Flush Seated 38 Special Wad cutters

loaded round · Jan 12, 2015

We have been having a discussion on the origin of flush seated 38 Spl wad cutter bullets and we would like a knowledgeable person to explain why the ammo factories originally loaded these wad cutter bullets flush to the case mouth. This style target rounds were around many years for revolvers way before the advent of the auto loaders (re: S&W 52 and Colt 38 Gold Cup) that required this style bullet. Some help please?

WIL TERRY · Jan 12, 2015

SIMPLE !!! BECAUSE seating them flush took up the most propellent room, gave the best burn with LIGHT smokeless propellents loads, and protected those very soft swaged WC projectiles from being being beat all to hell'n'gone in the loading process and subsequent cleanings.
Even the full-charge WC factory loads use flush seating of the projectiles.
They also shot s damnsite better as my tests of over 10M rounds in 2", 3", 4" 5", 6", 6 1/2", and 8 3/8" 38SPL pistols proved beyond doubt. This was all published in PETERSON'S HANDGUNS MAGAZINE thirty years ago or so.
READ !!
And so it goes...

Chuck 100 yd · Jan 12, 2015

What WIL TERRY said +1 . Although many of the newer shooters have not even heard of PETERSON'S HANDGUNS MAGAZINE let alone can find that info to read. If anyone has a link to it online,please post it.

Mike Armstrong · Jan 12, 2015

Thanks! That makes sense; I knew about the need to reduce case capacity for the light/low density powders like Bullseye. The other factor makes sense, too. I knew it had to be a manufacturing issue.

GP100man · Jan 14, 2015

To stretch powder & also feed reliably thru the autos

anachronism · Jan 28, 2015

1911s were being converted to 38 Spl long before Colt or any other manufacturer started making the guns. There was a booming cottage industry for them back in the '50s, and likely even earlier. I believe all of these guns required flush loaded wadcutters. There were likely others too.