.38spl Cost of 148gr FWC vs 148gr HBWC??

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sailor723

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I notice SFRC has 500 round cases of Wolf Bullets 148gr HBWC for 179.95. They also list (out of stock) 148gr FWC for 116.95 per 500. Might be DQOTD but what makes the hollowback ammo so much more expensive?:confused:
 
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Give them a ring other than the plating and of course the usual pricing increases for 2015 story, can't see what would be the major difference
 
Just checked Ammosupply.ca They are also showing FWC as cheaper than HBWC ($2.00 a box). I don't really need any .38 at the moment (I stocked up on Centaure from Tradex) but I was curious about why one would be more costly than the other.
 
That's weird but I've never heard of 148 SWC rds, 158, yes, but not 148!
My guess on the higher cost of the HBWC is they are normally sold as " target" ammo so maybe Wolf thinks it commands a premium over regular stuff?
It's a bit ironic as there is less powder in 148 gr hbwc rds since the bullet is seated almost flush with the casing limiting room for powder. These are PPC and target loads mostly with light recoil.
 
Whoops! Typo on my part. The original post should read "148gr FWC"..... Correcting it now

The SWC I've had in the past have also been 158gr.

As an aside. What is the performance difference between HBWC and FWC? Why would you choose one over the other?
 
I could be wrong here and please correct me if so, but I think Full Wadcutters and HBWC are terms that are interchangeable. The FWC is to differentiate from the SWC rds.
Since they are both listed at 148gr, I think the FWC may be hollow based too?
Maybe call the seller and ask why the cost difference. Maybe one is sold as " match" ammo and the other is for plinking?
 
I don't know for sure but I always assumed FWC were flat based (the projectile is basically a cylinder, like a piece cut off of a dowel) while HBWC had a hollow, concave base (think airgun pellet)
 
sailor723 said:
I don't know for sure but I always assumed FWC were flat based (the projectile is basically a cylinder, like a piece cut off of a dowel) while HBWC had a hollow, concave base (think airgun pellet)
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I would think the same thing except that I can't see how a solid wadcutter round would weigh the same as a hollow one unless the solid round was a shorter bullet all around to equal the weight of the hollow based one? Maybe a PPC reloader can chime in?
 
I bought one K of those 148 gr WC ( cylindrical) and it is my favoryte 38SPL ammo accurate and clean bullet holes, like a punch actually... JP.
 
caramel said:
I bought one K of those 148 gr WC ( cylindrical) and it is my favoryte 38SPL ammo accurate and clean bullet holes, like a punch actually... JP.
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We know what a WC is capable of doing. The OP was wondering about the cost difference between the HBWC and the FWC and what the difference is between the two. I still have a box left of the Federal HBWC from the 1980s!
 
Wad cutter bullets come in two flavours - bevel base and hollow base.

A bevel base is shaped the same top and bottom. It is fast to load in the loading machine because there is no "top" or "bottom".

A hollow base bullet has a cavity in the bottom. This skirt makes it easy for the bullet to expand and seal well with mild loads. It is longer than a solid bevel base bullet, but, when seated flush, still uses up the same space inside the case.

Bevel based bullets are often cast bullets. Hollow base bullets are usually swedged from soft lead. Casting a bullet with a cavity can be done, but it is more difficult that casting a solid bullet. Hollow base bullets are more expensive bullets to buy. They are a little slower to load because you have to orient the hollow base bullet before inserting it in the case. I assume a bullet feeder on a automated loading machine can figure out how to orient the bullet, too.

The OP said "I notice SFRC has 500 round cases of Wolf Bullets 148gr HBWC for 179.95...." That sure seems expensive. I pay around $45 for 500 148 HBWC bullets. (Hornady). I find that HBWC bullets cost about twice as much as solids.
 
Just to be clear....I was referring to 500 round cases of 148gr HBWC .38 special ammunition commercially reloaded by the company Wolf Bullets Ltd, not projectiles at $179.95 for 500.

My original post was wondering why it seems that the HBWC ammo is several dollars a box more than the FWC ammo. Then, I was asking what the advantage/disadvantage is of the one projectile over the other.
 
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Ganderite said:
Wad cutter bullets come in two flavours - bevel base and hollow base.

A bevel base is shaped the same top and bottom. It is fast to load in the loading machine because there is no "top" or "bottom".

A hollow base bullet has a cavity in the bottom. This skirt makes it easy for the bullet to expand and seal well with mild loads. It is longer than a solid bevel base bullet, but, when seated flush, still uses up the same space inside the case.

Bevel based bullets are often cast bullets. Hollow base bullets are usually swedged from soft lead. Casting a bullet with a cavity can be done, but it is more difficult that casting a solid bullet. Hollow base bullets are more expensive bullets to buy. They are a little slower to load because you have to orient the hollow base bullet before inserting it in the case. I assume a bullet feeder on a automated loading machine can figure out how to orient the bullet, too.

The OP said "I notice SFRC has 500 round cases of Wolf Bullets 148gr HBWC for 179.95...." That sure seems expensive. I pay around $45 for 500 148 HBWC bullets. (Hornady). I find that HBWC bullets cost about twice as much as solids.
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As always, the voice of experience! Thanks for the info Ganderite! This explains why the HBWCs are more expensive whether just bullets or full loaded rounds.
 
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