158gr LSWCHP +P

[681ismyfavorite]

the remmington version of the 158gr LHP +p expands well out of my snubbies.....i read somewhere that they do expand better than the federal or winchester from snubbies because the rem. uses a softer lead.

 

[Swabby]

I think they both perform about the same. If you have both, already, I would probably use the LSWC's and save the Nyclads. The Nyclads are very hard to find and are more a collector's item. I have some old Nyclads in 38 and even some in 357 mag. There are better bullet designs on the market today for self-defense, so the nyclads just sit around and look pretty. The 158gr LSWC+P is a proven self-defense round and should provide excellent service.

 

[681ismyfavorite]

like Swabby said, there are prooven loads out there.

id look at the ones with a real street record that have prooven themselves over lab studies....the Rem. 158gr. LHP+p and the Speer 135gr. short bbl have prooven track records from snubbies. the Rem. having the longest track record of course.

 

[W.E.G.]

I have "heard" that the fixed sights on most .38 Special revolvers are regulated for the usual factory 158-grain load.

Not sure how much sight-regulation matters for defensive shooting.

With regard to .38 Special bullet expansion, I found this helpful:

.38 Special ammo comparisons

from: Pocket Full Of Dynamite

 

[6GUNSONLY]

The Nyclads were, I believe, originally intended as "safe" (as in no exposed lead) for indoor ranges. They also had/have the benefit of not leading a barrel even with a soft bullet. I have some old 125 grain +P Nyclads that have been the carry loads in my wife's SS Charter Undercover for 20 years. I recently shot them up and replaced them with some new Federal 125 grain +P jacketed loads. I still see Nyclads for sale time to time at gun shows, usually at a fairly premium price.

 

[11b10]

For a snubby Federal is making the Nyclad 125 load again. I use 158 gr LSWHP +P in my 38's when I have it. I like a heavier bullet, the lead HP expands and shoots point of ain in my guns. The Winchester is generally the hardest lead bullet , with the Federal the next softest and the Remington the softest. I haven't tried the Buffalo Bore yet but intend to. Their +P load is the closest to the old Corbon 1000 fps LSWHP load out there. The Speer 135 grain load in the normal and short barrel load my understanding is was developed at the request of the NYPD to issue the few hold outs still carring 4 inch service revolvers and those still carring 2 in back ups a more modern load. It was supposed to mee tor pass the specs for the LSWHP load performance wise.

 

[safearm]

I have a box of the Nyclad 158 grain LSWCHP+P made by Federal. Nyclad was orginally marketed on S&W ammo and it's intended use was to allow very soft lead bullets to be fired without leading the barrel. Allegedly, some of the first Nyclad had so much "cushioning" that it expanded back to original size after exiting the barrel, leaving no lands and grooves imprints on the bullet. As the story goes, the formula was changed to a harder mix; the early rounds were nick-named "hitman's specials," and commanded a premium price. I'm unsure how much of this is truth or urban legend, but I do know that the rounds I have expand reliably out of both a 4 and 2 inch barrel, and leave no residue in the barrel.
I've haven't used any of the current crop of Nyclad, so I can't comment on how well it works, but if Federal is making the new stuff like their older ammo, it should work as advertised.

 

[stiab]

I like to carry the Nyclads as my spare ammo, in speed strips and speed loaders, so when it is rattling around in my pocket, etc., no lead is exposed to rub off on myself and my clothes.

 

[ddixie884]

I still think the R-P 158gr SWCHP+P is hard to beat. JMHO