I’ve bought into it. Michbob, some time back, I read an article where semi-wadcutter bullets were tested against hardball in a 1911 on ballistic jell and the wadcutter penetrated further and did more damage. In this case, LSWCHP stands for “lead, semi-wadcutter hollow point.”. SWC Wadcutter Bullets. A wadcutter is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face. 3D Ammunition used to make a nifty 100gr wadcutter load. Like all lead bullets, they leave lead residue in the barrel's grooves after use. Wadcutters punch a disruptive hole that can be extremely effective at stopping threats. Gear. Federal Gold Medal Match 148 grain full wadcutters. Posting Rules You may not post new threads. I shoot 158gr SWC from my 2 revolvers but when I carry the J-3"bbl, I use 125 gr HP which are very legal in PA. News. I will call in short term as 45 Colt Wadcutter Self Defense And American Rifleman Self Defense Stories For people who are looking for 45 Colt Wadcutter Self Defense And American Rifleman Self Defense Stories review. This makes wadcutters, in the right caliber and cartridge, a potentially effective self-defense round. Wadcutters have also found favor for use in self-defense guns, such as .38 caliber snubnosed revolvers, where, due to short barrel lengths, maximum bullet velocities are usually … Although retired and living in a rural area, I still feel the need to keep a gun close at hand. For a glimpse into the history of target shooting and wadcutters, check out a free online copy of A.L.A. Other than that small drawback, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense. Before you read any further, this article is not about the 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter (LSWC) hollow-point +P .38 Special load, but rather about the plain lead semi-wadcutter .38 Special loaded to standard pressure for target shooting by Remington. 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. Why would you use a wadcutter? I also like to shoot these wadcutter loads in a pair of custom .44 Specials built on Ruger .357 Blackhawk Three-Screw frames. Ammo. 12 Comments Daniel Watters says: March 3, 2015 at 10:41. For many decades. Personally, I load 158 grain semi-wadcutters for my 38 Special j … Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2021 National Rifle Association of America. Yes, wadcutter certainly CAN, and HAS, been used for self defense. The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a flat tip, and then a very sharp shoulder. The first question we’re going to answer is “what is a wadcutter?” That’s easy. A cartridge loaded with a wadcutter … load. It cuts/crushes a "cookie cutter", full diameter hole in human flesh just like it does on a paper target. Videos. Choosing a gun and ammo for home defense is much different than choosing one for self-defense. We've more info about Detail, … Also, there is a concern by some of using reloads for self defense. George Harris answers this question, which may surprise you. Yes, wadcutter certainly CAN, and HAS, been used for self defense. Federal 38 Special Ammo 158 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Prices are usually reasonable and they make a decent load for self defense. Get the Shooting Illustrated Reloaded newsletter for at-a-glance access to industry news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox. 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. Guns. Even the vintage old school police and military cartridges in plain lead round nose configuration would put an aggressor down with a … The full wadcutter (WC) and the semi-wadcutter (SWC) are the two basic types that branch into a number of derivatives, such as the hollow base (HBWC) wadcutter, double-ended wadcutter (DEWC), hollow point semi-wadcutter (HPSWC) and bevel base wadcutter (BBWC). These wadcutters should be called "flying hole punchers" because that is what they exactly are. Last year’s Westland Shopping Center shooter is claiming self defense as his assault and weapons case moves toward trial. E-mail your comments/questions about this site to:ShootingIllustrated@nrahq.orgFor questions/comments about Shooting Illustrated magazine, please e-mail:Publications@nrahq.orgYou can contact the NRA via phone at: NRA Member Programs1-800-672-3888, To advertise on Shooting Illustrated, visit nramediakit.com for more information. Many so called “perfect defense calibers” have disappeared over time. The flat face that makes them cut such neat holes in…things… also makes them hard to reload fast. What’s not to like about that. The most popular caliber for wadcutter is the .38 Special. Final Word: Wadcutters are Primarily for Competition Shooting, But Self-Defense is an Option The Broad Side 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. That’s why I definitely think that wadcutters are good for self defense. Because they are so easy to control in a small… Some considerations should be noted, however. With the coming of the Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special pocket revolvers in the mid-1960s full wadcutters were often employed for self-defense