Hard ball gun and wadcutter gun the difference?

[Rodney]

I have a pretty good idea of what a wadcutter round is (lead paper puncher) but a hard ball gun; I was lost in the verbage.

[The Sheriff]

Hardball is just a term for full metal jacket ammunition, especially when the ammunition is .45. A gun that fires a .45 hardball can probably fire a .45 wadcutter round, though you should always check to make sure before you drop that hammer. I don't have a clue what makes a particular gun able to fire one kind significantly more effectively than the other, but that's the gist of it if I'm understanding your question correctly. LB makes some target pistols designed for shooting wadcutters, and it also has a match pistol for hardball. Their site has some basic info here (http://www.lesbaer.com/comp.html).

That should do until someone who actually knows what's going on can get to you.

[Frank]

Wadcutters or semi-wadcutters can be either lead or jacketed. "Wadcutter" refers to the shape of the bullet. It has a clean, sharp shoulder and therefore cuts a clean, full caliber diameter hole in a paper target. For that reason, they are favored by target shooters because the targets are easier to score, i. e., it's more apparent whether the bullet cut the scoring ring.

I think, but am not 100% sure that a wadcutter gun has been tuned and thoated to be sure to feed wadcutters. Also, since target ammunition is generally lower velocity and pressure, a wadcutter gun will usually use a lighter recoil spring.

Now will someone who really knows please correct any mistakes I've made.

DVC

[Rodney]

Thanks for the info. I have a Prowler III and just finished breaking it in at 600rds. One of the guys at the gun club I belong to told me I had a wadcutter not a hardball gun; I made no comment because I didn't know the difference between the two of them. like I said before I had a general idea of a wad cutter and the Prowler isn't it. Thanks again :)

[Frank]

The Prowler III is definitely an all around gun that should work with all standard ammunition -- ball (sometimes called hardball or FMJ), hallow points and semi-wadcutters. It's basically a Premier II model with a tapered cone stub weight on the barrel. My Les Baer guns -- similar to the Prowler --work fine with them all bullet configurations.

DVC

[Baldy]

So far as I know Frank hit the nail on the head. I got a new S&W and I reload semi wadcutters. This gun has been fed a steady diet of then and it works just fine. Remember I am not using hot loads or even factory loads. As long as my bullet will go 25yds in a straight line I am happy.

[huntershooter]

A "wadcutter" gun is one set up to shoot reduced power loads; i.e. lighter main/recoil springs, lightening cuts in slide (old Gold Cup/Nat. Match). A "hardball" gun is one set up to shoot full power 230 gr. FMJ. The terms probably originated with Bullseye competition.

[Frank]

Thanks huntershooter.

DVC

[Rodney]

Thanks, that makes sense. I have four 1911s and not one of them is a wadcutter. At least now I can verbally articulate the difference. :D

[MajorD]

also the hardball guns are set up to comply with rules for shooting in so called "service pistol" mathes which do not allow ambi safes, round hammers or beavertails

[harleydog]

With a true wad cutter round, the bullet is shaped like a 55 gallon drum. No rounding on the tip what so ever. It is loaded flush with the top of the case. The gun has to be able to accept a for better words a empty case since there is round bullet to help it feed as it is striped from the mag. Extensive throating and feed ramp work is needed to make these wad guns feed right.

[Ping Ping]

h-dog is right on the money...

The self proclaimed expert at your club might have looked at your gun and noticed the highly polished feedramp and more refined throating of the barrel chamber and mistakenly proclaimed it a wadcutter. Seems bizarre with a gun like the prowler, but he could have been thrown off, not having seen workmanship like that before. After all, its hardly "your average bear" (pun intended). But then again, if he racked that 18.5#, mutheruva recoil spring, he shudda knowed better!

[Rodney]

Aah, I was thinking it could have been Baer envy. ;) In Mass you don't come across a Les Baer that often;especially a brand new Prowler III. :D