357 Magnum Wadcutter Development - Bone Crusher

[joneb]

What, if any advantage is there to a Full Wad cutter vs a regular hard cast Flat Nose bullet?? (like a 180 gr FN)

The .157" longer 180 WNFP may have accuracy issues in a short barrel with a 1: 18.75 twist, where as the 148 WC can be quite accurate.

 

[Rule3]

The .157" longer 180 WNFP may have accuracy issues in a short barrel with a 1: 18.75 twist, where as the 148 WC can be quite accurate.

But we are talking "BONE CRUSHING"
OP is shooting a 6" gun

Actually Nuclear Speer #8 has some 148 gr HBWC load data for 357 mag,

 

[Eddietruett]

They also make a 180WFN. It's very close to a wadcutter. I got the same accuracy as I did with the pugnose.

I thought the WFN was the Pugnose and the RFN was called the Striker. Either way, I've shot both and they are equally accurate in my 8: Model 686. I think the flatter nose would be better for bone breaking and the RFN might give a little better penetration? I also found some Cast Performance Bullets I had forgot I tried a while back. 180gr Lead WFN with Gas Check. I remember they shot really well as but were about 3 times the cost of the Missouri Coated Lead. I believe they are available at Midway USA.

 

[Eddietruett]

But we are talking "BONE CRUSHING"
OP is shooting a 6" gun

Actually Nuclear Speer #8 has some 148 gr HBWC load data for 357 mag,

My thinking exactly. Your aren't going to do any "Bone Crushing" with a soft HBWC no matter how much velocity you can generate. I would think a Hard Cast 158-160gr SWC pushed real hard might do a decent job of Bone Crushing, but I'd rather have the extra 20 Grains of Lead and the Flatter Nose. They will crush bone. I've seen it in person. While I love to hunt hogs with a .357Mag, I strongly feel it is almost borderline in the Bone Crushing Category and in a Revolver personally wouldn't trust it much beyond 50-60 yards. Farther than that, either go to a Lever Action Carbine or step up to a 41 or 44 Mag.

 

[joneb]

Actually Nuclear Speer #8 has some 148 gr HBWC load data for 357 mag,

My favorite Speer WC has been discontinued? It was the Speer # 4605 148gr Bevel base wadcutter this really ticked me off but it is what it is, this was a cupped based button nose waddcutter that could be pushed to higher pressures than a HBWC, .

 

[Bfh_auto]

I thought the WFN was the Pugnose and the RFN was called the Striker. Either way, I've shot both and they are equally accurate in my 8: Model 686. I think the flatter nose would be better for bone breaking and the RFN might give a little better penetration? I also found some Cast Performance Bullets I had forgot I tried a while back. 180gr Lead WFN with Gas Check. I remember they shot really well as but were about 3 times the cost of the Missouri Coated Lead. I believe they are available at Midway USA.

Your are correct.