For questions/comments about Shooting Sports USA, please e-mail:ShootingSportsUSA@nrahq.org For questions/comments about NRA competitions, please e-mail:CompHelp@nrahq.org You can contact the NRA via phone at: NRA Member Programs1-800-672-3888, To advertise on Shooting Sports USA, visit nramediakit.com for more information. For target shooting, a wadcutter cuts a very clean hole through the paper target, making it easier to score and ideally reducing errors in scoring the target in the favor of the shooter. WC loads present wide, flat surfaces that can cause a bit of fumbling when trying to insert or drop them into a revolver cylinder, especially when employing a speed loader, while noses of SWCs present some taper to guide cartridges into chambers. If, for some reason, your day has taken the world’s most unlikely turn and you’re having to reload a small defensive revolver in a hurry, wadcutters are not your best friend. BBWC have been developed to permit easier … With my two new .357s, I wasn’t too interested in target shooting, however, I did load thousands of rounds of .38 Specials using Elmer Keith’s recipe — 13.5 grains of #2400 under his 168-gr. When used for a semi-wadcutter style, the full jacket makes only the heaviest weights. It’s not all great with wadcutters, because in one area they don’t shine at all: reloading. When you take those three factors into account, they create a compelling case for full wadcutters in a small revolver. For years, the working load was a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr. Even though the wadcutter doesn’t actually expand, it tends to penetrate soft tissue very reliably. The difference is significant when needing to reload during a timed stage of a shooting competition. Semi wadcutters are more popular than full wadcutters and used in a cartridge for semi-automatic pistols and revolvers. Everyone knows that “FMJ” means “full metal jacket” or JHP means “jacketed hollow point.” Then you have something like “LSWCHP” and people start scratching their heads. long-nosed semi-wadcutter. HBWC rounds are best used at only the lowest velocities, as by being hollow at the rear end, they can split under heavy loads. That’s why I definitely think that wadcutters are good for self defense. A plated semi wadcutter is simply a lead bullet washed in copper as opposed to having a thick copper jacket. These gentlemen provide a free PDF copy of their 183-page book for fellow handloaders and shooters. "That is all!" 3- Wadcutters (according to some) are shorter range, but punch a full caliber hole in paper for scoring ease. A semi wadcutter incorporates the benefits of the wadcutter bullet and eliminates the drawbacks. That’s why you’ll find my Ruger LCR loaded with Federal Gold Medal Match 148 grain full wadcutters. of Bullseye. The original wadcutter made specifically for competitive target shooting was the Himmelwright wadcutter (Ideal #429220), which was unveiled in 1900 (and cataloged up through HB #39, 1953 and listed in the Handbook of Cast Bullets, 1958). Putting some .38 Special target wadcutters to the test against modern .38 Special+P JHP's. For years, the working load was a soft lead, cast or swaged 148-gr. Chief among them is ease of reloading. Similar in concept, the HBWC is full diameter rather than undersize à la the Minié. A wadcutter, on the other hand, because of the flat front and hard right angle, it does to soft tissue kind of what it does to paper — it punches a sharp hole that’s a lot more disruptive than a round nose. 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. It is also used in rifles for big game hunting and target shooting. 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. Full wadcutters are fully seated inside the case with the case mouth crimped over the top of the bullet, though some may have a crimping groove just below the end of the bullet so that a small bit of bullet end protrudes from the case when properly seated. One of the most significant disadvantages of wadcutters is the reduced velocity. The essence of education is self reliance- T.H. The friggin' wadcutters give about 15'' of penetration at .38 expansion with only 97 PF. Hybrid vs Wadcutter 1911 magazine. 148-grain HBWC bullet. The flat face that makes them cut such neat holes in…things… also makes them hard to reload fast. Lead full wadcutters are essentially lead cylinders ringed with lubrication grooves. Originally intended for target shooting, semi-wadcutters gained popularity for hunting after legendary gunwriter Elmer Keith designed a semi-wadcutter for hunting. The .45 ACP cartridge in the Model 1911A1 pistol is a common example. The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a … For quick reloads you want something that glides into the chamber a lot easier than a wadcutter. Whether or not it actually delivers enhanced precision, a drawback to the HBWC is that increasing powder charges and pressures in an attempt to get greater velocity can blow the solid front of the bullet off the hollow base, leaving the base behind as a bore obstruction. 