Rummaging and found Nyclads....

Just a side note, but back in the 90s Federal also made a 124gr Nyclad in 9mm. I had some for my Beretta 92FS. Don't recall any function issues, but then my 92 never malfunctioned (so far...*knocks on wood*). IIRC, it was supposed to have less penetration through building materials and that was the reason I got them. I probably still have some at my parents' house. Next time I visit I may see if I can find them.
 
I have 7 of them, 1 in the bullet collection, 6 in a speed loader... I was talking to a Tennessee motor cop friend of mine and mentioned these bullets.... he said he has first hand experience with them...

They leave a big old hole upon exit.... His words
 
Old Corp said:
Was going through some of my stuff and found this box of Federal .38 125 gr. Nyclad JHPs, and it's standard, non-+P.
Looks like 'contract packaging', which is always interesting.
I recall when Nyclad came out, but never used any or had experience with it.

IIRC, this came in with some estate stuff when I was working at an LGS. The store does not sell pre-owned ammo, so sometimes it got doled out to guys that worked there.

Anyone recall carrying this or ever hear of it's track record?
Do recall hearing it was a favored snub load, but SD ammo has come a ways since this was marketed, complete with 'short barrel' specific offerings.
I usually carry either +P equivalent handloads (158 gr LSWC-HP) for woods carry or factory Speer +P Gold Dot JHP's when carrying a .38.

Just like to hear anything solid from guys that may have experience with it....
Was it ever offered in +P or .357?
Click to expand...


It was offered in 125 +p hollow point. Here's some data from an older thread from 2018:
Diplomatic security service 19's


HTH


RWJ
 
colt_saa said:
The NyClad ammunition was available for several decades

It was originally offered by Smith and Wesson. I do not recall the year when Federal took it over.

The Federal Syntec is basically the same coating but in red and without the nylon

I probably know hundreds of people that carried it, myself included. The 38 Special +P rounds were very popular for BUGs and off duty weapons.

Even with all of the ammunition "Advancements" I would have no problem carrying the NyClads today. In some cases I would actually prefer it

There was a South Florida department that used it as their issue ammunition. I can not recall which PD, but I know that they came through our range for qualification

I think I have a box or two of the 357 Magnum remaining in the ammo closet

Back in the olden days, I came into a 5 gallon bucket of NeClad projectiles. Some were double dipped in the polymer coating and were WAY to big in diameter to sort out. Instead of sorting the good from the bad, Federal just gave them away.

nyclad.jpg


It took me several years to get through the bucket. Overall I tossed several thousand of the double coated projectiles in the trash
Click to expand...
So basically they were the original powder-coated bullets.

I wouldn't have tossed them, I'd have run them through a sizer. If the coating was anything like the powdercoating we use these days they would have sized down without the coating coming off. With polyester powdercoat it might chip or even flake some, but the base coat closest to the lead stays intact.
 
BC38 said:
So basically they were the original powder-coated bullets.

I wouldn't have tossed them, I'd have run them through a sizer. If the coating was anything like the powdercoating we use these days they would have sized down without the coating coming off. With polyester powdercoat it might chip or even flake some, but the base coat closest to the lead stays intact.
Click to expand...
The tub you see is are the double dipped Nyclads
I loaded and shot several thousnad of the good ones from that 5 gallon bucket

I tried to resize one and the coating was just too thick.

I do not think there were even a thousand of the bad ones and the effort to shoot the double coated ones was far beyond enjoyment.

So I tossed them
 
colt_saa said:
The tub you see is are the double dipped Nyclads
I loaded and shot several thousnad of the good ones from that 5 gallon bucket

I tried to resize one and the coating was just too thick.

I do not think there were even a thousand of the bad ones and the effort to shoot the double coated ones was far beyond enjoyment.

So I tossed them
Click to expand...

That must've been some seriously thick, tough coating if they wouldn't pass through a sizer. Too bad.
 
Erocksmash said:
I have 7 of them, 1 in the bullet collection, 6 in a speed loader... I was talking to a Tennessee motor cop friend of mine and mentioned these bullets.... he said he has first hand experience with them...

They leave a big old hole upon exit.... His words
Click to expand...