loads. Using Wadcutter Ammo for Self-Defense. Second, a full WC not only cuts easy-to-score holes in a bull’s-eye target, they can also serve well in a self-defense situation by delivering the full cross-sectional impact of a .38 caliber bullet. It penetrates deeply (roughly 14 to 16 inches in human tissue) and its full diameter profile maximizes blood loss as it cuts and crushes (not slips or slides) its way through tissue. Federal took a different approach. This ammo is intended for target shooting. Wadcutters were originally designed for target shooting. There are a number of good reasons why it’s a bad idea. The 44 spl wadcutters offer, I think, a superior self-defense option. I decided today to do a bit of a comparison between Winchester SuperX 148 grain Full wadcutter and Winchester Ranger Bonded 130 grain +P. Not explosive like some hollowpoints, but enough WHACK to put small game down and not destroy a lot of the meat. 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. It makes an easy shooting round that is very accurate to 50 yards, and cuts clean holes in paper. I suspect you have been around the block more than a few times and have survived this long with the decisions you have made. Although we rarely have the option of what we have to shoot through to put the bullet where we want it, we should consider what may likely need to be penetrated when shooting defensively. The downside is the recoil for these loads is greater than the standard target loads. Switch to Hybrid Mode . Buy in stock Wadcutter WC ammunition online. Display Modes: Linear Mode. Concealed Carry, revolvers, self defense, wadcutters. This is true. There are a number of good reasons why it’s a bad idea. The Smith & Wesson Model 10 introduced in 1899 was a game-changer. Two companies that I am aware of, Buffalo Bore and Underwood, manufacture more robust wadcutter loads designed for deeper penetration with a bullet-diameter wound channel from beginning to end. Wadcutters have also found favor for use in self-defense guns, such as.38 caliber snubnosed revolvers, where, due to short barrel lengths, maximum bullet velocities are usually low, typically under 900 ft/s, and improved … Wadcutter Bullets For Hunting And Self-Defense Like the RWS H-Mantel , the wadcutter is very good at the job it was designed for, but it struggles in applications outside of its primary use. Since the bullets are swaged lead, they are relatively soft and may even expand slightly over a 12-plus-inch wound channel. The wadcutters are also good for all-around plinking, too. The "38 caliber" 0.357" to 0.359" wadcutter is most common wadcutter, at least in the CONUS. Tips. My thoughts are that expansion from hollow points fired out of a snub-nose aren't guaranteed and may act similar to a FMJ. That semi-auto was chambered for the very accurate wadcutter .38 Special cartridge. Wadcutters are used in revolvers and specially designed semi-automatic pistols. You may not post … The resulting wound channel of the wadcutter is more pronounced than the sleeker bullet. A wadcutter is a special-purpose flat-fronted bullet specifically designed for shooting paper targets, usually at close range and at subsonic velocities typically under approximately 900 ft/s. Not that there aren’t good uses for it (ie the range, the dove field), but ammunition is a … AS ALWAYS — it depends. Self-Defense & Competition Shooting Tips, Terminology around firearms can get a little confusing, especially when it comes to pistol projectiles. There’s another type of wadcutter projectile, the semi-wadcutter. John says you can hear the bullets “smack” the target. Vance Outdoors reserves the right to modify or change pricing information or descriptions without notice. Most experts say that using a shotgun for home defense is the way to go. Many personal-defense professionals suggest that the 9 … I have not found that 44 spl hollowpoints expand at the velocity you can safely achieve with a 3 inch barrel. Best, cheap, bulk Wadcutter WC ammo for sale. Exclusively. Minimal recoil: the last reason is that because wadcutters are loaded for target shooting, they’re low velocity and low pressure. Monday, January 18, 2021. Where a rounded profile will shove vitals aside or glance off bone, the edge of a wadcutter or semi-wadcutter will slice or dig in. AS ALWAYS — it depends. So why not use a semi-wadcutter for personal defense? I’ve seen some offered in .38 S&W and .32 S&W long. The USFA Sheriff’s Model .45 Colt with 250-gr. Most handgun makers, including Smith & Wesson, … © 2015-2021 TargetBarn, LLC. First, recoil is minimal with .38 Special WCs. Email this Page. As a result, wadcutter bullets should only be used for self-defense purposes if there is nothing else available. 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. Thread Tools: Search this Thread: Show Printable Version. As always, test the accuracy and reliability of your chosen.38 Special self-defense ammo at the range before you start carrying it. Quite often, 148 grain full wadcutters will print exactly to where the sights are aligned on these small revolvers, and we all know that hitting what you aim at is…kind of important. 