In practical terms I haven't seen any particular difference between domed, semi pointed and pointed pellets. The difference is significant when needing to reload during a timed stage of a shooting competition. I did try factory Remington hollow base wadcutters and they were excellent, and shot better than my best loads, but the difference was not worth the $$$ to get the small difference in group size. Conically-shaped with only its tip being flat, semi-wadcutters are more aerodynamic, can be fired faster and further, play nice with semi-autos, and still punch pretty distinguishing holes in paper targets. Author Topic: Why is my QB78 more accurate (Read 6218 times) shootinginalabama. Wadcutters are commonly (though not always) loaded so that the bullet is completely encased in the case. Semi-wadcutters, however, can be more reliable in pistols and can sometimes be used in semiautomatic weapons. Like others have said, the blunt nose plows through flesh rather than icepicking through like a dome, producing a wound channel that will hemorrhage more severely and quickly. They have found use in .45 ACP cartridges, often for target-shooting with a 1911-style pistol. The theory is that this makes the Mid-Range more accurate. Wadcutters are most accurate, that's why everyone uses them for match pellets, but they have the highest coefficient of drag. The latter point is important, as developing a load doesn’t require a commitment to the typical 500-count box that can run $100 and may or may not perform well in a specific firearm. While some competitors enjoy casting their own lead wadcutters, there is an advantage in buying factory swaged lead bullets instead—swaging does not leave any voids in the bullet that can cause inaccuracy and inconsistent bullet weights, as can happen with cast bullets. Your information about the adequate penetration of wadcutter ammo coupled with the fact that the shooter will be more easily able to deliver their shots to the best locations on their target is correct and valuable. I cannot get wadcutters of any brand to shoot accurately in the rifles. However, when given old style target wadcutters to use, their controllability and accuracy were significantly improved. But since its blunt shape makes it less aerodynamic, it’s not quite as effective for small game as other bullet types. He said the officers using them were more confident that they could get good hits with the low recoiling rounds, too. While the country still needs a good 5-cent cigar, apparently they don't want .38 wadcutters. However, when given old style target wadcutters to use, their controllability and accuracy were significantly improved. They can, with conditions. With wadcutters weighing about 148 gr. Given a decent weight gun, it's possible to move those wadcutters at 125 grains, at over 1100 fps, and, THAT velocity considerably increases wound channel diameter, and, the gun weight soaks up the recoil. About 14 years later, the Peters Cartridge Company was the first to bring out factory loaded wadcutter ammunition. This semi was notoriously accurate with certain target loads but feeding was a bit iffy. Pellets have a much more aerodynamic shape which makes them extremely accurate. The theory is that this makes the Mid-Range more accurate. I hear this mentioned a lot and just can't wrap my head around it, I can understand more accurate with JSB yes, .....but don't get why it has to be so bad with all other pellets, don't make much sense to me. WC loads present wide, flat surfaces that can cause a bit of fumbling when trying to insert or drop them into a revolver cylinder, especially when employing a speed loader, while noses of SWCs present some taper to guide cartridges into chambers. It’s been too hot lately so I just used some factory ammunition. Semi-wadcutters generally have a shorter bearing surface than traditional wadcutters. A wadcutter has a flat or nearly flat front that is typically as wide as the caliber size or only slightly smaller in diameter than caliber size. This restricts the use of wadcutters to relatively close range (<50 yards). “Full” wadcutters are so-named to differentiate them from semi-wadcutters; the abbreviation, “WC” is generally understood to identify the full wadcutter. & True, the bullet casting competition shooter will ensure uniformity by weighing his bullets to identify those with voids, but the knowledge and skill required for casting bullets for precision shooting takes time and dedication to develop, and probably most handloading competitors buy swaged lead bullets. Most factory wadcutter loads shoot at low velocity, typically 700-800fps in full sized handguns and 500-600fps in short barreled pistols. For those who require absolutes, Smith & Wesson’s New Model No. Himmelwright’s 1916 Pistol and Revolver Shooting. The Miniéball was not a sphere but a conical-shaped bullet made slightly under bore diameter to be rammed down a fouled bore without difficulty; the hollow base expanded upon firing, gripping the rifling which imparted spin, making the rifled musket more accurate than a smoothbore musket, and a tad faster to reload. I've no experience with the boolit you describe but get good results with my home cast 158 gr Lyman RN and Lee 148 gr RN. Interesting story grasshopper, shoots holes in things I've been hearing about wadcutters not being accurate (and maybe for target thats somewhat true) and only "girls" shoot 38/9mm. the wadcutters in a 45 acp are really semi wad cutters-2nd pic form left above. My Son's 686 can fairly routinely plop them into an 11X14 inch target at a 100 yards. Hollow base wadcutters imitate the 19th century Minié ball, though some shooters believe reversing them in the cartridge makes a formidable hollow point bullet. For the target shooter, wadcutter pellets are a preferred choice, especially when shooting at closer distances such as 10 or 20 yards. By putting a small nose just forward of the flat face, the airflow is more gradually redirected as a result of the eddies formed along the sides of the nose, resulting in somewhat greater stability in flight, and therefore longer accurate range before the wadcutter starts to tumble.This "aerodynamic re-direction concept" was most pronounced in the Himmelwright wadcutters, and tapered off with subsequent … As to this, there are exceptions. Hollow base wadcutters (HBWC) harken back to the Miniéball of 1848, designed for rapid reloading of a combat muzzleloading rifled musket. These are usually touted as the most accurate of all 357 bullets, but haven't proven it; The Lyman 358-477 design at 150 grains is an exception and groups less than 1 inch Whether or not it actually delivers enhanced precision, a drawback to the HBWC is that increasing