Howdy all.

I am going to shoot a match in about 5 months that requires factory (not reloads) and it says .38 wadcutter ammo allowed.

is there a common ammo available to meet these requirements?

I mainly reload and have not bought .38 ammo in many years. Last year I used Walmart winchester ball and I did not zero it first and it shot high in the match.

also help this semi auto guy out. when they say wadcutter, do they mean 148 slug?

here are the rules. thanks in advance

DUTY REVOLVER (NRA Rule 3.5)
FIREARM ALLOWED: The revolver must be capable of chambering and firing standard 158 grain lead, .38 special service load.

AMMUNITION: The ammunition will be furnished by the competitor. It must be from a licensed manufacturer, new issue, .38 caliber. No Magnum or "Hot" loads allowed. No refires will be allowed for defective guns or ammunition or for other malfunctions of the shooter's equipment. 38. wadcutter ammunition may be used.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Howdy all.

I am going to shoot a match in about 5 months that requires factory (not reloads) and it says .38 wadcutter ammo allowed.

is there a common ammo available to meet these requirements?

I mainly reload and have not bought .38 ammo in many years. Last year I used Walmart winchester ball and I did not zero it first and it shot high in the match.

also help this semi auto guy out. when they say wadcutter, do they mean 148 slug?

here are the rules. thanks in advance

DUTY REVOLVER (NRA Rule 3.5)
FIREARM ALLOWED: The revolver must be capable of chambering and firing standard 158 grain lead, .38 special service load.

AMMUNITION: The ammunition will be furnished by the competitor. It must be from a licensed manufacturer, new issue, .38 caliber. No Magnum or "Hot" loads allowed. No refires will be allowed for defective guns or ammunition or for other malfunctions of the shooter's equipment. 38. wadcutter ammunition may be used.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

That reads to me that you can use a number of factory loads.

148 grain wadcutter from any of the major manufacturers should work fine.
Federal, Winchester, Remington and maybe even some of the other companies if they make the load.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

This one will work fine!

canoe-

where is the best (cheapest) place to buy this?

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if you're gonna be a bear...

I usually get the best price from Natchez but not always.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

The Federal wadcutter load is good, if a bit pricey. You won't get quite such crisply round holes in papaer, but through the years I've found that the plain old Remington/UMC 158 gr. rnl load gives target-grade performance in most .38 revolvers. Cheap, and Wal Mart usually has it.

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Pisgah

Try Cabelas, or Cheaper Than Dirt. Expect to pay around $26.60 for a box of 50.

I picked up some S&B recently from Cheaper Than Dirt. Think I paid $14.99 for each box of 50. Its local for me, so no shipping charges. S&B is good stuff: reliable and clean. Check em out online - you might catch a sale.

Out West

I think their reasoning is this? They are communicating that they ARE allowing 148 grain full wad cutters with target level loadings, as long as they are "factory". The Federal Gold's (as above) are the platinum standard. Question is this a bullseye match, ICORE, other? Knowing that, will tell you whether the S&B's will work for you? If it's a competition where dynamic reloading is being done, you'll be better off with R/N bullets, rather than full wads.

texas police games

http://www.texaspolicegames.org/index.php?option=com_co...view&id=44&Itemid=37

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if you're gonna be a bear...

try ammunition to go . com

they have Seller bellot and Fiochi for 13.50 a box.

I followed the link provided and read the rules, rapid reloading is required for some stages. My advice is to use 158 grain round nose standard velocity lead bullet ammo because 1. if you are shooting a fixed sight revolver they are sighted for this load and 2. round nose ammo is needed for rapid reloading. You also need to train in the use of speedloaders.

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I shoot, therefore I am.

What Ron said above then.

thanks yall!

I will seek out 158 RN lead.

I am shooting a fxd sight model 65 with safariland Comp III or II

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Don't matter what you shoot Mike. I plan on beating you! LOL

Seriously, the Federal WC loads do shoot lights out, but I've found that their standard velocity .38 Special SWC load is also beyond excellent (and that's probably what I will shoot, assuming I can make it there this time).

As stated by others check out these guys.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/index.php/cName/...ecial-wadcutter-ammo

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/index.php/cName/...lead-round-nose-ammo

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BCCI Life Member #2068

BRING IT WAYNE!!!!!

If the guy from HPD shows up (check out 2007 stats), we are all going to have to face defeat.

From a training standpoint, I will be ready this year. Lets hope I bring the mental aspect.

The guys from Conroe PD told me not to show up.

I hope to meet you there! and of course take home the GOLD (ME)!!

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Richard, I dont have any time behind S/B or Fiocohi. is this stuff quality and/or goes bang everytime???

thanks for the links

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if you're gonna be a bear...

I've used both Fiocchi and S&B in my Keltec P32 and currently carry the S&B 73gr FMJ load in that firearm as does my wife in hers. We've had no issues with either brand.

