I have been using .38 spl wadcutters for the past 45 years. Great for targets and great for things that move. Buy them 1,000 rounds at a time. It's all I shoot in my Model 10 and Model 36, which are both 45 years old.
The problem with a lot of the modern hollow points is that they sometimes offer very little expansion and penetration out of short barrels. With wadcutters (gold medal match for example) reliable penetration can be expected. Plus they tend not to kick as much.
When it comes to snub nosed 38 spl SD ammo, I think it's important to first decide what's more important to you. Are you looking for better control of the gun for faster follow up shots? Is consistent penetration without over penetration your main concern? Or are you looking for consistent expansion? Once you figure out your priorities, choosing your ammo becomes much easier. For me, I value better control of the gun for faster follow up shots, consistent penetration without over penetration, and consistent expansion--in that order. In other words, I wouldn't go with consistent expansion over better penetration. From the various tests I've seen, it's difficult to get all three from SD ammo in 38spl, especially out of a snubbie. Rounds that consistently penetrate the standard 12-18 inches don't consistently expand or can be difficult to control out of a snubbie (+P ammo). Rounds that consistently expand and are easy to control don't consistently penetrate the 12-18 inches (Hornady CD is one example). The 148gr wadcutter, when loaded to around 700 fps is easy to control and consistently penetrates to the standards 12-18 inches. Granted, it doesn't expand, but it does do a good job of cutting into flesh. So, I consider the 148gr wadcutter to be a very good choice for self defense ammo that holds its own against much of the modern hollow point ammo we have available today.
Absolutely. The WC is consistent and effective without having to resort to high pressures, high velocities, heavy recoil, loud muzzle blast, and blinding muzzle flash. There is no question of a jacket or flannel shirt converting it into a round nose either.
@@mkshffr4936 Well thought out closing observations as you pointed out that the wadcutters do not inflict attrition on the revolvers themselves, are modestly priced, and thus are useful for training.
I love how “new technology” somehow has changed the dynamics experienced by the human body when struck by a fast moving object. Wadcutters stopped and killed bad guys 60 years ago & AMAZINGLY they still kill bad guys! I think I will continue to use that old outdated wadcutter to stop those bad guys.
Less recoil and blast is a good thing. People act like these lower velocity rounds are little more than throwing rocks but in reality these "slow" HBWCs are still travelling almost 500mph. That"ll still leave a mark.
About 100 years ago the British military used a wadcutter style bullet they called a "Man stopper" in .455 Webley, which looks just like a .38 Special wadcutter head.
Some really good points here. I got me a little Ruger LCR in 38 Special. No hammer and the barrel is just under 2" (1.8" I believe) Five shots in the cylinder and it fits perfectly in a front pocket. My only issue is that it is a nasty little demon on the hands. It's so light and small that shooting +P ammo is painful after a box of 20. So I picked up a box of the Winchester Super Match wadcutters. I believe that the muzzle energy is less than 170 ft. lbs and the velocity is 700 fps. Now, that may not sound very impressive, and compared to other ammo it's not. But keep in mind what this weapon is for: getting you out of trouble in a hurry. That is it. When I am going to the gym and have my sweats on and a hoodie, those low life scumbags hanging out by the back parking lot waiting for a target of opportunity to come rambling by, they are going to be less than 5 feet and you are going to be rudely educated on how much damage a wadcutter can do. All I want is to stop them long enough to get back into the building.
According to lucky gunner on UA-cam, Winchester wadcutters are the warmest .38 special factory loading in general-not counting buffalo bore, underwood ammo etc
@@jamesmarkov9570 Well brother, I am just going off the box numbers. 140 gr bullet at 710 fps = 166 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. I rounded up to 170 ft lbs of energy. As far as warmer/colder, I have no idea what the other brands are at. All I know is what I know.
The wadcutter still is the best .38 special ammo. Even modern JHP's in this caliber tend to not do so hot because you have to propel them to higher velocities just so they can expand properly which has deminishing returns because now you have a snub nose revolver with a very sharp and snappy recoil.
Happy to hear this and read all these comments. I’ve just found a pristine S&W model 12-2 (2inch) from 1967 that I keep loaded with 38 special wadcutters. Thanks again.
I'm an old duffer. I like - as did many of the old guys - a flat fronted, heavy projectile. The rather boring old standard wadcutter does quite nicely as a close up, defensive round. With proper marksmanship (which cannot be replaced by nifty doodads) some rather ordinary ammunition serves quite well for most purposes.
I form my own 250 grain .45 colt hollow-point wadcutters. I make them deep so they expand to about .60 caliber in water. I can't think of a better close-range defensive round for a derringer. My last design penetrated over 20 inches of water jugs, but I have a new design that sets the bullet higher in the case, and allows me to use 40% more powder...
Even at low target velocity, that flat nosed 0.357 WC will chop out a full caliber tunnel completely thru a human assailant, resulting in massive blood loss and quick blood pressure drop. That makes for incredibly consistent, very destructive terminal effect, fired from a compact handgun, easily controllable, with low recoil, low pressure ammo allowing fast accurate follow up shots if needed. Modern, Hi-Tech ammo is much more expensive with less reliable performance, and much higher pressures and recoil. This is one case where "Old School" is best, most practical and definitely more cost-effective.
My grandfather was a Charleston SC police officer from the late 50s through the 70s. He told me straight up after watching round nose .38 specials bounce off of a windshield during an incident, alot of officers went to wadcutters- permitted or not. It wasn't until the early 70s that the department authorized anything other than 38s.
I feel a little better. My wife has decided on the 148.... Its the round she is comfortable with. Coming out of an SP101.... I guess it will do the job. Thanks for the video!
2020 and I'm still in favor of wadcutters in my wheelgun which is one of 3 of my backup guns. All 3 back up my EDC Glock 26... and one day as the decades continue to advance I will move to 2 wheelguns and make my peace with that. For now however, I just enjoy the little snubs I have around...all stuffed with wadcutters.
@@rangefinderz5135 wadcutters are just that good in my book. Gimmie penetration and I also like the shorter overall length for short j frame ejection rods. They work for me well, anyway. Happy shooting.
In my opinion wadcutters and semi wadcutters are the way to go with a snub nose gun. If you want to improve on that I'd recommend the Underwood Keith style swc if your gun is +p rated. Fancy hollowpoints need that extra velocity to expand and I personally prefer accuracy and penetration with a 2" barrel. I don't bet my life on magic tricks that 1 out of every 3 bullets may or may not do once they hit the target.
Nice video, good to see the old wadcutter still suggested as self defense ammo. My S&W 36 left the factory in 1966. I don't shoot +P ammo and practice with Win. FMJ .38spl (#Q4171) or the Rem. MC.38spl (L38S11). For anything else I like S&B 148gr wadcutter (SB38B). Both interesting and informative testing.
One of the arguments against wadcutters for defense is the skinny paths they make in gel blocks. This is not how they perform in actual critters. You get a reliable caliber-width wound track and soft organs are destroyed. It's a good middle compromise for snubbies.
I am a rather recoil sensitive shooter due to a spine and shoulder injury and the low velocity of a 38 wadcutter is my load of choice because it is still somewhat effective but more importantly I can use my defensive rounds to train over prolonged time without getting in a lot of pain from sustaining the recoil.
I truly can appreciate where this gentleman is coming from in his presentation, and to a certain extent he is correct. That being said the only modern 38 special ammo that will expand out of todays snub nose revolvers with reliability is the Gold Dot 135+p SB (short barrel). The 38 special 148 grain wadcutter is still hands down the best choice for the snub nose revolver even in today’s world. Lighter recoil, lower muzzle jump, usually extremely accurate and the ability to punch caliber size holes that do not seal up, but act more like how a razor sharp broad head does in archery. Yes sometimes the old ways should be left in the past, but every once in a while we find something that transcends every decade and century.
Alot of miss-information in this video … Im somewhat surprised from this site .. #1 The LWC was developed for target shooting & practice #2 It is low pressure light recoiling thus great for quick follow up shots and use in light revolvers #3 Even in modern days it is a great choice in light snubbies for the reasons in #2 , and they are only a handful of 38spl defensive rounds that will expand especially through 4 layers of clothing and reach deep enough penetration consistently… and those that do are usually +P I actually carry 148gr LWC in my 642 .. I honestly hadn’t found anything better The 148gr LWC is like a hole puncher .. it would be devastating on lung tissue.. Videos like this one .. filled with total mis information really trouble me Accuracy first Penetration second Expansion is gravy
They are not cast, they are swaged which makes them softer that cast. Back in the day we used a speer hbwc because it was softer that most flipped base first with a gas check that would fit perfectly one was the nose. And that thing would expand. Reminiscent of the old webley .455 dum dum bullet.
Well maybe not obsolete, just superseded. Not everyone can handle more, and flesh hasn't changed in the last few decades. There is still a place for the wadcutter IMO. When we were looking at handguns for the wife the list got whittled down to 2 that she could handle. One was a 938/22 and the other was a LCR in .327 Fed' Mag'. The idea being that I'd make .327 wadcutter loads and keep the velocity in the 600-800 fps range, depending on what she could handle. Not exactly state of the art, but the wadcutter still works today and cuts a wound channel rather than merely pushing tissue aside. It's a similar idea as a Keith style bullet still used in hunting today. As you correctly stated, it's nothing I'd want to be hit with. A .327 hole drilled into the boiler house will definitely put the hurt on a BG. It still comes down to good shot placement and don't stop until the threat stops. And doing that most ANY bullet will work (If it holds together), even the old tech wadcutter. At the time I questioned the handload aspect of it then realized that no prosecutor on the planet could make a case for inhumane ammo being used, or that I was loading to get a deadlier round if the bullet doesn't expand, and is low velocity. At least that's the way I thought about it, but I'm not a prosecutor.
Shooter Tutor Additionally, if i were on a Grand Jury i would vote not to persecute, whoops, prosecute a woman that shot a bad guy with ammo made by her loving husband. Being married, i consider them as one. He to care for and protect her, she to follow and obey. If i were on a jury ( highly unlikely since i handload ) i would argue for acquittal and hold out for a hung jury if need be. A commendation would be in order for protecting herself ( and society ) by taking out the trash.
This brings up another point with regard to bullet diameter. Some seem to think that calibers less than .45 or .36 make too small of holes. They point to the percentage difference in wound channel diameter. However the comparison should not be the difference in size relative to each other but rather the difference relative to the target. The difference in relation to say the size of the human heart is not all that impressive.
When it comes to standard pressure 38 special (NOT +p) out of a snub nose barrel, wadcutters outperform hollow points. Hollow point bullets will not expand unless they get up to a specific velocity (which varies depending on how the specific bullet itself is designed). Standard pressure 38 special (again, NOT +p) shot out of a snub nose barrel can't get a hollow point bullet fast enough to expand (at least not with the majority of hollow point bullets as they are currently designed), and when a hollow point bullet doesn't expand it performs almost identically to a full-metal-jacketed bullet (which isn't ideal). Wadcutters will make a permanent wound channel that is the exact diameter of the bullet, whereas a FMJ or a hollowpoint that doesn't expand will make one smaller than the diameter of the bullet itself.
You're missing a key point, that low-pressure rounds like a 38special (or 45 acp) use softer lead than high pressure rounds (like 9mm, 10mm, any magnum). The softer lead will expand at much lower velocities, albeit a short barrel may still no achieve requisite velocity, depending on the bullet design.
@@xxxYYZxxx Lead can only get to be so soft before that itself introduces other issues. Your typical 38 special round with a hollow point bullet that isn't loaded to +p pressures typically wont get its bullet moving at fast enough velocity to expand when fired from shorter barrels.
@@LawlessNate That's true about standard pressures and short barrels, in which case an even lighter weight bullet could work. For wadcutters, I'd suppose going heavier still could work, or else using "tumble on impact" bullets.
Nice presentation. I think there is still merit in the old 148 gr wadcutter. At the same time, I recently picked up some nice HST jhp. Testing shows these accomplish both expansion and penetration. However, they do have more recoil than a wadcutter. I like the HSTs, but would still carry the wadcutter if recoil was an issue in achieving rapid and accurate hits. Wadcutters will get the job done.
Hard to find .38 wadcutters today at a reasonable price anyway, they are great for training. I have a Ruger LCR .38 snub and a Colt Python and shooting wadcutters out of both of them are great for target practice. I've always heard that their blunt end and sharp edges was especially good for self defense.
These WCs are excellent and consistent performers even at low velocities. What I want to see is some testing of their performance at higher velocities. I suspect the there is a lot of untapped potential there.
Back in the 80's there was an article in Fla Today newspaper where a man was shot in the head multiple times with a .45 and none penetrated nor did he even get knocked out, he stated it did give him quite the headache.
I usually carry 145gr hollow point wadcutters or 160 gr hollow point truncated cone hardcast in my .357s.They do everything I need them to do and they are inexpensive to make and reload. No need to go pay three or four times more for fancy new "technologically advanced" or tacticool bullets. With the right powder load, bullet wieght and hardness, HPWC or HPTCs will solve just about any problem that might present itself.
The first wadcutters were created when soldiers tried to load conical bullets in cap and ball revolvers with too much powder. In order to seat them, they needed to hammer them into the chamber to fit below the chamber mouth. It flattened the pointed tips and made the bullets cylindrical projectiles of 125+ grains going 700-800 fps.
