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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:12:09 PM EDT
Had a neighbor pass away recently and his wife asked me to come over to make sure his guns were unloaded.
He carried a snub nose and when I kicked out the cylinder I found these:   Not even the same brand, there were a few of each lol. Seems like a weird choice for self defense, especially when I found a few boxes of JHP in his closet. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:14:32 PM EDT
[#1]
Old school .38 Special JHPs generally don't expand from snubbies. Wadcutters, however, will penetrate over 12" and cut a nice clean full diameter hole the entire way. Modern short barrel-optimized JHPs may expand from a snubbie, but if they don't, the wadcutters actually wound better.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:15:07 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted: Had a neighbor pass away recently and his wife asked me to come over to make sure his guns were unloaded. He carried a snub nose and when I kicked out the cylinder I found these: https://i.imgur.com/BnECS2f.jpg https://i.imgur.com/5qY1thO.jpg Not even the same brand, there were a few of each lol. Seems like a weird choice for self defense, especially when I found a few boxes of JHP in his closet. Not many JHPs that perform all that well from snubbies - while wadcutters do a pretty decent job. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:15:54 PM EDT
[#3]
Beats giving the guy a finger.
Use what you are most competent with. If that was his limit, bless him for at least arming himself and being prepared to defend himself, his wife and his house. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:16:10 PM EDT
[#4]
Interesting, and I didn't even think about that.
Probably not getting a lot of velocity out of that tiny barrel. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:16:25 PM EDT
[#5]
And from what I understand less recoil.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:16:33 PM EDT
[#6]
They will certainly kill somebody
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:18:03 PM EDT
[#7]
Just because it’s self defense doesn’t mean he didn’t want to keep score.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:18:46 PM EDT
[#8]
You should see what happens if they’re loaded backwards in the case.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:19:00 PM EDT
[#9]
I sure as hell wouldn't want to get shot with one.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:19:31 PM EDT
[#10]
Run what ya brung I believe is the saying.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:20:41 PM EDT
[#11]
FPNI
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:21:37 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Old school .38 Special JHPs generally don't expand from snubbies. Wadcutters, however, will penetrate over 12" and cut a nice clean full diameter hole the entire way. Modern short barrel-optimized JHPs may expand from a snubbie, but if they don't, the wadcutters actually wound better. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:22:32 PM EDT
[#13]
I shot a skunk with 38 spl 148gr. Hollow base wadcutters. He quit doing skunk stuff, immediately.
I shot a cat with a 38 spl lead round nose bullet. He got pretty pissy about it. Second one in the brain calmed him down. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:22:46 PM EDT
[#14]
Wifey's 38 has wadcutters.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:22:56 PM EDT
[#15]
I wouldn't want to get shot with a wad cutter.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:24:05 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Just because it’s self defense doesn’t mean he didn’t want to keep score. Ol Uncle Ralph zero downed that motherfucker with a snubnose and wadcutters  . Hole punch!
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:24:12 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Old school .38 Special JHPs generally don't expand from snubbies. Wadcutters, however, will penetrate over 12" and cut a nice clean full diameter hole the entire way. Modern short barrel-optimized JHPs may expand from a snubbie, but if they don't, the wadcutters actually wound better. This Right out of the 1970’s. Its what a lot a small town departments issued for their 38 revolvers back in the day |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:25:15 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted: Not even the same brand, there were a few of each lol. Very likely someone's reloads. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:26:00 PM EDT
[#19]
Look up "Full Charge Wadcutter loads" on the net. Noted gunwriter C E "Ed" Harris touts these. There are also several cast bullet molds that allow hard cast wad cutters to be made.
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=111 https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=99 Carry these in my Charter Arms Bulldog. Gun seemed savvy on ammo selection, given the time frame he sourced them. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:26:42 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You should see what happens if they’re loaded backwards in the case.  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:27:24 PM EDT
[#21]
Here’s my take on it. If I were a criminal doing criminal things and you shot me with a wadcutter, I’d change my behavior ricky tik to not get shot again.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:27:48 PM EDT
[#22]
Mmmm.....meplat.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:28:21 PM EDT
[#23]
Maybe he was clueless and just loaded up target loads, but it was fairly common back in the day before reliable JHPs.
A round nose .38 bullet has a tendency to push flesh out of the way, but a wadcutter will cut a clean 0.355" wide hole. The only catch is that some wadcutters meant for target shooting are loaded light (500-600 FPS) which would make them pretty poor at bone penetration. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:29:09 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You should see what happens if they’re loaded backwards in the case. This. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:29:17 PM EDT
[#25]
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:29:54 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted: Had a neighbor pass away recently and his wife asked me to come over to make sure his guns were unloaded. He carried a snub nose and when I kicked out the cylinder I found these: https://i.imgur.com/BnECS2f.jpg https://i.imgur.com/5qY1thO.jpg Not even the same brand, there were a few of each lol. Seems like a weird choice for self defense, especially when I found a few boxes of JHP in his closet. Random brass but exact same bullet in each = safe bet they're reloads. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:30:51 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Old school .38 Special JHPs generally don't expand from snubbies. Wadcutters, however, will penetrate over 12" and cut a nice clean full diameter hole the entire way. Modern short barrel-optimized JHPs may expand from a snubbie, but if they don't, the wadcutters actually wound better. This. I’ve operated on score of people who were shot. Not one of them ever sassed about the caliber of gun or the projectile. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:32:48 PM EDT
[#28]
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:33:41 PM EDT
[#29]
Some guys like them for SD , they Cut a cookie cutter type hole .
