Nyclad

[DARE]

Had forgotten that S&W had Nyclad before Federal took it over. Wonder if they made the ammo or had it manufactured?
Besides being a gun store owner that handled S&W products, my dad was also a gun writer.
The hand written label makes me think maybe this was some of the 1st ammo. Perhaps it was sent to my dad so he could write about it.
78121211X hand written on the flap of the box. Guess that was the product number.
Anyone remember when this ammo came out?

 

[kbm6893]

I still have several boxes of it after Federal took it over, in 158 grain SWC and hollow point. It was the NYPD duty ammo for many years until the Gold Dot took over.

 

[usedkid]

I believe it was early to mid 1970's...

 

[handejector]

SWC = Semi WadCutter
What does WSWC stand for?

 

[handejector]

Never mind----
I think that reads NSWC for Nyclad SWC.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

SWC = Semi WadCutter
What does WSWC stand for?

Could that be an N, as in Nylon SemiWadCutter?

 

[Dave Baird]

I still have a box of the .38 +P and run it in my snubby for CCW. Back in the day, it had a tremendous self-defense rating!! I still think it has some attributes.
Thank for sharing!!!
I sold a full box of the .357 a few years ago for $75.

 

[Alk8944]

Nyclad ammunition was originally introduced by Fiocchi. It was marketed by S&W through it's S&W-Fiocchi connection before being discontinued by S&W and picked up by Federal. This all occurred during the 1970 era and into the 1980s.

 

[Pisgah]

This all occurred during the 1870 era and into the 1980s.

Amazing I can remember that far back. And we didn't even get a telephone until 1884...

 

[ralph7]

Had forgotten that S&W had Nyclad before Federal took it over. Wonder if they made the ammo or had it manufactured?
Besides being a gun store owner that handled S&W products, my dad was also a gun writer.
The hand written label makes me think maybe this was some of the 1st ammo. Perhaps it was sent to my dad so he could write about it.
78121211X hand written on the flap of the box. Guess that was the product number.
Anyone remember when this ammo came out?

Curious as to who he was.

 

[DARE]

Nobody you ever heard of. His name was David Reynolds, same as mine.
He wrote for an industry publication named American Firearms Industry for several years. Had a regular column and also represented them at the trade shows like Denver and Chicago and later the SHOT Show when it started in 1979.
Had an annual article for Gun Digest for several years. Also did some free lance work for American Handgunner and others.
Think his byline was Dave Reynolds most of the time.

 

[rwsmith]

Ahead of their time....

In those days I thought Nyclads were 'ahead of their time'. Too bad they died out. I would like to see them tested by modern methods for penetration, expansion and possibly refined. I suppose the Hi-tek coating is superior but the characteristics of the HPSWC could be effective given given the right configuration and hardness.

 

[ralph7]

Nobody you ever heard of. His name was David Reynolds, same as mine.
He wrote for an industry publication named American Firearms Industry for several years. Had a regular column and also represented them at the trade shows like Denver and Chicago and later the SHOT Show when it started in 1979.
Had an annual article for Gun Digest for several years. Also did some free lance work for American Handgunner and others.
Think his byline was Dave Reynolds most of the time.

Yes, you're right.
Appreciate the follow up.

 

[mauser9]

Heck ya I remember it. Been a while for sure. Wonder how much they cost back in the 70s. probably a shocker now. Nice to see the box now.

 

[kbm6893]

I still keep 6 rounds of the 158 grain +P Hollow Points in my house revolver, a Model 681. Two speedloaders of it sit in the safe alongside it. I shot 6 rounds a year ago. Still works fine and will do its job if I ever had to unfortunately use it.

 

[DARE]

As I remember it, the concept of Nyclad was higher velocity without leading because of the nylon coating. Also let you use a softer alloy for better expansion.
In our tests, after the ammo was Federal, the non +P 125 SWCHP gave .60 caliber expansion from 2" barrels.
Most of us in the store carried S&Ws with 2 or 3" barrels. The Nyclad ammo was what we carried for years and years.
My lady has that loaded in her S&W Model 37 2" that she keeps in the nightstand.

 

[Biggfoot44]

In those days I thought Nyclads were 'ahead of their time'. Too bad they died out. I would like to see them tested by modern methods for penetration, expansion and possibly refined. I suppose the Hi-tek coating is superior but the characteristics of the HPSWC could be effective given given the right configuration and hardness.

They were ahead of their time , and the concept Does have potential.

But it was strategic business decision for Federal . They saw it as needlessly competing against their own premium offerings.

For years afterwards they would occasionally put out limited runs of the " Chiefs Special " 125 HP Non Plus P .38 Special .

It had a cult following as being the best Non +P offering , and boxes of the original were selling for steep prices ( for the Era) .

 

[DARE]

Thought the back of the box might be instructive. Says made in USA.

S&W Ammunition Co.
Member S&W Sporting Goods Group
Rock Creek, Ohio 44084

Guess that is where it was manufactured.

 

[mckenney99]

I still have a couple boxes of the 125gr non +P and 158gr swc +P in 38 spl and at least 4 boxes of the 9mm load. The 9mm was very soft shooting and I used it in my small frame CCW pistols for controllability.

 

[colt_saa]

Nobody you ever heard of. His name was David Reynolds, same as mine.
He wrote for an industry publication named American Firearms Industry for several years. Had a regular column and also represented them at the trade shows like Denver and Chicago and later the SHOT Show when it started in 1979.
Had an annual article for Gun Digest for several years. Also did some free lance work for American Handgunner and others.
Think his byline was Dave Reynolds most of the time.

So your Dad worked for Andrew

I went to my first SHOT show in Dallas with AFI, but I can not recall how many years ago that was.

I must have met your Dad at the booth one of those years