Snubby load?

Thanks for the info, but why woudl I want to use this target wadcutter for SD? Shouldn't I be using a hollow point?
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The reason someone might choose a wadcutter is consistent performance. At low velocities or through heavy clothing, some hollow points don't expand when fired from a snubby. If a hollow point doesn't expand, it acts like round nose bullet. A wadcutter offers slightly more tissue damage than a round nose bullet and it won't be clogged with clothing.
There are several hollow point plus p rounds that offer good performance in the .38 special but there are only a few good standard pressure hollow points. Someone limited to standard pressure .38 Special could do worse than choosing a wadcutter for their snubby.
 
That's why I carry a hot loaded hardcast WC or SWC in my S&W model 36.
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What's the major difference between WC and SWC. Which one is better? And why are they called wadcutters? Because they cut wads in stuff? :confused:
 
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What's the major difference between WC and SWC. Which one is better? And why are they called wadcutters? Because they cut wads in stuff?
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If you look at the links in this thread you'll see. Or spend five minutes on google and it will be apparent.

Balistically at higher speeds and longer distances a SWC will stabilize better. This is ideal for hunting and works good on people too.

The full WC is good up close, it's used for targets because it makes a nice clean hole in paper. Because of this most commercial ammo is loaded for best accuracy which is usually at a lower velocity.

To get one that's best for SD you need to buy something made for it, like the Buffalo Bore ammo linked above or make it yourself.

The problem with loading it yourself is there isn't a lot of hot data out there for it and most or all of the bullet is set deep within the case. Because of that the volume for powder is reduced so loads need to be kept moderate or risk going over pressure.
 
If you look at the links in this thread you'll see. Or spend five minutes on google and it will be apparent.

Balistically at higher speeds and longer distances a SWC will stabilize better. This is ideal for hunting and works good on people too.

The full WC is good up close, it's used for targets because it makes a nice clean hole in paper. Because of this most commercial ammo is loaded for best accuracy which is usually at a lower velocity.

To get one that's best for SD you need to buy something made for it, like the Buffalo Bore ammo linked above or make it yourself.

The problem with loading it yourself is there isn't a lot of hot data out there for it and most or all of the bullet is set deep within the case. Because of that the volume for powder is reduced so loads need to be kept moderate or risk going over pressure.
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I looked at the threads but was still confused. Some had hollow points, some looked like they were tucked all the way into the brass, etc.

Do the 158gr SWC JHP generally have less recoil then other types?
 
Do the 158gr SWC JHP generally have less recoil then other types?
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Do you mean 158 gr SWC and 158 gr JHP?

As far as I know, there is no such beast as a semi wadcutter jacketed hollow point (SWC JHP).
There does exist however a semi wadcutter hollow point SWCHP.
A semi wadcutter (SWC) is a lead bullet with no jacket.
One of the most popular is what's commonly called the FBI load - a 158 gr lead semi wadcutter hollow point loaded to ~ 10% over SAAMI .38spl pressures. You'll see it abbreviated as a +P 158 gr LSWCHP.

Anyhow - recoil is a result of the bullet's velocity - for every action there's an equal reaction - more than bullet weight.
A slow stepping 158 gr bullet, regardless of it's configuration, will have less felt recoil than a fast stepping 125 gr bullet.

Push both at the same velocity though and, the heavier bullet with more mass is going to have more felt recoil.

However - that's only the tip of the iceberg.

Generally, a slower burning powder is used for a heavier bullet and a faster buring powder is used for a lighter bullet - not always, but, generallly.
A slower burning powder will have more of a "push" than a "snap" since it accelerates the bullet slower.


Steve is correct. The wadcutter has a poor ballistic coefficient (BC).
Think of the BC as "streamlined". A sports car is more streamlined than a sedan.- while it's not the same thing - it's the best way to get the idea across in the least amount of typing. Whole volumes have been written on BC.
Another advantage the SWC has over the WC is that the "point" helps guide the bullet into the chamber allowing for faster more positive reloads.
WC's are nearly impossible to use with a speedloader.
SWC's are worlds better - but - because of the sharp shoulder on the bullet, they can also hang up.

The SWC profile is generally preferred over the WC for those reasons.
It offers some of the advantages of the WC and some of the BC advantages of the round nose lead bullet.

An extremely good source of this type of information is the Lyman reloading manual and the Speer reloading manual. There's a wealth of information in them beyond just listing recipies.
That's one of the big reasons I push so hard for new shooters to get into reloading ASAP.
 
As far as I know, there is no such beast as a semi wadcutter jacketed hollow point (SWC JHP).
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Speer once made a .357 semi jacketed 160gr SWC and a 146gr semi jacked SWCHP. I haven't seen them for while, but they do turn up now and then.
 
Speer once made a .357 semi jacketed 160gr SWC
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OMG - how in the name of all that's holy could I have forgotten the Speer half jacket bullet???!!!?
Early on in my reloading foray, I made the mistake of downloading one of those in .44mag.
It shed it's jacket in the barrel of my Virgianin Dragoon.
Thanks for that memory jog!.
 
Wadcuters are for making nice, round,easy to score holes in paper.

there are bonded, controlled expansion hollow points like the Gold Dot that are for living, breathing threats.

That's not to say that I'd stand still and let myself get shot with a wadcutter; or anything else for that matter.
 
Is there a standard pressure Gold Dot load for snubbies? I know there is an excellent 135 gr +P load for short barreled revolvers is available.

DocKGR has recommended the standard pressure Hornady 110 gr Critical Defense load but I'm not sure if there are other standard pressure JHP loads that reliably expand available.
 
Is there a standard pressure Gold Dot load for snubbies?
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Speer used to list a standard pressure 125 grain Gold Dot. I've never actually seen it anywhere. I don't know if it is still catalogued.

Edited to add:

Just checking, I can't find it on the current Speer web site.
 
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