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:34:25 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Maybe he was clueless and just loaded up target loads, but it was fairly common back in the day before reliable JHPs. When it comes to snubbies there's still not all that many reliable JHPs. I don't think I've seen more than 3 loadings recommended as meeting FBI standards from a snub. |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:34:32 PM EDT
[#31]
If you catch one where you wear a necktie or glasses, it'll certainly ruin your day.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:34:41 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Maybe he was clueless and just loaded up target loads, but it was fairly common back in the day before reliable JHPs. A round nose .38 bullet has a tendency to push flesh out of the way, but a wadcutter will cut a clean 0.355" wide hole. The only catch is that some wadcutters meant for target shooting are loaded light (500-600 FPS) which would make them pretty poor at bone penetration. .357" but who's counting? 
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:35:54 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This Right out of the 1970’s. Its what a lot a small town departments issued for their 38 revolvers back in the day Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Old school .38 Special JHPs generally don't expand from snubbies. Wadcutters, however, will penetrate over 12" and cut a nice clean full diameter hole the entire way. Modern short barrel-optimized JHPs may expand from a snubbie, but if they don't, the wadcutters actually wound better. This Right out of the 1970’s. Its what a lot a small town departments issued for their 38 revolvers back in the day It wasn't just small towns, it was a common load for some cities too. Columbia's police carried a model 64 loaded with six wadcutters and one extra speedloader up until the city council essentially forced the chief to switch to pistols around 2000. One of the officers I knew that worked up there swore that the chief would have had them carrying Bibles instead of guns if he could have. 
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:35:56 PM EDT
[#34]
An older dude with a snubbie loaded with wad cutters? He likely knew exactly what he was doing and was ok with it. An up close and personal means of saying fuck you to someone. Probably just wasn’t into newfangled plastic guns and hollow points that were less than effective in his shooter. I give him a solid pass.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:47:42 PM EDT
[#35]
The boy got two very light snubbies this last year, want to try some slow target wadcutters in em.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 8:47:53 PM EDT
[#36]
Those are likely 148 grain hollow base wadcutter bullets. Hopefully charged a little stouter than a bullseye load, but I'm not going to let anyone shoot me with one at any speed.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 10:35:44 PM EDT
[#37]
Taking the wadcutter SD one step further, slice the bullet into thirds then stack, seat and crimp. Years ago that was a passing fad with .357. It works well, three cute little holes.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 10:41:22 PM EDT
[#38]
They leave a nice round hole in the target! |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 10:44:03 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've got underwood 158gr +p wadcutters in my 442 https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/264774/20191123_164931_jpg-1331773.JPG  @grey50beast |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 10:46:01 PM EDT
[#40]
As always: #1 rule in a gunfight is bring a gun. I doubt there's a single case where a .38 snub shooter lost a gunfight due to ammo choice.
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Posted: 3/24/2020 10:47:12 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've got underwood 158gr +p wadcutters in my 442 https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/264774/20191123_164931_jpg-1331773.JPG Love that gun |
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Posted: 3/24/2020 10:48:38 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Love that gun Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I've got underwood 158gr +p wadcutters in my 442 https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/264774/20191123_164931_jpg-1331773.JPG Love that gun  |
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:02:05 AM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've got underwood 158gr +p wadcutters in my 442 https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/264774/20191123_164931_jpg-1331773.JPG That is one sexy pistola! 
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:06:47 AM EDT
[#44]
They would turn Lootie into a serious leaker.
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:34:21 AM EDT
[#45]
As others have said, wadcutters cut clean holes and may do better than a hollowpoint that fails to expand. (That said, the lead semi-wadcutter hollowpoints give you the best of both worlds.) One advantage of wadcutters is that they're loaded fairly light, which makes them easy to shoot in a snubbie.
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:46:20 AM EDT
[#46]
Wadcutter to the forehead would suck.
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:49:20 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Old school .38 Special JHPs generally don't expand from snubbies. Wadcutters, however, will penetrate over 12" and cut a nice clean full diameter hole the entire way. Modern short barrel-optimized JHPs may expand from a snubbie, but if they don't, the wadcutters actually wound better. |
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:51:27 AM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Holy shit. Quote HistoryIt's not going to expand like that and cause a 1.5" hole in flesh. |
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:51:41 AM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Beats giving the guy a finger. Use what you are most competent with. If that was his limit, bless him for at least arming himself and being prepared to defend himself, his wife and his house. Well said! |
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Posted: 3/25/2020 12:51:54 AM EDT
[#50]
I use Federal Match full wadcutters in snubbie .38s
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