This is from memory, but I can think of at least three variations of the Nyclad. The first was by Smith & Wesson, in the late '70s or early '80s (?). These had SWC type bullets and were available (I think) in two bullet weights, 125 and 158 gr. The 125 was a standard pressure load and was branded "Chiefs Special". It was directed toward the J frame market. Despite some favorable reviews in the gun rags, this load developed a poor reputation when tested in gelatin. It seems the bullet, which had a small, shallow, V-shaped hollowpoint, would only expand in media like water, clay, or ductseal, but not jello. I don't remember a darn thing about the 158...perhaps that weight was only manufactured later by Federal. I have seen boxes of the S&W Nyclad sell in the $100 range, so there must be some collector interest in it.
Federal purchased the rights to the brand twenty or so years back (again, memory not to be trusted). I bought two boxes early on, one 125 gr marked "Chiefs Special Nyclad" and one 158 gr marked simply "Nyclad". Neither was marked +P and they looked just like the S&W product except for the Federal headstamp. I gave the 125s to my mother for her M36. She finally shot the last of them a couple of years back on her 85th birthday.
Right after I bought the above, Federal changed the bullet on the 125 gr to a more rounded profile with a much deeper hollow point and a softer alloy. Shortly after that, Federal introduced a +P marked version with the same bullet profile, but a slightly harder alloy. Both of these bullets enjoyed good reputatuons for expansion, even in covered jello. The 158 gr must have been dropped early on. At least, I never saw another box after that first one purchased in the late '80s or early '90s.
For what ever reason, the Nyclads never became a hot item, even though the later Federal stuff seemed to work well. There was also a 124 gr 9mm that was well thought of, but never sold in large numbers. I don't remember Federal marketing the Nyclads as aggressively as they did the Hydroshocks. I always suspected that the profit margins were higher for the Hydroshocks, especially in goverment sales.
I assume, but don't know, that the current Nyclads are a reissue of the second generation Federal Chiefs Special load. If so, I'd carry them with out worry.
My 2 cents, and probably more than you wanted to know...
Charles
