38spl hbwc thoughts?

Tom

Tom

Well-Known Member
I'm thinking about trying some hbwc for defense loads. Avoiding the need for wc cases and wanting +p loads, what do you think about casting them from ww and 2% tin? My thoughts are possibly screwball, but I'm thinking a tougher alloy would obturate without blowing the bases as well as penetrating better than swaged pb. I could do cu enriched but that may be overkill or even counter productive as far as sealing the bases.
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Which way will you be seating the cast bullet ?
Hollow base down or headed toward the target ?
 
Tom

Tom

Well-Known Member
Ben said:
Which way will you be seating the cast bullet ?
Hollow base down or headed toward the target ?
Click to expand...
I'd think base down. Full diameter meplat should promote leaking as well as penetration. I have a hbwc mold and I like the idea of not having to find wc brass.
 
Michael

Michael

Active Member. Uh/What
I may be wrong, but +p levels should make quick work out of expanding the skirt a few extra thou stemming from being swaged down from using regular brass.
 
Last edited:
Outpost75

Outpost75

Active Member
If you want +P performance with a .38 Special wadcutter use a SOLID based wadcutter such as the Saeco #348 and use the data in the Speer handbook for their swaged 148 BBWC bullet. A charge of 5 grains Unique gives 980 fps from a 6-inch barrel, 4.5 grains of Bullseye 930 fps.
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Tom said:
So, it seems I'd be better off with a swc or rnfp for my purposes in a snub nose? Thanks for enlightening me.
Click to expand...
Having worked the streets since 1975, the WC is good for summer clothes. The SWC does better when having to work with winter clothes. The issue with +p HP is that they can expand without penetration, and that means nothing happens. FWIW
 
StrawHat

StrawHat

Well-Known Member
I quit LE 3 decades ago but back then, I knew several Coroners. Three of them carried a 38 Special of some brand but all 3 loaded wadcutters. That seemed a good endorsement to me.

When I carried a Model 36, I like hard cast, dewc, at +P.

Kevin
 
Michael

Michael

Active Member. Uh/What
StrawHat said:
I knew several Coroners. Three of them carried a 38 Special of some brand but all 3 loaded wadcutters. That seemed a good endorsement to me.
Click to expand...

Well then, there we have it.

The century old best defensive load debate has been solved.

Straight from those who first hand get to "dig into" the meat or nitty-gritty of the matter.

It is interesting to shoot WCs with snow on the ground, all of the little cookies scattered about behind the target. Sure makes the mind wonder about what it might look like inside.
 
Last edited:
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I have hollow base W/C moulds.
However, for self defense, I want two holes ( an in and an out ).
I've never been certain the HB W/C would consistently do that.
This one will ! !
The Lyman 358429 SWC.



1700153618851.png
 
Last edited:
B

blackthorn

Active Member
Snip--"I knew several Coroners. Three of them carried a 38 Special of some brand but all 3 loaded wadcutters. That seemed a good endorsement to me."

My warped mind can't resist:---When Coroners deal with bad guys---are they not already dead???
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
The issue is dealing with gangs and meth maggots. After the police leave, the coroners have to pick up the body (s) and rival gang bangers hang around to see if they can pick someone else off. Meth maggots have what is called "taxing" or coming around to steal anything the police leave or can't find.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I've thought about this quite a bit for years, decades actually. I personally don't have much worry about the whole "don't carry handlaods" theme. I've researched it, it's just not a big concern- so far! And I am not at all a believer in buying something marketed as the baddest, most destructive jacketed round ever. I have little faith in jacketed out of a SD handgun. I have nothing against a solid WC for SD, for me it would be an H+G 50 and would be loaded for target. But if I'm going to carry purposely for SD, it's likely going to be a revolver (I'm a dinosaur- deal with it!) and it will be loaded with an SWC. It's just that simple. They work.
 
P

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Winelover said:
In 50+ years of handloading, never had use for a WC. They are not speed loader friendly and I don't compete in Bullseye matches.
Click to expand...
A WC is not as speedloader friendly as some other bullet profiles, but some wadcutters are better than others in the department. And a slight chamfer on the rear face of the chambers helps considerably.

But if you don't care for WC's the great part of this situation is you don't have to use them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.