Check Out These Old Wadcutter Bullets

Cobbler

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Hey Gang,
My friends at Blue Collar Reloading had some of these at a gun show last week and I had to have them. They were from a gentleman who passed and they were selling his stuff for a family member. Wish I was there on Saturday to get more of these. From what I researched they were from a company in NJ and they were Taurus then changed to Alberts, or visa-versa, 146g wadcutter. Someone wrote that they were a respectable self defense load that had nickle size expansion in a water jug. I was going to start loading wadcutters for my 4" 686 at my local plate matches so I figured why not practice with these. From what I found, 2.7 Bullseye @ 1.180 is the cats butt for 148g. WC. Does anyone know about these bullets? I understand they are soft so don't go too hot. They have a hard coating on them and all-in-all they are pretty cool bullets. If anyone could helps me out with some load data on them it would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone collects old bullets I'll save five, 1 each until they are gone. Send me a PM with your address and I'll send one to you. Thought I would share, thanks. BTW- Does anyone know what the H.S. on the label means?
 

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I remember the brand and know I had some way back when. Not nyclad Loaded 'em upside down in 38s for a Chief Special I had. They shot ok and if I remember right they were cheap. I also had some after the name change to Alberts 70s IIRC Bought them from Robert's Shell Co in Vineland NJ...I don't know why I remember this..With this oldtimers I don't always remember what was for din din..
 
I have a full box of Alberts 45s. They have a hard slick dry coat. Internet say the rights were sold to Federal. They were in New Jersey. They look good.
 
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I have a box of 500 count bullets you make mention of. I purchased them in the late 70's/early 80's. They came in a green & white cardboard box marked "Alberts" and indicate that they are swaged lead pistol bullets. At the time that company, "Alberts Corporation", was located in Fairfield, NJ. The end panel on the box lists them as "38 Cal" and the catalogue number as " #1605 ".

The"HS" may stand for "hydra-shok". This term later was utilized in a proprietary line of ammunition by Federal Cartridge Corporation. I also have a 500 ct. box of their 158 grain SWCL and 158 grain SWCL-HP bullets so they made other types also.

Incidentally, the price back then for the 146 HS bullets was $19.95.

You may want to "google" this also.

HTH.

JPJ
 
2.7 grains of bullseye will work just as good as any other load. You should be able to use 148 wadcutter data also with out any issues. Any wadcutter load will be relatively light and work on soft swaged bullets. That's the typical application for the bullets
 
Early 80's

Graphite(??) coated. Since they are swaged they are soft. It looks like a lead version of a Gold Dot with that gaping front. I don't doubt that would put a big hole in you. If they aren't hollow based with a skirt that would tear off, I wouldn't mind jacking them up in velocity for a defensive load because leading isn't that big of an issue compared to getting killed.

Today's Hornady and Speer lead bullets have a dry coating that evolved from something like this.
 
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could be moly
Im unclear of the history of this particular bullet, but I think Federal bought the rights to it and its technologies.

If so, this is the granddaddy of the Fed Hydrashock and possibly the old Nyclad.

If both, I'd have NO problem ramping it up for full thunderous glory as a SD / HD round. Perhaps even as a hunting load if you're into up close and personal wet work.
 
The Albert's swaged bullets were excellent!
Their wadcutters were extremely accurate and clean shooting.
You may be surprised to know that they also made a 150 gr. soft swaged 30 cal bullet with a plain base (no gas check) that used the same lube.
I shot them in a 10" 30-30 T/C Contender using SR 4759 for a muzzle velocity of about 1150-1200 fps with no leading and very fine accuracy as far out as 100 yds.
 
I still have some of the original loaded cartridges in an ammo
wallet.

Scorpion was the brand name.

They led to the whole hydra-shock line.

Seemed cool to me when I first saw them, upside down
HB wadcutters with a post.

I had already experimented with my own version, with
some interesting results.
 
Some fun reminiscing going on from this bullet. Still have not loaded or shot them but that's just around the corner. I'll start with the 2.7g of BE as suggested and see where it goes, that's right about where I was going to start. Cool stuff guys, keep it coming.
 
Those hollow cavities with a post make little to no sense for a base, but for a nose, they can be MOST effective! The currently loaded Federals with a half jacket are mean looking and from my limited testing expand and shed energy into the target with awesome results.

Froggie
 
I remember those. They were indeed the original Hydra-Shok. They were quite the trendy bullet in their day. Federal bought the rights and ran with it, before you knew it posts were showing up in their hollow points.

I have a couple of boxes of much more modern Hydra-Shoks. It's what you're going to get shot with if you break in my house while I'm home. I keep my nickled Model 15 loaded with them.

I wouldn't shoot them, just because they are a piece of history. Thanks for sharing that.
 

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Well I did shoot some but they are definitely an outdoor bullet. These things smoke like hell!!! ....cough....cough...
 
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