J Frame Durability...?

[photoman]

Originally posted by LoboGunLeather:
My favorite loading? .38 special case, standard primer, 148-gr. hollowbase wadcutter seated backwards (hollowbase forward) over 3 grains of Bullseye. About 700 FPS in the 2-inch, hits like a sledgehammer, typical expansion of about 0.70", will not overpenetrate. (Now that I'm retired I can do this without worrying about department rules on ammo).

What sort of accuracy do you see with those?

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Photoman44:

Originally posted by LoboGunLeather:
My favorite loading? .38 special case, standard primer, 148-gr. hollowbase wadcutter seated backwards (hollowbase forward) over 3 grains of Bullseye. About 700 FPS in the 2-inch, hits like a sledgehammer, typical expansion of about 0.70", will not overpenetrate. (Now that I'm retired I can do this without worrying about department rules on ammo).

What sort of accuracy do you see with those?

Back in the 70s, I tried the inverted wadcutter thing on the recommendation of Bill Jordan. I got a lot of tumbling and they were not too accurate.

On the other hand, tumbling may not be a bad thing with the stated purpose of self-defense.

That statement about "hits like a sledgehammer" gives me visions of that scene in Dr. No where Major Boothroyd issues the Walther PPK to James Bond and says it has a "delivery like a brick through a plate glass window."

 

[JAV638]

Originally posted by shawn mccarver:

Originally posted by Photoman44:

Originally posted by LoboGunLeather:
My favorite loading? .38 special case, standard primer, 148-gr. hollowbase wadcutter seated backwards (hollowbase forward) over 3 grains of Bullseye. About 700 FPS in the 2-inch, hits like a sledgehammer, typical expansion of about 0.70", will not overpenetrate. (Now that I'm retired I can do this without worrying about department rules on ammo).

What sort of accuracy do you see with those?

Back in the 70s, I tried the inverted wadcutter thing on the recommendation of Bill Jordan. I got a lot of tumbling and they were not too accurate.

On the other hand, tumbling may not be a bad thing with the stated purpose of self-defense.

That statement about "hits like a sledgehammer" gives me visions of that scene in Dr. No where Major Boothroyd issues the Walther PPK to James Bond and says it has a "delivery like a brick through a plate glass window."

The tumbling affect of a 147 gr. hollow base wadcutter loaded backwards delivers all the energy of the round extremely fast, and creates a massive wound channel. This is for extremely close up work, cops used to use it for dangerous search warrant entries. Penetration is (by the FBI standard) lackluster, but if placed decently will liquify whatever internal organs it comes into contact with.

As a side note, you don't really want to be close to the cylinder gap when someone touches one of these off. They are known for shaving nasty chunks of lead.

 

[otis24]

I just purchased a new-to-me J frame. A Model 640-1 .357 hammerless. Looking forward to putting some rounds down range.