Why wadcutters for self-defense?

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Triggernosis

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I see a lot of references on the 'net, this forum included, where people specify that they use wadcutters in .38 Spec. in their revolvers for for self-defense. Why use wadcutters for SD? Just wondering.....

I do know that I can get off a second shot faster from my Model 37 Airweight when using 148 gr. wadcutters than when using 158 gr. loads.
 
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Triggernosis said:
I see a lot of references on the 'net, this forum included, where people specify that they use wadcutters in .38 Spec. in their revolvers for for self-defense. Why use wadcutters for SD? Just wondering.....

I do know that I can get off a second shot faster from my Model 37 Airweight when using 148 gr. wadcutters than when using 158 gr. loads.
Click to expand...

Wadcutters are always more accurate, for me, than any other ammo.
 
A hardcast wadcutter is preferred in underpenetrating mouse guns because it permanently cuts through flesh and bone, rather than temporarily just pushing it aside as FMJ does.

Here are a couple of wadcutter examples:

1. Most 380 ACP HP’s are not good penetrators and a hardened wadcutter can make up the difference with deeper penetration into the vitals.


************ 380 Auto / ACP ************

Buffalo Bore:
100-gr. Hardcast Flatnose Wadcutter Standard Pressure @ 910 fps in 2.75” barrel (Item #27E). Deep (Cutting) Penetrator. Use FMJ if you have feeding problems.

380 Auto Standard Pressure Pistol and Handgun Ammo


2. Same principle applies to the 38 Special, where in snubnose form, a heavier bullet or tougher hardcast wadcutter load might be needed to ensure adequate penetration.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel:
* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 868 fps in 2” barrel. For barrier penetration & protection in the mountains.

In short, hardcast wadcutters CUT a clear path during deep penetration into the vital areas from underpowered handguns.

______________________

P.S. In lightweight 38 Special 2" barrels, standard pressure 158-gr. FBI loads can recoil less than +P loads with smaller projectiles. Example.........


Buffalo Bore Short Barrel:
** 158-gr. Standard Pressure Lead Semi-Wadcutter HP (20C) @ 854 fps in 2” barrel. Less recoil & similar velocity as Speer’s 135-gr. Gold Dot @ 860 fps in S&W J-frame and Ruger LCR.
 
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If your favorite handgun load typically struggles to reach 10" - 12" of penetration into Gel, 4-Ply Denim, or Heavy Cloth, consider upgrading to a heavy duty bonded HP, hardcast wadcutter, or use FMJ.
 
They are accurate and supposedly cut a hole rather than bore one thru like a roundnose. My dad was on an auxillary police department (civil defense) in the late sixties, they carried wadcutters in their model 15's.
 
Nothing wrong with using full Wadcutters for SD. They are already expanded to full caliber and will do considerable damage to any bad guy who decides to step in from of one. As we all know shot placement is important so if you can shoot them well you are ahead of the game already.
 
Generally when people say they use wadcutters for self defence they are not referring to the factory, mid-range match ammunition. They are talking about the bullet itself with it's full caliber, sharp shouldered meplat. Either a hard cast or soft cast/swaged bullet will work very well if driven at higher velocities. There is a disadvantage though if you have to reload as they can be difficult to load in a hurry.
 
What I'd really like to settle on is a load for my M-37 that I can tote with me on the farm for shooting varmints, rabbits, etc. and still use for S.D. purposes. Any recommendations?
 
I see a lot of ink regarding this question. For one shot stops get a baseball bat, aside from that it is all about shot placement. Get a round you can use accurately and practice often. Personally I use Buffalo Bore 158 grain HP +P in my 638 and practice as much as possible.
 
The standard pressure softcast 158-gr. FBI load and 150-gr. / 158-gr. hardcast wadcutters referenced by Jellybean and myself from Buffalo Bore are two great performing loads out of your 38 Special snubnose. +P loads in lightweight revolvers are much more difficult to control.

Any of the 110-gr. jacketed copper HP's from Barnes will also work. In my S&W J-frame, the Speer 135-gr. Short Barrel load had the most recoil of 7 loads tested in my two snubnose revolvers.


