Wadcutters for self defence?

The late Maj. George C. Nonte addressed this, saying that many years ago, one could get standard speed (for .38 Spl.) wadcutters. They'd give about 800 FPS from a four to six-inch bbl. and were considerably more potent than the light target loads.
One could handload these today, if not worried about legal issues in a human shooting.On those reversed loads, Jordan used the caps on the base of the bullet, as a gas check.
The concensus seems to be that one should use either the lead SWC-HP Plus P or the 125-130 grain Plus P ammo in all .38's. Snubs will expand the lead bullet best, as the velocity isn't great enough to ensure expansion. However, I suspect that the Hydra-Shok 129 grainers will open, as will the pretty hot Speer 125 grain Gold Dots. Because it's often hard to find lead HP's where I live, I load my defensive .38's with these other rounds when that's what I can find. Remington's traditional Plus P 125 grain load has a good reputation, too. All of these rate about 65-67% stoppers (one shot to central torso) in Marshall & Sanow's findings, based on actual shootings... or so they say. I know some don't believe them, but their data is close to what I get when checking other sources, including one former forensics lab man. Generally, a good hit with any of these will collapse a foe not too highly adrenalized or on dope. That's for snubs. Longer barrels yield stops up to 78%.

The RCMP used the lead HP, and when they went to S&W 9mm autos, they didn't seek more power, only more shots in the gun. This was due to a few constables having run revolvers dry when firing at fleeing cars. The .38 rounds stopped well with a reasonable hit. Their .38's were S&W M10's with five-inch bbl. for uniformed use, and Bodyguards and shrouded Colt .38's for plain clothes use. Of course, the Mounties probably shoot fewer people in an average year than is true of US police. Their population is much lower than in the US.

Lone Star
 
Please define "Wadcutter"

I have a silly question.

How exactly do you define a "wadcutter"?

Is it simply a cheap, non-hollow point, factory load, that is used for target practice or is there something else to it? I've never seen "wadcutter" printed on a box of ammo.
 
.45&TKD
Here's an excellent source of all things bullet shape related.


http://www.corbins.com/intro.htm

Short answer, a wadcutter is a flat nosed target round. The purpose of the flat nose is to cut a definate hole in the target for scoring purposes, and not tear it like a round nose will. Factory wadcutter ammo may be difficult to find since most target shooters are handloaders, but it is out there.
 
Quote from Jim March
"Putting a gas check plate on the nose might fix the streamlining problem. So would putting a soft rubber ball in the nose, letting it squish like the Cor-Bon Pow'R'Ball concept. Or fill the nose with non-toxic silicon sealer (aquarium cement), same basic effect?"

Why non-toxic? Aren't you trying to kill this guy anyway? Fill it with rat poison!
 
Not to muddy the water any more than it already is... I know someone who carries a 45 loaded with round lead balls. These are typically used in black powder guns. He says that they deform and splinter on impact making a really ugly mess. As always YMMV.
 
Fired a .44 round ball from a blackpowder derringer into several well soaked phone books... Definately splintered is the word for it, probably 10-15 peices after travelling about 4" or so into the phone books.

I took one look at that and thought, dang that must hurt!
 
Home Defense Ammo

As a Police Weapons Instructor in the 70's I loaded HBWC bullets backwards for the weapons officer's wives had in their homes while their hubbies were on duty. The idea was that the bullets had good stopping power and if the shot missed they would penetrate less walls and furniture killing a child in the next room.

We received regular FBI reports on officer caused deaths and of officers also. Deaths occured from dropped guns in apts below, above and discharges to apts on either sides and homes to either side and across the street through walls and glass windows. So the HBWC I loaded for my Dept had less penetrating power forwards or backwards at target velocity but would do the job within a home.

One legal principle is that shots can be fired if a lone homeowner has no door to retreat out of. No civilian can fire shots at a departing vehicle in a densely populated area.

High powered ammo is a liability for self defense at close ranges within a home.
 
Deaths occured from dropped guns in apts below, above and discharges to apts on either sides and homes to either side and across the street through walls and glass windows.
Click to expand...
Yikes! Where is this place? I really want to stay away.
 
Funning me

I know you are funnin me so I will be more specific. The FBI gathers statistics nationwide on any deaths involving officers and notifies all police departments like when in the 70's two east coast officers died that had taken off their wood grips and dropped their weapons in the new ultrasonic cleaners ammo included. They died in a shootout later because their ammo was dead. Also ammo is not supposed to be sprayed with anything which is common knowledge today but other officers died from doing that before the word got out.

I remember well the case of the officer dropping his pants to sit on his pot and killed a kid in the apt below.

JP
 
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