Wad cutter

Wadcutter cartridges with bullet (.38 Special)

Wadcutter - projectiles are mainly used in shooting sports for disk cartridges used. The flat-headed lead bullet is inserted in such a way that it ends flush with the case mouth, i.e. does not protrude from the case. Due to the significantly deeper projectile, the cartridge can hold less propellant charge than a normal cartridge. This results in less recoil when firing , which is easier to control. Wadcutter cartridges are preferred in the center fire pistol discipline . The best-known calibers for wadcutter bullets are .32 S&W long and.38 S&W Special . Due to its shape, the projectile cuts clearly outlined holes in the cardboard material of the target, which facilitates the evaluation of the shooting results.

Since sport shooters usually use very weakly charged cartridges with a view to precision, the bullet can easily spin due to its aerodynamically unfavorable properties and the mostly low bullet speed. So-called elongated holes are characteristic of such shots. Long holes are counted as valid shots in competitions depending on their length in relation to the caliber.

Semi-wadcutter cartridge using the .45 ACP as an example (the “fat groove” on the bullet can be clearly seen, which is intended to improve the shooting behavior in the barrel when shooting with lead bullets.)

Semi-wad cutter

With the semi-wadcutter, the projectile has a truncated cone-like elevation offset from the edge.

In many cases, lead or lead alloy bullets are no longer used in sport shooting for environmental reasons. Semi-wadcutter bullets and flat head bullets with galvanic coating are increasingly being used as a substitute.

Web links

Commons : Wadcutter  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Shooting discipline center fire pistol at the German Schützenbund (DSB) - accessed on January 5, 2013
2. ↑ Excerpt from a sports regulation in the German Shooting Federation (DSB)