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  #1  
Old 01-17-2015, 02:23 PM
Rob K Rob K is offline
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Lightbulb .38 special wad cutters for new shooter

My wife has problems with her wrists making shooting most
standard loads painful to shoot. For training,she now uses Federal GM38A wad cutters. Low velocity & energy for easier gun control to practice with. She carriess golden sabers for self defense since the recoil wouldnt matter in a situation like that.
They're hard to find but Buds Gun Shop will get them for you quickly @$30.00 for a box of 50.
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Old 01-17-2015, 02:28 PM
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Atlanta Arms makes excellent match ammo that might save you a few dollars.

Match Ammo Archives - Atlanta Arms
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Old 01-20-2015, 03:03 AM
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Excellent choice for your wifes practice. Too bad you,maybe you do, do not reload. There would be a big cost savings in the long term.
Jim
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Old 01-20-2015, 04:50 AM
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Default target wadcutters....

With a range-type or defense gun target wadcutters are very comfortable to shoot. Since they are so comfortable to shoot, you can shoot hundreds of them. If you reload, you can afford to make hundreds of them to shoot.


PS My wife is 'delicate' and she likes shooting .38 special target loads out of my 686 .357 magnum.
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Old 01-20-2015, 08:48 AM
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When I carried a 38 Special, it was always loaded with wadcutters. I liked the way they shot and I was set up to load them. I used the same load in my PPC revolver and my M36-1.

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Old 01-21-2015, 04:33 PM
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Thumbs up Atlanta Arms ammo

Thanx, RussellD for the info on Atlanta Arms ammo. I'm going to give some a try. The price is reasonable.
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Old 01-21-2015, 04:49 PM
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Loading your own would run about $8 per box............
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Old 01-21-2015, 06:14 PM
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Precision Delta sells their reloaded 38 wadcutter cheaper than their new ones. I have used them and they shoot great.
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Old 01-21-2015, 06:34 PM
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I practice with .22s. Can't get any cheaper and don't have to mess with reloading. Buying a .22 will soon pay for itself because of the cheaper ammo. Larry
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Old 01-21-2015, 06:56 PM
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I bought about 1000 rounds of these at $15/box

3D INV INC 38 Special 148 Gr Wadcutter Police Trade 50/Box | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore
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Old 01-22-2015, 03:22 PM
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They still make 3-D ammo ?? !!

I have not seen the great ammo for many, many years..........
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Old 01-24-2015, 03:21 PM
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The better answer if she has that sensitivity to recoil is to use the WC or standard velocity SCW for carry too, and do without the higher performance ammo. We have decades of experience with the fatal flaw of training with light ammo and shooting serious stuff for duty, from at least Newhall forward.
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Old 01-25-2015, 12:53 PM
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Look at Hornady critical defense lite. Expanding bullet at reduced velocity.
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Old 01-25-2015, 01:10 PM
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I doubt if you can find a better deal than this. Of course that is with a brass exchange. I've used Zero bullets and ammo and have no complaints. Roze Distribution: 148 GR WCDE, $ Per 50, EXCHANGE
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Old 01-25-2015, 01:51 PM
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Warning! Warning! Will Robinson. Pay no attention to those people advocating reloading. It's an addictive trap.
You don't actually save money....... but you DO get to shoot a lot more.
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Old 01-25-2015, 02:00 PM
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If you go to the Hornady Lite or standard loadings.............
please test them before making them your SD carry load.

Here is what the 90 and 110gr look like on a "Bad Day".
The 148gr target may be a step up......... ?

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Old 01-26-2015, 07:38 AM
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Nevada Ed,

That hardly looks like expansion, more like nose deformation. In that case, I think penetration is your friend and the 148 grain projectile at the same speed might be a better option.

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Old 01-26-2015, 11:53 AM
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Back in the day (mid 1980's), there were a lot of problems with the performance of 110 gr. "Controlled Expansion" .38 Spl cartridges. There have been great strides in bullet design since then, but that being said, I wouldn't use a .38 Spl with the 110 gr. bullet.
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Old 01-27-2015, 03:05 PM
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I noticed that Buffalo has a low pressure load for the 2" snub nose, that is said to be safe
for the aluminum frames and other revolvers not to fire +P ammo.

It is a 150gr wc...........and is stated to do 868 fps out of a 2", with 251 ft/lb.

A 148gr HBwc out of my J frame snub at only 775 fps at 197 ft/lb, gets my attention
for a non +P load.

Has anyone shot this factory load out of a 16 oz. 38 J frame?
Is the recoil and accuracy good enough to put into a SD folder?
Thanks for any info.
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Old 01-30-2015, 10:13 AM
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+1 on the Precision Delta 148-grain HBWC for practice and target ammo. It shoots @ 635 FPS out of a 2-inch revolver. Very mild. https://precisiondelta.com/index.php/

Also I just tested several two of the Buffalo Bore loads: BUFFALO BORE Chronograph Results - J-Frame
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