Does anyone have any experience with this ammo? I've seen a few youtube vids that show expansion and weight retention are as close to perfect as I've ever seen. I get great groups and its the only standard pressure ammo that I carry (so far). Opinions, experiences etc...thanks

That is impressive. Here is the link to the video, for anyone interested:

YouTube - Snub Expansion Test - Federal 125 Gr Nyclad HP

I myself have not tried this ammunition, but I'd be willing to give it a try if the price was right. I've always had good experiences with Federal brand ammunition.

How much does this ammo sell for retail in terms of price per round?

How much does this ammo sell for retail in terms of price per round?[/QUOTE]

It's similiar in price to other premium self defense ammo. 17-20 bucks for a box of 20. I actually tested them myself today. Kinda of a haphazard test but best I could do at the time. I fired several rounds into a block of very soft clay (kind of like the play do stuff from childhood days) Penetration seemed adequate (I didn't measure) Them cavity/wound channel it created was better then expected. Every single round expanded perfectly. I'm surprised this ammo hasn't become more mainstream.

I bought a bunch from Ammunition To Go a while back when it was re-released. I found it to be very accurate and somewhat dirty. It's a good choice for standard pressure Airweights.

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Centennial Every Day

Don't know if it's any different than the original, but I had issues with the blue coating getting stuck under the ejector star during reloads when I tried it in my M36 back in 91'.

Can't speak for the current batch.

My current carry is 135 GD & 110 DPX. The DPX has a pointy tip which should aid in reloading.

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Watch & Pray

Is nyclad ammo about the same as the original Black Talons?

If so, I shot a many round of it at the range and it was as accurate as I am.

Still got a couple hundred rounds of it in various calibers.

The Black Talons were made by Winchester. I think the current equivalent is the Ranger-T. At least I think that's the case--I have a few boxes of the Ranger-T's in .45 ACP and that was my impression when I bought them.

I'm currently using the 125 gr Nyclads in my Airweights. The tests I've seen showed them to have decent penetration and excellent expansion. I am beginning to appreciate lower recoil ammunition these days since my joints are not getting any younger.

Yep. Two totally different bullets. The Nyclad is basically a soft plastic coated lead hollow point.

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Centennial Every Day

This is from memory, but I can think of at least three variations of the Nyclad. The first was by Smith & Wesson, in the late '70s or early '80s (?). These had SWC type bullets and were available (I think) in two bullet weights, 125 and 158 gr. The 125 was a standard pressure load and was branded "Chiefs Special". It was directed toward the J frame market. Despite some favorable reviews in the gun rags, this load developed a poor reputation when tested in gelatin. It seems the bullet, which had a small, shallow, V-shaped hollowpoint, would only expand in media like water, clay, or ductseal, but not jello. I don't remember a darn thing about the 158...perhaps that weight was only manufactured later by Federal. I have seen boxes of the S&W Nyclad sell in the $100 range, so there must be some collector interest in it.

Federal purchased the rights to the brand twenty or so years back (again, memory not to be trusted). I bought two boxes early on, one 125 gr marked "Chiefs Special Nyclad" and one 158 gr marked simply "Nyclad". Neither was marked +P and they looked just like the S&W product except for the Federal headstamp. I gave the 125s to my mother for her M36. She finally shot the last of them a couple of years back on her 85th birthday.

Right after I bought the above, Federal changed the bullet on the 125 gr to a more rounded profile with a much deeper hollow point and a softer alloy. Shortly after that, Federal introduced a +P marked version with the same bullet profile, but a slightly harder alloy. Both of these bullets enjoyed good reputatuons for expansion, even in covered jello. The 158 gr must have been dropped early on. At least, I never saw another box after that first one purchased in the late '80s or early '90s.

For what ever reason, the Nyclads never became a hot item, even though the later Federal stuff seemed to work well. There was also a 124 gr 9mm that was well thought of, but never sold in large numbers. I don't remember Federal marketing the Nyclads as aggressively as they did the Hydroshocks. I always suspected that the profit margins were higher for the Hydroshocks, especially in goverment sales.

