Which .38 bullet better 'stopper' - The Firearms Forum

dartswinger · 11-25-2012, 02:45 PM

Sorry 'bout pics, best I could do. Here I show two bullets having been fired into a stack of wet newspapers from appx. 2 feet. One is a SJHP Remington +P 125 gr. the other is something I got a bunch of at a flea mkt., it is cast lead .358 wad cutter with a deep hollow base, 148 gr. The Remington is a factory round (one pictured at bottom), the WC I loaded in front of 3.5 Bullseye hollow end foreward, both fired from 2" S&W M36 .38 Spec. The Remington penetrated a bit farther but the WC made a bigger cleaner hole. Loaded solid end front the WCs are an accurate bullet and seem as accurate at 25 yds. either way. They have what I think is and I've used as a crimping groove at either end. I tried this WC in a .357 ahead of 5.7 Bullseye and loaded solid end foreward was decently accurate, loaded backwards was less accurate and the bullet consistantly broke into 3 pieces, each sort of going its own way. As for close range stopping power in the M36 .38 Spec., which bullet would do best?

woolleyworm · 11-25-2012, 03:11 PM

there are alot of uncontrollable variables which could make either bullet better than the other. If a BG had on thick clothing, where the shot was placed, etc. In the end, I would take the HP's for SD. They're designed for it and alot of testing has gone into them. If I happend to have WC's loaded up at the time something went wrong, I wouldn't be afraid of having enough stopping power; lead is very good at dispersing all energy into the target.

JLA · 11-25-2012, 03:33 PM

good advice worm.. The pics gave me a headache..

11-25-2012, 02:45 PM	#1
dartswinger V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: SE Pa. Posts: 147	Which .38 bullet better 'stopper' Sorry 'bout pics, best I could do. Here I show two bullets having been fired into a stack of wet newspapers from appx. 2 feet. One is a SJHP Remington +P 125 gr. the other is something I got a bunch of at a flea mkt., it is cast lead .358 wad cutter with a deep hollow base, 148 gr. The Remington is a factory round (one pictured at bottom), the WC I loaded in front of 3.5 Bullseye hollow end foreward, both fired from 2" S&W M36 .38 Spec. The Remington penetrated a bit farther but the WC made a bigger cleaner hole. Loaded solid end front the WCs are an accurate bullet and seem as accurate at 25 yds. either way. They have what I think is and I've used as a crimping groove at either end. I tried this WC in a .357 ahead of 5.7 Bullseye and loaded solid end foreward was decently accurate, loaded backwards was less accurate and the bullet consistantly broke into 3 pieces, each sort of going its own way. As for close range stopping power in the M36 .38 Spec., which bullet would do best? Attached Images -->

11-25-2012, 03:11 PM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,881	Re: Which .38 bullet better 'stopper' there are alot of uncontrollable variables which could make either bullet better than the other. If a BG had on thick clothing, where the shot was placed, etc. In the end, I would take the HP's for SD. They're designed for it and alot of testing has gone into them. If I happend to have WC's loaded up at the time something went wrong, I wouldn't be afraid of having enough stopping power; lead is very good at dispersing all energy into the target. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

11-25-2012, 03:33 PM	#3
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,305	Re: Which .38 bullet better 'stopper' good advice worm.. The pics gave me a headache.. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!