powder charges and pressures in an attempt to get greater velocity can blow the solid front of the bullet off the hollow base, leaving the base behind as a bore obstruction. I already have 158, 170, and 204 grain .357 bullets. This design feeds much more reliably in a semi-automatic pistol, is much more aerodynamic, and cuts holes in paper that are almost as clean as a traditional wadcutter does. Been my experience wadcutters are accurate, but only to a much lesser range than ball or pointed. I’ve seen some offered in .38 S&W and .32 S&W long. Designed for competitive shooting, the flat nose and sharp shoulder of the bullet ensures that it cuts clean, "cookie cutter" holes in the target. There are superdome, superpoint, super-h point, wadcutters (flat head) and variations on each. Wadcutters were originally designed for target shooting. The original venue of wadcutters, the bullets make clean holes in paper targets. Another disadvantage of the waductter bullet is the horrible aerodynamic shape of the bullet. They can, with conditions. Faster isn't always more accurate and leading could be an issue. Switching to the 2-1/2″ S&W Model 66 and Model 19 .357 Magnums using .357 Magnum brass, 4.0 grains of W231 or Bullseye results in muzzle velocities of 735 to 785 fps with accuracy once again well under 1″. I've read about hand-loaders taking hollow-base wadcutter bullets and seating them upside down for use as self-defense ammunition, but results were often erratic. ... .22 long rifle ammunition, which fires a 40-grain lead bullet, is ALSO less accurate if the bullet goes supersonic. When I was actively hunting rabbits with pistol, my buddy's 38 wadcutters did as well as my reduced load 44's. Jacketed or clad (electroplated) WCs typically don’t have need of the grooves, though sometimes the noses may sport some manner of a crimping groove. You may need to bump the charge up if you get a blackening on the outside of the case. The flat profile of the bullet cuts neat, easy to score holes in paper targets. Some small game hunters utilize the hollow point semi-wadcutter (l.), and it performs on paper like the SWC (r.). The lead bullets must be perfectly formed to be more accurate than FMJs, and then mostly in 45. This, combined with their generally excellent accuracy at short to moderate range, makes the wadcutter an ideal choice for people learning how to shoot. The SWC bullet provides enough bullet nose to permit smooth feeding from magazine to chamber, while the flat meplat and sharp-edged ogive punch the clean hole. It makes an easy shooting round that is very accurate to 50 yards, and cuts clean holes in paper. Your mileage may vary. Of course, well-known manufacturers such as Hornady and Speer have wadcutters as well. Some of these are intended, not for paper but for hunting or up-close self-defense. Lead full wadcutters are essentially lead cylinders ringed with lubrication grooves. It is an accurate gun but the consensus among my brain trust is that it’s not as accurate as other semi-autos chambered in .38 Special. The wadcutter design really excels at 10-meter, target shooting or informal/indoor plinking. Used for target shooting at ranges of 25 yards and closer, the wadcutter bullet is extremely accurate. Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2021 National Rifle Association of America. However this review concentrates on .177 and .22 calibers as we have the most data on these. I cannot get wadcutters of any brand to shoot accurately in the rifles. 3 Target revolver of 1886 appears to be the earliest purpose-built target revolver, and so may reasonably be considered the start of Bullseye—now called Precision Pistol—competition. Looking for a _100 yard maximum_ range plinking load for a 357 rifle. Though full wadcutter bullets are often unreliable in semi-automatic pistols, semi-wadcutter bullets usually work much better. Switching to the 2-1/2″ S&W Model 66 and Model 19 .357 Magnums using .357 Magnum brass, 4.0 grains of W231 or Bullseye results in muzzle velocities of 735 to 785 fps with accuracy once again well under 1″. A .38 Special wadcutter (second from left) compared to hollow point, semiwadcutter and full metal jacket bullets. Pellets do ricochet but most of the energy is lost upon impact. Formal bullseye target shooting with revolvers appears to have begun soon after the end of the American Civil War, coincident with the advent and improvement of self-contained metallic cartridges. Be sure to subscribe to his show: the Big Game Hunting Podcast. Reason is aerodynamics and the slightest mold imperfection, you end up with a flyer. Most accurate powder dosage for flat base / solid base wad cutters, was 3.25 grains Bullseye. by Art Merrill, Field Editor - Like most highly specialized bullets, the wadcutter is great at the job it was designed for: competitive shooting. In practical terms I haven't seen any particular difference between domed, semi pointed and pointed pellets. Why? ... with one exception; wadcutters. Shot side by side with Remington 158 round nose, my group size was cut in half at 25 yards. Berry’s Bullets offers copper plated wadcutters especially suited to indoor shooting ranges; the plating completely covers the entire bullet so that no lead contacts the bore to become airborne. If you are using wadcutters (flat nose) they are best shot below 600fps, above that they lose accuracy. This restricts the use of wadcutters to relatively close range Yes, wadcutters are absolutely devastating for short range pest control. The wadcutters just limit my shooting range to much. Noylj mostly got it right, with a caveat. There are lots of theories as to why JHPs are more accurate than say RN FMJs, or lead, or plated. What is a Semi-Wadcutter? (Photo courtesy of Berry’s Bullets), Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors, NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Presented by Brownells, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, How To Lose At Dueling And Still Survive: Wax Bullets. Usually wadcutters, even hollow base ones. This semi was notoriously accurate with certain target loads but feeding was a bit iffy. Bullets that penetrate all the way through have more potential than those that do not, and .38 Special wadcutters should penetrate plenty. Been too hot lately so I just used some factory ammunition easy score! Why JHPs are more accurate than FMJs, or plated into a few categories for people... Article discusses a relatively uncommon bullet type: the big game relatively uncommon bullet type the... To 0.359 '' wadcutter is it....22 long rifle ammunition, which a... '' to 0.359 '' wadcutter is likely the first to bring out loaded! 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