Do HBWC have any real advantage over DEWC?

[vincyr]

Pretty much what it says in the title. I would like to get some WCs for my Single Seven, but wasn't sure what to go with

 

[Texas10mm]

Hollow base wadcutters will expand to seal the bore a bit better. However you can't drive them as fast as you can blow the skirt off of them.

If this is for a Single Seven get the DEWC. I cast my own and have some pretty hefty loads for them.

 

[vincyr]

Hollow base wadcutters will expand to seal the bore a bit better. However you can't drive them as fast as you can blow the skirt off of them.

If this is for a Single Seven get the DEWC. I cast my own and have some pretty hefty loads for them.

Is there any difference in accuracy?

 

[Slamfire]

Is there any difference in accuracy?

Probably not, but you will have to test to see. And you would have to be a very good shooter to determine if there is any difference .

This is an excellent reference, one that I recommend everyone download and read. There is a section in it on the history of wad cutters and a discussion of why hollow base works, and might not work.

From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners

 

[cfullgraf]

Interesting information, Slamfire. Thanks for passing it along.

For the OP, from my standpoint, I cast and shoot alot of plain base wadcutters. For my casual, back yard shooting they give me more than adequate accuracy and I can drive them a bit faster without worrying about blowing off the hollow base skirt. I'm not a bullseye competition shooter and I really do not see any improved accuracy when shooting hollow base 38 caliber wadcutters.

Over the past few years, I've acquired wadcutter moulds in 32, 38, 44 and 45 caliber.

Also, I have the dies to make gas checks from aluminum soda cans for plain base cast bullets. I've tried some on the wadcutters. Outside of the novelty, I've not seen the need for the gas checks on wadcutters.

 

[Slamfire]

Also, I have the dies to make gas checks from aluminum soda cans for plain base cast bullets. I've tried some on the wadcutters. Outside of the novelty, I've not seen the need for the gas checks on wadcutters.

I think wadcutters are found in Chapter 11 of the referenced document. I have talked to one shooter in particular, who was ten times PPC National Champion, he never ever mentioned using gas checks on his load. His 50 yard load, in a K frame 38 Special, was a 148 LWC with 2.7 grains Bullseye. I asked him about barrel accuracy, and he said his barrel had 600,000 rounds through it and still shot 2 inch groups at 50 yards! Wow!

This is what he did in a Bullseye Match at CMP Talladega. This was the 22 lr portion of the match. The ten ring is four inches in diameter at 50 yards and 25 yards. See if you can do this, holding the pistol with one hand.



Guys like this are amazing.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I like the hollow base loaded backwards, looks like a big hollow point. That is in one of my speedloaders when we go walking in the woods.

 

[GooseGestapo]

SlamFire;
I know Phil. Great guy, true southern gentleman.
Even beat him a few times...
He does use good equipment!

 

[cheygriz]

During my bullseye shooting days, we used DEWC for practice ammo and HBWC for matches.

Virtually all of the shooters in the "master" class used swaged HBWC in matches, so the rest of us followed along. DEWC we cast from 50/50 pure lead and wheelweights for cheap practice.

They probably are more accurate, but you would have to shoot Master Class to take advantage of it.

Most of the shooters in my club used Remington 1 1/2 primers, Remington cases and 2.8 of Bullseye.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The only difference I have seen is using less powder with the HBWC compared to the DEWC. I can not personally shoot the difference if there is any.

 

[mdi]

Is there any difference in accuracy?

For many years "Bullseye" shooting was dominated by 38 Specials shooting very light loads of Bullseye and soft swaged hollow based wadcutters. Must be a good reason...

But those were expert shooters demanding the utmost accuracy possible. For us "normal" shooters a load worked up using a good fitting DEWC will be very accurate...

 

[rfwobbly]

A possibly interesting side note is that Berry makes a plated HBWC, but distributors rarely stock anything except the Berry DEWC. From this I surmised that the hollow base had a much lower following, most probably due to ArchAngelCD's findings.

 

[Walkalong]

Most of my handgun loads will out shoot me. I have shot plated DEWC and HBWCs in .32 and .38 and in mygut I felt like the HBWC tended to shoot betetr over the long haul, just seemed to be fewer bad shots overall, but it was mostly my gut feeling and not something I could prove. That said, a positive outlook makes a difference, and if you think something is more accurate, you'll be more relaxed and probably shoot better.

I could say the same thing for lead in .38 Spl, but I loaded LDEWCs at full power and LHBWCs at target velocities, so of course it was easier to shoot better with the LHBWC.

 

[ATLDave]

I could say the same thing for lead in .38 Spl, but I loaded LDEWCs at full power and LHBWCs at target velocities, so of course it was easier to shoot better with the LHBWC.

I wonder if that's not the real dynamic at work. The hollow base seals the bore really easily and completely, which may allow a lower velocity to be used without sticking a bullet in the bore. Lighter recoiling loads are easier to shoot really well in slow fire than loads that have even a little bit more.

 

[Walks]

Not for every day use, and not unless the Revolver and the Shooter are up to it.

That Load of 2.7grs bullseye under a Factory Swaged HBWC is a great load. I used to be able to tell the difference using my old K-38.
These days,between the arthritis and failing eyesight. I'm luck if I can keep 5 out of 6 shots in the 10-ring at 50ft. With a 2-handed grip.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

A possibly interesting side note is that Berry makes a plated HBWC, but distributors rarely stock anything except the Berry DEWC. From this I surmised that the hollow base had a much lower following, most probably due to ArchAngelCD's findings.

I use and like the Berry HBWC and like them. Powder Valley often has them in stock cheaper than direct from Berry's. The skirt on the hollow base on the plated bullet is not weak and I've haven't (yet) pushed them hard enough to get a skirt separation. Turned backwards, they don't expand at +P velocities, at least for me. Berry has a warning not to load them too light which should be followed. They have a very long contact length and thus high friction and you can get a bullet stuck in the barrel if you load too low. They are definitely more accurate than I am. I load them in the 725 fps range using HP-38 and they are my favorite plinking load. I've loaded them hotter but seldom do because I like the soft recoil when plinking.