I know that no one normally recommends handloading defensive ammunition. That said, how about a 98-grain Wadcutter w/Gas Check loaded to the maximum pressures for the .32 H&R Magnum? This load should generate 1100 fps and 230 fpe (more or less) from a 4" barreled revolver. From a 2" barreled revolver we could expect 915 fps and 182 fpe from the snubbies (Charter Arms and Taurus as well as the little S&W.) Does anyone believe that the soft lead would expand a bit, distributing it's energies a bit more efficiently that a hollow point, or would it simply be a pointless exercise in external ballistics research?

Scott

It may or may not expand, that is the problem with expanding bullets, you can't control all the variables. The Speer 98gr. HBWC can be seated backwards just like its' .38 cal. 148gr brother and is a good defensive load, you don't really need a gas check. Wadcutters are excellent defensive bullets with only one drawback, loading them in the cylinder. You can keep the gun loaded with 6 rounds of them and use other bullet types for re-loads.

I'd shave such a load back very slightly to 1050 FPS to ensure that it remains subsonic in all conditions.
Wadcutters tend to tumble and stray when they are pushed above the speed of sound

I would expect no expansion at all from a solid wadcutter. On the other hand I wouldn't want to be shot by one either. A gas check should not be necessary.

"HBWC can be seated backwards just like its' .38 cal. 148gr brother and is a good defensive load"

I would never load a HBWC backward. When I tested this it would penetrate one water jug and sink to the bottom of the second. In the .38 the mushroom was impressive yet I feel it would lack penetration and only yield a superficial wound.

I would stick to hard cast semi wadcutters for penetration and effect. Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Lee M:
I would expect no expansion at all from a solid wadcutter. On the other hand I wouldn't want to be shot by one either. A gas check should not be necessary.

"HBWC can be seated backwards just like its' .38 cal. 148gr brother and is a good defensive load"

I would never load a HBWC backward. When I tested this it would penetrate one water jug and sink to the bottom of the second. In the .38 the mushroom was impressive yet I feel it would lack penetration and only yield a superficial wound.

I would stick to hard cast semi wadcutters for penetration and effect. Bruce

I agree with Bruce, but if you insist on trying it why not go with a berrys copper-plated HBWC. I've loaded them in both SWL and .30 carbine for my Blackhawk.

The .32 SWL is as Bruce says, good expansion but lacking in penetration.

The carbine was just an exercise to see what would happen, sort of like, "Hold my beer and watch this." Uh, three water jugs, first two just exploded and the third was kinda shredded. The bullet came apart in a bunch of small pieces.

A wadcutter will expand just as well as, or even a little better than, any other solid nose bullet made of the same alloy. People want a large meplat on a SWC but dismiss the WC as a defensive bullet.

A bullet that tumbles is not desireable during a bullseye match but is just as good as a hollow point during a defensive shooting. Given the short distances of most gun fights there will be no loss of practical accuracy.

The HBWCs seated backwards magnifies the shortcomings of hollow points, however their lack of penetration on the average milk jug doesn't compare to the massive tissue damage they can cause.

Just my hurried opinion.