I have been given several boxes of Federal Nyclad 125 grain HP .38 +P rounds.

This is the old discontinued rounds ~ not the new standard velocity ammo.
Does anyone know the ballistics on these rounds?

From what I remember the old Nyclad ammo was the same as all the other 125gr offerings of the time but the bullet was covered to prevent leading and make them range safe from lead fumes. They really aren't any hotter than standard .38 Special ammo from the 50's and 60's and not hotter than the .38 Special +P ammo of today. (excluding the designed ammo)

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SWCA #3437

PRM1,

This ammo is pretty good. This is the ammo that the U.S. Department of State (most likely the biggest consumer of this ammo) used for the Diplomatic Security and Marine Security Guard (read: Embassy Duty) program.

When I was a MSG student and Quantico, we shot about 160 rounds or so every Friday through our issue round-butted S&W Model 19-4 revolvers. We shot this for practice, qualified with it and ultimately carried it on duty overseas.

If I recall, it was going about 925-950 fps through the 4-inch Mdoel 19-4. The butter soft lead sheathed in the blue Nylon material did a good job of shielding the bore from leading and lead-based fumes. It also had the effect of keeping the bullet reasonably intact (i.e. leading and deformation) until it hit the target.

It was VERY controllable, but reasonably powerful. I wish Federal would re-introduce this particular loading. The bullet profile (truncated cone) was conducive to speed loading as well as having a better ballistic coeficient that the broad-shouldered 158gr LSWCHP that also carries the NYCLAD moniker.

Keep these rounds. They may become collectible at some point, especially of Federal doesn't re-introduce this PARTICULAR loading. Right now, they have a similar round (not +P) with the same bullet.

Just my $.02