I have a serious question. If the wadcutter was adequate for self-defense 50 years ago, why wouldn't it be adequate today? I carry a .38 snubnose. Currently, I use Hornady Critical Defense in either standard or +p, depending on which gun I'm carrying that day. So, my question isn't merely theoretical. I want to carry the most beneficial ammunition.
All handgun bullets do pretty much the same. So called experts and gun writers spread and regurgitate each others "facts". It was probably Elmer Keith that spread the myth that flat nosed bullets had more wounding capacity. He wrote that in one of his books on reloading IIRC. If you read what pathologist say, like DeMaio in "Gunshot Wounds" he says wounds from hollow point and FMJ pistol bullets look the same (you can find the book at Archive.org). Bullets traveling at normal handgun velocities have no hydro static shock like a deer rifle does, so expansion is pointless. Handguns require good bullet placement and adequate penetration (and some cooperation of the target) to be anywhere close to effective.
My current defensive load in my snub nose is federal HST 38 + p 130 grain hollow point.. it actually looks a little like a wad cutter.. the huge hollow point is recessed deep in the case.. this produces + p velocity without adding more powder.. the result is extremely light recoiling 38 special even in my 11.5 Oz snub... Yet penetrates to about 12 -13 in . In denim covered ballistic gel and expands massively! .. I do however miss shooting the wad cutters at the range as many companies no longer produce them.😢.. when I first got into shooting in 1991.. it was 38 special and a reloading company called Caroll sold wadcutter reloads for$ 3.50 a box at my local gun store and you got 50 cents back for your returned brass...so at $3 a box I could practice a whole bunch even on my tight budget at the time
This guy is full of fertilizer. I hunt coyotes and other varmints with a marlin .357 lever gun and Ruger GP100. .38 wadcutters do damage that a .357 JHP fullhouse load will not do. When I hit a yote with a wadcutter they paint the ground with blood. Don't know about a block of gelatin though, never tried calling one in.
it is still difficult to find an expanding projectile that will reliably expand out of a two or less inch barrel in 38, especially if the gun isn't +P rated. so, there is still merit in these being used.
The 38 special wadcutter damages the barrel and in particular the throat and the origin of rifling, not to mention the excessive lead. If the barrel is not perfectly aligned then wear will be even faster. And it's even worse if you shoot a 357 magnum revolver because the freebore increase. It is necessary to use warheads with a cylindrical-ogival head, the one for which the ammunition was designed from the beginning.
a wise man once told me 2 hole are better than one. after exiting they have lost enough steam to not become too dangerous. great choice for the snubbie
The LWC may not expand .. But they pentrate.... A gel block has no bones ... no sinew .. or other connective tissue ... Gel gives a person a idea of the performance of a bullet ... But the 38spl out of a snubbie needs to penetrate... first ... if you have exspansion with pentration thats great ... but a low pressure round out of a two inch barrel .. I apt for a good LWC over most of the "modern " hollow point offerings .. I really not concerned with over pentration with the 38spl ... when the target is a BG ... cause I doubt he is made out of ballistic gel ..
I think it's funny when people believe that every inch of penetration in gel is designed to equal an inch of penetration in a human. It was never supposed to be that way. Gel, mixed to exacting specs is the best medium for observing terminal ballistics for comparison purposes. That 13"-18" range was simply a calculated theory of what is most probably a bullets most effective penetrating power. It's not a measure of actual penetration in a human torso.
The problem with snubnose revolvers and expansion of so called modern hollow points is the amount of pressure aka velocity to cause them to expand reliably. The revolver will have violent recoil , thus reducing the ability of the shooter to make quick repeat shots to his target. This creates a lower statistical chance to stop the assailant quickly and effectively. On the other hand, the shooter of Wadcutters will be able to shoot and empty his revolver quicker without the blast and recoil , while being able to place the shots in a better pattern on the target. In addition, the shote will penetrate deeper and stand a better chance of incapacitating, the assailant. The FBI calls for expansion and 12-18” of penetration. While expansion is iffy in a 1.78 barrel, with any bullet, multiple hits with deep penetration is possible with wadcutters, with shot placement as a bonus. Give it some thought and make your decision, I have.
Finding reloading boolits right now can be almost impossible, but the inexpensive wad cutters were never a problem. Because of that people are starting to make these popular again. I shoot both type I & type II wad cutters in my Ruger GP100 (loading in .38 spc.), but I prefer the type II because they have the cannelure grove for a roll crimp.
"old days"? I still use lots of .38 wadcutters for target practice. I cast a 148 gr. "button nose" wadcutter of straight wheelweights. Loaded over 2.8 gr. of Bullseye powder. I've been using these for more than 50 years in all my .38/.357 revolvers. Extremely accurate, very low recoil and 2500 rounds/pound of powder.
5 років тому+1
Our Uncle Gene was a peace officer for in a small North East Kansas town from 1948 - 1966 he carried a S&W K-38. He used wadcutters that he loaded with the open bottom facing out. His son Dennis has his dad's firearms and last i heard several boxes of his dad's hand loaded reverse wadcutters.
Wadcutters are used primarily to limit recoil, a fact you completely missed. Wearing a USCCA shirt doesn't make you an expert, and in this case, actually makes me question how well I'd be defended in a courtroom by your "Experts"...
I currently have some Armscor 158 grain Flat nose FMJ. They shoot point to aim and recoil isn't bad. I tried some critical defense, XTPs, and buffalo bore. None hit point to aim except the XTP, and the BB hurt my hands a lot. In unable to use lead in my local range and I like to see what my carry ammo does in terms of accuracy. I'm not sure if it's going to be as effective as a wadcutter. But since it's a flag headed bullet I'm still holding out some hope it'll do the job.
With the right load you can get the combination of expansion and penetration that you need even out of the super short barrels, but the difference in recoil is huge (relatively lightl-loaded wadcutters versus +P hollowpoints), especially out of an airweight pocket revolver.
pinkeye00 what? Recoil is more dependent on the combination of bullet weight, the weight of the gun and how much powder is pushing the bullet I guarantee that a top end 357 load with a 148 grain LWC will put some hurt on your wrist...unless you’re shooting it out of a rigle
These are very accurate rounds. The nice thing is you can load these lite and make a good low recoil load for people like women that are scared of hot rounds where hollow points are used. Why use a hollow point on a 38? They rarely expand. And the ones that do are usually +p.
Very good question........more to do with what the manufacturer is making & pushing & an ill educated public that hasn't thought this through is buying I suspect.....I favour a SJSP in 125 grain projectile with a flat nose.
