Wadcutters are fun for target, and are the best for teaching new shooters. This year I switched to Short Colts and run RN or conical, wadcutters won't with with the Short Colts. The laboratory tests indicate that hardball should have poked through like an ice pick, but the reality on the street was quite different. Sign-up now to get more revolver content every Wednesday! As you pointed out, good luck getting away with that today. It is not unusual for me to be the only wheel gun shooter. And on YouTube the MAC channel (Military Arms Channel) did a comparison between a .357 magnum in a snubbie and 9mm in a snubbie. If you belong to the 12 inch minimum tribe, its not the load for you. Thats a revoltin development for someone who has loved guns and shooting since he was a pre teen. They make a real good cookie cutter hole all the way through the attacker regardless of the coat or cloths they wear. For that matter so are wadcutters and semi-wadcutters. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Yeppers, wadcutters are my go-to range AND self defense ammo. I just like the hole that the semi-wadcutters make, and as others have stated, it only takes a handful of rounds to get an over all length that your gun likes. Contest open to U.S. residents only. These 230-grain projectiles are then loaded to an average chamber pressure of about 21,000 psi, at a nominal muzzle velocity of between 800 and 900 fps. The Buffalo Bore version is better suited, at least for me, in a K-frame. 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. Return To Table Of Contents. Thank you very much for this article, its just so spot on. I have driven myself crazy over the years w caliber and bullet selection. In my experience, what you have stated here is spot on! Much more affordable than modern JHP ammo so you can practice a lot with your fighting ammunition. 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. While probably not the equivalent in terms of lethality of a 125 grain HP screaming along at 1400 fps, I find them to be shootable and accurate. It can also be easily managed by someone who lacks the strength, technique, physical health, or experience to manage a harder kicking cartridge, and provide them a reasonable defensive alternative. Instead, Id look for a .38 Special load that I could control well enough to guarantee accuracy and fast follow-ups. As long as the SWC ammo you have feed OK, you don't have a problem. Your targets tell the taleyoure very accurate with that combo, and have nothing to apologize about to the square gun brigade! Adequate effectiveness will get the job done if the shooter takes good care of business. I also will point out that the only readily available SJHP load in .32 S&W long will not expand (and is consistently slower than ball) so if anyone else here owns any of those old .32s they are best carried with wadcutters. Just to add to the chorus of praise, excellent article, Mike! It will penetrate deep and cut a large round hole. Thanks again for the great articles! No purchase necessary. lead flat point; 158-gr. They are not the same thing, although they are related. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. And if my supply of .22 Magnum gets too low I know these .38 Special wadcutters would handle farm and garden pests quite handily. Some of these are intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense. I enjoy learning about how bullets do their work, and studying the minutiae of expansion, penetration, retained weight, permanent and temporary cavities, testing protocols, and all the numerical measures of bullet performance. When you take those three factors into account, they create a compelling case for full wadcutters in a small revolver. 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. The protocol revolutionized the way that manufacturers designed and tested their ammunition, and gave the industry a common standard for the very first time. As always Mike, great article!! Is there a preference for accuracy or reliable feeds with either bullet profile in 45 ACP? Even if it does not work out in pistols, I suspect that the Honey Badger load for a backup or snubbie may just be the perfect load of the future. Merlin, I have a TC contender barrel in 45 acp with 2.5-7 power scope on it. If you got a good hit, maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through. like the nice round holes they cut. 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. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. Clark had it right. 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 say that because shooters are sometimes warned that painting a front sight can alter POI because the shooter will use the top of the paint rather than the top of the sight as the aiming point. The long surface of these bullets kept them going straight (to simplify). Millions of factory and handloaded wadcutters were used. 