Federal Nyclad 38 Special

[Club Gun Fan]

Don't forget Smith & Wesson's Steve Ottway developed the Nyclad coated round. It was later sold to Federal.

 

[Spokes]

Still use the 125 in my 1 7/8 S&W snubby...

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

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.

At the time, Second Chance was still advising users and PDs not to talk about soft body armor. If the info I heard was correct, the above newspaper frenzy was followed by an increase in head shots and a decrease in body shots by criminals shooting at policemen. In other words there were obvious consequences of the newspapers' publicizing the use of soft body armor by policemen.

Cop-killer bullets? No.

Cop-killer newspapers? Probably.

 

[Old Corp]

I was given a large bunch of assorted ammo from a friend-of-a-friend. A retired ATF guy who was moving and trying to reduce clutter.

Amongst lots of other stuff including several boxes of the old Treasury load of .38 Spl. 110 gr +P+ JHP's there was a full 50 round box of Federal .38 125 gr Nyclad HP's, standard pressure. But - the box is white cardboard with basic black printing on it indicating the load.

I'll probably not ever use it for carry, as I gravitate toward +P stuff, but thought it was interesting.

 

[RWJ]

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.

I was conducting roll call one night, and there was a note in the book from a detective that they had recovered some of these "teflon cop killers" from an arrest in a high crime complex. I told my guys to stand by, and went to property to show them what they were. Imagine my surprise when I found Nyclad Hollow points were the recovered rounds, not KTW. I showed them to my guys, explained the difference between Nyclad and KTW, and then went and had a teaching moment with the detective who left the note. It was more spreading of mis-information being added to the heap.



"If you don't know, find someone knowledgeable who does.


Sheesh!


Edit to add: Here are some specs on the Federal 125gr. +P Nyclad that was in Federal service up until about 10 years ago:
Diplomatic security service 19's

 

[Buford57]

The whole "cop-killer bullet" fiasco was a marvel of disinformation, mistaken identity and DIY experts.

Some of the S&W version of the 158 gr. +P loads had a nylon coating that was black or very, very dark blue. I found a speed strip of the stuff in an old ready bag a few years ago and if isn't black it's doing a great impersonation. The 125s I picked up during the 80s were darker than the more recent issue of Federals (and more clearly a SWC than the newer stuff), but still clearly blue when compared to the 158s.

The Teflon coating on the KTW AP loads was also black. When we were briefly issued the Nyclads I recall my partner being cautioned by the property room officer that "those will go right through your vest". Wouldn't have mattered much as Bob never wore a vest.

So 30 years ago it was "scary black bullets" and now it's "scary black guns".

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

The whole "cop-killer bullet" fiasco was a marvel of disinformation, mistaken identity and DIY experts.

Some of the S&W version of the 158 gr. +P loads had a nylon coating that was black or very, very dark blue. I found a speed strip of the stuff in an old ready bag a few years ago and if isn't black it's doing a great impersonation. The 125s I picked up during the 80s were darker than the more recent issue of Federals (and more clearly a SWC than the newer stuff), but still clearly blue when compared to the 158s.

The Teflon coating on the KTW AP loads was also black. When we were briefly issued the Nyclads I recall my partner being cautioned by the property room officer that "those will go right through your vest". Wouldn't have mattered much as Bob never wore a vest.

So 30 years ago it was "scary black bullets" and now it's "scary black guns".

I have no idea whether it is true or not but a friend of mine who worked for First Choice (?) soft body armor manufacturer told me that there was some LE unhappiness at the alleged fact that the original more-or-less-black Nyclad didn't retain rifling signature very well, and that the newer lighter-colored coating did. Come to think of that, I have a friend from HS who probably knows the truth. I'll probably ask him.

 

[Walter Rego]

I have a small hoard of them in the 158 grain weight. They shoot very accurately in my late model Colt Detective Special and shoot to point of aim out to 15 yards. I suppose I should shoot them up and buy some newer wonder bullets but I never felt that they were poor performers.

 

[riverrat38]

Oh, they were real for sure. I saw it in the movie Lethal Weapon 3. Riggs was about to be crushed by a heavy dozer blade, when Murtaugh tossed him a pistol loaded with the cop killer bullets. Just in the nick of time, Riggs shot the bullets through a couple of inches of hardened steel dozer blade being used to shield the operator. They went through the steel like it was butter, making a nice sparking display. Saved Riggs from a horrible fate! I don't think that Hollywood would get something like that wrong. I mean, they do research these things, don't they?

Best,
Rick

 

[stansdds]

Oh, they were real for sure. I saw it in the movie Lethal Weapon 3. Riggs was about to be crushed by a heavy dozer blade, when Murtaugh tossed him a pistol loaded with the cop killer bullets. Just in the nick of time, Riggs shot the bullets through a couple of inches of hardened steel dozer blade being used to shield the operator. They went through the steel like it was butter, making a nice sparking display. Saved Riggs from a horrible fate! I don't think that Hollywood would get something like that wrong. I mean, they do research these things, don't they?

Best,
Rick

Oh, absolutely! They researched it and got it right down to the special and very unique sound that a 9x19mm teflon coated, nylon jacketed, steel penetrator, depleted uranium, tracer, armor penetrating, micro-nuclear high explosive ammo makes when fired.

 

[squidsix]

I have some in .357 with 158 grain bullets and I find it accurate from a 4" model 19.
Never killed anything but woodchucks with it so I cant comment on downrange effect.

 

[OFT II]

Oh, absolutely! They researched it and got it right down to the special and very unique sound that a 9x19mm teflon coated, nylon jacketed, steel penetrator, depleted uranium, tracer, armor penetrating, micro-nuclear high explosive ammo makes when fired.

You forgot to mention the hollow point.

 

[Buford57]

I have some in .357 with 158 grain bullets and I find it accurate from a 4" model 19.
Never killed anything but woodchucks with it so I cant comment on downrange effect.

One also accounted for the only one-shot kill I ever made on a porcupine. That was from a 2" Lawman MKIII.

 

[RRH]

I have 2 boxes of these Federal Nyclad in .38 special. I am perfectly happy with them in a couple of 4 inch model 10 heavy barrel revolvers.

 

[Rubone]

I bought this 3" 36 a couple years back and it came as shown with a new box of 125 gr Nyclads. They are on the receipt for $16 in 1984 dollars. The box was full when I got it. Hard to say if the gun was ever fired between then and now!

 

[mauser9]

Yeah recall when the Nyclad stuff came out a long time ago for indoor range shooting. Remember the Black Talon ammo that cause a huge stir? Probably a collector item these days.