The real cats meow back in the day was to load these backwards. Great expansion, penetration probably not so great. But this was before they invented Jello. Still have a few rounds somewhere. BTW, not usually cast, they were swaged.
Why didn't you shoot some modern jacketed hollow points out of that snubbie to illustrate your point? I know why, but wanted to see if you'll give an honest answer.
Probably want to use double ended wad cutters of relatively hard alloy for the rifle as the HBWC skirt won't react well to those pressures and velocities.
Hey guys. Off topic but quick question. If I wanted to mail my father a rifle (driving is a little too far away), what would be the procedure for doing so or is there any regulation on it?
Great question Joe, per the ATF: "Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service? A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. [18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]" You can see that - and other shipping details here: www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-frequently-asked-questions-unlicensed-persons#shipping-firearms-usps
So. Since he's in the same state... it's ok? I'm planning on sending it to him in two boxes. It's an ar15. Upper in one, lower in other. So should be ok?
I would double check with your local post office to make sure that you are shipping it in the proper manner, but within a state, you are not required to use someone with an FFL, according to my sources.
USCCA thanks for the "answer". I get that you are not a legal authority and hereby state that I will not hold uscca responsible for any shipping choices I make. Thanks guys!
I sure as hell would NOT want to be shot with one of these in the upper mass fired from a snub nose revolver at 7 Yards.. I don't care how tough or hard you THINK you are... Your eyes would be watering if you were shot in the upper mass with one of these from 7 Yards away.
in a snub nose good luck getting your hollow points to open up they are velocity based. you have 2 choices run your velocity so high that you can't hit what your aiming at or buy the specialty ammo that 1 box cost more than your gun. or you could just use common sense and run 148 gr. wc or 158 gr. semi wc i prefer the 158gr. semi wadcutter hollow point at about 900-950 fps. but from 800 fps on up will do in your snub nose. these really are the best loads for a snub. also at lower vel. hp tend to clog up and are about as good as throwing rocks. be weary of information from the internet do your own research. any crackhead with a camera can make a video. or post a comment. be safe and practice.
So if you get shot in the heart with a 38 special round nose bullet, it's not going to do any damage to the heart, it's just going to push it out of the way. Because 38 special round nose bullets just push organs and bones around. I'll add that to my list of dumb things I've heard in UA-cam gun videos.
I think they meant if it’s at the edge, so if it grazes someone it’s because the round part hits then and causes it to skid off, but if it’s a wadcutter and coat then the corner hits it and it can’t just slide off
we have all been mesmerized by mushrooming bullets. it likely makes very little difference on a human attacker. not like you are trying to bleed him out like an elk shot at 200 yrds. hit what you aim at and thats all it takes 99.9% of the time.
while have no issue with your conclusions what you neglected to point out was what these bullets are normally used for in the modern context, and that really is a little poor guys half a story and not what I expect from this channel.
I'm sorry for any confusion, Clive. Are you referring to what we have in the description of the video? "The .38 Special wadcutter was top-of-the-line technology 60 years ago. They still work great for cutting perfectly round holes in targets. While new technology has made the wadcutter obsolete as a defensive round, it still offers great penetration and outstanding accuracy. Those are two things you need when trying to stop bad guys."
I just felt the round deserved a little more recognition as a highly respected revolver competition round PP1 PP2 etc.. This adjunct not being really mentioned in the video.
They loaded them backwards for SD rounds. Federal's new 38 Special HST is essentially an old wad cutter backwards: www.federalpremium.com/ammunition/handgun/family/premium-personal-defense/personal-defense-hst/p38hst1s So what was once the choice for self defense is again in fashion as the best 38 Special SD round. This pretty much turns your video 180 degrees around. Your video shows the inherent bias towards factory Boutique SD Hollow Point ammo that is $1+ per training round. Hornady & Speer still make the soft lead hollow base Wad Cutters for those that reload.
A bullet bouncing off a mans skull huh? Even a small twig will deflect a high powered rifle bullet if it hits it at the right angle. Thats a poor sales pitch.
Defense loads don't work any better than wadcutters in snubbies they just aren't reliable, but wadcutters are, and they give good straight line penetration, unlike round nose bullets that deflect off of bone, and or push tissues aside instead of blowing clean through and getting to the vitals
I have been using .38 spl wadcutters for the past 45 years. Great for targets and great for things that move. Buy them 1,000 rounds at a time. It's all I shoot in my Model 10 and Model 36, which are both 45 years old.
The problem with a lot of the modern hollow points is that they sometimes offer very little expansion and penetration out of short barrels. With wadcutters (gold medal match for example) reliable penetration can be expected. Plus they tend not to kick as much.
When it comes to snub nosed 38 spl SD ammo, I think it's important to first decide what's more important to you. Are you looking for better control of the gun for faster follow up shots? Is consistent penetration without over penetration your main concern? Or are you looking for consistent expansion? Once you figure out your priorities, choosing your ammo becomes much easier. For me, I value better control of the gun for faster follow up shots, consistent penetration without over penetration, and consistent expansion--in that order. In other words, I wouldn't go with consistent expansion over better penetration. From the various tests I've seen, it's difficult to get all three from SD ammo in 38spl, especially out of a snubbie. Rounds that consistently penetrate the standard 12-18 inches don't consistently expand or can be difficult to control out of a snubbie (+P ammo). Rounds that consistently expand and are easy to control don't consistently penetrate the 12-18 inches (Hornady CD is one example). The 148gr wadcutter, when loaded to around 700 fps is easy to control and consistently penetrates to the standards 12-18 inches. Granted, it doesn't expand, but it does do a good job of cutting into flesh. So, I consider the 148gr wadcutter to be a very good choice for self defense ammo that holds its own against much of the modern hollow point ammo we have available today.
Amen! I couldn't have said it better myself.
Well said!
Totally agree. Now days everyone is in to the "latest" out there on the market. Wad cutters have been around for yrs, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Absolutely. The WC is consistent and effective without having to resort to high pressures, high velocities, heavy recoil, loud muzzle blast, and blinding muzzle flash. There is no question of a jacket or flannel shirt converting it into a round nose either.
@@mkshffr4936 Well thought out closing observations as you pointed out that the wadcutters do not inflict attrition on the revolvers themselves, are modestly priced, and thus are useful for training.
I love how “new technology” somehow has changed the dynamics experienced by the human body when struck by a fast moving object. Wadcutters stopped and killed bad guys 60 years ago & AMAZINGLY they still kill bad guys! I think I will continue to use that old outdated wadcutter to stop those bad guys.
Plus I heard wadcutter has less recoil
Less recoil and blast is a good thing. People act like these lower velocity rounds are little more than throwing rocks but in reality these "slow" HBWCs are still travelling almost 500mph. That"ll still leave a mark.