I assume, but don't know, that the current Nyclads are a reissue of the second generation Federal Chiefs Special load. If so, I'd carry them with out worry.

My 2 cents, and probably more than you wanted to know...

Charles

I have just acquired a 4inch bull barreled Mdel 10. What would you guys recommend for a good SD load that is readily avaible? I used SB Gold Dots in my airweight. Right now i have some 148 grain TMJWC. I am wanting something with a lil more pop

I would take a look at the Buffalo Bore 158 gr. +p lswchp.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...t_detail&p=108

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Watch & Pray

I second the Buffalo Bore FBI load in +P for 4" and longer barrels and their short-barrel standard pressure version for snubnose revolvers (which also shoots to POA in 2" barrels).

thanks Dump and 147 i will look into some for it.I have never used BB in anything.

About a year ago I was lucky to score 2 full cases of the 158gr.Nyclad SWC-HP....Federal Premium 38 Special +P (P38G)...this stuff is great!!!!
I carry this in my 3" S&W 10...very easy shooting load.

If you want more "pop" this is the one you want. Kicks like a mule in my J frames. Probably wouldn't be bad at all in a 4" K frame.

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Centennial Every Day

Before ebay stopped selling reloading components, I bought 1K of mixed Nyclad bullets. There were 160 gr RN, 158 SWCHP and SWC. These were made by S&W.

I still have about 400 of em. I've loaded em for J frame carry ammo.

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Patriot Guard rider

My experience with Nyclad ammo.

I've posted this in other threads, but I figured I'd post it here again since this is a Nyclad specific thread.

Back in 91' I shot my departments 36 round qual. course using Nyclad ammo in a 2" Model 36. This course required speed reloads. During the course, I had issues with the blue coating on the bullets coming off and getting lodged under the ejector star. This prevented the star from re-tracting back into the cylinder completely and prevented the closing of the cylinder.

I don't recall who the manufacturer was of the Nyclads I was using or if the design of these have changed since than. Nor am I bad mouthing the round. This is just the experience I had.

This was obviously alot of ammo put through this gun for it's intended SD purpose and may not represent a true SD scenario.

All I'm getting at (and this applies to any ammo carried for SD), is please make sure you test these rounds in your gun and any reloading scenario you think you might encounter to make sure there's no issues.

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Watch & Pray

Used to use this when I could get it for my Chief's Spl. It was the only standard pressure .38 round that I found that had the characteristics I was looking for: easy on the j-frame, and nice expansion. Yeah, it was a bit dirty - but no biggy.
For some time, it was difficult to find. Glad to see it's back - hopefully in the same basic configuration.

The Nyclad was intended to give LEOs the combination of an affordable practice round that reduced airborne lead in indoor ranges and an effective duty round.

According to Federal shortly after they acquired he rights and discontinued them , the Nyclad coating process was actually fairly complex and expensive , and had a high number of rejects. This led to these rounds being just as expensive to produce as jacketed bullets. Copper was pretty cheap back then. The recent sky hugh prices of copper obviously made the execs look at alternatives.

Plus , I think back in the trendy 90s , Nyclads just weren't as 'cool' as copper jacketed hollow points with names like Hydra-Shok , Black Talon , Golder Saber , etc.

I always liked and carried them in .38 Special and 9mm. The 124gr 9mm round was rated very highly by the Marshall/Sanow reports of actual shootings.

I also thought Federal missed the boat by not offering them in .380 and .45.

