Federal 125 Grain NyClad or Federal 110 Grain HydroShock?

[JTaylor]

Looking for a .38 special load for a 2" J-Frame S&W. Did a little research online and it looks like those two came up as pretty good. Anything else I should consider? Glaser Safety Slugs? Want something without a huge recoil, but still a decent self defense load. Any help appreciated.

Thanks!

JT

 

[TAROMAN]

The Nyclads work great in my 60 and 442 - when I can find them, that is.

A very popular load, easy to hit with.

 

[tomcatt51]

Speer Gold Dot 135 gr Short Barrel

 

[ContinentalOp]

I would go with the Nyclads. I don't know about the Hydrashocks, but I know the Nyclads have a good track record in actual shootings. I currently carry Short-Barrel Gold Dots in my 642, but I've carried Nyclads before and never felt like I was "undergunned."

I also think 130gr FMJ makes a great practice round when carrying Nyclads for self-defense.

The most important thing, though, is to see which one you shoot better. I'd suggest getting a box of each and doing a side-by-side comparison at the range. The one you shoot better is the best choice for self-defense. But if you shoot them the same, go with the Nyclads.

 

[Skeeziks]

Speer Gold Dot 135 gr Short Barrel

+1

The Nyclads are pretty weak. If you shot me with one, it would only piss me off.

 

[JTaylor]

Thanks for the info! I picked up some 110 Hydroshock today (low recoil) and ordered the Nyclads online to try. I'll see what shoots better in my hands (and my wife). This article:
Ammunition For The Self-Defense Firearm
doesn't mention the Gold Dot 135 Grain? Is the article legit? Was that round manufactured after the article was written? Any other articles on self defense rounds for .38 special I should read?

Thanks again!

 

[papajohn428]

That article appears to be at least ten years old..........and No, Speer Gold Dot Short barrel loads weren't available back them. (The Thunderzap ammo he mentions hasn't been available since the late 90's or so.)

Gold Dots are excellent rounds, Hornady's Critical Defense seems to be good in every caliber they make it in, Winchester Silvertips have a following, as do the Nyclads and several others. See what your gun likes, practice with your chosen load and remember that good ammo is useless if you can't shoot the gun well. Practice as realistically as you can, as often as you can afford to!

 

[BaldEagle1313]

I'm using Hornady Critical Defense 110gr FTX for my Bodyguard. No complaints. I do use Pachy's for grips, though. I didn't like the felt recoil using just the factory wood grips.

 

[tomcatt51]

Any other articles on self defense rounds for .38 special I should read?

Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

 

[JTaylor]

That article appears to be at least ten years old..........and No, Speer Gold Dot Short barrel loads weren't available back them. (The Thunderzap ammo he mentions hasn't been available since the late 90's or so.)

Gold Dots are excellent rounds, Hornady's Critical Defense seems to be good in every caliber they make it in, Winchester Silvertips have a following, as do the Nyclads and several others. See what your gun likes, practice with your chosen load and remember that good ammo is useless if you can't shoot the gun well. Practice as realistically as you can, as often as you can afford to!

Thanks, I'll look into those rounds.

 

[JTaylor]

I'm using Hornady Critical Defense 110gr FTX for my Bodyguard. No complaints. I do use Pachy's for grips, though. I didn't like the felt recoil using just the factory wood grips.

Those look like +P rounds? I think I'm going to stay with a round that produces less kick

 

[JTaylor]

Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

Thanks, very interesting. The author mentions:

"There is no reason to go with .357 mag in a J-frame, as the significantly larger muzzle blast and flash, and harsher recoil of the .357 Magnum does not result in substantially improved terminal performance compared to the more controllable .38 Special bullets when fired from 2" barrels."

I can't imagine the recoil from a .357 in a 2" J-Fame!

 

[papajohn428]

Those look like +P rounds? I think I'm going to stay with a round that produces less kick

Just my opinion, but I can't tell much difference between standard-pressure 38 ammo and the plus-P stuff. I think bullet weight makes more of a difference in perceived recoil than the pressure level, plus-P isn't loaded that much hotter......20K PSI vs 17K.

Maybe I'm just becoming more wussified in my old age, but I no longer enjoy shooting hot 357 ammo in little guns. A lightweight 357 with a stubby barrel? No thanks, I'll stick with a warm 38 if you don't mind. I've got one of the Ruger SP-101's in 3-inch trim, and even chunky as it is, it's no fun at all with Magnum ammo. My son likes energetic loads in handguns, but I let him try that gun with Remington 125-grain 357 loads in it, and after one shot he handed it back, and said, "That thing is a Monster."

 

[tomcatt51]

I've got one of the Ruger SP-101's in 3-inch trim, and even chunky as it is, it's no fun at all with Magnum ammo. My son likes energetic loads in handguns, but I let him try that gun with Remington 125-grain 357 loads in it, and after one shot he handed it back, and said, "That thing is a Monster."

Relatively speaking a 3" SP-101 is a chunk. Think about a S&W 342 that's just under 15 oz fully loaded.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

Those look like +P rounds? I think I'm going to stay with a round that produces less kick

They aren't listed as +P. I specifically got non +P as they are used in a Model 38 Airweight Bodyguard. I wouldn't put +P through the lightweight frame. They are on the high side for a non +P load, though. Over 1,000 FPS at the muzzle.

I'm a big guy, with fat hands, so once I switched to the rounder rubber grips from the skinny factory wood the kick wasn't too bad for me. Plus if I'm shooting the snubby for real (it's my BUG) I figure I'm going to have a whole lot of adrenaline pumping and felt recoil will be the least of my concerns. As with all things, your mileage may vary.

I used to shoot 125gr .357 Silvertips in my SP-101 2" back in the early 80's. Didn't have any problems, so I think I may be less sensitive to recoil than some. At least I was then. Maybe not as much now. I'm not 25 anymore.

 

[tomcatt51]

I think the more important thing is the gun not shifting in your hand so you can fire follow-up shots without re-gripping. Firing one shot and having to re-grip ain't gonna cut it.

 

[papajohn428]

Relatively speaking a 3" SP-101 is a chunk. Think about a S&W 342 that's just under 15 oz fully loaded.

I'd rather not. Uncle Arthur wouldn't take it well.

 

[JTaylor]

They aren't listed as +P. I specifically got non +P as they are used in a Model 38 Airweight Bodyguard. I wouldn't put +P through the lightweight frame. They are on the high side for a non +P load, though. Over 1,000 FPS at the muzzle.

I'm a big guy, with fat hands, so once I switched to the rounder rubber grips from the skinny factory wood the kick wasn't too bad for me. Plus if I'm shooting the snubby for real (it's my BUG) I figure I'm going to have a whole lot of adrenaline pumping and felt recoil will be the least of my concerns. As with all things, your mileage may vary.

I used to shoot 125gr .357 Silvertips in my SP-101 2" back in the early 80's. Didn't have any problems, so I think I may be less sensitive to recoil than some. At least I was then. Maybe not as much now. I'm not 25 anymore.

I stand corrected! Those aren't +P. I'll have to give them a closer look.

 

[JTaylor]

I think the more important thing is the gun not shifting in your hand so you can fire follow-up shots without re-gripping. Firing one shot and having to re-grip ain't gonna cut it.

That's why I was thinking more of a low-recoil load.

 

[JTaylor]

There's a lot less difference in recoil between the 110 & 125 grainer, than a 110 & 158 grainer.

In my experience I couldn't tell the difference during live fire between the two lighter loads.

If you want a bit more penetration go with the 125 grainer; other than that I don't believe there'd be much difference in street performance.

Thanks for the info.