Go with an S&W J-Frame in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum. 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. That means you can shoot them accurately out of small revolvers, and you won’t hate your hand when you’re done, even if you have a full practice session with them. For example, a .38 Special wadcutter, abbreviated “WC” will have the flat nose of the projectile flush with the case mouth. Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. The "38 caliber" 0.357" to 0.359" wadcutter is most common wadcutter, at least in the CONUS. Most factory wadcutter loads shoot at low velocity, typically 700-800fps in full sized handguns and 500-600fps in short barreled pistols. Ed Harris and several other shooters load double ended wadcutters backwards as this has proved more accurate. Up to this time she’d been packing a small semi-auto but decided she also wanted to have a revolver. This makes scoring the shooter much easier, especially when compared to the small, ragged holes that full metal jacket bullets punch in targets. In general, semi-wadcutters having a partially rounded nose are more accurate than wadcutters having a flat-front profile. A wadcutter is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face. 120 Years of Wadcutters. The same shortcomings that make the wadcutter unsuitable for self-defense also make it a less-than-ideal choice for hunting big game. Basically, factory target wadcutters are expensive because they're incredibly accurate, and used by many old time world class competitors for matches. They are not the same thing, although they are related. The flat face that makes them cut such neat holes in…things… also makes them hard to reload fast. As you can see in the photo above, the .45 ACP cartridge utilizes a semi-wadcutter design, which is basically a traditional wadcutter that is conically shaped with a flat tip. I did try factory Remington hollow base wadcutters and they were excellent, and shot better than my best loads, but the difference was not worth the $$$ to get the small difference in group size. However, it struggles in applications outside of its primary use. My advice? 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. Sources say the drop in .38 wadcutter sales could be as much as 80 to 90 percent. ... making the rifled musket more accurate than a smoothbore musket, and a tad faster to reload. The flat shape of the nose is the primary feature of the wadcutter. A wadcutter has a flat or nearly flat front that is typically as wide as the caliber size or only slightly smaller in diameter than caliber size. There is a solution, though: semi-wadcutter bullets. Same charges, same seating depth, same die settings. Wadcutters are commonly (though not always) loaded so that the bullet is completely encased in the case. With my model 52 I shoot 2.8 grains of Bullseye with Remington 148 HBWC. The Colts have a 1 in 14" twist and stabilize the wadcutters much better at low velocitys. That application answers the question “are wadcutters good for self defense?” The surprising answer to that question is yes. 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. Sales of wadcutters went down. On the other hand, SWC bullets can maintain high accuracy at ranges exceeding 100 yards. Wadcutters also have the potential for surprisingly effective wound ballistics out of a … All Rights Reserved. There’s another type of wadcutter projectile, the semi-wadcutter. Because there is not taper to the projectile at all, it takes a more deliberate effort to place them into the chambers. probably not real PC. Wadcutters punch a disruptive hole that can be extremely effective at stopping threats. John McAdams is a proficient blogger, longtime hunter, experienced shooter, and veteran of combat tours with the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. This semi was notoriously accurate with certain target loads but feeding was a bit iffy. I have hollow-based moulds for .38, .41, .44 and .45 caliber wadcutters, and while these bullets shoot just fine, there is nothing to recommend them over other target loads that I assemble using solid-based wadcutters (either plain-based or bevel based). Conically-shaped with only its tip being flat, semi-wadcutters are more aerodynamic, can be fired faster and further, play nice with semi-autos, and still punch pretty distinguishing holes in paper targets. Additionally, the bullet is usually all lead and has no jacket. A .38 Special wadcutter (second from left) compared to hollow point, semiwadcutter and full metal jacket bullets. Right or wrong about length making a difference, the SWC's are unchallenged for accuracy so far. There was a time, in a galaxy far away, when revolvers chambered in .38 Special were among the most common handguns in the world. This design feeds much more reliably in a semi-automatic pistol, is much more aerodynamic, and cuts holes in paper that are almost as clean as a traditional wadcutter does. More's the pity. Though the wadcutter is not extremely rare, it is still a relatively specialized bullet type that is only utilized in a few different cartridges. For quick reloads you want something that glides into the chamber a lot easier than a wadcutter. This restricts the use of wadcutters to relatively close range (<50 yards). Because they are so easy to control in a small… The flat profile of the bullet cuts neat, easy to score holes in paper targets. The first question we’re going to answer is “what is a wadcutter?” That’s easy. Every cop on the beat carried one, and this was reflected in the competitive shooting world. Out in South Africa, me and the boys went out for a bit of Saturday morning gun-fun at an old quarry. Unlike a conical bullet, the entire length of a wadcutter projectile engages with the rifling. There are three reasons you might select wadcutters for self defense. There are no right or wrong pellets for your airgun. & Some wadcutters have a flat base, but bullets with a hollow base are probably more common. It makes an easy shooting round that is very accurate to 50 yards, and cuts clean holes in paper. Once I found an accurate load with 1 bullet, the others would shoot the same bugholes. That's why back in the day of revolver shooting guys would put Colt barrels on their S&W guns. Some wadcutters have a flat base, but bullets with a hollow base are probably more … Unfortunately, the shape of the bullet combined with the extreme low velocity of the round also decreases the effectiveness of wadcutters when used for self-defense. My best shots were from 200 yards with a snub .38 special. Terminal ballistics: out of small guns like J-frames and LCRs, most hollow point bullets don’t expand, or if they do expand, they don’t penetrate deep enough. Author Topic: Why is my QB78 more accurate (Read 6144 times) shootinginalabama. Your information about the adequate penetration of wadcutter ammo coupled with the fact that the shooter will be more easily able to deliver their shots to the best locations on their target is correct and … 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. Other than that small drawback, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense. More powerful is more reliable at incapacitating an attacker, and expanding ammunition is crucial to maximizing a round's potential. Though this is not usually an issue for most handgun shooters, it is a little bit more of a concern for shooters using a carbine chambered in a pistol cartridge (such as .357 or .44 Magnum). I'm under the vague impression that wadcutter pellets are generally very accurate, although have not shot any in years. Why would you use a wadcutter? Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. As you can see in the photo above, a wadcutter has a flat front and is typically cylindrical in shape. The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a flat tip, and then a very sharp shoulder. Yes, wadcutters are absolutely devastating for short range pest control. The Broad Side Like others have said, the blunt nose plows through flesh rather than icepicking through like a dome, producing a wound channel that will hemorrhage more severely and quickly. John McAdams 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. .38 wadcutter Sales could be as much as 80 to 90 percent flat-nose of the cuts! Conical bullet, the SWC 's are more appropriate for that purpose that small drawback, wadcutters commonly. A flat-front profile wadcutters tend to have improved lethality for hunting that is. 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