I know a guy who was shot in the leg with the 125gr 38spl HP load, it left a big exit hole. The other round from the gun exited the back of the perps head. He survived two shootings, neither of which he was armed, both times he beat the criminal. The guy is living proof that you can win a gun fight without a gun, but you had better expect to get shot in the process.
 
I had some old standard pressure Nyclad 38 Spcl. and decided to chronograph it in a 2" revolver a couple years ago. It averaged 765 FPS. I thought it was interesting that the Federal 129 grain Hydra-shok +P I was issued averaged only 763 FPS in the same gun. The Lucky Gunner gel test with the 129 HS was unimpressive. Wouldn't be surprised if the old Nyclad was actually a better performer...

BTW, years ago in the big city we were issued Remington or Winchester .38 125 JHP +P. One of my officers had to shoot a vicious dog one afternoon. I was called to the scene. As I arrived, I saw two officers running down the street. Turns out the dog had been shot right between the eyes, and dropped right there, apparently dead. While the officers were waiting for me, the hot tone went off on their radios. This startled the apparently dead dog, which jumped up and started running down the street, with officers in hot pursuit. We captured the dog. The bullet had broken up on the dog's hard head, and he survived. This, and other incidents did not instill confidence in the 38 Special cartridge. Later, .357 125 JHP was authorized as optional. I don't recall reports of any failures with that cartridge...
 
The only Nyclads I ever had was the 158 LSWC-HP I liked them. The biggest advantage I found was that the HP does not deform like the standard soft lead ones do. You still can't count on them to expand out of a snubby. I only have 10 left, wish I could find more.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
 
Right about the time they stopped making them I came in to a stash of the 125 gr. HP Nyclads, 250 of them standard pressure and 250 +P. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting them in my snubbies. I found them very accurate, and wish I'd set some aside. To my recollection I have shot two feral dogs with this load, plus put down a mortally-injured cow. I don't know what that tells you about what sort of a defensive load it will be, but it will darned sure kill very efficiently.
 
mike from st pete said:
What solvent does one use for nylon fouling?
Click to expand...

Mike - I've not shot enough Nyclads to ever witness them fouling - and doubt they're moving fast enough to make very much.

I shoot a lot of sporting clays and plastic fouling can pop up often from some brands of shotgun wads. A little carb cleaner on a bristle brush easily takes care of it.
 
...also heard that it was developed for NYPD (?) to reduce lead exposure in indoor ranges. I could be all wet or hampered by older age, but "NY" in NYCLAD was short for NYC's finest.
 
I used to carry them in my Model 60 when I was stationed on Guam. I was an Air Force SP so I had to carry my trusty Model 15 with PGU ball on duty but also I had a Guam concealed weapon permit. The Chief's Special was my constant companion off duty, and sometimes found its way into my bag at work.

One midnight shift the LE flight chief and I grabbed the key to the range and headed out to shoot toads. Guam toads come out at night in huge numbers. They are big fat monsters and are unavoidable on the roads, which are made of crushed coral and slippery anyway and even moreso with a layer of popped toads on them. After a rain the paved parts of the range would be awash in toads.

We had some PGU ball with us so we swapped out our mildewed issued rounds with shiny new ones and commenced firing. After awhile the flight chief said - LT, don't you think the range guys are gonna be suspicious of all these pistol-shot toads?

I conceded his point, but decided to try out my Model 60 and its Nyclads on a few toads. It was impressive. Where most of the FMJ victims just rolled over, the ones hit with Nyclads blew open with style.

I saved the last one for a coconut hanging about ten feet up a tree. I got it dead center and it hit the ground bleeding milk profusely. I pried it open and the Nyclad was still inside, perfectly expanded. I was impressed.

We reloaded with the old rounds so as to allay suspicion on turn-in. No one complained of the shot-up toads.

I'm not sure how it works on people, but for toads and coconuts it was first-rate.
 
I bought 4 cases of the S&W branded 158g 38 sp around 1984 for my Python. It was relatively inexpensive. Probably transition period to Federal. Still have a case and change to burn up since I also shot other factory ammo.
No complaints as range ammo!
 
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