[Olympus]

I recently went through some old ammo that I had gotten from my dad. In all the stuff was a small plastic bag with some .38 Special ammo. I don't really know much about this stuff though. It's a hollowpoint bullet in a nickel case. The bullet is blue colored. Does anyone know what kind of bullet it is? Is it anything special or just a run of the mill hollowpoint?

[EMC45]

Nyclad

[Olympus]

Never heard of it. Do they still make it anymore? What's the scoop on it? Would it make a suitable HD bullet?

[Radagast]

Nyclads were a standard pressure round made by Federal, with a reputation for good expansion and a nylon coating on the lead instead of copper.

IIRC they are banned in Chicago as 'cop killer bullets' Not that they could penetrate body armour. (I could be wrong, though, I'm recalling a story from over a decade ago).

[rcmodel]

S&W also sold Nyclad ammo under the S&W name.
In fact, I think they had it first.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122885787

rc

[Olympus]

Sounds like Nyclad is what I have. I check the headstamp and it says Federal. Thanks for the insight. I'm assuming since I haven't ever seen them before, that they either banned them everywhere or discontinued them. They remind me of the old Black Talons. Are they safe to use for HD?

[theotherwaldo]

According to this (http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2008/10/29/federal-nyclad-ammunition-in-38-special-to-be-reintroduced-at-2009-shot-show/), Nyclad's making a comeback in .38 spl.

[Radagast]

They had a reputation among gunzine writers in the pre-internet days as being the best round to shoot out of a snubby after the 158 grain Plus P lead hollowpoint. I wouldn't have a problem with using them as long as a test fire shows they group OK and shoot to point of aim out of your gun.

[highorder]

Are they safe to use for HD?


Simply,

They will be great for HD.

[Olympus]

Thanks for the help everyone!

[JR47]

S&W introduced the Nyclad bullet. When the exited the ammo market, Federal started with it. Federal produced some +P Nyclads, in 124 gr. 9mm, IIRC. I have a couple of boxes of S&W Nyclad in my collection of old ammo types.

The blue material allowed higher velocities without severe leading, and cut down on the airborne lead from ranges. Yet, unlike copper, it didn't inhibit expansion of the dead-soft lead core.

It was just a different direction taken for expansion.

[Olympus]

Why did they stop making it? Sounds like it was a great cartridge.

[rcmodel]

I could be wrong, but I think they may have got caught up in the backlash from the "Teflon-Coated Cop-Killer bullet" & Black-Talon hysteria back then.

Of course they weren't either one, but the blue bullet coating confused & alarmed a lot of weak minds.

I think they should bring them back in all calibers.
Only with a "Green" color nylon this time!
That should give the tree-huggers something to smile about!

rc

[9mmepiphany]

the Nyclad was first introduced by S&W as one of the first "clean" bullets for shooting in indoor ranges because the bullet was completely coated with nylon...no exposed lead.

they found that they could use soft lead without concern for leading the barrel...the side benefit is the the soft lead expands better when driven at speed. one of their flagship rounds was the "Chief Special" which was a 125gr HP which was soft enough to expand without resorting to +p pressures.

when S&W stopped selling ammo, Federal bought the line