Federal Nyclad 38 Special

nipperdog

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My Late Buddy before he Passed away, gave me several Boxes of Federal 158 grain Nyclad +p Ammo. I put them in my Ammo Safe and Forgot about them until recently. These were used as Duty Ammo from a Large Police Dept years ago. Would they be suitable as Personal Protection Ammo in my 2" Snubbie.
 

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They were real popular way back when, thanks to several gun writers.

The coating was for use on indoor ranges to keep lead out of the air during training and did nothing to make the bullets work better. Pretty much like the painted or coated bullets being sold today.
 
That ammo was issued to the NYPD. It was standard 158 grain +P SWC until the Amadou Diallo shooting in 1997. We didn't have hollow points then. Only Housing and Transit PD had hollow points since they worked in a "concrete rich environment" (as if ALL of NYC wasn't concrete and steel!). The 4 cops in that shooting were shooting 115 grain fmj 9MM rounds, and hit Diallo 19 times out of 41 shots fired. Only 2 hits were fatal, and the bullets passed through Diallo and went BACK at the cops, who thought they were being fired at! Soon after all ammo was hollow point. Duty revolvers and off duty revolvers got the 158 grain +P Nyclads. I still have like 6 boxes. They are what I keep in my home defense revolvers. They get the job done, I am sure.
 
While my snubby load preference is Speer 135gr SB-GDHP +P, I'm also a fan of the FBI load (158gr lead semiwadcutter hollowpoint +P, which is basically what your Nyclads are) and wouldn't have a problem carrying that.

The one caveat I would offer is that it would probably be a good idea to do a random sampling of rounds from your boxes and test fire them to make sure they still work. Personally, I don't like the idea of using old ammo, and by old I mean ammo that's been sitting around for several years, for self defense purposes. Ammo that's stored properly should work fine, even after several decades, with "should" being the operative word.

Since others have mentioned it, the Federal 125gr Nyclad is my favorite low-recoil snubby load, but it's been out of production for quite a few years now. I'm still hoarding the 2-3 boxes I have left (and I would probably run some through my gun before carrying them to make sure they still work). I have been looking at using 148gr WC ammo as a low-recoil carry option, though.
 
Happy somebody said it, but I will double down....Why depend on old ammo?
A buddy said it best for me - is your life worth $20?
 
The lead in those bullets is soft and that will aid in expanding the bullet. They are as good or better than the FBI load and for sure cleaner because if the coating.
 
Back in the day, I did carry Nyclad ammo, 38 Special +P, 9x19mm, and 357 Magnum. I found it to be less accurate than traditional jacketed ammo. Ballistics tests indicated that it also lagged behind traditional jacketed ammo in most calibers when it came to expansion. It was also expensive. I consider the Nyclad line to be more of a curiosity than reliable defensive ammo.
 
Back in the day out of a duty 4" they did ok and the lighter 125gr
had less recoil for the light J frame snub nose revolvers.

Today the GD 135 might be a better SD round but some like the Heavy
bullets out of the little J frame better.
You just have to decide what you feel better with.

Lots of collectors out there that might love to take them off you hands
if the price is not too high, since they are not made any more.
 
I did some testing with those +P rounds when they were state of the art. I can still clearly recall hearing one passing through the trees behind the equivalent of 30 inches of tissue. The various bullets went through several design changes.

In my experience, the 124 gr 9mm had decent expansion. Out of a 1 7/8" barrel, the Chief's Special standard velocity load would reliably expand to about 42 caliber. Depending upon your point of view, that's either pathetic or better than you'd otherwise expect out of a 1 7/8 tube at standard velocities.

Find a buyer, there's better stuff available today. Nyclad actually originated as a way to limit lead dispersal in NYPD indoor ranges.
 
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Thanks to all who responded. I'll try some 135 GD.

They are a great choice. Buffalo Bore (# 20A) 158 grain +P LSWCHP-GC are as good or even better - however the recoil is a bit stiff out of light weight J frames. Try a box - their accuracy is superb as is their consistency!!
 
I'll forever see no reason other than personal preference not to shoot 158gr SWCHC +P out of any 38, unless it's a vintage gun then just go with standard pressure version of the same round.

YMMV
 
As was already mentioned, the nylon coating was intended to reduce airborne lead dust when used at indoor ranges.

Can I be the only one left around here who remembers the media feeding frenzy about "cop killer bullets"? The story line was that the nyclad bullets would penetrate police body armor, so this ammo was designed to kill cops and should be banned. A number of Congress-critters joined in the chorus.

That this product was developed specifically for police use, and the overwhelming majority of production was delivered directly to law enforcement agencies, did not stop the screaming media machine once they got started on their "cop killer bullets" mantra.
 
As was already mentioned, the nylon coating was intended to reduce airborne lead dust when used at indoor ranges.

Can I be the only one left around here who remembers the media feeding frenzy about "cop killer bullets"? The story line was that the nyclad bullets would penetrate police body armor, so this ammo was designed to kill cops and should be banned. A number of Congress-critters joined in the chorus.

That this product was developed specifically for police use, and the overwhelming majority of production was delivered directly to law enforcement agencies, did not stop the screaming media machine once they got started on their "cop killer bullets" mantra.
Mario Biaggi D NY. Started the Cop Killer Bullet, panic.
He did manage to get AP Bullets Banned, before he was Convicted of Corruption
 
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