What makes a gun a Wadcutter?

[AmishEskimoNinja]

So if you buy something like this:

http://www.lesbaer.com/Bullseye.html

What exactly do they do to it to make it a wadcutter gun? Just a lighter recoil spring? What would you have to do to it to shoot regular .45 ammo with it? (and is that a good idea?)

[Greg Derr]

Typically a wad cutter is set up to shoot bullets that have a wadcutter profile. This profile has soem sharper edges in the design which make feeding an issue with most off the shelf guns. Yes they also run lighter springs to allow for lighter loads. The mags are too modified for better feeding. The trigger is set to 3.5# for match shooting. This is just the start of the list. Yes you can shoot "ball" ammo out of a wadcutter with a heavier spring and trigger weight, but the make up of the wadcutter may not meet CMP rules. If you look at the ballgun images I just posted you will see that it lacks a few details like a high rise grip safety for one, that is allowed for wadcutters but not for CMP matches.

[tuj]

Just replace the recoil spring with a standard weight and you'll be good to go shooting regular factory 45acp loads. The doesn't make it CMP legal for leg matches, but it will function just fine.

[GunRunner]

Wadcutter guns have had the barrel throated to feed wadcutter bullets, they will feed any type bullet where most stock guns will only feed ball ammo. If you want to shoot full power ammo, put a 16-18 lb recoil spring in and have at it.