"I have just acquired a 4inch bull barreled Mdel 10. What would you guys recommend for a good SD load that is readily avaible? I used SB Gold Dots in my airweight. Right now i have some 148 grain TMJWC. I am wanting something with a lil more pop"

I have 3 4-inch revolvers in .38 Special. Go to "Georgia Arms", or "The Hunting Shack". My rounds that I bought from GA are all 158 gr., and are very good for your 'pop', without going +P. The Hunting Shack has the Nyclads, at times, for both .38 Special and 9mm. I do have some Nyclad rounds, but I cannot justify the money, for the latest nuclear multi-warhead polymer whizbang cartridges, when the "good ol' Lead SemiWadcutter", made great by Elmer Keith, can do it all. Besides, you mention 'hollowpoint' to any NEA-educated dweebs, and they get glazed eyes and slobber. You mention 'semiwadcutters', and they wave it off. A semiwadcutter hits, damages things, and flattens out, without a hole to fret if it gets clogged or not, and thereby has a design malfunction. All lead, all the time, damn the EPA!

I picked up a box of 125gr Nyclads with my 438 and I've been carrying them since. The plastic coating seems to be pretty durable. No flaking noticed.

Hard to do better than the 135 grain +P Gold Dot short barrel you already have.

My only worry with that is the SB Gold Dots are for 2in barrels. Wouldnt I get deformation of the round out of a 4in barrel. I think it would not get reliable expansion pushed at higher velocities and maybe seperation. I will test them but just some of my concerns

Speer also makes a .38 spl. +p GD that isn't just a SB load:

Detail Page for Part # 23720

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Watch & Pray

I've shot GD's at some pretty crazy velocities in handloads in several different calibers and I have never, ever seen any hint of separation.

Specifically, this includes using 135 SB GD's in full power .357 handloads from 4" barrels.

I think the 'short barrel' factory loads will work just fine (great, in fact) out of a 4" barrel.

Been carrying the 125 Federal Nyclads in j frames since the early 90s
still have a box and a half of them. A box of fifty was cost effective back then. Worked fine in my 640 and sp101 Just tried a few in my new to me 64 and shot real nice, They were also available in 148 WC from federal
for indoor ranges. This is back 20 years ago at the LI shooting Center
I believe those 148 WCs were a special run for FED agencies.

carl
Pics of my new to me 64-3 and some 125 Nyclads

I juat happen to have a box of the S&W Nyclads. Had them for years. Also have original Fed's and +P's. Now they are back, I've considered getting a new box for carry. But the 135 GD +P's I now use make it tough to change, even in my Air weight 638.

I carry it in a model 49 in my pocket...
Have it in a Model 10 HB in my nightstand...

Very accurate in my guns...nyclad coated soft lead "expands" very reliably too.

Steven B.

Funny , but true , or sad.

Got stopped at a DUI check-point one night. I wasn't drinking , and I was carrying. Told the cop I was packing legal as soon as he asked for my license/registration , and handed him my license to carry as well. He asked for my pistol , but I told him I would download it. I was carrying my Star M-43 Firestar 9mm loaded with Federal 124gr Nyclads. The cop got all upset and cried "You know these are illegal!" Shocked I asked what the heck he was talking about , and he stated that these were teflon coated , armor-piercing hollow-points , aka COP-KILLER BULLETS! There was a big scene , till a senior cop who actually knew his butt from left field handed me my pistol , magazine , cards and told me to go on my way.

I've got Nyclads in both my Model 10 HB house guns.

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

Fed Nyclad 125gr. is my favorite load for aluminum frame snubbys:






I bought several new production boxes last year. They are 50 rd. count.
Somebody mentioned a price for 20 rd. boxes. I've been using this ammo since it first came out and I've never seen it marketed in 20rd increments, only 50 rd.
Maybe I missed something?

While only shooting low pressure wadcutters at the range, I'm placing my bets on CorBon DPX rounds loaded with 110 grain Barnes Bullets from all my PD snubbies.

Yes, they're +P, but I don't think a few rounds now and then will cause any damage to either my M36's or late year Colt, lightweight D frames.

In fact, I recently found several boxes of 40+ year old "standard pressure" .38 Special ammo in my dad's closet.

I shot a few rounds of it at the range, and it was at least as hot as my current "+P" ammo if not hotter.

I totally understand not wanting to damage a vintage pistol, but for life-or-death defense, I'm going with modern +P ammo: either Barnes Bullets or short-barrel Gold Dots.

YMMV

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Professional Trainer