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Wadcutter

38 Special Ammo in ballistic gel

We shot 15 different loads of 38 Special self-defense ammo into ballistic gel

See the results below

38 Special wadcutter ammunition is named for it’s completely flat front that is designed to punch perfect circular holes into paper targets. Therefore cutting the wad. 38 Wadcutters were designed to make scoring easier for pistol bullseye competitions. Wadcutters were also championed as self-defense rounds since their flat front meant the bullet lost velocity extremely fast, which prevented over penetration.

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9 Item(s)

  1. 50rds - 38 Special Black Hills 148gr. Hollow Base Wadcutter Ammo 50rds - 38 Special Black Hills 148gr. Hollow Base Wadcutter Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

    $32.95
    $0.66/ppr

    27 In Stock

  2. 50rds - 38 Spec. Federal 158gr Lead Semi-Wadcutter Ammo 50rds - 38 Spec. Federal 158gr Lead Semi-Wadcutter Ammo
    $18.49
    $0.37/ppr

    15 In Stock

  3. 50rds - 38 Special Federal LE 158gr. +P Semi-Wadcutter HP Ammo 50rds - 38 Special Federal LE 158gr. +P Semi-Wadcutter HP Ammo
    $22.95
    $0.46/ppr

    90 In Stock

  4. 1000rds - 38 Special Federal LE 158gr. +P Semi-Wadcutter HP Ammo 1000rds - 38 Special Federal LE 158gr. +P Semi-Wadcutter HP Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

    $399.00
    $0.40/ppr

    7 In Stock

  5. 50rds - 38 Special Magtech 148gr. LWC Ammo 50rds - 38 Special Magtech 148gr. LWC Ammo
    $20.95
    $0.42/ppr

    6 In Stock

  6. 1000rds – 38 Special Magtech 148gr. LWC Ammo 1000rds – 38 Special Magtech 148gr. LWC Ammo
    $385.00
    $0.39/ppr

    1 In Stock

  7. 50rds - 38 Special Remington UMC 125gr. FNEB Leadless Ammo 50rds - 38 Special Remington UMC 125gr. FNEB Leadless Ammo
    $20.95
    $0.42/ppr

    42 In Stock

  8. 50rds - 38 Special Winchester 158gr Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point Ammo 50rds - 38 Special Winchester 158gr Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point Ammo

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

    $36.95
    $0.74/ppr

    26 In Stock

  9. 50rds – 38 Special Winchester Super-X 158gr. LSWC Ammo 50rds – 38 Special Winchester Super-X 158gr. LSWC Ammo
    $34.95
    $0.70/ppr

    6 In Stock

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9 Item(s)

38 Special Ballistic Gel Test Results
Ammo 5-shot average penetration depth 5-shot average diameter 5-shot average velocity
500rds - 38 Special Black Hills 125gr. +P Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo 50rds - 38 Special Black Hills 125gr. +P Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo
  22.12"
0.35" 822
20rds - 38 Special +P Federal Personal Defense Micro 130gr. HST JHP Ammo 200rds – 38 Special +P Federal Personal Defense Micro 130gr. HST JHP Ammo
  12.66"
0.72" 872
20rds - 38 Special Federal Hydra-Shok 129gr. +P HP Ammo
  19.56"
0.35" 828
20rds - 38 Special Federal Hydra-Shok 110gr. HP Ammo 200rds – 38 Special Federal Hydra-Shok Low Recoil 110gr. JHP Ammo
  14.52"
0.51" 936
50rds – 38 Special Fiocchi 158gr. JHP Ammo 1000rds – 38 Special Fiocchi 158gr. JHP Ammo
  15.5"
0.35" 686
25rds - 38 Special Hornady Critical Defense 110gr.+P FTX HP Ammo 250rds - 38 Special Hornady Critical Defense 110gr.+P FTX HP Ammo
  14.64"
0.47" 961
25rds - 38 Special Hornady Critical Defense 110gr. FTX Ammo 250rds - 38 Special Hornady Critical Defense 110gr. FTX Ammo
  14.78"
0.46" 829
25rds - 38 Special Hornady Critical Lite Defense 90gr. FTX Ammo 250rds - 38 Special Hornady Critical Defense 90gr. FTX Ammo
  13.9"
0.45" 910
25rds - 38 Special Hornady 158gr. JHP XTP Ammo 250rds - 38 Special Hornady 158gr. JHP XTP Ammo
  18.58"
0.35" 675
50rds - 38 Special Remington HTP 125gr. +P SJHP Ammo 500rds - 38 Special Remington HTP 125gr. +P SJHP Ammo
  14.78"
0.44" 898
20rds - 38 Special SinterFire Special Duty 110gr. Frangible HP Ammo
  16.3"
0.35" 1060
50rds - 38 Special Speer LE Gold Dot Short Barrel 135gr. +P Ammo
  13.74"
0.57" 886
200rds - 38 Special Winchester 130gr. +P Bonded PDX1 JHP Ammo
  17.86"
0.51" 843
50rds - 38 Special Winchester Silvertip 125gr. +P JHP Ammo 500rds - 38 Special +P Winchester 125gr. Super-X Silvertip Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo
  15.96"
0.49" 871
20rds - 38 Special Winchester W Train and Defend 130gr. JHP Ammo 200rds - 38 Special Winchester W Train and Defend 130gr. JHP Ammo
  20.28"
0.38" 857

Recent Wadcutter Reviews

  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    good for Cowboy Action
    tcrane3184aol.com on 50rds - 38 Special Fiocchi 148gr. Lead Wadcutter Ammo
  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    I use in my Smith 52-3 and it works flawlessly and spot on target. Not cheap but very accurate in my gun.
    Philip Burr on 50rds - 38 Special Winchester 148gr. SUPER MATCH Wadcutter Ammo
  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    Great practice ammo,Shoots like a dream out of a .357/6 Shot 4" revolver.These .38 Wadcutters are extremely accurate and leave a perfect hole in a paper target.Reliable Ammo.Have been using Sellier& Bellot Ammo for 30+ years and have never been disappointed!
    Wayneski1 on 50rds - 38 Special Sellier & Bellot 148gr Wadcutter Ammo
  • ☆☆☆☆☆
    I have shot this out of my Airweight, and out of my 3" 686+. It is, in my opinion, too much for the Airweight, as the felt recoil slows me down noticeably. I am going for a lighter +P round due to the snap and jump with this load. Out of my 686, however, this is an expanding, through-and-through heavy hitter that is extremely fast, accurate, and easy to control. Definitely one of my first choices for self-defense. There are more powerful loads. There are loads that penetrate less. These shoot dirty (require the brass brush, for sure), too. But, overall? These are inexpensive, heavy-hitting show-stoppers with low flash and great downrange effect. Highly recommended.
    Logan Doughty on 1000rds - 38 Special Federal LE 158gr. +P Semi-Wadcutter HP Ammo