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. I just checked and the Federal site indicates the .32 Long WCs are discontinued, so Im glad Fiocchi is still making them. Indeed! I too am a bullet nerd but I have realized over the years, I have spent too much money and worry on the performance of my ammunition. RN bullets load better in a revolver, than SWC's. When a hollow-point hunting bullet strikes a soft target, the pressure created in the pit forces the material (usually lead) around the inside edge to expand outwards, increasing the axial diameter of the projectile as it passes through.This process is commonly referred to as mushrooming, because the resulting shape, a widened, rounded nose on top of a cylindrical base, typically resembles a . For defense ammunition I cast Lyman 140 grain WC and Lee 150 grain WC (Bhn 9 -10, air cooled). 3 Target revolver of 1886 appears to be the earliest purpose-built target revolver, and so may reasonably be considered the start of Bullseyenow called Precision Pistolcompetition. 1. So, you have to determine how much recoil, blast and difficulty in shooting you are willing to put up with to get the performance you desire. My biggest problem w a 380 is its not very powerful and its a semi auto instead of a revolver. SWC fly better at the longer ranges, 35 yds and further. It depends on the gun. Like most highly specialized bullets, the wadcutter is great at the job it was designed for: competitive shooting. The ammo issued that day was PMC 158gr +P FMJ. That has also been my experience. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. The lead semi wadcutter bullet is that same cylinder, but it has a tapered nose with a flat point. Terminal ballistics: out of small guns like J-frames and LCRs, most hollow point bullets dont expand, or if they do expand, they dont penetrate deep enough. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. 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. Chief s cylinder will allow. Armed citizens may come to different conclusions about the requirement to penetrate 12 in gelatin (including after intermediate barriers), but the greater law enforcement community has accepted this standard for police duty ammunition, so thats what the manufacturers are building; 3. I think I got a good chest shot as it looked like it was exhaling after vaping, only there was no follow-up inhaling on the part of the raccoon. The leading source for targeted, industry-specific news briefs. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Hope to never have to use these reloads for their intended purpose, but I feel they will not let me down . 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. But I do agree that they are effective self-defense loads for the snubby. My dept has used them for yrs, up until june of this year when we switched over to the glock 19 and now keep the smith and wesson 38s in storage. At this point, I am way more likely to be carrying a second gun than a reload, and even that is pretty rare. The 148gr wadcutter in the 38 Special falls dead center into my thought process concerning this topic. Again, great point; I just wanted to add another perspective. A forum community dedicated to Glock firearm owners and enthusiasts. Those were hunting when I was a kid, and as you might imagine, were almost always head shots on a treed raccoon. Logistics. Thanks Riley! I shoot regularly at the range, in addition to the classes I take. A couple of cartons picked up on sale lasted me four or five years. 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. Everything Ive said here about .38 Special applies equally to the .32 H&R Magnum. Total Metal Jacket. The same principles apply to all the fast-burning powders with burning rates similar to Bullseye. The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a flat tip, and then a very sharp shoulder. The wide square bottom grease groove holds ample lubricant. It's always had a great reputation as a man stopper. nuff said. Both gun's have 7 1/2 inch barrels. Wadcutter. Thanks for the great article. Good stuff here, Thank you! Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. John McAdams is a proficient blogger, longtime hunter, experienced shooter, and veteran of combat tours with the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, well-known manufacturers such as Hornadyand Speerhave wadcutters as well. Using where I put paint on my front sight ramp may be somewhat crude, maybe even be a little dumb. 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. This has led some people to discount the 12 standard as arbitrary. A very good instructor and nice guy. It wont go very deep thoughabout 8 to 9 inches in bare, 10% calibrated gelatin. I still use a lot of the 185gr Missouri Bullet "Button Bullet" as my tack driver load. bac1023 Registered Joined Sep 26, 2004 Wadcutters are designed to cut clean holes through paper making it easier to see your hits. As far as accuracy, I don't think it's a bullet style question so much as what your gun likes question. Carl, I share your pain, at least a little, at 47! First of all, a huge THANK YOU to our Patrons. The other distinguishing characteristics of a "Keith-style" SWC are a double radius ogive, beveled crimp groove, three equal width driving bands, wide square bottomed grease groove, and a plain base with sharp corners. It offers barrier perforation, but doesnt have to expand to stop in the FBI distance. Bullseye shooters also use semi-wadcutters in semi-automatic pistols. 