Buffalo Bore Short Barrel:
** 158-gr. Standard Pressure Lead Semi-Wadcutter HP (20C) @ 854 fps in 2” barrel. Less recoil & similar velocity as Speer’s 135-gr. Gold Dot @ 860 fps.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel Low Flash 158-gr. FBI Load

* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 868 fps in 2” barrel.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel 150-gr. Hardcast Wadcutter


Other good choices are:

Double Tap:
** 110-gr. +P Barnes Tac-XP Copper Jacketed HP @ 1,125 fps in 1.875” barrel.
Double Tap 110-gr. +P Barnes Tac-XP

* 158-gr. +P Hardcast Semi-Wadcutter @ 900 fps in 1.875” barrel.
Double Tap 158-gr. +P Hardcast wadcutter

Corbon – Dakota Ammo:
** 110-gr. +P DPX [Barnes XPB] Copper HP (DPX38110-20)
See also: 38 Special: Hornady FTX vs. Speer 135-gr. Short Barrel vs. CorBon 110-gr. DPX

Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot:
* 135-gr. +P Gold Dot HP (23921) @ 860 fps. See also: Speer Short Barrel Ammo Website
Performance Tests of Speer Short Barrel 135-gr. +P
38 Special: Hornady FTX vs. Speer 135-gr. Short Barrel Gold Dot vs. CorBon 110-gr. DPX


Winchester Supreme Elite: Civilian version of bonded Ranger T
* 130-gr. +P Bonded PDX1 (S38PDB) @ 950 fps / 835 fps actual in snubnose

Winchester 130-gr. +P Bonded PDX1

Winchester White Box USA Brand: Low-Budget Load at Walmart – When That’s All You Can Find!
150-gr. Lead Round Nose (Q4196) @ 845 fps
130-gr. FMJ (Q4171) @ 800 fps
 
When I started in law enforcement in 1970, I saw a lot of older plain-clothes officers carrying airweight revolvers loaded with standard factory mid-range wadcutters.

They were not "gun people" and wanted a light weight gun with no recoil. I'm sure they would have carried a 32 S&W if the department would have let them.
 
To supplement what has already been said, some ammo that does well in longer barrels simply lacks sufficient velocity to reliably expand and to reliably penetrate far enough when shot from 2" barrels.

One such example is the well-regarded 158 gr +p lhp. Out of a true "snub" it often does not expand and does not penetrate all that well, and if the tip collapses in on itself, it is then a less effective semi-pointy-nosed round.

For this reason, many knowledgeable folks say shoot a bullet with a full .357 diameter shoulder that is more likely to penetrate sufficiently and make a better hole while doing so. A hard cast or jacketed bullet will maintain its sharp shoulder better than a soft lead bullet.

An additional issue when shooting hot rounds in an airweight 2" chief is blast, flash and recoil. Even if you can "handle the recoil," such rounds can limit accurate follow-up shots especially at night and with no hearing protection.

In your 3" barrel the 158 gr lhp +p should be satisfactory, but you may find the commotion caused when you fire one to be a more than you care for, especially in an airweight.

If so, try the Speer short barrel 135 gr +p (a bit unpleasant to shoot in my opinion), the Corbon DPX +p 110 gr. or a suitable wadcutter.

I have also read that Winchester 130 gr bonded +P JHP and Hornady 110 gr standard pressure and +P "Critical Defense" perform well in 2" barrel revolvers.
 
Triggernosis said:
I don't plant to shoot +P in my 37.
Click to expand...

Neither do I and hence my prior recommendation of two standard pressure loads that perform very well in Gel, 4-Ply Denim, and Heavy Cloth from snubnose 38's:

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel:
** 158-gr. Standard Pressure Lead Semi-Wadcutter HP (20C) @ 854 fps in 2” barrel. Less recoil & similar velocity as Speer’s 135-gr. Gold Dot @ 860 fps.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel Low Flash 158-gr. FBI Load

* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 868 fps in 2” barrel.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel 150-gr. Hardcast Wadcutter
 
Question for 147 Grain and Jellybean

Have either of your experienced the bullet moving forward out of the case when shooting 158 g standard pressure in a lightweight revolver ?
 
First Rule of Self Defense: Only the hits count. Second Rule: A hit with a low power caliber hurts a lot more than a miss with a high power one. Third Rule: Center of Mass hits hurt more than peripheral ones. Fourth Rule: If the first shop doesn't stop the enemy, try a second. And a third.
Fifth Rule: A low power handgun you can control in rapid fire is better than a high powered one you can't.
Perhaps because we associate the WC with Bullseye shooting we don't think of it for other purposes. Like our friends the 38 S&W and 32 S&W (or Colt) cartridges, not our first choice but as Elmer Keith said, it sure beats your fists.
 
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