I had seen a type of amunition refered to as "safe stops" unfortunately at this time I cannot find pictures or recall the caliber ( though I believe it to be a 44) the bults look like your standard jacketed amunition but they have a slotted indentation in the front, I was hoping you all could point me in the right direction to find out more about them and i appologize I don't have more detailed info about them.
safe stop bullets
- Thread starter Revolver Ocelot
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Safe Stops were the brain child of the late Jim Cirillo. They consisted of a plated full wadcutter with either a "V" slit, a square slit, or a cup point. They were definately available in .357" and most likely .429". A gentleman named Fuzzy Fletcher was working with Jim at one time and producing them on a small scale. He is no longer in this business to my knowledge.
The original intent of the cup point was to avoid sliding off hard targets like the skull, which round nose bullets will do when fired at shallow angles. The slit design was based upon the theory that a hollowpoint bullet will expand and simply become a larger round nose, and therefore, not be as destructive to tissue. The slit design allowed the bullet to split down the middle and provide two large rectangular petals. This would destroy more tissue in theory.
These are designs that I truely miss. My split nose cast bullets aren't quite the same unfortunately.
If you are interested in the theory and history behind the round, and a damn fine read to boot, order a copy of Guns, Bullets, And Gunfights: Lessons And Tales From A Modern-Day Gunfighter by Jim Cirillo. About 9 bucks at amazon.
The original intent of the cup point was to avoid sliding off hard targets like the skull, which round nose bullets will do when fired at shallow angles. The slit design was based upon the theory that a hollowpoint bullet will expand and simply become a larger round nose, and therefore, not be as destructive to tissue. The slit design allowed the bullet to split down the middle and provide two large rectangular petals. This would destroy more tissue in theory.
These are designs that I truely miss. My split nose cast bullets aren't quite the same unfortunately.
If you are interested in the theory and history behind the round, and a damn fine read to boot, order a copy of Guns, Bullets, And Gunfights: Lessons And Tales From A Modern-Day Gunfighter by Jim Cirillo. About 9 bucks at amazon.
Didn't mean to bore with the history lesson. Was unclear what you were after.
I think you may be SOL, unless someone stocked up and would be willing to sell some. Put a WTB ad in the classifieds here.
I think you may be SOL, unless someone stocked up and would be willing to sell some. Put a WTB ad in the classifieds here.
Yep, they're out of business now. No more being made. And CCI used to make a .38 SPL jacketed wadcutter load under their Lawman line, but I'm pretty sure those are discontinued.
Closest you can get, that I know of, would be Berry's plated wadcutters. They've got sorta rounded edges, and are plated instead of jacketed, but at least they'd do better against bone than standard lead wadcutters.
You could also try loading an FMJ bullet backwards. That'd give you a relatively sharp edge, reinforced with jacketing material, etc. Accuracy shouldn't be too bad at all.
Closest you can get, that I know of, would be Berry's plated wadcutters. They've got sorta rounded edges, and are plated instead of jacketed, but at least they'd do better against bone than standard lead wadcutters.
You could also try loading an FMJ bullet backwards. That'd give you a relatively sharp edge, reinforced with jacketing material, etc. Accuracy shouldn't be too bad at all.
oh you didn't bore at all, I appreciate that you filled me in on why they were made that way and such I really do, I was just hoping I would have better luck finding them is all.
I believe Buff Bore is now making a hardcast full wadcutter at standard pressure for .38s. Many are using the Berry's plated bullet now that the Safe Stop (SS) is no longer available. I would still recommend the book though, as it details the progression to the SS and you can get ideas on what to try on your own.
The reversed jacketed bullet was the first incarnation of the SS. It does well at short ranges, say out to 15', but I experienced tumbling at longer distances.
The reversed jacketed bullet was the first incarnation of the SS. It does well at short ranges, say out to 15', but I experienced tumbling at longer distances.
The "V" notched bullet routinely broke off one side at about 7-8" in test media. Loading a jacketed bullet backwards usually causes the jacket to separate fairly soon during penetration.
I invested in and experimented with Corbin swaging equipment and after some tests decided that a simple, hardcast wad cutter like the one currently loaded by Buffalo Bore at 860fps was for all intents the equal of any other non expanding bullet and better than most. It punches a nice round hole and penetrates well. It tends to drive straight thru and not tumble.
I invested in and experimented with Corbin swaging equipment and after some tests decided that a simple, hardcast wad cutter like the one currently loaded by Buffalo Bore at 860fps was for all intents the equal of any other non expanding bullet and better than most. It punches a nice round hole and penetrates well. It tends to drive straight thru and not tumble.
I was involved with " Mayor fuzzy" yes he really was the MAYOR...and the mfg of safestop bullets.
The last round...We were working on was a full power .45 lc hunting type safestop round.
I have a few 38spl +P safestop rounds left and a few of the better IMO working cup point wadcutters and some of his standard wadcutters.
I may trade a few...if you have a intresting round or 2 to trade.email me if you want to work a deal.
You can see a .45acp prototype safestop round below..it stands out.
The last round...We were working on was a full power .45 lc hunting type safestop round.
I have a few 38spl +P safestop rounds left and a few of the better IMO working cup point wadcutters and some of his standard wadcutters.
I may trade a few...if you have a intresting round or 2 to trade.email me if you want to work a deal.
You can see a .45acp prototype safestop round below..it stands out.
some in brass some in tungsten...
KTW really IMO were not that great a AP round..its a bit of a myth IMO. I have fired many KTW rounds in years past.
The old school metal piercing were very close to them in performance.
KTW really IMO were not that great a AP round..its a bit of a myth IMO. I have fired many KTW rounds in years past.
The old school metal piercing were very close to them in performance.
Seeing that fine collection gives that warm excited feeling just as I got the first time as a kid I opened a Crayola HUGE assorted crayon box. So many colors and so many names to learn and all the fun that you can/will have with them...
Thank you for sharing your collection!!!
Justin
Thank you for sharing your collection!!!
Justin
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