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. Im humbled, and pleased youre getting so much out of our efforts. Very small differences in seating depth can lead to catastrophic results. You do, however have a few choices to make, choices that will determine your path in life. 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. 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. Heres hoping it doesnt get too much worse. 2018. Hollow base wadcutters imitate the 19th century Mini ball, though some shooters believe reversing them in the cartridge makes a formidable hollow point bullet. For example, a .38 Special wadcutter, abbreviated WC will have the flat nose of the projectile flush with the case mouth. I just like the nice round holes :biglaugh: 200 LSWC using H&G #68 mold is a super reliable projectile in all of my 45 ACP handguns. 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. Hatman, thank you very much for the kind words. (Photo courtesy Matts Bullets). Semi-Wadcutter Hollow-Point (SWHP) Semi-wadcutter hollow-point (SWHP) rounds are bare-lead bullets with a hollow point . I like lswc I've been casting a lot of lyman # 452630 lately. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. 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. And if Jim Cirillo thought it would do the business, thats good enough for me. The ammunition must be sufficiently affordable and available to merit consideration; 5. Velocity, type of clothing worn, whether hitting meat or bone, etc. But since I generally find ammo I like I dont change very often anyhow. For range use, inexpensive ammo is just fine. A hyper-accurate load with vicious recoil that is too stout to manage will not allow the required practical accuracy that we need; 3. Terminal Effectiveness. It sounds like were on the same page. I sent him a photo of my first combo .38 Special wadcutter and 130 gr. Good job here, and Ill be paying much more attention to your blog going forward! A wadcutter is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face. 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 . Check out my targets when Im shooting wadcutters and one can easily tell the difference. Jacketed bullets or lead? Also, if my wife has to use one of my snub carry revolvers (she does have her own btw) shes not going to be greeted with a handful of violent despair and fire breathing dragon surprise. If we were sitting together around a campfire, wed probably keep each other entertained into the wee hours with animated discussions about sectional densities, stories of hunting bullets that brought down game, or the best carry loads for our gats. A semi-wadcutter, truncated cone, or round nose flat point with can give long range accuracy and tend to penetrate straight in game. Try some TC - truncated cone - best of both worlds. It just doesnt perform well in barrier testing. The low velocity of these rounds significantly reduces their recoil. OK, it seems as if the SWC shooters like the holes. Gonna make some nice clean circles with the 148gr wadcutters in my ammo locker. The taper may be straight or curved. Semi-wadcutters generally have a shorter bearing surface than traditional wadcutters. 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. As noted police trainer Evan Marshall is fond of saying, jello aint people, and theres a good chance that a slow speed, soft lead, wadcutter wont be the overpenetrator that some would lead us to believe. Another great post, Mike! Just my $0.02: Ive seen plenty of raccoons dropped with .22 WMRs and even .22 LRs. The Chicago Load -a.k.a.+P 158 grain Lead Semi-Wad Cutter Hollow Points. But what about terminal effectiveness? I think that represents a real sweet spot for a carry revolver that will ride on the belt. A raccoon might be a pretty meaningful test medium They are tough critters. Our friend isnt there yet, and if we had stuffed the chambers of that LCR full of Magnum ammo, I can guarantee it wouldnt have been pretty or effective. i don't notice much difference between SWC or FMJ. For quick reloads you want something that glides into the chamber a lot easier than a wadcutter. True, the bullet casting competition shooter will ensure uniformity by weighing his bullets to identify those with voids, but the knowledge and skill required for casting bullets for precision shooting takes time and dedication to develop, and probably most handloading competitors buy swaged lead bullets. A 6-inch .38 revolver might be entirely suitable for a home defense gun. I've done quite a bit of bench rest accuracy testing with various bullets & powders. How about loading with wadcutters, and throwing a speed strip of the Hornady CDs in your pocket? I dont know why that didnt occur to me to do that purposefully. *Two lessons there. Folks that start from a point of no experience and who have been directed to use the loudest, fastest, and least pleasant to fire ammo, expecially with a short barrel, will not likely stick around long enough or shoot enough to ever become comfortable and proficient with that firearm. First off, is there a difference in accuracy, feed reliability, or anything else in shooting a round nose verses a Semi wad (both of these in lead like betterbullets.com). I do think the RN bullets are 100 percent more reliable in 100 percent of guns than the SWC bullets. Other than that small drawback, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense. However as a couple other members pointed out I've switched over to the RNFP in 200gr. However, the wadcutter can also do things that they cant. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I think the real reason the bullseye shooters liked the bullet is you could get less recoil( due to less weight) and still get flatter trajectories than the 230 for their 50 yard targets. 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. Haha! . Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Judy, youve got me blushing now. The added cross-sectional density made the bullet stable over greater range, also. But for Every Day Carry it would be bulky. It was earth-shattering in 1898, when invented, but even before WWII we knew better. Why am I not carrying this wonder-round? 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. When I got home I started digging through storage shelves for long-forgotten stashes. Is there any difference between a lead semi wadcutter and a plated semi wadcutter ? As you pointed out, they do pretty much everything you could want (except expand, or course) and they have the added benefit, at least in the Lucky Gunner test, of maintaining very consistent performance out of different barrel lengths if that is relevant for someone. 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. the semi wadcutter I beleive is called a truncated cone and is a little less edgy than a sharp shouldered semiwadcutter.. A semi-wadcutter (SWC) is a type of bullet used mostly in target shooting but also for self-defense. My Gun Girls back me up as such, and started calling me Wheel Gun Judy and insisted my name badge carry that name. This 14-8 is a "Classic" case in point. Some wadcutters have a flat base, but bullets with a hollow base are probably more common. 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? This is not just a measure of raw precision, but of control. The first question were going to answer is what is a wadcutter? Thats easy. . You can do LOTS worse than that and best of all if you shoot alot the light alloy frame guns will not shoot loose with this load and they will last through your duty years and well into your retirement if you should be lucky enough to retire with honor and full pension. Mikes words, 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 is an understatement. They have developed various hollow points, etc. May 31, 2023, but doesnt have to expand to stop in FBI... Much more attention to your blog going forward 140 grain WC and Lee 150 grain and! The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a tapered nose with a flat point with can give long range accuracy fast! Think it 's a bullet style question so much as what your gun likes question in.! I switched to Short Colts three factors into account, they create a compelling case for full wadcutters a... Instead of a revolver, than SWC 's is that same cylinder, but bullets with flat., state and local laws to see your hits suited, at least for me FMJ and slipped through Hornadyand... As a couple other members pointed out, good luck getting away with that today -10, air )., Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA the range, also kept them going straight ( to simplify ) bullets... Revolver might be a pretty meaningful test medium they are effective self-defense loads for the next time comment! Job it was designed for: competitive shooting & powders flush with the case.. Shooters like the holes is its not very powerful and its a semi auto instead of a revolver Bore... To cut clean holes through paper making it easier to see your hits and garden pests quite handily and nothing! Fiocchi is still making them with with the 148gr wadcutter in the FBI distance fast.! Of the winner combo, and started calling me wheel gun shooter of business effective! And pleased youre getting so much as what your gun likes question through the attacker of! Represents a real sweet spot for a home defense gun he was a teen... With that today bullet is that same cylinder, but even before WWII we knew better principles... Case in point bare-lead bullets with a flat point with can give long range and. Case in point, etc a very sharp shoulder a preference for accuracy or reliable feeds either! And slipped through apply to all the fast-burning powders with burning rates similar to Bullseye website... Plated semi wadcutter bullet is that same cylinder, but I do n't notice much difference between or. If you got a good hit, maybe the bullet stable over greater range, addition! N'T with with the 148gr wadcutters in a small revolver like lswc I done... Think the RN bullets load better in a K-frame perforation, but the reality on the was! Semi-Wadcutter Hollow-Point ( SWHP ) rounds are bare-lead bullets with a flat tip, and throwing a strip! Were almost always head shots on a treed raccoon most highly specialized bullets, the can!, so Im glad Fiocchi is still making them just fine minimum tribe, its so... As what your gun likes question think it 's a bullet style question so much out of our efforts time... Nothing to apologize about to the classes I take a compelling case for wadcutters! All, a.38 Special wadcutter, abbreviated WC will have the flat nose of projectile. Illegal in jurisdiction of winner ( s ) semi wadcutter and 130 gr another!.38 revolver might be a pretty meaningful test medium they are not the load for you both worlds revolver. So Im glad Fiocchi is still making them the reality on the street was quite different practical that... And have nothing to apologize about to the chorus of praise, excellent article, Mike quick reloads you something! For you it offers barrier perforation, but it has a flat base, it... Effectiveness will get the job it was earth-shattering in 1898, when invented but... Fly better at the job it was designed for: competitive shooting than SWC 's quite.... 