The main things to consider when using wadcutters for anything but shooting paper targets are velocity, bullet construction, and penetration. And, of course the three are interrelated.
The wadcutter shape is very effective, at both cutting clean holes in paper and transferring energy. It is not well shaped for penetration though.
Factory loaded wadcutters, and factory produced wadcutter bullets are intended for light target loads. The are either pure lead or a very soft lead alloy, and most are swaged from lead wire. Cast wadcutters can be anything the caster desires from dead soft lead to the hardest alloys.
Certainly, the light target loaded wadcutters are the easiest things to shoot, in small guns, or large ones. But they are a poor choice for personal defense, because they are such light loads. A wadcutter shape bullet constructed for, and launched at service load speeds, (or more) is a better choice. But recoil will me greater. There's no free lunch.
The wadcutter shape is very effective, at both cutting clean holes in paper and transferring energy. It is not well shaped for penetration though.
Factory loaded wadcutters, and factory produced wadcutter bullets are intended for light target loads. The are either pure lead or a very soft lead alloy, and most are swaged from lead wire. Cast wadcutters can be anything the caster desires from dead soft lead to the hardest alloys.
Wadcutters can be easily used in small snubs without as much recoil as more powerful versions.
Certainly, the light target loaded wadcutters are the easiest things to shoot, in small guns, or large ones. But they are a poor choice for personal defense, because they are such light loads. A wadcutter shape bullet constructed for, and launched at service load speeds, (or more) is a better choice. But recoil will me greater. There's no free lunch.