Underwood 38 Special Wadcutter very short review

[wagsfn]

I took the plunge and purchased 5 boxes of the Underwood 38spl 150gr. wadcutters. My plan is CCW them in my S&W Model 442 & 2nd Gen (1966) Colt Detective Special. They arrive tomorrow, and I'll go to range Friday for a FAM fire. I'll report back my thoughts.

 

[rockquarry]

Drug out my old copy of Pistols - A Modern Encyclopedia by Stebbins. On pg 222, he mentions the full-charge wadcutter load at 870fps was discontinued due to lead-spitting in older guns with timing issues, less likely to happen with standard velocity WCs.

After decades of shooting, as to SHTF situations, I have learned not to disparage ANY load/round regardless of bullet weight and composition. They all hurt and/or worse.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. Don'cha just love ammo threads like this?

These threads will never end. The obsessive and aspiring Internet gunfighters wouldn't permit such a thing.

 

[wagsfn]

My order of .38spl Underwood 150gr wadcutter ammo arrived. Went to range in 26 temperatures and windy. I shot it with no issues in my S&W Mod 442 Airweight. Accuracy at 7yds was good enough for me thanks to the temperature and 100% reliable. Revolver recoil was more than acceptable compared to some +P loads I've fired in past. A good push and ammo casing dropped out of cylinder with no issues. I currently have it loaded in my 442 for daily CCW carry.

 

[Nevada Ed]

For my light J frame snub nose I load X-lite target loads with a 148gr HBwc
for a lot of rounds to be shot, that day.

My Bullseye loads are doing 630fps with a recoil factor of 2.61 ft/lbs.
My heavy Red Dot load does 775fps with a recoil factor of 3.99 ft/lbs.
out of the short 1 7/8" barrel.

 

[Nomadmax]

I thought the trick was to use HBWC backwards for SD use...

Can't beat a keyhole for a wound channel

 

[Dutch87]

If a HP doesn't expand, what did you really lose compared to a WC?

I thought the point of shooting WCs was to make a snubby a little easier on the hand. If you're going to hot-rod it, might as well shoot an expanding (maybe) bullet.

"Out of short barrels either 38 will penetrate OR expand, but not both.
If it does both, it will probably kick like it does both!"

 

[Tim357]

Repeat - a while back now, my Buddy Milt had to shoot a Treed Bear several times.
He was shooting JHP 357 Silvertips.
They expended upon contact and he got almost no penetration.
Only time I ever ate Bear Meat. Cooked it Sauerbraten style.
Probably an acquired taste.

Silvertips are horrible hunting bullets for this very reason.

 

[kelljor]

Try some std velocity 148 wadcutters 700 fps, punch clean hole, hard to deflect, goes deep, doesn't need to expand.
It works as good today as it has for the last 100 yrs.
My .02

True. I carry any wadcutter in my 442 but mostly s&b or magtech, practice with the same and all that. Not bad, not too smoky as far as I can tell. Shoots to POA at defensive distantec (5-7 yards). Backup with Hornady Critical defense in a speed strip because it is easier to reload with the pointed tip; that shoots almost identically just a little noisier. Not much difference in recoil.

 

[sniper]

In theory...

Yea the HBWC backwards is an interesting idea. I think I loaded some like that one time but do not recall shooting them. The problem with those might not be expansion but because of the thin skirt facing forward it might be unstable or break apart on impact. But I got no gelly to find out myself.

Once, when I first got a model 19, I decided to load the HBWC backwards. Some made nice, round holes...but more were oval and a few rectangular. Of course, iirc, I was shooting them at 25 yards. Closer, sideways might do the job, but I decided not for me. YMMV!

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Back in September I thanked Pete 950 and Lucnic for their recommendation on Georgia Arms 148 gr. WC, Ultimate Defense. This load is brewed for Airweight J frames and those of that ilk.

Back to say I've tested them out and like them enough that it's my regular carry load. I still use Fiocchi wads for practice and qualification.

And yes, I'm a geezer who carried hot wadcutters back in the day. They go where I want them to go, and do what I expect. A very nice load.

 

[kelljor]

I carry magtech or winchester wadcutters. They are the higher velocity wadcutters on the list. I don't have much of a problem with smoke with either one, or any others for that matter. I also carry and shoot CD standard pressure. But since I am one who believes you should practice with what you carry, WCs are way cheaper than the CDs. They don't feel that much different, both shoot to about the same POA at SD distances; the main difference is the CDs are louder and flash more. On paper and in gel both are acceptible to me.