45 Colt Wadcutter Self Defense And American Rifleman Self Defense Stories is best in online store. With all of the modern jacketed hollow point loads available for self-defense, it's easy to overlook the venerable lead wadcutter bullet. Hoping to find published pressure-tested loads to continue testing. They took the old reversed hollow-base wadcutter, put a jacket on it, tuned the jacket for consistent expansion, and then loaded it to normal .38 Special performance, not wadcutter performance. Factory loaded wadcutters are very low power rounds used for target shooting. Although .38 Spl 148-grain wadcutter ammunition is generally thought of as paper-punching target ammunition, it is not a poor choice for general use and certainly is not last on the list for personal-defense applications, either. Avoid using novelty (like the G2 RIP) or target ammunition (like FMJ or wadcutter bullets) for self-defense. An added value for wadcutters in most snub-nose revolvers is that they hit point-of-aim/point-of-impact at defensive distances. As a fun gun, a revolver chambered in .38 Special is the perfect tool for introducing the younger generation to the … Wadcutters are pleasant to shoot in snubnose revolvers, much more so than the higher-pressure rounds loaded with lighter and faster jacketed hollow-point bullets. Himmelwright’s 1916 Pistol and Revolver Shooting. The wadcutter bullet in its various guises remains the bullet of choice for handgun precision target shooting, with applications for hunting and even self-defense among its aficionados. For my current use I go with two wadcutters from Matt’s Bullets, a 175-gr. They’re designed to cut paper, but are more versatile than some shooters assume. They are not the same thing, although they are related. .38 special wadcutters for self defense, .38 wadcutters for self defense, 38 round nose vs wadcutter, 38 snubnose wadcutter or swchp, 38 special bullet wounds, 38 spl wadcutters for self defense, 38 wadcutter for defense, 38 wadcutter for self defense, If there is a better self-defense load for these Bulldogs I don’t know what it is. Wadcutters have also found favor for use in self-defense guns, such as .38 caliber snub-nosed revolvers, where due to short barrel lengths, maximum bullet velocities are usually low, … The same shortcomings that make the wadcutter unsuitable for self-defense also make it a less-than-ideal choice for hunting big game. In the early days, we qualified and shot competition with .38 Spl. The high-performance, high-velocity, jacketed hollow-point rounds generally require a degree of hold off (which applies to both windage and elevation) to get the bullet to strike the desired location, particularly in fixed-sight revolvers. wadcutter ammunition out to 50 yards and sometimes beyond. by George Harris - The winning combination of a 38 Special case is why. Caleb . In self-defense use, they have statistically proven to be no more effective than RNL bullets. I know that technology has changed things over the years, but I would like to know what, if anything, is wrong with using wadcutters for defense or various other applications in my revolvers? While the wadcutter has an entirely flat front, a semi-wadcutter looks like someone put a cone on top of a wadcutter, then cut the tip of the cone off. Larger wound channel. Thoughts on their usefulness from a snub-nose in a self defense role appreciated. Range ammunition — meaning full metal jacket or fragmenting ammunition in center fire rifles and pistol, target or bird shot in shotguns — is a generally poor self-defense ammunition choice. They almost never jam and always shoot where they are supposed to, provided the shooter does their job. ammunition, Concealed Carry, revolvers, self defense, wadcutters. A wadcutter is a special-purpose flat-fronted bullet specially designed for shooting paper targets, usually at close range and at subsonic velocities typically under approximately 900ft/s (274m/s). I've long believed that from a snub nose 38 special the basic target grade Full Wadcutter can be an effective round for civilian self defense. When penetration is considered, typically available factory wadcutter ammunition, regardless of brand, penetrates bare gelatin well beyond the minimum FBI standard. Newer post. The answer is yes, I do carry wadcutters. This also makes an excellent self-defense round. Not ideal for self defense. 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Glimpse into the chamber a lot of the Charter Arms Bulldog.44 Special pocket revolvers the! A comparison between Winchester SuperX 148 grain full wadcutter bullet, which is desirable for precision shooting,! Inch barrel point-of-aim/point-of-impact at defensive distances, full diameter hole in … so not. Gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox I don ’ t at. Arms Bulldog.44 Special pocket revolvers in the right to modify or change pricing information or descriptions without.! Case for full wadcutters in most snub-nose revolvers is that because wadcutters are also good for self defense self-defense become...