low velocity wad cutters in 38 spcl

Thanks cor the link TABING. Very interesting.

Many good points, such as:

"Our reasoning is that if the FBI considers 14 inches of gelatin penetration adequate, we'd like 20+. Being able to shoot through both shoulders of a deer and exiting is desired."
 
warningshot -

I think the point is that the wide rather sharp nose of a wadcutter by design cuts a bigger hole than a round nose, pointed SWC or non-expanding hollowpoint that all tend to slip through tissue. Soft lead expands pretty easily, as evidenced by the soft lead used in FBI load hollowpoints like the Remington R38S12. Granted, they are pushed by a +P charge.

My personal interest wadcutters for SD is based on their relatively ear-friendly nature, the fact that they cut a big hole and their lack of flash/recoil. Everything is a compromise, of course.
 
For my money in a short barrel 38 special it would be Buffalo Bores 150 gr hard cast wad cutter. I have look at the information on Buffalo Bores website and I am impressed.
Howard
 
One of my friends was shot with a 38 wadcutter, it hit his pelvis and stopped. He was able to shoot his attacker 6 times with a 357 magnum before said BG got off another shot. He was back to work 6 weeks later, as far as bullet wounds it was very minor. I have seen lots of people shot with 38 wadcutters because of where I worked in the 80's. I saw nowhere near 14" of penetration in living breathing people. The only thing worse than a WC at 700-800 fps is a LRN at the same velocity.
 
The only thing worse than a WC at 700-800 fps is a LRN at the same velocity.
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and this pretty much answers my question right there. i'm really looking for something my GF, 5'1 and 100 lbs of her will carry and shoot. she likes the simplicity of a revolver, but doesn't like shooting even standard load 38 spcl. she has an LCR, likes the light weight that comes with it but not the recoil that goes along with the reduced weight. so if i have to water down some loads to reduce the recoil, then i want to make up for the (lack of)velocity with a bullet that will still do the best job.
 
Soft, low velocity bullets, inexpensive buy design and by practice, are all of a sudden some kind of huge street survival secret revealed....are you pulling my leg?
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I've seen them "discovered" a number of times over the last 40 years.
When they end up not working, the fad passes until someone "discovers" them all over again a few years later.:rolleyes:
Heck, here alone at this forum, they've been "discovered" a couple, maybe three times in the 14 years I've been a member...
 
i'm really looking for something my GF, 5'1 and 100 lbs of her will carry and shoot. she likes the simplicity of a revolver, but doesn't like shooting even standard load 38 spcl. she has an LCR, likes the light weight that comes with it but not the recoil that goes along with the reduced weight. so if i have to water down some loads to reduce the recoil, then i want to make up for the (lack of)velocity with a bullet that will still do the best job.
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If your primary concern is very light recoil for practice shooting, then you want to lighten the bullet weight to reduce the recoil as much as possible. I use 125 grain cast bullets that are intended for 9mm shooting, albeit sized to .357 for such shooting.
No matter how light of a powder charge (2.7 Bullseye) you put under a 148 grain wadcutter, it will recoil noticeable more than 2.7 grains of Bullseye under a 125 grain cast bullet. I use that load for most of my double action shooting.
If she is going to carry for defense, when she is comfortable shooting the light loads she can carry something that would perform better in that capacity.
 
I think the point is that the wide rather sharp nose of a wadcutter
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I did miss the point of sharp nose on a wadcutter. Never heard of it. But I did get a clue about a, sharp shoulder, on a seim-wadcutt circa 1975. Just call me, 'Kluee-Less in Kalifornina'
 
Soft, low velocity bullets, inexpensive buy design and by practice, are all of a sudden some kind of huge street survival secret revealed....are you pulling my leg?

148 grain hollow base semi wadcutters speeding along at 700 feet per second fired from a 6 inch barrel, the kind the PPC crowd shoots hundereds of thousands per year with, is now a big self defense discovery?

Now 800 fps round nose or semi-wadcutter hardcast bullets are a different story.
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I would rather use the softest bullets possible if used for real world serious use.
 
In my S&W 36 w/a 1.875" barrel, I load a cast 148gr BNWCFB with 3.5 of Bullseye. I can load these at a low cost and I can afford to practice with what I carry. I do likewise with LSWC.
For this cartridge in a short barreled format I bank on penetration and accuracy.
 
Post #25

Nanuk

The only thing worse than a WC at 700-800 fps is a LRN at the same velocity.
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Why would that be?:rolleyes: LRN is not a LRN is not a LRN.

I'm not defending LRN, but obviously wadcutters in most cases will perform better for SD.

TBS, LRN can still penetrate and distort.
 
For my wife's powderpuff loads, I use the Hornady swaged lead hollowpoint over 2.7 grains of Bullseye for about 650 fps from a 2" revolver. It's light enough for her to shoot easily, and I feel like the combination of the hollowpoint and the sharp shoulder will probably do just fine if she ever needs to use the load. If I need something a little stouter, 4.3 grains of Unique will push that same bullet to 780 fps.
 
Why would that be? LRN is not a LRN is not a LRN.
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What?
I'm not defending LRN, but obviously wadcutters in most cases will perform better for SD.

TBS, LRN can still penetrate and distort.
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The LRN was a dismally performing bullet for self defense. Police were hampered with it for decades for the purpose of expedience and lack of political will by management to change to anything more effective. The round was know as the widowmaker because of all the cops that were killed after shooting a BG six times and then being killed by an angry BG.

Yes it is possible for a LRN to penetrate and distort, and it is possible to win the lottery.
 
I think that a 148gr DEWC hardcast over a stout charge of unique does a good job of emulating HSM bear loads for a .38 special. A 148GR HOLLOWBASE wadcutter over a target load is what I shoot out of my Detective Special, to save a little for the next guy! They are positively gentle.
 
Dade County, April 1986.

I would rather use the softest bullets possible if used for real world serious use.
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The FBI learned this one for the hard way. Those Agents were good men. One way to honor them is to learn from their mistakes; not mimic their mistakes. Remember, the Agents had, Caliber, Speed, and Bullet Placement in the begining no less.
 
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What does this mean?

What is a 'DEWC' ? Blank Blank wadcutter....

What is a, ''BNWCFB'' ? bevel nose wadcutter flat base, maybe ??????

These terms were ranked 3 and 4 with Google, but with no clear definition that I could see. Maybe next time I'll open both eyes.
 
My wife is 5'6" @ 124 pounds. Her favorite pistol to target shoot with is either the 5" Kimber 45 or the '73s in 45 Colt. She didn't start out that way, we just worked up from a .17hmr till we got there.

But on topic my buddy shot some .38 special WCs he backwards loaded out of a 6" python....lord did they make a mess of anything they hit, and only felt like shooting a .22 mag or .25 auto. Seems I remember the great Mr taffin doing a test the same way with backwards loaded HBWCs either in .44 special or .45 Colt.

Shot of the little lady getting some range time with her CCW of choice Glock 26, in mid cycle feeding 110gr Corbon +p. Note the 4 3/4" SAA in .45 colt on the shooting table. She's quite dangerous with both out to and a little past 20yards too;)

IMAG0231_zpsd4b9eafa.jpg
 
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