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). “Full” wadcutters are so-named to differentiate them from semi-wadcutters; the abbreviation, “WC” is generally understood to identify the full wadcutter. They are not the same thing, although they are related. It’s typically favored in .38 snub-nose style revolvers. Forums › Hunting › wadcutters for pesting Views : 789 Likes : 0 Likes : 0 | Subscribe November 15, 2019 at 8:42 pm Link tsmithParticipant Member whats everyones opinion for using wadcutters for close range pesting with 15-18 ft. lbs …. Let’s spotlight a few wadcutter designs. Plating is much thinner and won't withstand much higher velocities than plain (soft) lead, but will cut down on airborne lead particles and smoke upon firing, making it better indoor range ammo. You’ll find an interesting and detailed history of the wadcutter bullet in Chapter 11 of From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners by Glen E. Fryxell and Robert L. Applegate. +P means loaded to higher working pressure. Pros And Cons Of Wadcutters There are basically two types of wadcutters: The first is the wadcutter we have discussed above, which has the flat base that is flush with the casing. Best Selling Semi-Wadcutter. The 3/4-jacket covers nearly the entire shank, leaving the nose exposed. Sign up here to find out first about new shooting tips and articles. Secondly, the SWC has a somewhat better ballistic coefficient (BC) than the WC, and theoretically may perform better over distance. The friggin' wadcutter, designed for target use, gives better peformance at a lesser power factor. © 2015-2021 TargetBarn, LLC. Showing all 5 results. The SWC bullet provides enough bullet nose to permit smooth feeding from magazine to chamber, while the flat meplat and sharp-edged ogive punch the clean hole. Not a cure, but a dramatic difference all the same. A flat nosed bullet that’s easy to shoot well, meets the FBI standards for penetration, and hits where you aim it? ARCHIVED; Posted: 7/5/2010 1:44:15 PM EST One of the things that the 148gr full wadcutter bullets have going for them is that they take up much of the empty airspace in a 38 or 357 case, which can be good for consistent powder burn. Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2021 National Rifle Association of America. Federal Gold Medal Match 148 grain full wadcutters. Typically the velocity in 6″ revolver barrels, or in the 5″ barrel of the much-admired S&W 52 semi-auto pistol, was around 750–800 fps. What’s not to like about that. How would a wadcutter or semi-wadcutter, 158 grain, 38 special (not +P) be for a self defense round from and older S W 38 special hand eject? Not just for handloaders, there are plenty of choices in wadcutter loaded cartridges as well. Please advise with all opinions. This, combined with the fact that many semi-wadcutter bullet designs have a grease filled groove cut into the side, means that semi-wadcutters may be safely fired at much higher velocities than traditional wadcutter bullets. In the aforementioned 11th chapter, the authors tell us the earliest wadcutter bullet was the Himmelwright wadcutter offered as an Ideal bullet mold in the year 1900. The Miniéball was not a sphere but a conical-shaped bullet made slightly under bore diameter to be rammed down a fouled bore without difficulty; the hollow base expanded upon firing, gripping the rifling which imparted spin, making the rifled musket more accurate than a smoothbore musket, and a tad faster to reload. of Bullseye. I’ve bought into it. The Broad Side 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. Semi-Wadcutter. Why would you use a wadcutter? In this case, LSWCHP stands for “lead, semi-wadcutter hollow point.”. BY now, most have read of the difference the “Hybrid” magazine has made in the feed reliability in the 1911, in spite of some damage done to the feed ramp. If this needs to be moved to another thread please feel free. Semi-wadcutters, however, can be more reliable in pistols and can sometimes be used in semiautomatic weapons. Semi wadcutters may feed better in some guns but I never had any problems with my Clark conversion using full wadcutters. The original venue of wadcutters, the bullets make clean holes in paper targets. They have found use in .45 ACP cartridges, often for target-shooting with a 1911-style pistol. The semi-wadcutter feeds great, no problems there but I was wondering how safe it is. The wadcutter is likely the first bullet