Good 38 special, 357 mag small game cast bullet

[wildchild2010]

Would a wadcutter be a good small game bullet in a .38/.357 lever gun or you just use your standard cast and powder loads.

Thanks

[waco]

158 RN would make a nice plinker/game getter!

[Outpost75]

The roundnosed bullets sometimes seem to slip through game almost without making a hole, and are criplers. Much better is a rounded flat point having a meplat at least 1/2 of bullet diameer, such as Saeco #358, if for rifle use. If feeding is not an issue, as for a revolver, a full wadcutter at target velocity kills well without excessive meat destruction.

[harley45]

I'd see if Mihec has any of the 358156 GC HPs left we have one that works fantastic in both the model 28 and the 1894 on varmints.

[waco]

Round nose is better for critters you want to eat. Less meat damage. Well placed shot=food on table. Just my 2 cents...

Waco

[glockky]

The lee 358-158rf shoots great in my carbines and pistols

[Boolseye]

the Lee 358-158 RF certainly has a meplat on it.

[runfiverun]

I use rnfp's for everything.
they tip over steel animal cut-outs, kill deer, rocks, and make holes in paper.

[Messy bear]

That lee bullet is pretty good. It seems to shoot good out of a variety of guns.
I know a guy who shoots mule deer with it out of a 2" barrel at 1050 fps and
doesn't recover the slugs.

[rhead]

I use a wad cutters on squirrels. the dead squirrel looks like you used an over sized paper punch on it. There is a caliber sized plug of meat that is just gone. I based my choice on what is the most accurate at subsonic velocities from my rifle. IMO accuracy and possibly feeding if you are using a repeater, trumps down range performance in the case of small game. I cannot see a squirrel or rabbit going far with a properly placed .357 boolit hole in him.

[texassako]

I use a wad cutters on squirrels. the dead squirrel looks like you used an over sized paper punch on it. There is a caliber sized plug of meat that is just gone. I based my choice on what is the most accurate at subsonic velocities from my rifle. IMO accuracy and possibly feeding if you are using a repeater, trumps down range performance in the case of small game. I cannot see a squirrel or rabbit going far with a properly placed .357 boolit hole in him.

I have done the same thing on a few bunnies and squirrels. Nice neat holes like it punches in paper. I guess you would have to be sure it feeds well in a lever. I shoot mine from a 6" revolver. I have also shot them with the 100gr Ranchdog .380 ACP design, the Lyman 358156, and everywhere in between. I would just use whatever works best in your guns.

[Ed_Shot]

+1 for the Lee 358-158-RF. Very accurate in both rifle and pistol... either 357 or 38 Spl.

[gwpercle]

If your rifle will feed it, the Lyman #358432 in the 160 gr. weight (it also comes in a 148 gr. weight) is a wadcutter with a slightly rounded shoulder , this allows it to feed smoothly in my buddies Model 92 Winchester , usually loaded in 357 mag. cases, this is a dandy bullet.

Gary