Wadcutters in .380

cptbryan · #1 07-24-2013, 03:04 AM

Hi,
I carry a bodyguard .380 and a Ruger LCR in .357 mag.
I was wondering if I should switch from buffalo bore +p JHP's to some type of wadcutter (if anybody makes one) in my .380. Also, what would you guys recommend for carry in the .357? Currently, I have Hornaday Critical Defense JHP's loaded up in there, and I do not feel out gunned. Any thoughts?

AirForceShooter · #2 07-24-2013, 07:22 AM

Wadcutters in any semi-auto will cause a lot of fail to feeds if they work at all.
The bullet won't climb the ramp into the chamber due to the flat front.

AFS

paragon1 · #3 07-24-2013, 09:56 AM

Buffalo bore has a +p .380 hard cast with a flat point bullet. Probably as close to a wadcutter as you can cycle reliably. I think it would be very
Effective.

3dots · #4 07-24-2013, 01:04 PM

Use Hornady CD in your 380 too....

681ismyfavorite · #5 07-24-2013, 01:16 PM

for a .357 round id recommend the win sthp 145gr. for starters. there are plenty of good commercial .357 mag rounds out there to suit your wants or needs. as stated above, the wad cutter in a semi-auto is not the best for reliability. rethink that part.

civil1977 · #6 07-24-2013, 10:55 PM

Never seen wadcutters in a .380. It's not really a target pistol round and wadcutters are typically associated with target shooting although there are those who use them for self defense too. Wadcutters are typically found in .38 Special and .32 S&W Long to a lesser extent. Both rounds have been chambered in high end semi automatic target pistols. The S&W Model 52 is probably the best known and it was designed to only shoot .38 Special wadcutters. Here's my 52-2 and its favorite food.

Road Rat · #7 07-24-2013, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 681ismyfavorite

for a .357 round id recommend the win sthp 145gr. for starters. there are plenty of good commercial .357 mag rounds out there to suit your wants or needs. as stated above, the wad cutter in a semi-auto is not the best for reliability. rethink that part.

The OP asked about .380 wadcutters.

Where did the .357 come into the conversation?

Nico Testosteros · #8 07-25-2013, 11:15 AM

OP also asked for .357 carry options,

revolvergeek · #9 07-25-2013, 12:25 PM

I have made up some dummy .380 rounds with a 77 grn full wadcutter bullet, and they would hand cycle through an LCP but not a Sig 238. I have not tried to work up actual load data for them though. The problem with some of the very small guns is that they have a minimal feed ramp that is designed to use the tip of the bullet, so if the bullet doesn't have a tip the edges of the nose just dig right into the sides of the feed ramp. I like the idea of it, but just haven't had time to pursue it further.