|
|
06-15-2018, 02:07 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: So. Illinois
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 1,402
Liked 3,349 Times in 1,441 Posts
|
|
38 hollow base wad cutters
Are these still around? Does Hornady still sell them?
I used to shoot these by the thousands.
It used to be popular to load them backwards as a hugh hollow point defensive load. Is this still a viable loading - (I'm thinking legal ramifications.)? An old gunwriter, John Wooters, used to load them backwards at 357 velocities with a gas check seated on the nose.
Would these be ok to use in this day and age, and political climate?
|
06-15-2018, 02:23 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sonoran Desert, USA
Posts: 577
Likes: 967
Liked 1,503 Times in 403 Posts
|
|
"This Atomic Ammunition features a 148 grain lead hollow based wadcutter, loaded upside down in a new, "Ducta-Bright" nickel plated Starline 38 Special +P case with a precise charge of hand selected powder sparked by the finest quality primers available for maximum reliability and power."
Atomic Ammo 38 Special +P 148 Grain Lead Hollow Point Box - MPN: 00419
__________________
Ad Astra Per Aspera
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
06-15-2018, 02:26 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: So. Illinois
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 1,402
Liked 3,349 Times in 1,441 Posts
|
|
Yea. $37.99 for 50. I can make 'em cheaper.
|
06-15-2018, 02:29 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 8,002
Likes: 35,764
Liked 29,652 Times in 6,014 Posts
|
|
Atomic Ammunition is the only commercial manufacturer that I know of.
They load .38 Spl. 148-Gr. wadcutter backward so the hollow base acts
as a hollow point. They claim MV of 850 and 237 ft. lbs. of ME.
I used to buy some from a local re-loader who sold at gun shows,
but it didn't prove to be very reliable so I stopped.
Here are a few endorsements:
"wadcutters cut very clean holes that bleed well, and in my cop days
I've seen people stopped with them handily." Roy Huntington
"from a midwestern police force...one of their officers hit his assailant
with one of these loads (148-Gr. wadcutter loaded backward) in a point
blank gunfight...after which he (the assailant) just couldn't lie down and
die fast enough." Will Hafler
"The 148-Gr. HBWC makes a reasonable choice as a defense round for
the novice, frail or elderly people or the very gun shy." Jan Libourel
__________________
In Omnia Paratus
|
06-15-2018, 02:35 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 2,364
Liked 2,962 Times in 1,115 Posts
|
|
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
06-15-2018, 02:43 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Sonoran Desert, USA
Posts: 577
Likes: 967
Liked 1,503 Times in 403 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by max503
Yea. $37.99 for 50. I can make 'em cheaper.
|
Speer Bullets 38 Caliber (358 Diameter) 148 Grain Lead Hollow Base Wadcutter Box of 500
"Speer cold-formed lead bullets have been a great bargain ever since Vernon Speer introduced them over 40 years ago. All Speer lead bullets now feature a hi-tech, multi-layer lube system. This great lube stays with the bullet instead of burning off. It won't melt off in storage or transport, and is clean and dry to the touch. The Lead Wadcutter design features a sharp round shoulder that delivers superb accuracy."
Speer Bullets 38 Cal (358 Diameter) 148 Grain Lead Hollow - MPN: 4618
__________________
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Last edited by Scorpion520AZ; 06-15-2018 at 02:46 PM.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
06-15-2018, 02:56 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2017
Location: E of America's Great Lake
Posts: 2,774
Likes: 1,416
Liked 4,377 Times in 1,654 Posts
|
|
JMO the .38 Special 148 grain lead hollow base full wadcutter is a superb SD round. At Target loadings, avalible from Remington, S&B and Olin (maybe others) or as a handload over 2.8 grains of Bullseye, they are accurate, cut a nice clean hole crushing tissue and bone, allow for fast follow on shots and encourage you to practice with what you carry.
They are close to perfect as they are. Why on earth load them upside down.
__________________
Certified Curmudgeon
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
06-15-2018, 03:19 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IA
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 999
Liked 1,631 Times in 803 Posts
|
|
I prefer Speer over Hornady for this style bullet. MidwayUSA sells both.
|
06-15-2018, 07:11 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over by there
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
Liked 81 Times in 38 Posts
|
|
take a look at federal micro hst 38 +p hollow point seated flush in case
|
06-15-2018, 10:01 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Monroe cnty. Ohio
Posts: 6,955
Likes: 4,432
Liked 10,076 Times in 3,694 Posts
|
|
I got a couple boxes of Speer SWC swaged. I was shooting a
24-5 and had shot nothing except cast 250Rnfp and 242 button
nose WCs. MV 750-800 fps. Gun shot very well with these loads.
First outing with Speers, I noticed no difference. Three of us were
taking 6 shots each. My Bro shot second 6, not up to his usual
form. My buddy shot 3rd 6 and he did lousy. We were going to
check sights when I noticed the worst leading I have ever seen.
It was like a cartoon. Though load to hot and backed it down
to 650fps. Still leaded, did me on Speer swaged bullets.
I have 38 HBWC mold and that is our main bullet in 38 & 357s.
Loading backwards you have to keep vel down or skirt will blow
up or deform and accuracy will suffer.
|
06-15-2018, 11:13 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 1,225
Liked 1,021 Times in 364 Posts
|
|
Many years ago I discussed the idea with a very experienced LEO/reloader.
He told me to be careful - he thought that reversing the commercial HB wadcutter greatly reduces the volume of the case compared to the powder charge. This would result in higher initial pressure but not necessarily an increase in velocity. Higher initial pressure could "blow out" the thin center of the soft bullet and cause it to stick in the barrel.
Another concern of his was that the reverse "shuttlecock" would cause the bullet to "swap ends" at anything beyond "handshake range."
I made a few with a slightly reduced charge of Bullseye and shot them into gallon jugs of water. They flattened out to about quarter size, but did not exit the plastic jugs (less than 6" penetration).
We considered getting a HB wadcutter mold and using hard alloy and a gas check on the base, but never did.
__________________
6/23/2022
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|