Commercial wad-cutters are loaded at low velocity as they are meant specifically for target practice. They were developed to cut a nice clean hole in the target to make it easier to score the target.
As they are, I would say NO they are not adequate.
If you load them yourself, and push them up to much higher velocity, they might be OK. If you push them too high you will blow the hollow bases out and accuracy will be poor, if they are hollow based wad-cutters, as most are.
There are much better rounds out there. If you are concerned about recoil issues, then try the "Self Defense" rounds that have less recoil than standard ammo.
Before the days of effective JHPs, solid wadcutters were loaded hot, Hollow base WCs were loaded backwards, all in an attempt to improve 38sp. effectiveness. There were some hot loads listed back then. Modern jhps have made them obsolete IMHO. Game Warden I knew was killed years ago after shooting the BG in the head with a 38 wadcutter load. Fellow shot him with a 32 and left him to bleed to death.
The answer to this question is a qualified "yes", under certain limited conditions, like very short range and a "soft" target.
The original U.S. Customs Sky Marshals in the 1970s were issued 2 inch S&W Model 60s and 148 grain WC ammo, the idea being that the wadcutters were less likely to penetrate an aircraft fuselage.
Wadcutters will do in a pinch if that's all you have, but there are much better choices available nowadays.
As the Captain said, short range and soft target. On another site, WC were suggested for nightstand revolver loads for inside the home. WC are low velocity, with low recoil, and lower flash than other ammo. Being 100% lead, less likely to penetrate walls or ricochet around.
I saw some pictures/article about reversed HBWC loads some years back. They fired them into wet magazines or something to see how they would expand. The base peeled back and opened-then the base or skirt broke away in little pieces, leaving a lead slug with the bore diameter to penetrate some more. It appears this idea did not work as well as intended, at least with that brand of bullet and that test media.
Does this mean that your not able to shoot a gun loaded with 38sp rounds of another nature, ie JHP, or JSP or whatever due to a medical condition?
If that is the case it seems that a different gun or a different caliber would be a better option instead of going with a low velocity round in that caliber.
I would feel more confident with a .38 Special 148 grain wadcutter at 725 fps than I would a .380. I can place my shots with more ease and accuracy with the .38 Special revolver than I likely can with any .380 and a blunt, relatively heavy, .357 diameter soft lead bullet is nothing to sneeze at.
Maybe you are looking for something with less recoil because of health reasons, but I would use the old FBI load, 158 gr .38 +P HP lead semi wad cutters.
I just bought a bot of that and a box of Winchester yesterday form Cheaper Than Dirt. It wasn't cheap, almost $30 a box. But thanks to the heads up from TomEgun I used a promo code and got $10 off the order.( Promo code 1885-6508) I think it ends next week.
My wife has arthritus in her hands. Even standard 38spl recoil causes pain, and she's gotten to the point where she shoots very little. To reduce recoil, but still give her a somewhat credible self defense capability, I hand loaded some hornady 158gr XTP bullits into a 38 S&W case. The recoil is lighter, and I consider the XTP bullit, even at the lower velocity, to be one of the best expanding pistol bullits available.
I havent run into the arthritis problem yet, but I believe I would consider a lighter bullet with more velocity as a means to reduce recoil instead of the heavy one with less speed. After all, that is the thinking of the 9mm boys.
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