Wadcutters still relevant?

[roo_ster]

even though there are many old outdated loads for 357 magnum that use a full double ended wadcutter to achieve 10-1500 fps velocities in 6 or 8 inch TEST BARREL...

I have yet to find a load in 38 special that is supposed to do more then 8-850 fps in a 6 inch test barrel. underwood and buffalo bore are stating 1,000fps in 4 inch revolver barrels.

Something is not kosher at all. Your gun, your hand. But if you end up playing captain hook at the local community theater every year dont cry.

Full pressure 38 special red dot loads max at 16,000 and 820 fps.

I have experience with the BB/UA hard cast wadcutter loads in a SW638 1 7/8" bbl & SW686 4" bbl. They are standard pressure, not +P, though they feel like shooting the old FBI load in the hand (sporty in the J-frame, barely awake in the L-frame). I don't think there is anything too wonky going on.

The BB/UA load that makes me wonder is the 1250fps 158gr LSWC .38 Special. Not interested in shooting that out of my J-frame.

 

[LAH]

even though there are many old outdated loads for 357 magnum that use a full double ended wadcutter to achieve 10-1500 fps velocities in 6 or 8 inch TEST BARREL...

I have yet to find a load in 38 special that is supposed to do more then 8-850 fps in a 6 inch test barrel. underwood and buffalo bore are stating 1,000fps in 4 inch revolver barrels.

Something is not kosher at all. Your gun, your hand. But if you end up playing captain hook at the local community theater every year dont cry.

Full pressure 38 special red dot loads max at 16,000 and 820 fps.

I simply asked if you were afraid to shoot those loads in a 357 mag revolver.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Some states will let people hunt MOOSE or ELK with a

Just a moment...

But arrest you if use a 44 magnum chambered lever gun...

What states would that be? I find it hard to believe using a 25 ACP is legal for hunting Elk and Moose but not a 44 Magnum Levergun.

Please explain that one...

 

[rosewood]

What states would that be? I find it hard to believe using a 25 ACP is legal for hunting Elk and Moose but not a 44 Magnum Levergun.

Please explain that one...

We don't have moose or elk in GA, but the law only says centerfire cartridge 22 caliber or larger. So technically, you can hunt at least white tail with a 25 ACP. I do not know of anyone who does. Our legislators trust the hunters to be ethical, the don't feel the need to legislate morality/ethics as many states do.

Rosewood

 

[Nevada Ed]

for many years people would get ridiculed, beaten, and laughed at when they asked about hunting deer with a 357 magnum handgun on the castboolit site.. for apparently the last year, the ideal loading for deer is a 148 grain wadcutter at 1100 fps.

When my father bought a old black powder 36Cal. Navy revolver from a lady up near Red Bluff, Calif.

she told him that she shot and killed a deer off her porch the year, before, with it.

So, how much fps do you really need ?

 

[David Sinko]

Some years ago I loaded the swaged 148 gr. WC upside down in .38 Special brass. I crimped in a lube groove and a fair amount of the bullet was sticking out of the case. It would not fit into a .38 Special but it did fit in my .357 Magnum. I recall that it did over 900 FPS out of a 4" barrel. I still have them somewhere so it would be interesting to do some penetration testing.

 

[LAH]

My computer shows this thread with 91 post. I only see 86.

 

[Dave Lively]

I ran across a video on YouTube where someone tested 38 and 32 wadcutters out of a snubby into ballistic gel. The 38 only averaged a little over 600 fps but did better than I would have expected in the gel test.

A round with that little power is not going to do as well as something like a 9mm. But if I get to the point where I need something with as little recoil as possible they are a good option. I have friend that has to shoot one handed due to an injury and bought a Ruger LCR in 38. She tried a couple of "Lite" types of ammo marketed as low recoil but ended up settling on using wadcutters.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YILp6cVBCs"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YILp6cVBCs[/ame]