Originally Posted by Rock185

I don't know how the old Nyclads compare to other defensive 38 Spcl. ammo, but to satisfy my own curiosity went out and chronographed Nyclads in a snub nosed revolver today.

I used a S&W 642 revolver with ~2" barrel to test the Federal 125 grain standard pressure Nyclads and Federal 129 grain +P Hydra-shoks.
The 125 grain Nyclads averaged 765 FPS, the +P 129 grain Hydra-Shoks averaged 763 FPS. I've not done any gel testing, but suspect the soft lead Nyclads might actually expand at these low velocities.

Just for the heck of it I tested some 9MM 124 grain +P HST ammo in my S&W 940 revolver with ~2" barrel. The 9MM +P 124 HST was the round most similar to the .38 Spcl. +P 129 Hydra-Shok that I happened to have on hand. The 9MM 124 +P HST averaged 1195 FPS.

I would personally be comfortable carrying the old Nyclads in a little 5-shot .38 revolver. None of the 38 ammo I've tested seems like Thunder and Lightning when fired in these little short-barreled guns. Ballistically, the 9MM HST in the little 940 revolver was far superior to even the +P .38 Spcl. I knew the 9 would be superior to the 38, but admit I was surprised by how much. I would think that factory Nyclad velocities could easily be duplicated in hand loads....