I have a 38 special Model 60 S&W 2". I also have 2 boxes of the Federal 125 gr. Nyclad (Non +P). I've read about the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. +P for short barrels. Which is a better choice for self defense and which would have less recoil?

A lot of people like those old Federal rounds, esp for use in older alloy frame revolvers. The Speer 135 SB load is a more modern design. Being a heavier bullet as well as a +P load, it will probably result in greater felt recoil. I say probably as everyone is different in terms of their recoil tolerance and perceptions, so some users may not notice that much of a difference whereas others will.

Between the two, the Speer would be my choice for the following reasons:
1. Fresher production - ammo lasts a long time, but it's nice to have something still being made to rely on, plus rounds expended in practice can be replaced

2. Newer design - Arguably, there was a better understanding of how to make a HP function when the Speer was designed compared to the Nyclads.

3. I don't know when your Nyclads were made, but there's a better chance that Gold Dots will have a flash suppressed powder in them.

You could also simply use Remington or Buffalo Bore's rendition of the old FBI load (158gr LSWCHP) if you find the recoil tolerable. That was my choice (albeit that I had Winchester's version simply b/c of local availibility issues) when I relied on a Model 60.

I've got both, and often carry the Speer Gold Dot snubby load. It is flash-supressed, and the recoil is quite moderate. The old Federal Chief Special load is not a bad one, but is rather underpowered, in my view.

According to the old Marshall-Sanow shooting studies of the 80s & 90s , the Nyclad was one of the best loads out of a 2in barrel. The nylon coating , large cavity and relatively soft lead made for a very effective and expanding bullet. The standard pressure 124gr 9mm load was a good one too.

If I wanted light recoil and standard pressure, I would use wadcutters.

148 grain wadcutters out of my 637 Airwieght aint no joke reference recoil.

It ain't horrible, quite noticeable and hard to control during rapid strings of 5 rounds.

125 grain hollowpoints at 900-1000fps (8.5 grains of Blue Dot) are about half the felt recoil of 148 grain HBWC charged with 2.8 grs of Bullseye in the same gun.

I use a 148 gr. Rainier that's not set as deep as most wadcutters (I don't remember the OAL off hand) over 3.3 gr. IMR PB with a heavy crimp. It's very mild.

That load of mine starts the meat rolling off of my thumb knuckle in no time. I've taken to wrapping it (thumb knuckle) in range tape to take the edge off.

I reckon I need to replace the factory grips or not take as high a grip when firing it. Problem is, a low grip becomes a high grip in no time during rapid fire.

Doc, you might take a file to the edges of the cylinder release. If you bevel the edges of the cylinder release about 1/16", it doesn't act like a meat grinder anymore.

Why the factory doesn't do this, I have no idea.

coltsr: I have both rounds you mentioned, and shoot both from my J-frame carry revolvers. On paper the Gold Dot is best for self defense because it has a heavier bullet and is slightly more powerful. But recoil is noticeably lower with the standard-pressure Nyclad, and that allows me to shoot it better, with faster and more accurate follow-up shots. Since shot placement is the most important thing in any self-defense scenario, I carry the round that I shoot best--the standard-pressure Nyclad hollowpoint.

As others have said, Nyclad ammo is hard to replace, so if you decide to carry it I'd suggest practicing with Federal 130gr FMJ standard-pressure ammo. It's readily available and cheap, and should shoot to virtually the same point of impact as your Nyclad ammo.