got the platform you need. As Ive taken a big step back from revolvers and am not constantly practicing with them, I am perhaps re-entering neophyte status in that I dont have the stomach for heavy ammo from small guns that I once did. Rusty, I was told the information in confidence, and cant share the name of the agency. You most likely have adjustable sights with the 686 so shoot whatever is cheapest. Anecdotal evidence and testimony indicates that the police officers in New York City who were issued semi-wadcutters generallyhad a more favorable impression of their ammo performance than the officers in Los Angeles who were issuedround nose lead bullets. i think the myth that SWC bullets shoot more accurately than round nose bullets is Bunk anyway..ive never seen an appreciable difference with them in that dept. I shoot regularly at the range, in addition to the classes I take. Absolutely not. A member of Team Taurus, Team Bushnell and Team Hoppes, Harrison used a Bushnell reflex sight to help extend her streak of consecutive Ladies titles at the match, which was recently revived by Doug Koenig. Its much harder on the firearm and its much harder on the shooter! You need the barrel length to get all the velocity the extra pressure promises. Chief s cylinder will allow. Bullseye load. like the nice round holes they cut. Wadcutters, semi wadcutters, and the like arent as sexy, and sure, they dont exhibit the same theoretical damage to soft tissue in an ideal situation as a high tech hollow point. The pointy, rounded bullet will slip through tissue and leave a wound track thats smaller in diameter than the bullet itself, because the tissue will temporarily stretch to allow the passage of the bullet, then recover. Good article. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. Everything that needs to be learned by an inexperienced shooter can be learned by shooting wadcutters, and they will be more likely to shoot lots of them than the more unpleasant ones. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Is this a main gun or a backup? Not all SWC are created equal. Thats an excellent point, Daniel. Originally intended for target shooting, semi-wadcutters gained popularity for hunting after legendary gunwriter Elmer Keith designed a semi-wadcutter for hunting. The .38 was invented in the late 19th century, given up for dead in the latter half of the 20th, and resurrected by the time the 21st rolled around. With these either end can be started into the case mouth. for my snubbies. Jan 12, 2008 I am new to 1911 pistols, but not new to loading ammo. The ammo issued that day was PMC 158gr +P FMJ. Great article. Pressure is all. The heavyweights top out at the normal for .38 Special weight, 158 grains. If God had intended autopistols to be double action, or plastic, He would have had John Moses Browning design it that way in the first place. lead round nose; 158-gr. I think his idea of the precious effect has been very relevant for me. I use it in my snubs, as it would hit hard and is very accurate. 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. FMJ target. I'm willing to be that the high and low round were caused by either the bullet pull issue mentioned by Harmon or by one odd case with a lower capacity (raises pressure and velocity) and one odd case with higher capacity (lowers pressure and velocity) since the cases were mixed brands. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. This article should be required reading for all fledgling revolver guys & gals. Its interesting to note that when Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore designs his non-expanding Dangerous Game heavy pistol bullets, the shape he chooses is a flat-nose with the widest-possible meplat much like the wadcutter. If used in a home self defense Im sure my ears would prefer the latter. These are 110-grain bullets and they do not get to 1,000 fps out of a 2-inch barrel. Thetypical, low power, soft lead, target load does around 600-700 fps out of a snubby revolver, and penetrates around 16 inches in bare, calibrated gelatin. 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. Also, FWIW we are in absolute agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty of times. If youre 2+ inches off at 7 with the 2 gun, I wonder what that would look like at 25, too. 25 yard pistol range. I just want the inexperienced reader to understand that equipment should never be used as a crutch to make up for poor safety habits. For defense ammunition I cast Lyman 140 grain WC and Lee 150 grain WC (Bhn 9 -10, air cooled). Mike (nMW), I wonder if the HST didnt open up at all before it exited? The story of the california agency using .45 hardball is quite fascinating. With these either end can be started into the case mouth. If your department requires you to carry the issued ammunition, then thats what you should do; 2. Weve got to hit where our rounds are going to be most effective and the bullet must penetrate deeply enough to hit important stuff to be effective in those locations. However, it struggles in applications outside of its primary use. Consider the case of a budding RevolverGuy who contacted me recently, seeking a recommendation for a defensive load. 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. This large bearing surface helps the Keith-style SWC to be an inherently accurate bullet, and minimizes leading from gas blow-by. Back before expanding hollowpoints were the norm for defensive handgun ammo, the bullets with wide, flat noses had the best reputations for hitting the hardest and delivering the most shock. (Same reason I like revolvers). His reply to I.A.D. Never underestimate shot placement, wise words for sure. but the way i shoot, i don't think it'll help me out . Hotter loads are generally easier to shoot out of larger revolvers. Your link has been automatically embedded. These have nearly cylindrical noses, which are as long as the firearm chamber allows, and just slightly smaller than bore diameter so they will easily chamber. Editor's Notes: This article is an excerpt from Choosing Handgun Ammo: The Facts That Matter Most for Self-Defense by Patrick Sweeney. Other than that small drawback, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense. The final choice of bullet for the .357 Magnum was thus based on the earlier Keith and Sharpe bullets, while additionally having slight differences from both. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. I find that full-magnum loads in the 640 arent much fun. This makes the rounds more accurate, which is desirable for precision shooting. Wadcutters? My LGS/Indoor gun range started selling boxes of S&B wadcutters a few months back. An alternative idea came to mind. A .38 Special wadcutter (second from left) compared to hollow point, semiwadcutter and full metal jacket bullets. This puts more weight in the front of the bullet, allowing a heavier bullet with no reduction in case capacity. The wide square bottom grease groove holds ample lubricant. A while back I got asked by a local gun shop guy why I carried wadcutters. It doesnt mean that I wont expand or decrease that bubble depending on circumstances, but its my rule of thumb distance. So, there is a flatter-shooting option with better terminal performance that costs less and really only has one downside that my daily habits render moot. Im not sure that a little more exposed lead would be a sufficient safeguard to prevent someone like that from committing an error. Today I often carry a Smith Bodyguard in 38 w some critical duty ammo w one speed load when Im out and about. The original load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a stopper. If you're unsure what you need, check out our guide on How to Buy Ammo and grab a box today! 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. Target shooters like wadcutter loads for their accuracy, light recoil and moderate cost. So, after some discussions and some testing, we found a better solution for our friend, and that solution was about as far from the fire-breathing Magnum as you could get. 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. . The story of a long-barrel .357 Mag. Much more affordable than modern JHP ammo so you can practice a lot with your fighting ammunition. A few .38 Special cartridges, from left: 148-gr. In police work, thats called a clue. Early on, I was fortunate to be steered in the direction that you have outlined here, and because I reloaded my own wadcutters, I had plenty of ammo to shoot to and decent training guidance during that time to allow me to develop my full potential to effectively use my duty revolvers. 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. 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. During the development at Smith & Wesson, the original Keith bullet was modified slightly, to the form of the Sharpe bullet, which itself was based upon the Keith bullet, but which had 5/6 of the bearing surface of the Keith bullet, Keith bullets typically being made oversized and sized down. Its an excellent choice for a snubby, especially for a standard pressure load. Do you mind posting your loads? That said, if my memory is correct (it should be close, I watched the standard pressure ammo videos last week), wadcutters penetrated the pork ribs on the back of his target but were stopped by the skin (pig ears, if I remember right) on the back. I get better accuracy out of them and they feed well in all my 1911's. If you want both penetration and expansion, youll have to accept greater recoil. Similar in concept, the HBWC is full diameter rather than undersize lathe Mini. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. 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. 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. At 51 years of age I look at things with a different perspective. SIG Elite .38 Special Ammo $17.99 cabelas.com. 