About 100 years ago the British military used a wadcutter style bullet they called a "Man stopper" in .455 Webley, which looks just like a .38 Special wadcutter head.
Wadcutters were popular because dum-dums used to be unreliable, but the hollow points are reliable now.
I have 148gr Winchester super match in mine... I have a 5 shot pocket rocket (S&W 640) at the moment I have eveey other round wadcutter and 130gr FMJ
Some really good points here. I got me a little Ruger LCR in 38 Special. No hammer and the barrel is just under 2" (1.8" I believe) Five shots in the cylinder and it fits perfectly in a front pocket. My only issue is that it is a nasty little demon on the hands. It's so light and small that shooting +P ammo is painful after a box of 20. So I picked up a box of the Winchester Super Match wadcutters. I believe that the muzzle energy is less than 170 ft. lbs and the velocity is 700 fps. Now, that may not sound very impressive, and compared to other ammo it's not. But keep in mind what this weapon is for: getting you out of trouble in a hurry. That is it. When I am going to the gym and have my sweats on and a hoodie, those low life scumbags hanging out by the back parking lot waiting for a target of opportunity to come rambling by, they are going to be less than 5 feet and you are going to be rudely educated on how much damage a wadcutter can do. All I want is to stop them long enough to get back into the building.
According to lucky gunner on UA-cam, Winchester wadcutters are the warmest .38 special factory loading in general-not counting buffalo bore, underwood ammo etc
@@jamesmarkov9570 Well brother, I am just going off the box numbers. 140 gr bullet at 710 fps = 166 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. I rounded up to 170 ft lbs of energy. As far as warmer/colder, I have no idea what the other brands are at. All I know is what I know.
The wadcutter still is the best .38 special ammo. Even modern JHP's in this caliber tend to not do so hot because you have to propel them to higher velocities just so they can expand properly which has deminishing returns because now you have a snub nose revolver with a very sharp and snappy recoil.
Happy to hear this and read all these comments. I’ve just found a pristine S&W model 12-2 (2inch) from 1967 that I keep loaded with 38 special wadcutters. Thanks again.
I'm an old duffer. I like - as did many of the old guys - a flat fronted, heavy projectile. The rather boring old standard wadcutter does quite nicely as a close up, defensive round. With proper marksmanship (which cannot be replaced by nifty doodads) some rather ordinary ammunition serves quite well for most purposes.
I form my own 250 grain .45 colt hollow-point wadcutters. I make them deep so they expand to about .60 caliber in water. I can't think of a better close-range defensive round for a derringer. My last design penetrated over 20 inches of water jugs, but I have a new design that sets the bullet higher in the case, and allows me to use 40% more powder...
Even at low target velocity, that flat nosed 0.357 WC will chop out a full caliber tunnel completely thru a human assailant, resulting in massive blood loss and quick blood pressure drop. That makes for incredibly consistent, very destructive terminal effect, fired from a compact handgun, easily controllable, with low recoil, low pressure ammo allowing fast accurate follow up shots if needed. Modern, Hi-Tech ammo is much more expensive with less reliable performance, and much higher pressures and recoil. This is one case where "Old School" is best, most practical and definitely more cost-effective.
My grandfather was a Charleston SC police officer from the late 50s through the 70s. He told me straight up after watching round nose .38 specials bounce off of a windshield during an incident, alot of officers went to wadcutters- permitted or not. It wasn't until the early 70s that the department authorized anything other than 38s.
I feel a little better. My wife has decided on the 148.... Its the round she is comfortable with. Coming out of an SP101.... I guess it will do the job. Thanks for the video!
2020 and I'm still in favor of wadcutters in my wheelgun which is one of 3 of my backup guns. All 3 back up my EDC Glock 26... and one day as the decades continue to advance I will move to 2 wheelguns and make my peace with that. For now however, I just enjoy the little snubs I have around...all stuffed with wadcutters.
@@rangefinderz5135 wadcutters are just that good in my book. Gimmie penetration and I also like the shorter overall length for short j frame ejection rods. They work for me well, anyway. Happy shooting.
In my opinion wadcutters and semi wadcutters are the way to go with a snub nose gun. If you want to improve on that I'd recommend the Underwood Keith style swc if your gun is +p rated. Fancy hollowpoints need that extra velocity to expand and I personally prefer accuracy and penetration with a 2" barrel. I don't bet my life on magic tricks that 1 out of every 3 bullets may or may not do once they hit the target.
Nice video, good to see the old wadcutter still suggested as self defense ammo. My S&W 36 left the factory in 1966. I don't shoot +P ammo and practice with Win. FMJ .38spl (#Q4171) or the Rem. MC.38spl (L38S11). For anything else I like S&B 148gr wadcutter (SB38B). Both interesting and informative testing.
Full wadcutters are awesome.
I buy them from Freedom Munitions.
750 FPS. Easy on the recoil and accurate. That’s what I carry.
Good to know about freedom munitions
One of the arguments against wadcutters for defense is the skinny paths they make in gel blocks. This is not how they perform in actual critters. You get a reliable caliber-width wound track and soft organs are destroyed. It's a good middle compromise for snubbies.
I am a rather recoil sensitive shooter due to a spine and shoulder injury and the low velocity of a 38 wadcutter is my load of choice because it is still somewhat effective but more importantly I can use my defensive rounds to train over prolonged time without getting in a lot of pain from sustaining the recoil.
I truly can appreciate where this gentleman is coming from in his presentation, and to a certain extent he is correct. That being said the only modern 38 special ammo that will expand out of todays snub nose revolvers with reliability is the Gold Dot 135+p SB (short barrel).
The 38 special 148 grain wadcutter is still hands down the best choice for the snub nose revolver even in today’s world. Lighter recoil, lower muzzle jump, usually extremely accurate and the ability to punch caliber size holes that do not seal up, but act more like how a razor sharp broad head does in archery. Yes sometimes the old ways should be left in the past, but every once in a while we find something that transcends every decade and century.
Alot of miss-information in this video … Im somewhat surprised from this site ..
#1 The LWC was developed for target shooting & practice
#2 It is low pressure light recoiling
thus great for quick follow up shots and use in light revolvers
#3 Even in modern days it is a great choice in light snubbies for the reasons in #2 , and they are only a handful of 38spl defensive rounds that will expand especially through 4 layers of clothing and reach deep enough penetration consistently… and those that do are usually +P
I actually carry 148gr LWC in my 642 .. I honestly hadn’t found anything better
The 148gr LWC is like a hole puncher .. it would be devastating on lung tissue..
Videos like this one .. filled with total mis information really trouble me
Accuracy first
Penetration second
Expansion is gravy
They are not cast, they are swaged which makes them softer that cast. Back in the day we used a speer hbwc because it was softer that most flipped base first with a gas check that would fit perfectly one was the nose. And that thing would expand. Reminiscent of the old webley .455 dum dum bullet.