Had some S&B .357 158gr FMJ on order from an online vendor but canceled the order after months as the backorder just kept getting pushed out further and further otherwise I'd have some experience with that load.

You might find a box or two locally and give it a try before you order any large amount and see how you and your particular firearm like it.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

I have watched over half a million rounds of S&B 9mm ball go downrange with no problems, but I don't know what their .38 Special ammo is like from an accuracy standpoint. I may try a couple of boxes to see what kind of product they have.

Can't speak for S&B .38 Special other than 158 FMJ (warm/good shooter) and 148 lead full wads (about 85%-90% of Federals Golds). Good luck to both you gentlemen!

Have fired many a round of Federal Wadcutter over the years - unfortunately, the blue/silver box is not as good as the older red box, at least out of my guns. The new stuff is PRICEY. try Precision new mfgr as an alternative - it seem s to work for Phil......

http://www.precisiondelta.com/

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RJ
SWCA# 2279, SWHF# 709

I have not tried Mastercast's reloads, but I'll bet they might make an economical range load if that interests you. At the same time, I doubt such an animal will be suited for serious competition.

I've not had good luck with Sellier & Bellot 148 gr. wadcutters in my S&W Model 10.
Groups at 25 yards from a benchrest run about 5 inches. However, Remington 148 gr. wadcutters run about 2-1/2 inches.
Oddly enough, the most accurate stuff I've found in my early 1960s, 4-inch gun is some old CCI Blazer with lead roundnosed bullets in aluminum cases.
Sheesh, that stuff clusters into 1-1/2 to 2 inches all day long, for six shots. I'm down to the last 8 rounds in the box, which I'm saving to chronograph.
Round-nosed bullets can be mighty accurate but wadcutters punch out a clean hole and can give you a scoring advantage if there's a question whether the roundnosed bullet actually touched the next-closest ring.
Here in the Salt Lake City, Utah area it's been tough to find .38 wadcutters. Everyone's gravitated toward semiwadcutters for practice.
I haven't seen the Federal Gold Medal ammo around here for a few years. Guess I'll have to order some.
But yikes, wadcutter ammo is expensive! I paid $27 for a box of 50 Remingtons! Though I reload, I wanted to see what the old Model 10 would do with factory ammo.
Good luck on your competition!

Hello Gato,

thanks for the good luck.

Does CCI still make the Blazer lead.

I called Precision Delta two weeks ago to send me an updated price list and what they had in stock on 38 special and have not heard from them.

I emailed them on friday asking again, but according to their website they were out a bunch of 38 loads.

I also emailed the coordinator of the police games asking about ammo (reloads or factory) because in 2008, there was plenty of reloads being shot but the rules stated factory ammo.

if reloads are allowed, I have a 231 148 wadcutter recipe that shoots nice for the duty revolver match!

thanks in advance

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if you're gonna be a bear...

CCI still makes aluminum-cased .38 Special ammo with a lead roundnose.
Here are the ballistics from its website:
38 Special
Part No. 3522
158 gr.
Lead roundnose
4-inch test barrel
755 fps

Now, I don't know if the new stuff is as accurate as the old box of it I had. That box probably dates to the late 80s or early 90s but it's been stored in a spare room, without being exposed to temperature extremes or high humidity.
Such storage will keep ammunition stable for decades.
Hmmmmm ... might just have to order a box or two of the new stuff and try it.
Darn you! Just by talking with ya, you're costing me future money! You sure you ain't female? <glare>

I am 6'03" 275lbs and called "mam" all the time. Not sure why. Maybe because I dressed up for Halloween in the late 80's as a woman (I was 230lbs back then) and won a Halloween contest and won 6 months rent free at the Apt complex I was living at! Maybe it stuck with me!

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Mike,

You mentioned something I've seen at every Police Games that I've competed in and that is that the rules say factory ammo, but lots of reloads are being fired. Hopefully, given the difficulty finding ammo for sale these days, they will officially allow what's been going on all these years with regard to reloaded ammo.

Hey, what's your 231 load with wadcutters?

I sent them an email on the use of reloads and I am patiently waiting

I shot this group with my $125 SW M65 4" with a group I shoot with. the match is basically duty revolver with no barricades. 3-25 yds.

I loaded 3.0 grains of 231 (very light load) behind a 148 wadcutter I traded for here on the forum.

I had a couple of flyers but managed to get 495 out of 500 with fixed rear and orange painted front sight.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Sheesh ... you should lubricate those bullets with Pepto-Bismol! That target's got one serious tummy-ache! Nice shooting!

thanks Gato.

I am going to increase a few tenths this season and see what happens. very soft shooting at 3.0 grains. not used to that, but very easy on the gun and me.

which reminds me I need to start my dry fire drills. gonna irratate the wife.

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if you're gonna be a bear...