148 Gr. Wadcutter Bullet

[mikerjf]

I used to shoot a lot of 148 DEWC, but my carry load was the 158g FBI +P. They shot to different POI's. So I started loading 158g LSWC for my practice ammo, which had the same POI as my carry load.

If you're only going to shoot 148's, no problem. But the 158 LSWC would give you a little more weight, a little more penetration, and be easier to speed-load. If you're looking for low recoil, you can load them as light as you like.

 

[crstrode]

The OP said nothing about using swaged, soft, pure lead, or hollow base bullets.

The wadcutter is a great defensive choice for snubby revolvers - airweight or otherwise. I use 148 grain hard cast DEWC (double ended wadcutters) with a tad less than 4.8 grains of Unique. They are good for 900FPS from a 1-7/8 inch 38 special. Their penetration is awesome.

Buffalo Bore and Underwood both make fire-breathing standard pressure wadcutters that are very similar to my loads.

 

[Warren Sear]

For a .38 Special, it is impossible to go wrong with a cast SWC bullet of 150 to 160 grains.

Hard or soft alloy, hollow point or not. Standard or high pressure loading.

 

[mtgianni]

An acquaintance was shooting a ppc load and practicing on his fast draw. He put one through his boot and into his toes breaking the sock and the skin. He made a trip to the Dr but nothing was broken. That is what 2.7 gr BE and a swedged WC did. I would not feel confident with it as a sd load.

 

[jrm53]

I load Hornaday hollow base wadcutters and every so often I will get one with the hollow base up, I keep a model 67 with about 3 or 4 of the upside down wad cutters loaded ahead of 2.8 WW452AA powder these will expand quite a bit I have never shot any thing but falling plates and they seem to go to about the size of a quarter on the steel backstop. I think it would stop an attacker. Jeff

 

[StrawHat]

I load Hornaday hollow base wadcutters and every so often I will get one with the hollow base up, I keep a model 67 with about 3 or 4 of the upside down wad cutters loaded ahead of 2.8 WW452AA powder these will expand quite a bit I have never shot any thing but falling plates and they seem to go to about the size of a quarter on the steel backstop. I think it would stop an attacker. Jeff

The problem, or one of them, with the reversed hbwc is lack of penetration. They might work but only if they get in deep enough.

Kevin