Well maybe not obsolete, just superseded. Not everyone can handle more, and flesh hasn't changed in the last few decades. There is still a place for the wadcutter IMO.
When we were looking at handguns for the wife the list got whittled down to 2 that she could handle. One was a 938/22 and the other was a LCR in .327 Fed' Mag'. The idea being that I'd make .327 wadcutter loads and keep the velocity in the 600-800 fps range, depending on what she could handle. Not exactly state of the art, but the wadcutter still works today and cuts a wound channel rather than merely pushing tissue aside. It's a similar idea as a Keith style bullet still used in hunting today. As you correctly stated, it's nothing I'd want to be hit with. A .327 hole drilled into the boiler house will definitely put the hurt on a BG. It still comes down to good shot placement and don't stop until the threat stops. And doing that most ANY bullet will work (If it holds together), even the old tech wadcutter.
At the time I questioned the handload aspect of it then realized that no prosecutor on the planet could make a case for inhumane ammo being used, or that I was loading to get a deadlier round if the bullet doesn't expand, and is low velocity. At least that's the way I thought about it, but I'm not a prosecutor.
I agree with you on all of the points you made. Not obsolete. One of these to the brain, spinal cord, femoral artery or heart and it is "game over!"
Shooter Tutor
Additionally, if i were on a Grand Jury i would vote not to persecute, whoops, prosecute a woman that shot a bad guy with ammo made by her loving husband. Being married, i consider them as one. He to care for and protect her, she to follow and obey. If i were on a jury ( highly unlikely since i handload ) i would argue for acquittal and hold out for a hung jury if need be. A commendation would be in order for protecting herself ( and society ) by taking out the trash.
This brings up another point with regard to bullet diameter. Some seem to think that calibers less than .45 or .36 make too small of holes. They point to the percentage difference in wound channel diameter. However the comparison should not be the difference in size relative to each other but rather the difference relative to the target. The difference in relation to say the size of the human heart is not all that impressive.
I appreciate the brevity. No song and dance, just the facts.
How true. I have “fired” 148 gr wadcutters from an air rifle at 900 fps through18” of gel with similar results. A wide meplat is a great shape.
When it comes to standard pressure 38 special (NOT +p) out of a snub nose barrel, wadcutters outperform hollow points.
Hollow point bullets will not expand unless they get up to a specific velocity (which varies depending on how the specific bullet itself is designed). Standard pressure 38 special (again, NOT +p) shot out of a snub nose barrel can't get a hollow point bullet fast enough to expand (at least not with the majority of hollow point bullets as they are currently designed), and when a hollow point bullet doesn't expand it performs almost identically to a full-metal-jacketed bullet (which isn't ideal). Wadcutters will make a permanent wound channel that is the exact diameter of the bullet, whereas a FMJ or a hollowpoint that doesn't expand will make one smaller than the diameter of the bullet itself.
You're missing a key point, that low-pressure rounds like a 38special (or 45 acp) use softer lead than high pressure rounds (like 9mm, 10mm, any magnum). The softer lead will expand at much lower velocities, albeit a short barrel may still no achieve requisite velocity, depending on the bullet design.
@@xxxYYZxxx Lead can only get to be so soft before that itself introduces other issues. Your typical 38 special round with a hollow point bullet that isn't loaded to +p pressures typically wont get its bullet moving at fast enough velocity to expand when fired from shorter barrels.
@@LawlessNate That's true about standard pressures and short barrels, in which case an even lighter weight bullet could work. For wadcutters, I'd suppose going heavier still could work, or else using "tumble on impact" bullets.
We used to flip the HBWC around and load them. Havnt done it in decades but was professed to be reliable
Nice presentation. I think there is still merit in the old 148 gr wadcutter. At the same time, I recently picked up some nice HST jhp. Testing shows these accomplish both expansion and penetration. However, they do have more recoil than a wadcutter. I like the HSTs, but would still carry the wadcutter if recoil was an issue in achieving rapid and accurate hits. Wadcutters will get the job done.
Hard to find .38 wadcutters today at a reasonable price anyway, they are great for training. I have a Ruger LCR .38 snub and a Colt Python and shooting wadcutters out of both of them are great for target practice. I've always heard that their blunt end and sharp edges was especially good for self defense.
I’ve never seen Farva so well collected and professional, glad to see he’s turned his life around
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I was scrolling the comments looking for this 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
….and they still work!!!
These WCs are excellent and consistent performers even at low velocities. What I want to see is some testing of their performance at higher velocities. I suspect the there is a lot of untapped potential there.
Back in the 80's there was an article in Fla Today newspaper where a man was shot in the head multiple times with a .45 and none penetrated nor did he even get knocked out, he stated it did give him quite the headache.
Unless one lives in Florida, I'm not sure Florida Man is a fair baseline...
Since they also work well in a .357 lever action, they still make sense, if you prefer one ammo type for both pistol and rifle. Still a viable option.
I usually carry 145gr hollow point wadcutters or 160 gr hollow point truncated cone hardcast in my .357s.They do everything I need them to do and they are inexpensive to make and reload. No need to go pay three or four times more for fancy new "technologically advanced" or tacticool bullets. With the right powder load, bullet wieght and hardness, HPWC or HPTCs will solve just about any problem that might present itself.
Thank you Ed. How about seating some common hollow base wad cutters upside down and shooting the gel blocks again. Always been curious about that.
The tests I have seen indicate questionable penetration with base forward.
The first wadcutters were created when soldiers tried to load conical bullets in cap and ball revolvers with too much powder. In order to seat them, they needed to hammer them into the chamber to fit below the chamber mouth. It flattened the pointed tips and made the bullets cylindrical projectiles of 125+ grains going 700-800 fps.
I have a serious question. If the wadcutter was adequate for self-defense 50 years ago, why wouldn't it be adequate today? I carry a .38 snubnose. Currently, I use Hornady Critical Defense in either standard or +p, depending on which gun I'm carrying that day. So, my question isn't merely theoretical. I want to carry the most beneficial ammunition.
All handgun bullets do pretty much the same. So called experts and gun writers spread and regurgitate each others "facts". It was probably Elmer Keith that spread the myth that flat nosed bullets had more wounding capacity. He wrote that in one of his books on reloading IIRC. If you read what pathologist say, like DeMaio in "Gunshot Wounds" he says wounds from hollow point and FMJ pistol bullets look the same (you can find the book at Archive.org). Bullets traveling at normal handgun velocities have no hydro static shock like a deer rifle does, so expansion is pointless. Handguns require good bullet placement and adequate penetration (and some cooperation of the target) to be anywhere close to effective.