conceived exclusively for Bullseye target competition, the impetus being the sharp-edged holes it leaves in paper. Classic Load. As you can see in the photo above, the.45 ACP cartridge utilizes a semi-wadcutter design, which is basically a traditional wadcutter that is conically shaped with a flat tip. Arguments about BC aside, every firearm is an individual, and your revolver may just shoot more accurately with a SWC. Last edited by beezapilot; 01-29-2017 at 07:13 PM . _____ Good shooting and be safe. .45 Colt Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point Bullets. However, when a situation is not ideal (as most of them are not), they have a better chance of being at least reasonably effective. All Semi-Wadcutter. Semi-wadcutters are the other type. Semi-wadcutters generally have a shorter bearing surface than traditional wadcutters. 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 (274 m/s). Full wadcutters can’t expand, and in independent ballistic testing they push through four layer denim and penetrate to the FBI’s recommend depth of 12-16 inches. Semi-Wadcutter (SWC) This type of bullet has a blunted tip. Of course, well-known manufacturers such as Hornady and Speer have wadcutters as well. Armscor – 44 Mag – 240 Grain – SWC – 400 Rounds $ 215 00. I'm curious which load would be more accurate and pleasant to shoot. Bullseye shooters also use semi-wadcutters in semi-automatic pistols. Join Waitlist. WC over 2.7 grains of Bullseye. A semi-wadcutter bullet was also the basis for the famous “FBI load” – a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter bullet, that deleted the flat nose in favor of a hollow point. A semi wadcutter (SWC) round is essentially a cross between a normal round nosed bullet and a full flat nosed wadcutter. Thanks in advance. For those who require absolutes, Smith & Wesson’s New Model No. Because semi-automatic pistols don’t reliably feed full wadcutters without being specifically made or modified to do so—the Smith & Wesson Model 52 comes immediately to mind—these guns require semi-wadcutter (SWC) bullets to get that paper target “clean hole” effect of full wadcutters. A good semi-wadcutter and not one cast as hard as concrete can work just as well, providing good performance and appropriate penetration and at a cost that makes them fun for you and your wallet. The earliest wadcutter on commercial record is the c. 1900 Himmelwright, still available from Matt’s Bullets. Jacketed or clad (electroplated) WCs typically don’t have need of the grooves, though sometimes the noses may sport some manner of a crimping groove. This was done to improve stopping power. Wadcutters are a target round, they cut nice round holes in targets. (Photo courtesy of Berry’s Bullets), Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors, NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Presented by Brownells, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, How To Lose At Dueling And Still Survive: Wax Bullets, The Best .22 Caliber Pistols for NRA Bullseye, 8 New Competitive Shooting Products For 2021, Heavy 9mm Luger Bullets: Everything You Need To Know, Lena Miculek Secures Top PCC Honors At 2021 Florida Open, © 2021 National Rifle Association of America. PROS: Punches big holes in targets. The ragged holes typically left in paper targets by standard profile bullets can be difficult to score when they land close to a target’s scoring rings, and can cost bullseye shooters some points. HBWC (hollow base wadcutter) and 2.7 gr. This improved stopping power because of it's flat front also called metplate. Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. A variety of wadcutter types exist: HBWC (Hollow Base Wadcutter), DEWC (Double-ended wadcutters), BBWC (Beveled-Base Wadcutters), and SWC (Semi-Wadcutters). The SWC combines features of the traditional round-nosed bullets and the wadcutter bullets used in target shooting, and is used in both revolver and pistol cartridges for hunting, target shooting and plinking. The first question we’re going to answer is “what is a wadcutter?” That’s easy. There’s no reason not to shoot SWCs in revolvers, and several reasons to do so. Theoretically, expanding combustion gasses fill the hollow base to keep it pressed tightly against the rifling to discourage the bullet “stripping” past the rifling, resulting in improved shot-to-shot consistency. Hit where you aim: many small revolvers have fixed sights. White. I could not tell any difference in accuracy between the two bullet types and would go with semis every time unless there is a special reason to do otherwise. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - 357 Magnum: semi-wadcutters vs full profile wadcutters. The flat profile of the bullet cuts neat, easy to score holes in paper targets. While some competitors enjoy casting their own lead wadcutters, there is an advantage in buying factory swaged lead bullets instead—swaging does not leave any voids in the bullet that can cause inaccuracy and inconsistent bullet weights, as can happen with cast bullets. Berry’s .38 cal. The Remington load has always been my carry load, it chronographs at about 800 fps from my s&w 638 airweight. Saturday, April 4, 2020. 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. Some of these are intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense. Although every manufacturer has a slightly different take on it, the semi wadcutter bullet looks like a small cylinder with another conical cylinder placed on top. There’s another type of wadcutter projectile, the semi-wadcutter. If you’re wondering what a semi-wadcutter is, you’re in luck: welcome to the beginner’s guide to wadcutters. Till Buffalo Bore no commercial manufacturers loaded a full wad cutter in self defense loadings, none. Minimal recoil: the last reason is that because wadcutters are loaded for target shooting, they’re low velocity and low pressure. 3 Target revolver of 1886 appears to be the earliest purpose-built target revolver, and so may reasonably be considered the start of Bullseye—now called Precision Pistol—competition. 38 Spl Semi wadcutter or also known as Keith bullet. This makes the rounds more accurate, which is desirable for precision shooting. ARCHIVED; Posted: 7/5/2010 1:44:15 PM EST One of the things that the 148gr full wadcutter bullets have going for them is that they take up much of the empty airspace in a 38 or 357 case, which can be good for consistent powder burn. HBWC (hollow base wadcutter) and 2.7 gr. 3- Wadcutters (according to some) are shorter range, but punch a full caliber hole in paper for scoring ease. Round nose flat point vs. Semi-wadcutter Question If used in the same cartridge, at equal velocity, and approximately the same boolit weight, how does a round nose flat point compare to the semi-wadcutter (Keith type) in effectiveness on game? I'm curious which load would be more accurate and pleasant to shoot. Formal bullseye target shooting with revolvers appears to have begun soon after the end of the American Civil War, coincident with the advent and improvement of self-contained metallic cartridges. Browse our full selection of Semi-Wadcutter. Himmelwright’s 1916 Pistol and Revolver Shooting. Hi folks, I am new to CAS and this forum, actually I have my first match this coming weekend. DEWC rounds are best suited for automatic press reloading uses, as they may be used when loaded with either end pointed forward. Wadcutters were originally designed for target shooting. 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. 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). Hollow base wadcutters (HBWC) harken back to the Miniéball of 1848, designed for rapid reloading of a combat muzzleloading rifled musket. Out of stock. Some of these are intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense. Wadcutters, semi wadcutters, and the like aren’t as sexy, and sure, they don’t exhibit the same theoretical damage to soft tissue in an ideal situation as a high tech hollow point. They are not the same thing, although they are related. The friggin' wadcutter, designed for target use, gives better peformance at a lesser power factor. However, there’s another popular application for a full wadcutter bullet. Typically the velocity in 6″ revolver barrels, or in the 5″ barrel of the much-admired S&W 52 semi-auto pistol, was around 750–800 fps. It’s a ‘halfway house’. Semi-Wadcutters Bullet jacket lengths are relative to the lead coverage on typical pistol bullets. Disadvantages of Wadcutters. The cone shaped semi-wadcutter has a flat tip, and then a very sharp shoulder. The Buffalo Bore 158 grain semi-wadcutter standard pressure .38 special was fired out of the model 19 but not the j frames. Honestly most manufactures make a good defensive round. whats everyones … 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. By John Travis on April 3, 2016 in 1911Tuner, Gun Talk. For example, a .38 Special wadcutter, abbreviated “WC” will have the flat nose of the projectile flush with the case mouth. 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. White. by Art Merrill, Field Editor - A wadcutter is a pistol bullet with a completely flat face. Other than that small drawback, wadcutters make a surprisingly good choice for self defense. The friggin' wadcutters give about 15'' of penetration at .38 expansion with only 97 PF. I only use fully jacketed hollow points over semi jacketed so the bullet retains it mass and doesn't break up in the wound channel.

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