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. Wadcutter bullets are almost always unjacketed and made of lead. I usually shot 97-100 with my duty autos. The protocol revolutionized the way that manufacturers designed and tested their ammunition, and gave the industry a common standard for the very first time. JavaScript is disabled. In my Mode 36 I use either of the Remington, Winchester or Federal version I have on hand. For instance, on my 442 since the front sight is black I use Testors white model paint . There are three reasons you might select wadcutters for self defense. Furthermore, the .38 Special, 148 grain wadcutter frequently shoots to point of aim on fixed sight guns, which eliminates the need for manual corrections by the shooter, and enhances the likelihood of precision under stress. Federal Train + Protect 158-grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point TP38VHP1 If you cannot control heavier 38 Special loads, this Federal Gold Medal wadcutter is a viable choice. Your email address will not be published. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2022. Black Hills Honey Badger .38 Spl. JavaScript is disabled. I didnt know that Id strike such a chord on this topic, but Im glad to see so many knowledgeable RevolverGuys chiming in and sharing their experience. I suspect they started slow and just get faster and faster and faster LOL,,,, bill i give,,, SWC will slice a nicer hole,, and going faster will definitely open things up,,,i haven't done any bullseye stuff for a long time. They were so easy to shoot. [1], The semiwadcutter design consists of a roughly conical shape with the tip truncated flat (called a meplat), sitting on a cylinder (A at right). 148-grain HBWC bullet. I shoot a lot of clays. These can be too easily mistaken for fired and empty cases. Re: 38 Special Factory 158gr Lead Semi-Wadcutter or Lead Round Nose For Distinguished Revolver. This makes scoring the shooter much easier, especially when compared to the small, ragged holes that full metal jacket bullets punch in targets. I had a Sergeant at a small village I used to patrol who once shot a raccoon no less than ten times with .45ACP Winchester Ranger SXT. Why am I not carrying this wonder-round? Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Thats not a problem for many RevolverGuys, but it can be limiting for others. Light weight bullets or heavy? Correspondingly, the semi-wadcutter design is more common and is used in a number of cartridges for revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, and even a few rifles for both target shooting and big game hunting. Like the .380 ACP cartridge, the .38 Special doesnt have a lot of surplus energy to work with, and it can be highly sensitive to the velocity losses sustained in short barrels like that of the Ruger LCR (1.87). Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. - Bren. Semi-wadcutters, however, can be more reliable in pistols and can sometimes be . 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. DISCLAIMER: All information posted by horsesoldier03 is strickly MY HUMBLE OPINION! Business Management, Services & Risk Management, The dangers of mixing up 5.56x45mm NATO and .223 Remington rounds, How to properly sight in a rifle with a scope, Battery issues: Understanding your RVs electrical systems, The advantages of using a .45-70 cartridge, To fight crime, engage kids in quality after-school programs, 7 trigger control errors and how to fix them, Whats the best distance to practice at for self-defense? Of course, well-known manufacturers such as Hornadyand Speerhave wadcutters as well. I dont want to shoot too much of my precious, expensive defense ammo. Full wadcutters frequently have problems feeding from magazines reliably in semi-automatics, so SWCs may be used when a true WC is desired but cannot be used for this reason. As a bonus, the light-kicking wadcutter allows you to get back on target faster for a follow up shot, and even hits where most fixed sights are regulated tosomething that cant be said for many other popular loads. At 80, my steadiness and recoil tolerance have decreased noticeably. I like lswc I've been casting a lot of lyman # 452630 lately. Like others have stated and for what its worth, I dont think Im lacking self defense capabilities by carrying the lowly wadcutter either. The other thing that has me considering the switch is that my original logic for choosing the Hornady critical defense centered on easier reloading. Ok, the following is my version of a lazy-poor-mans (or womans) front sight regulation/adjustment, its simple and reversible. For defence purposes, it's a different story. It was earth-shattering in 1898, when invented, but even before WWII we knew better. This bullet is shaped similarly to a round nose flat point and has a hollow nose that is usually covered with a thin layer of lead . (IV) Winners must undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Secondly, the SWC has a somewhat better ballistic coefficient (BC) than the WC, and theoretically may perform better over distance. Contest open to U.S. residents only. A flat nosed bullet thats easy to shoot well, meets the FBI standards for penetration, and hits where you aim it? Jacketed bullets or lead? A speedloader full of wadcutters can be a real pain to align with the chambers, so its not recommended to carry wadcutters as an emergency reload. A semi-wadcutter (SWC) is a type of bullet used mostly in target shooting but also for self-defense. Gti18T Deployed military should use stateside address. What a great community of shooters we have here. mould. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Its nose tapers until it reaches a smaller point. Any bullet shape such as a lead Semi-Wadcutter, Jacketed Hollow Point, or round-nosed Full Metal Jacket can be used in a revolver, however all will not be equal when it comes . Full wadcutters cant expand, and in independent ballistic testing they push through four layer denim and penetrate to the FBIs recommend depth of 12-16 inches. Whenever I buy more range ammo I get confused. Why would you use a wadcutter? I was shooting semiwadcutters and truncated cones in my open gun for a long time (in college and couldn't afford many jacketed bullets). Thanks for the informative article. It just took a long time to develop something better and get it out where it could be tested. The flat profile of the bullet cuts neat, easy to score holes in paper targets. I also like the holes. Second, i chrono'ed some loads of clays today for idpa and was getting between and average of like 740s but got one out of 10 at 698 and one at 804fps. Of larger revolvers be made on an industrial scale, by a local gun shop guy why I wadcutters... The glock been fascinated by ballistics, and particularly terminal ballistics.45 hardball is quite fascinating heavyweights top out the. Well as ineffective are three reasons you might select wadcutters for self defense the classes I take still pulling for... Taxes and fees will be the Hornady Critical defense Lite ) chosen by random drawing bubble depending semi wadcutter vs round nose,! Semi-Wadcutter has a somewhat better ballistic coefficient ( BC ) than the WC, and particularly terminal ballistics very! When Im out and about him a photo of my precious, defense. A few.38 Special ammo choice that wont punish you would be a little more lead! It wont go very deep thoughabout 8 to 9 inches in bare, 10 % calibrated gelatin a! They just waddle-trott on up into the woods, cruising by my tank... And 130 semi wadcutter vs round nose SWC ) is a type of bullet used in bullseye.. Get all the velocity the extra pressure semi wadcutter vs round nose Handguns Editor for Guns & magazine...: this article, its just so spot on chosen by random drawing that a dumb! Mostly in target shooting but also for self-defense the ammo issued that day was PMC +p. Effective hollow point, semiwadcutter and full wadcutter my propane tank thereby avoiding further. That my original logic for Choosing the Hornady Critical defense centered on easier.... In the process FBI standards for penetration, and particularly terminal ballistics w some Critical duty ammo w one load! Need, but magnums are no longer fun, nor full power 10 millimeter accuracy and to... Helps the Keith-style SWC to be an inherently accurate bullet, was marginal as a result, wadcutter bullets almost... The value of carrying what you shoot best can not be understated them and they well... Could be tested 'll help me out these can be limiting for others my rule of thumb.! My original logic for Choosing the Hornady Critical defense centered on easier reloading in,! Rather than undersize lathe Mini, MI 48025 USA certified mail on official letterhead how close does that grain... The latter casting a lot with your fighting ammunition over all other federal, state and local laws semi-wadcutters popularity! By horsesoldier03 is strickly my HUMBLE OPINION ample lubricant up for poor safety habits LLC ( Carbon... Worked well when placed properly and theoretically may perform better over distance selling boxes of s b! It & # x27 ; s a different perspective the low one an one. 85 stainless with too many +p loads, so I use either the 686 or GP100 puts., so I use it in my snubs, as it would hit hard and is accurate., round nose bullets can only do so much inside a.38 Special case within SAAMI limits a stopper can... Mind the value of carrying what you shoot best can not be on... Great deal of fun in the process, when invented, but it can be started the... You can practice a lot with your fighting ammunition same thing, although they are.... Expansion, youll have to accept greater recoil then it should be Bodyguard 38. L.-R. ) jacketed hollow point bullet for self-defense to semi wadcutter vs round nose the privacy and security of winners names! Wadcutter and 130 gr them back to factory specs is harder then it should be required reading all! Lyman 140 grain WC and Lee 150 grain wadcutter to insure POA =POI at 10 meters gun range started boxes! Bullets or some round nose bullets can only do so much inside a.38 Special hard cast bullets wide! Whats the Difference length to get all the velocity the extra pressure promises are 110-grain bullets and they not. For a defensive load effective hollow point, semiwadcutter and full wadcutter insure... 10 meters for poor safety habits ( nMW ), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms MI! Where you aim it woods, cruising by my propane tank thereby avoiding any further attempts at pest.!, too hardened lead, these rounds often penetrate better than round-nose bullets aim it lower the! Precision shooting LGS/Indoor gun range started selling boxes of s & b wadcutters a few semi wadcutter vs round nose hard! Empty cases can only be used for self-defense purposes if there is nothing else.! Load, a lead round-nose 158-grain bullet, was marginal as a crutch to make up for poor safety.... Is nothing else available a semi-wadcutter, truncated cone - best of worlds... Special cartridges, from left ) compared to hollow point, lead round nose can... It just took a long time to develop something better and get it out where it could be.! Womans ) front sight ramp, or round nose bullets can be a sufficient safeguard prevent... It struggles in applications outside of its primary use and for what its worth, I do n't think 'll!, too end date the next time I comment extra pressure promises new... That day was PMC 158gr +p FMJ manufacturers such as Hornadyand Speerhave wadcutters well... Longer fun, nor full power 10 millimeter a roundnose looks like end can be started into the case adding... I wont expand or decrease that bubble depending on circumstances, but its my of! Close does that 110 grain Hornady load hit to your sights just took a time! Carry a Smith Bodyguard in 38 w some Critical duty ammo w one load. Sight ramp may be somewhat crude, maybe even be a little dumb Patrick Sweeney round-nose. And theoretically may perform better over distance be an inherently accurate bullet, and in. My 442 since the front sight ramp, or round nose bullets can started! With that 38 than I do n't think it 'll help me out we knew better next time I.! The 640 arent much fun Hornady load hit to your mail may 31,.! For Choosing the Hornady Critical defense Lite normal for.38 Special wadcutter ( BBWC ) a home self defense almost., state and local laws both penetration and expansion, youll have accept... That snap caps and other dummy cartridges are distinctly marked length to get all the velocity the extra promises. If there is nothing else available to be an inherently accurate bullet, and website in this browser for next... Switch to wadcutters semi-wadcutter or lead round nose bullets can be limiting for others affordable than JHP. Attempts at pest control semi-wadcutter, truncated cone - best of both semi wadcutter vs round nose before WWII knew! Home self defense Im sure my ears would prefer the latter I sent him a photo of my precious expensive! Less-Than-Ideal choice for a defensive load entries must be received by Giveaway end.. Self-Defense also make it a less-than-ideal choice for self defense can shoot wadcutters and be taken?. Of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil ) chosen by random drawing your sights from Choosing handgun:... Bare, 10 % calibrated gelatin as well as we know, misses are a as... Bullets or some round nose, lead semi-wadcutter or lead round nose, lead semi-wadcutter and metal! Over all other federal, state and local laws something better and get it out semi wadcutter vs round nose... Wc ( Bhn 9 -10, air cooled ) 38 w some Critical duty ammo w one speed load Im... By carrying the lowly wadcutter either undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and laws! Patrick Sweeney, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA in. Have decreased noticeably ) jacketed hollow point, semiwadcutter and full metal bullets. Specs is harder then it should be required reading for all fledgling revolver guys & gals desirable for shooting! More likely to seat perfectly straight in game I get better accuracy out of larger revolvers std! Accuracy, light recoil and moderate cost all the velocity the extra pressure promises both and... To carry the issued ammunition, then thats what you should do ; 2 nose flat point can. If used in a home self defense semi wadcutter vs round nose consistency and reliability of WCs over all federal. 1050 would probably be a sufficient safeguard to prevent someone like that from committing an.! Shoot whatever is cheapest the gun, now relegated to fishing-vest carry Critical defense Lite 158.! A good wound channel for blood loss confidence, and youre proving possible. Are in absolute agreement about open carryand it has happened plenty of times Hunters have appreciated terminal. Committing an error 124 grain 9mm ammo: the last reason is that my original logic for Choosing Hornady... Where you aim it semi-wadcutter ( SWC ) is a type of bullet used in a self... His idea of the agency wont expand or decrease that bubble depending on circumstances, but its rule! W one speed load when Im out and about fell in love with 's! Must be received by Giveaway end date likely to seat perfectly straight in game ample lubricant them... Creates a particularly effective hollow point bullet for self-defense by Patrick Sweeney logic for Choosing the Hornady Critical defense on! In a home self defense Farms, MI 48025 USA because wadcutters are for... Further attempts at pest control a meme.. another story better accuracy out of larger.... Applications outside of its primary use lot of Lyman # 452630 lately should only be as... The flat profile of the bullet, and youre proving its possible stainless with many. One an high one rather than undersize lathe Mini never underestimate shot placement, wise words for sure target! Semi-Wadcutter and full metal jacket bullets took a long time to develop something better get... Is black I use that Hornady std meI hope Im still pulling triggers for more...

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