Best Nyclad for Model 60

[Mike99]

Hello Forum - I am interested in your preferences for the Federal 125 +P Nyclad vs the 158 +P Nyclad in a Model 60. I understand that the 125 +P is sometimes recommended for the shorter barrel, but does the 158 grain +P in the 2" barrel provide any advantage? Thanks much.
Mike99

 

[Old cop]

The 158 has a long success record in LE circles, but the real test is shot placement. If one handles better for you then the other go w/it. In a SD situatiion under panic when seconds count either will do the job, given proper placement IMHO.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As mentioned above, check which is more accurate in your gun and go with it. The best ammo in the world will do you no good without good hits.

Personally I prefer a heavier bullet. Also, S&W fixed sight revolvers are sighted in with ammo loaded with a 158gr bullet so POI should equal POA with the heavier bullet.

 

[Social Outcast]

Like they say, shot placement is everything. However, considering self defense distance, anything around 20-30 feet, either round is more than adequate. You know, like how dead do you want them?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You know, like how dead do you want them?

Actually, dead has nothing to do with it. It's all about stopping the attack and stopping it quickly.

 

[Social Outcast]

Actually, dead has nothing to do with it. It's all about stopping the attack and stopping it quickly.

Dead does that best.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Dead does that best.

An attacker can suffer a fatal wound and still kill you.

 

[Social Outcast]

An attacker can suffer a fatal wound and still kill you.

Well, anythings possible isn't it?

 

[one eye joe]

Hello Forum - I am interested in your preferences for the Federal 125 +P Nyclad vs the 158 +P Nyclad in a Model 60. I understand that the 125 +P is sometimes recommended for the shorter barrel, but does the 158 grain +P in the 2" barrel provide any advantage? Thanks much.
Mike99

My understanding is that Federal ONLY offers the Nyclad 125gr +P load currently. If this is untrue, where can the 158gr load be purchased ? ?

 

[BigRich315]

My understanding is that Federal ONLY offers the Nyclad 125gr +P load currently. If this is untrue, where can the 158gr load be purchased ? ?

The only ones I've seen lately aren't even +P, they are standard.

 

[Malysh]

My understanding is that Federal ONLY offers the Nyclad 125gr +P load currently. If this is untrue, where can the 158gr load be purchased ? ?

Nyclads are loads I am always looking for. From what I've been able to discern, Federal is currently making only the standard pressure 125gr. loads. When they initially reintroduced the Nyclad a few years back, the were being sold in white no frills boxes with black lettering with 50 rds. per box. A friend who is a dealer got 4 boxes of them at the time. I bought 3 @ $36.00 per box.
Not too long after that Federal decided to market them in the "Premium" Federal line. Only 20 rds. per box and retailing for about $1.00 a round.

S&Wforum member Southpaw was recently selling new old stock 50 rd. boxes of Nyclad 38 Special +P 158 gr. He had 10 boxes. I bought 5 of them and I would have bought them all if I'd had the extra cash around. It came out to about $28.00 per box. Not bad!

Either 125 standard pressure or 158 gr. +P should work fine in your Mod 60. The standard pressure load should have a milder recoil, but heavier load should print closer to point of aim as these revolvers were traditionally sighted for 158 gr. 38s. because 158gr. was the traditional bullet weight for 38 Special cartridges for decades.

 

[Mike99]

Thanks to all for the helpful comments - I am actually now considering the 158 gr +P Nyclads in favor of the 125 gr +P, due to the point of aim discussion. I had the good fortune to happen across several boxes of each type of Nyclad +P (125 and 158 gr) a couple years ago, and bought all I could. A well-known firearm auction site currently has some of the +P 158 gr Nyclad available now, but they are not cheap.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The only ones I've seen lately aren't even +P, they are standard.

I just took a look at the Federal Ammo Site to be sure and you are correct. Federal is currently only offering standard pressure 125gr Nyclad ammo.

Anything other than the 125gr standard pressure load is most probably old stock. In the past I think Federal offered 125gr and 158gr Nyclad ammo in both standard and in +P. (but that could be incorrect) I have some old stock 125gr standard pressure Nyclad ammo left.

 

[Social Outcast]

I believe Federal is selling the Nyclad .38 spl. 158gr. in RN only.

 

[Grog]

The local cop shop has 125gr standard pressure loads, about $22/50. I stocked up about six years ago when I got 158gr +P for about $7/50 (plus I was getting 158gr LSWCHP 38G for $6/50).

 

[Buford57]

I believe Federal is selling the Nyclad .38 spl. 158gr. in RN only.

Not really a round nose. It is a truncated cone hollowpoint, but the shape is distinctly different from the SWHP that Federal used to offer in both 125gr. and 158gr. I have a few rounds of S&W Nyclad 158gr. +P and about a box of Federal 125gr. standard velocity "old stuff" that I have been hoarding for the past 25 years. When S&W was marketing Nyclad they had a 158gr RN standard velocity load. That was the only .38 RN Nyclad I remember seeing, then or now.

Completely OT, but the absolute worst performance I every saw from a .38 Spl load was a 125gr +P JRN that S&W marketed in the early 80s. Shed the jacket on a down vest and the core fragmented on what should have been a side to side lung shot. It did nick a lung, but the perp outran the officer he had tried to knife and still had enough energy to start a run at me 15 minutes later when I cornered him in an alley. If you find any of this - ahem - "product" please don't use it for anything other than plinking.

 

[Social Outcast]

Not really a round nose. It is a truncated cone hollowpoint, but the shape is distinctly different from the SWHP that Federal used to offer in both 125gr. and 158gr.

Federal .38 Special 158 GR Nyclad Round Nose (XMP38B1) $14.49

 

[BigRich315]

Federal .38 Special 158 GR Nyclad Round Nose (XMP38B1) $14.49

Yep, that definitely looks like a RN. But based on that box, they are definitely not Factory "New", those have been on the shelf for a while. I didn't even know they were ever offered.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yep, that definitely looks like a RN. But based on that box, they are definitely not Factory "New", those have been on the shelf for a while. I didn't even know they were ever offered.

That's not the only Nyclad surprise. Someone gave me an old box of mixed .38 Special ammo in in the box there were 12 rounds of 158gr SWC Nyclad rounds without a hollow point. I didn't know there were even made but there they were!

 

[Mike6735]

Looks identical to rounds I have- 2 boxes, although they are S&W manufacture, not Federal. Standard velocity. What does your headstamp say?