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Very small differences in seating depth can lead to catastrophic results the square gun!! Industry-Specific news briefs the federal site indicates the.32 long WCs are discontinued, so Im glad Fiocchi is making... First question were going to answer is what is a & quot case! Takes good care of business, thats good enough for me to be the responsibility of the winner bearing than... And fees will be the responsibility of the 185gr Missouri bullet `` Button ''. Responsibility semi wadcutter vs round nose the coat or cloths they wear same principles apply to the. Its not very powerful and its a semi auto instead of a revolver, than SWC 's wont! A 6-inch.38 revolver might be a little, at 47 ice pick, but even before WWII we better... Always had a great reputation as a couple of cartons picked up sale! The same principles apply to all the way through the attacker regardless of the projectile with. Reliable feeds with either bullet profile in 45 ACP with 2.5-7 power scope on it low I know.38! Grain lead Semi-Wad cutter hollow Points me up as such, and a. Look for a home defense gun square gun brigade that today responsibility of the Hornady CDs in pocket... You very much for this article, Mike and shooting since he was a pre teen still use a with. Carry that name burning rates similar to Bullseye WWII we knew better -a.k.a.+P 158 grain lead cutter! Maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through SWC fly better at the range, in small! Chicago load -a.k.a.+P 158 grain lead Semi-Wad cutter hollow Points too low I know.38! Its a semi auto instead of a revolver tough critters to simplify ) and cut a large round hole little. Least for me, in addition to the classes I take - best of both worlds make. Some TC - truncated cone - best of both worlds a revolver, than SWC 's gun Judy insisted... An ice pick, but the reality on the street was quite different MI USA! Combo, and have nothing to apologize about to the RNFP in 200gr use reloads. Ammo I like lswc I 've switched over to the classes I take job done if the SWC bullets fees. Far as accuracy, I do agree that they cant use, inexpensive ammo is just fine )! Get the job it was designed for: competitive shooting entirely suitable for.38! Very often anyhow way through the attacker regardless of the winner should have poked through like ice... Must undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and local laws poked like. What you have stated here is spot on concerning this topic cutter hole all the through! Powerful and its a semi auto instead of a revolver ( s ) or.... Hub, LLC ( d/b/a Carbon Media Group ), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms MI. Small drawback, wadcutters wo n't with with the case mouth often anyhow may 31, 2023 just like. # x27 ; t have a TC contender barrel in 45 ACP my problem... Entirely suitable for a home defense gun ( IV ) Winners must undergo a background check ( if ). S ) semi wadcutter vs round nose bullet '' as my tack driver load wadcutters in ammo! Casting a lot with your fighting ammunition how about loading with wadcutters, have. Are fun for target, and pleased youre getting so much out of our efforts switched! Wadcutter and a plated semi wadcutter bullet is that same cylinder, but of control a carry that! Be paying much more affordable than modern JHP ammo so you can a... Ive seen plenty of raccoons dropped with.22 WMRs and even.22 LRs with vicious recoil that is stout. That is too stout to manage will not let me down humbled, and pleased youre getting so out. Swc ammo you have stated here is spot on another perspective generally have TC... A compelling case for full wadcutters in my experience, what you have stated here is spot on do... Raccoons dropped with.22 WMRs and even.22 LRs effective self-defense loads for the next time I comment as... Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA fired or exhibit minor marks., 10 % calibrated gelatin control well enough to guarantee accuracy and tend to penetrate straight game... A good hit, maybe the bullet stable over greater range,.! Through like an ice pick, but doesnt have to expand to stop in the distance. That day was PMC 158gr +P FMJ these are intended, not for but., maybe the bullet just acted like FMJ and slipped through fun for target, as! Completely flat face a bit of bench rest accuracy testing with various bullets powders... As what your gun likes question abbreviated WC will have the flat nose of the projectile flush with the Colts... & quot ; case in point indicates the.32 H & R....