|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,696
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,696 |
School me here a bit. I hear alot of people talking about using wadcutters in the PD handgun, and was wondering what advantage if any they have over hollowpoints. Is it reduced recoil of is it the effect they have on the target?
I ask because I may be getting my wife a 38 for days she works at the office alone.
Last edited by RugerM77270; 02/18/10.
Whatever a 7x57 can do a 270 can do better.
True fair chase is you in the woods buttnaked with nothing but your finger nails and teeth.
If you'e fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,567
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,567 |
When seated backwards (revolvers only) a hollowbase wadcutter is a nasty hole maker. For the typical 10' gunfight, they are plenty accurate enough. A 158 WC in a 38/357 will not reduce kick at all if loaded hot. Given the legal implications, one is probably best to stick with factory SD ammo as some freako D.A. could claim you were using "evil sadistic ammo" to hurt the bad guy. Then there are the lawsuits from the "victim's" relatives sure to follow. Just be sure the "victim" of your evil wife, is very, very dead. Has she tried the Ruger LCR with the Laser sight? Wonderful rig!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,718
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,718 |
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you've actually read/heard others mentioning the use of semi wadcutters. Full wadcutters are a full caliber cylinder of lead---------like a tiny soup can. A semi wadcutter has a smaller nose section than the rest of the body behind it. Google should show you examples of each.
The concept with a semi wadcutter vs. a hollow point, is the former will give deep, straight, penetration while punching a clean hole through tissue, bone, organs and arteries. A hollow point may disrupt more tissue initially, but the bullet might then slow down, come apart, tumble or otherwise stop before reaching all of incapacitating opportunities that lie beyond. The semi wadcutter advocates would rather err on the side of maximum penetration at the expense of would channel that's initially narrower.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,698
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,698 |
RugerM77270, Are you planning on using reloads or factory ammo? Factory loaded wadcutters are low velocity for paper target shooting and not known for tremendous power. (LOW RECOIL) I got ahold of an old Lyman bullet mold and started casting wadcutters with #2 alloy which is much harder than pure lead and I load them to a higher velocity as well. This should give them better penetration than the target loads and the flat sharp nose should raise heck with soft tissue IMO. Haven't shot any bad guys with this load yet though and hope I never have too. whelennut
I like to do my hunting BEFORE I pull the trigger! There is only one kind of dead, but there are many different kinds of wounded.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,696
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,696 |
I plan on using factory for the carry loads (because of the lawyer reason) probably cheap handloads for the range.
My wife is quite small and doesn't need alot of recoil and I was just wondering if there was and advantage to the wadcutter with lower velocity.
Whatever a 7x57 can do a 270 can do better.
True fair chase is you in the woods buttnaked with nothing but your finger nails and teeth.
If you'e fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,168
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,168 |
My favorite site for general PD handgun information. Lots of good articles on .38 special ammo for defense. http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/OtherHandguns.htm
Last edited by rkamp; 02/18/10.
"Knowledge is good" � Emil Faber
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,567
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,567 |
For range use hard to beat Seilers & Beloit 38 spec fmj. Cheap and no lead dust issues.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20
Campfire Sage
|
Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20 |
The concept with a semi wadcutter vs. a hollow point, is the former will give deep, straight, penetration while punching a clean hole through tissue, bone, organs and arteries. A hollow point may disrupt more tissue initially, but the bullet might then slow down, come apart, tumble or otherwise stop before reaching all of incapacitating opportunities that lie beyond. The semi wadcutter advocates would rather err on the side of maximum penetration at the expense of would channel that's initially narrower. Yep.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,533
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,533 |
Wadcutters were designed for target shooting, they cut a very clean, full diameter hole, making it easier to score the targets, and now and then, the larger hole will cut the line of the "next higher ring", and give you an extra point. That's the reasoning behind full wadcutter bullets. As for defense purposes, they aren't the best choice by a long shot, my cousin's husband shot a couple guys with them, and still had to knock them down with his fists.(he was a cop).
If your wife can't, or won't, handle a bit heavier recoil, then they'd work, but they sure aren't the best choice.
You can roll a turd in peanuts, dip it in chocolate, and it still ain't no damn Baby Ruth.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,696
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,696 |
Cool you guys answered my question. I think I will get her some 125 xtp hp for carry and call it a day.
Last edited by RugerM77270; 02/18/10.
Whatever a 7x57 can do a 270 can do better.
True fair chase is you in the woods buttnaked with nothing but your finger nails and teeth.
If you'e fixin' to put a hole in something, make it a hole to remember.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881 |
One of the things I've noticed is many/most women have a much harder time shooting a 2 inch .38 than a heavier, 4 inch gun. So, you might consider this. The other thing I've noticed is that the lighter kicking, cheap practice ammo often doesn't shoot very close to the same POI as the hotter, lighter bullet loads. In my book, these guns have very limited usefulness and not for the beginner or the recoil shy. E
|
|
|
|
503 members (007FJ, 1lesfox, 1234, 160user, 17CalFan, 1Longbow, 47 invisible),
2,340
guests, and
1,208
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,377
Posts18,488,498
Members73,970
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|