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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
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I recently loaded up a bunch of wadcutters for my 357 Magnums. I basically used 38 special recipes in a 357 Mag case just to see what they would do. I tried both Berry's 148 grain DEWC and some cast lead bullets from a Lee 358-148-WC mold. They shot great. I'm going to use them to plink unwanted varmints from the porch. They cycled fine in my Marlin 1894 and shot amazingly well out of my Ruger Blackhawk. This is an end of handgun reloading I've never tried before.
What is y'alls' experience with wadcutters?
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Loved them in my Model 28, using 38 Special brass. Deadly on smaller game …..and pretty large Nutria Rats! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,114 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,114 Likes: 2 |
I've probably shot as many wadcutters as anything else out of .38's and .32's over the last 50+ years. They're so much part-and-parcel to revolver shooting that I can't imagine being without them.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,762 Likes: 5
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,762 Likes: 5 |
just gave away 150 factory 148 gr wadcutters. I do like a good LSWC, but have little use for full wadcutters. I don't shoot much paper.
Sam......
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Joined: Apr 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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When I first got back into reloading years ago I mentioned that I’d started again to a buddy. He asked if I loaded 38s and when I replied in the affirmative he said to expect a package. Soon after a box arrived with about 15 pounds of wadcutters cast out of an H&G 50 mold.
I shot them from puffball 38 loads to full power 357 and they were always accurate in every revolver I tried them in. Kill small game very well too.
I strayed off into the SWC until lately when I discovered a couple boxes of Speer HBWC which I loaded up to plink with. They’re superbly accurate just like they always have been and now the hunt is on for a good mold. I’ve got my eye on an H&G 4 cavity right now.
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Joined: Jan 2017
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Campfire Outfitter
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Well they shoot great but see them as pain in the ass: sizing & luring and loading I'll use a swc every time. Mb
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,920
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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They take a little more time to load but they should be really accurate.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,670
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,670 |
I like wadcutters, used to load them with Red Dot, lately it's been Tite Group and 700X. Haven't used a hollow base in a long time, the DEWCs work fine for me.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad." ---------------------------------------------- "Jimmy, some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2005
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3.0gr bullseye, 148 dewc, cci500 in 38 special case is great shooting load in my model 28.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
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Are hollow based wadcutters worth pursuing? Do they do anything spectacularly special?
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,114 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
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I load my H&G wadcutters with 2.7gr. Bullseye.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,480 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,480 Likes: 2 |
I have shot many pounds of wad cutters. The targets ranged from woodchucks to prairie dogs. Also clay targets out to 100 yards .
Since I now powder coat I only size them .
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,361
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
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I have shot many pounds of wad cutters. The targets ranged from woodchucks to prairie dogs. Also clay targets out to 100 yards .
Since I now powder coat I only size them . EXACTLY!
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,193
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,193 |
Are hollow based wadcutters worth pursuing? Do they do anything spectacularly special? Hollow base wadcutters are inherently very accurate, because in addition to being stabilized by the rifling, the nose-heavy properties of a HBWC provides a degree of natural stability similar to a conventional shotgun slug or a badminton shuttlecock, neither of which use a gyroscopic spin to fly accurately. Also, the hollow base expands to exactly fit the cylinder throat and/or bore, which adds to the equation. They are the classic target bullet for .38 revolvers, and for good reason.
Life is like a purple antelope on a field of tuna fish...
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 357
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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Posts: 357 |
I have been shooting 148 grain hornady hollowbase wadcutters in my model 10-6 {4 inch heavy barrel) and a 38 masterpiece and they are very accurate, 3.2 grains of ww 231, pretty much no recoil. I usually shoot these at paper but when I shoot them at steel with the 9mm guy's they seem to hit pretty hard. Granted they are usually shooting 115 grain blasting ammo.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,353
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
When your ship comes in. ... make sure you are willing to unload it.
PAYPAL, sucks and I will never use them again. I recommend you do the same.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,578 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,578 Likes: 6 |
Are hollow based wadcutters worth pursuing? Do they do anything spectacularly special? Hollow base wadcutters are inherently very accurate, because in addition to being stabilized by the rifling, the nose-heavy properties of a HBWC provides a degree of natural stability similar to a conventional shotgun slug or a badminton shuttlecock, neither of which use a gyroscopic spin to fly accurately. Also, the hollow base expands to exactly fit the cylinder throat and/or bore, which adds to the equation. They are the classic target bullet for .38 revolvers, and for good reason. this above plus always remember they are made to load light. but you need them still just enough "push' in them the idea is to spread the hollow base skirt into the riflings. but if you load them too heavy it can tear the skirt off
Last edited by ldholton; 03/12/23.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,347
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,347 |
I used to shoot a lot of them, loaded in .38 brass with 4.0 gr. Herco. Shot awesome.
Why do I have to press 1, for English?
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Joined: Dec 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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The classic powder charge for the 148 grain HBWC in the .38 Special cartridge is 2.7 grains of Bullseye. I've been using that load since 1969 and have never seen a reason to change it.
Life is like a purple antelope on a field of tuna fish...
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,141
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,141 |
What would be a good True Blue load for 148 gn hollow base wadcutters in .38 special?
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