My current defensive load in my snub nose is federal HST 38 + p 130 grain hollow point.. it actually looks a little like a wad cutter.. the huge hollow point is recessed deep in the case.. this produces + p velocity without adding more powder.. the result is extremely light recoiling 38 special even in my 11.5 Oz snub... Yet penetrates to about 12 -13 in . In denim covered ballistic gel and expands massively! .. I do however miss shooting the wad cutters at the range as many companies no longer produce them.😢.. when I first got into shooting in 1991.. it was 38 special and a reloading company called Caroll sold wadcutter reloads for$ 3.50 a box at my local gun store and you got 50 cents back for your returned brass...so at $3 a box I could practice a whole bunch even on my tight budget at the time
Test the new .38 Special +P HST Micro loads from Federal next please.
This guy is full of fertilizer. I hunt coyotes and other varmints with a marlin .357 lever gun and Ruger GP100. .38 wadcutters do damage that a .357 JHP fullhouse load will not do. When I hit a yote with a wadcutter they paint the ground with blood. Don't know about a block of gelatin though, never tried calling one in.
Bull.
What did they do to you that deserved you killing such great animals in the 1st place? Smfh
They also crush their way through, instead of pushing tissue aside like round nose bullets.
I certainly would have liked to have seen a comparison of a jacketed hollow point getting fired through that same snub nose.
it is still difficult to find an expanding projectile that will reliably expand out of a two or less inch barrel in 38, especially if the gun isn't +P rated. so, there is still merit in these being used.
The 38 special wadcutter damages the barrel and in particular the throat and the origin of rifling, not to mention the excessive lead. If the barrel is not perfectly aligned then wear will be even faster. And it's even worse if you shoot a 357 magnum revolver because the freebore increase. It is necessary to use warheads with a cylindrical-ogival head, the one for which the ammunition was designed from the beginning.
a wise man once told me 2 hole are better than one. after exiting they have lost enough steam to not become too dangerous. great choice for the snubbie
The LWC may not expand .. But they pentrate.... A gel block has no bones ... no sinew .. or other connective tissue ...
Gel gives a person a idea of the performance of a bullet ... But the 38spl out of a snubbie needs to penetrate... first ... if you have exspansion with pentration thats great ... but a low pressure round out of a two inch barrel .. I apt for a good LWC over most of the "modern " hollow point offerings .. I really not concerned with over pentration with the 38spl ... when the target is a BG ... cause I doubt he is made out of ballistic gel ..
and there is recoil to consider, another advantage when firing from a 38 snubbie
I think it's funny when people believe that every inch of penetration in gel is designed to equal an inch of penetration in a human. It was never supposed to be that way. Gel, mixed to exacting specs is the best medium for observing terminal ballistics for comparison purposes. That 13"-18" range was simply a calculated theory of what is most probably a bullets most effective penetrating power. It's not a measure of actual penetration in a human torso.
If a wadcutter hits a bonr they will tumble and glace around doing more damage
Underwood makes an excellent 150 grain wadcutter.38 special at close to a 1,000 FPS. That round through a snubbie will drill a large attacker
So called modern hollowpoints don't expand very well out of a 1 3/4 or 2" barrel. I use wadcutters in my snubby.
The problem with snubnose revolvers and expansion of so called modern hollow points is the amount of pressure aka velocity to cause them to expand reliably. The revolver will have violent recoil , thus reducing the ability of the shooter to make quick repeat shots to his target. This creates a lower statistical chance to stop the assailant quickly and effectively. On the other hand, the shooter of Wadcutters will be able to shoot and empty his revolver quicker without the blast and recoil , while being able to place the shots in a better pattern on the target. In addition, the shote will penetrate deeper and stand a better chance of incapacitating, the assailant. The FBI calls for expansion and 12-18” of penetration. While expansion is iffy in a 1.78 barrel, with any bullet, multiple hits with deep penetration is possible with wadcutters, with shot placement as a bonus. Give it some thought and make your decision, I have.
38 special wadcutters can also be fired out of a pre-ffl antique 38 long colt firearm, on account of being so tame. (at your own technical risk)
Finding reloading boolits right now can be almost impossible, but the inexpensive wad cutters were never a problem. Because of that people are starting to make these popular again.
I shoot both type I & type II wad cutters in my Ruger GP100 (loading in .38 spc.), but I prefer the type II because they have the cannelure grove for a roll crimp.
"old days"? I still use lots of .38 wadcutters for target practice. I cast a 148 gr. "button nose" wadcutter of straight wheelweights. Loaded over 2.8 gr. of Bullseye powder. I've been using these for more than 50 years in all my .38/.357 revolvers. Extremely accurate, very low recoil and 2500 rounds/pound of powder.
Our Uncle Gene was a peace officer for in a small North East Kansas town from 1948 - 1966 he carried a S&W K-38. He used wadcutters that he loaded with the open bottom facing out. His son Dennis has his dad's firearms and last i heard several boxes of his dad's hand loaded reverse wadcutters.
❤ those wad cutters !! ✌
Thanks for the info
Wadcutters are used primarily to limit recoil, a fact you completely missed.
Wearing a USCCA shirt doesn't make you an expert, and in this case, actually makes me question how well I'd be defended in a courtroom by your "Experts"...
I currently have some Armscor 158 grain Flat nose FMJ. They shoot point to aim and recoil isn't bad. I tried some critical defense, XTPs, and buffalo bore. None hit point to aim except the XTP, and the BB hurt my hands a lot. In unable to use lead in my local range and I like to see what my carry ammo does in terms of accuracy. I'm not sure if it's going to be as effective as a wadcutter. But since it's a flag headed bullet I'm still holding out some hope it'll do the job.
The problem with your modern HP’s is that they rarely expand out of a snubby. You are much better off with a wadcutter out of a snubby.
Do modern hollow points get the expansion out of that snub nose? I would’ve liked to see a side by side comparison.
With the right load you can get the combination of expansion and penetration that you need even out of the super short barrels, but the difference in recoil is huge (relatively lightl-loaded wadcutters versus +P hollowpoints), especially out of an airweight pocket revolver.
You miss the point though. Waddies are low recoil. That's ... what maes them still viable.
pinkeye00 what? Recoil is more dependent on the combination of bullet weight, the weight of the gun and how much powder is pushing the bullet I guarantee that a top end 357 load with a 148 grain LWC will put some hurt on your wrist...unless you’re shooting it out of a rigle
These are very accurate rounds. The nice thing is you can load these lite and make a good low recoil load for people like women that are scared of hot rounds where hollow points are used. Why use a hollow point on a 38? They rarely expand. And the ones that do are usually +p.
