If you had to choose between Federal 158gr LSWCHP +P or Federal Nyclad in the same loading which would you choose.
I have both and don't know if one is better than the other.

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Anchors

I'd choose neither. There are better choices. However, given your choices, which one is better suited to your needs?

I would go with the regular LSWCHP +P.

Just what is the Nyclad supposed to accomplish anyway? Every now and then we take a gun off a dirtbag on the street and it's loaded with Nyclad. Other officers believe it's armor piercing ammo (just because it's blue?) and try to grade the charges as such. Most "new improved" cops don't shoot and get all bent out of shape when they see this stuff.

Dave Sinko

My choice between the two would be the standard Federal. Another option if you want the "FBI" load would be Buffalo Bores version. It is just as good or better. I like the 158gr LSWCHP round because it shoots point of aim on a Model 10 4 inch revolver. I have a model 10 and its dead accurate with the "FBI" load. And afterall, isn't shot placement that wins gun fights with two legged attackers?

Good luck,
roaddog28

I know there are better choices (Speer 135gr HP HP SB is one)but I have a bunch of this 158 on hand and will be using it in my Mdl 10-6 2".
The last I checked the one shop close to me didn't have any Speer.

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Anchors

158gr. LSWC-HP Plus P

The lead SWCHP is a good load. But, as we all know, the Nyclad will penetrate the exoskeleton of alien invaders much better!

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

Christopher Johnson?

I generally carry Buffalo Bore, but I really like Zero ammunitions 158 grain +P LSWCHP. It performs well.

The Buffalo bore if you can't get those then I like the Remmington LSWHP after that any LSWHP if you don't have to carry a HP then the best out of a snub in my opin is a full double end wadcutter from buffalo boar or one loaded over a good dose of unique.

I'm gonna have to ask why is it a given that the Speer 135 grain load is the better choice.

Because Speer said so, Bryan! It has to be true! All levity aside, I agree that the Speer Short Barrel load is better, mostly because it expands more reliably and has less recoil for my arthritic hands to endure. Would I stand in front of either? No.

Anchors, I would think either load would be fine from a 4" gun. From a 2" gun I would use something else. What length barrel are you using?

Either will be fine. A BG won't be able to tell the difference between the two.

Oh John, it's you.

Well, there might be something to say about less recoil, especially in the Model 642. My wife did not enjoy the session we held the other day with the Model 642 and +P 158s. She grimaced after the last cylinder-full and said "it would be ok for actual self protection but I hate shooting that stuff!"

I always liked the weight of the "FBI Load" and the way it took out critters.

I'll being using it in my new to me mdl 10-6 2" as a carry load.

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Anchors

Years ago I found Winchester 158gr. LSWCHP+P for a very reasonable price. I bought all they had. They shoot very well in my Mod.60 and Mod.642. I carry them everyday and I like them. I do want to try the Buffalo Bore though.

I've tried Buffalo Bore,from the mdl 36 and the Colt Cobra I used to have they had very heavy recoil and one round had to be struck twice from the Cobra,don't know if it was the gun or ammo.I still have a little left and will try them in my model 10-6 when I pick it up.

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Anchors

Seeing as you're in a northern state where heavy clothing is going to be a factor half the year, I would use Corbon DPX as long as you and your gun shoot it well. DPX and the Corbon 110 gr. JHP are the only loads in that caliber I consider dead-nuts reliable expanders. Both penetrate deep. DPX would be better than JHP if auto glass is a factor. Speer 135 gr. SB is good too. All of the above loads are now posted in the Perma-Gel Test Results thread.

As Swat Lt. said, it's not like the stuff you have can't do the job, so if you're on a budget, you could just make the switch when you use up what you currently have.

I'm starting to think that the double end hard cast wadcutter is the way to go for a .38 Special self defense round. Buffalo Bore makes a commercial version that copies what many have been handloading for years.

the remmington version of the 158gr LHP +p expands well out of my snubbies.....i read somewhere that they do expand better than the federal or winchester from snubbies because the rem. uses a softer lead.

I think they both perform about the same. If you have both, already, I would probably use the LSWC's and save the Nyclads. The Nyclads are very hard to find and are more a collector's item. I have some old Nyclads in 38 and even some in 357 mag. There are better bullet designs on the market today for self-defense, so the nyclads just sit around and look pretty. The 158gr LSWC+P is a proven self-defense round and should provide excellent service.

like Swabby said, there are prooven loads out there.

id look at the ones with a real street record that have prooven themselves over lab studies....the Rem. 158gr. LHP+p and the Speer 135gr. short bbl have prooven track records from snubbies. the Rem. having the longest track record of course.

I have "heard" that the fixed sights on most .38 Special revolvers are regulated for the usual factory 158-grain load.

Not sure how much sight-regulation matters for defensive shooting.

With regard to .38 Special bullet expansion, I found this helpful:

.38 Special ammo comparisons

from: Pocket Full Of Dynamite

The Nyclads were, I believe, originally intended as "safe" (as in no exposed lead) for indoor ranges. They also had/have the benefit of not leading a barrel even with a soft bullet. I have some old 125 grain +P Nyclads that have been the carry loads in my wife's SS Charter Undercover for 20 years. I recently shot them up and replaced them with some new Federal 125 grain +P jacketed loads. I still see Nyclads for sale time to time at gun shows, usually at a fairly premium price.

For a snubby Federal is making the Nyclad 125 load again. I use 158 gr LSWHP +P in my 38's when I have it. I like a heavier bullet, the lead HP expands and shoots point of ain in my guns. The Winchester is generally the hardest lead bullet , with the Federal the next softest and the Remington the softest. I haven't tried the Buffalo Bore yet but intend to. Their +P load is the closest to the old Corbon 1000 fps LSWHP load out there. The Speer 135 grain load in the normal and short barrel load my understanding is was developed at the request of the NYPD to issue the few hold outs still carring 4 inch service revolvers and those still carring 2 in back ups a more modern load. It was supposed to mee tor pass the specs for the LSWHP load performance wise.

I have a box of the Nyclad 158 grain LSWCHP+P made by Federal. Nyclad was orginally marketed on S&W ammo and it's intended use was to allow very soft lead bullets to be fired without leading the barrel. Allegedly, some of the first Nyclad had so much "cushioning" that it expanded back to original size after exiting the barrel, leaving no lands and grooves imprints on the bullet. As the story goes, the formula was changed to a harder mix; the early rounds were nick-named "hitman's specials," and commanded a premium price. I'm unsure how much of this is truth or urban legend, but I do know that the rounds I have expand reliably out of both a 4 and 2 inch barrel, and leave no residue in the barrel.
I've haven't used any of the current crop of Nyclad, so I can't comment on how well it works, but if Federal is making the new stuff like their older ammo, it should work as advertised.

I like to carry the Nyclads as my spare ammo, in speed strips and speed loaders, so when it is rattling around in my pocket, etc., no lead is exposed to rub off on myself and my clothes.

I still think the R-P 158gr SWCHP+P is hard to beat. JMHO

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV