"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein



QUESTION: Dear Rabbi Mermelstein:

First, let me thank you for proving that firearms ownership is not incompatible with intellectual, ethical or constitutional rigor.

Can double-ended wadcutter bullets be seated with a normal bullet seating die? It seems to me that this would tend to deform the leading edges of the lead bullet. I am interested in loading some very light .38 wadcutter loads for my wife to practice with. I'd appreciate your insight.

John Bane
Fayetteville, NC
17 Dec 1999


ANSWER: Dear Mr. Bane,

As the full wadcutter is commonly loaded in .38 Spl. cases, manufacturers of loading dies normally include two seating plugs to accommodate all popular projectile profiles in this caliber. Occasionally, none of the factory provided seating plugs will seat a certain bullet without deforming the lead. The manufacturers realize this, and will make for you a custom plug for less than $5 if you send them three sample bullets. You didn't specify if you are loading cast or swaged wadcutters. Cast bullets are generally of a much harder alloy than their swaged, or cold extruded, counterparts. A seating plug that is a close but not perfect fit can be used on the harder cast bullets without experiencing any deformation.

Sincerely,

R. Mermelstein

Click here to write Rabbi Mermelstein your questions!

[Back to Home Page] [Copyright, Contact & Credits]

[Back to "Ask the Rabbi"]