Very good question........more to do with what the manufacturer is making & pushing & an ill educated public that hasn't thought this through is buying I suspect.....I favour a SJSP in 125 grain projectile with a flat nose.
The real cats meow back in the day was to load these backwards. Great expansion, penetration probably not so great. But this was before they invented Jello. Still have a few rounds somewhere. BTW, not usually cast, they were swaged.
Cut an X groove on the end of the wad cutter.
Heck, I'd use them just for the name. ;)
Would like to have known what brand these were... box looked like Winchester?
How about the 158 grain semi-wadcutter?
I'm using 168gr lead semi-wadcutters
Why didn't you shoot some modern jacketed hollow points out of that snubbie to illustrate your point?
I know why, but wanted to see if you'll give an honest answer.
How about using them in a 357mag lever action???
If it cycles it, then it will probably be a candidate for ammo to use for one reason or another, maybe even multiple reasons.
Probably want to use double ended wad cutters of relatively hard alloy for the rifle as the HBWC skirt won't react well to those pressures and velocities.
@@mkshffr4936 yeah, you would not want it to blow half the projectile out and leave the skirt behind.
Will that bullet work good in a 4 inch 6 inch barrell in a 357 or a 38
Yes
How about Jacketed Wad Cutters ?
Scenic Driveways I was wondering the same thing.
good video
Hey guys. Off topic but quick question. If I wanted to mail my father a rifle (driving is a little too far away), what would be the procedure for doing so or is there any regulation on it?
Joeshaver1104, you will want to go through someone with an FFL to legally ship a firearm.
Great question Joe, per the ATF:
"Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.
[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]"
You can see that - and other shipping details here: www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-frequently-asked-questions-unlicensed-persons#shipping-firearms-usps
So. Since he's in the same state... it's ok? I'm planning on sending it to him in two boxes. It's an ar15. Upper in one, lower in other. So should be ok?
I would double check with your local post office to make sure that you are shipping it in the proper manner, but within a state, you are not required to use someone with an FFL, according to my sources.
USCCA thanks for the "answer". I get that you are not a legal authority and hereby state that I will not hold uscca responsible for any shipping choices I make. Thanks guys!
I thought they loaded those bullets backwards to act closer to what a hollowpoint would do.
do you not show both gels?
I sure as hell would NOT want to be shot with one of these in the upper mass fired from a snub nose revolver at 7 Yards..
I don't care how tough or hard you THINK you are... Your eyes would be watering if you were shot in the upper mass with one of these from 7 Yards away.
That round is going to tell any aggression they were once alive , I absolutely agree .
And then there's the 150 grain Lead round nose hollow base....like a Minié ball.
any truth about the story about loading them backwards
Ed Combs?....You don't fool me Will Sasso....lol
Closed captions for the hard of hearing please
That stash does almost as much damage as a 148gr full wadcutter.
in a snub nose good luck getting your hollow points to open up they are velocity based. you have 2 choices run your velocity so high that you can't hit what your aiming at or buy the specialty ammo that 1 box cost more than your gun. or you could just use common sense and run 148 gr. wc or 158 gr. semi wc i prefer the 158gr. semi wadcutter hollow point at about 900-950 fps. but from 800 fps on up will do in your snub nose. these really are the best loads for a snub. also at lower vel. hp tend to clog up and are about as good as throwing rocks. be weary of information from the internet do your own research. any crackhead with a camera can make a video. or post a comment. be safe and practice.
So if you get shot in the heart with a 38 special round nose bullet, it's not going to do any damage to the heart, it's just going to push it out of the way. Because 38 special round nose bullets just push organs and bones around. I'll add that to my list of dumb things I've heard in UA-cam gun videos.
yeah that was funny... :)
I think they meant if it’s at the edge, so if it grazes someone it’s because the round part hits then and causes it to skid off, but if it’s a wadcutter and coat then the corner hits it and it can’t just slide off
What’s with the skirt on those wadcutters?
It's intended to create a better seal as well as allow more room for a powder charge capacity while seating the bullet deeper
Wonder what dye brand he uses on his stache
we have all been mesmerized by mushrooming bullets. it likely makes very little difference on a human attacker. not like you are trying to bleed him out like an elk shot at 200 yrds. hit what you aim at and thats all it takes 99.9% of the time.
But the Wadcutters don't transfer enough energy. They penetrate deep and they're accurate, but there's not a lot of tissue damage.
while have no issue with your conclusions what you neglected to point out was what these bullets are normally used for in the modern context, and that really is a little poor guys half a story and not what I expect from this channel.
I'm sorry for any confusion, Clive. Are you referring to what we have in the description of the video?
"The .38 Special wadcutter was top-of-the-line technology 60 years ago. They still work great for cutting perfectly round holes in targets. While new technology has made the wadcutter obsolete as a defensive round, it still offers great penetration and outstanding accuracy. Those are two things you need when trying to stop bad guys."
I just felt the round deserved a little more recognition as a highly respected revolver competition round PP1 PP2 etc.. This adjunct not being really mentioned in the video.
They loaded them backwards for SD rounds. Federal's new 38 Special HST is essentially an old wad cutter backwards:
www.federalpremium.com/ammunition/handgun/family/premium-personal-defense/personal-defense-hst/p38hst1s
So what was once the choice for self defense is again in fashion as the best 38 Special SD round. This pretty much turns your video 180 degrees around. Your video shows the inherent bias towards factory Boutique SD Hollow Point ammo that is $1+ per training round.
Hornady & Speer still make the soft lead hollow base Wad Cutters for those that reload.
LIVIN CINCY Which performs miserably when fired into gel faced with four layers of denim.Does not expand at all. Acts like a very expensive FMJ.
They are Not Cast. They are Swaged.
For a guy who says he is trying to give people good information it's sad that he is giving people crappy information.
Not hating on the the 38 but its probably the most overrated cartridge ever
Been a bunch of bad guys taken out with 38 spec.
Ok, how is this man able to safely fire a gun with a "lazy" or crossed eye?
Dude when put a single silhouette man Target , he hit both them bullseye ,one ,everytime .
One bullet everytime
Kelso lowk 😂
A bullet bouncing off a mans skull huh? Even a small twig will deflect a high powered rifle bullet if it hits it at the right angle.
Thats a poor sales pitch.
Only 9 months wow.
Yeah a wadcutter ain't bouncing off of a skull for sure, but those round nose I've sure seen do it.
Just because people have used them for defense doesn't mean they should. They were never designed for defense. They were designed as a target load.
Neither were hammers but they seem to work
Defense loads don't work any better than wadcutters in snubbies they just aren't reliable, but wadcutters are, and they give good straight line penetration, unlike round nose bullets that deflect off of bone, and or push tissues aside instead of blowing clean through and getting to the vitals