[Sarge55]

I've got the opportunity to pick up a few 50 round boxes of .38 Spl Nyclad 125 gr. +P HP at a fairly good price ($12 a box). Currently, I'm carrying Gold Dot 125 gr. +P GDHP in both my S&W 642 and my S&W 342PD J Frame snubs. Not sure if I should start carrying the Nyclads, or continue carrying the GD's. Is one better than the other? Which round would you carry in your snub if given only these two choices?


So.... whadda you think?

Thanks!

Sarge55

[MrPink]

Isn't Federal discontinuing (or already has) Nyclad? If so, I'd stick with the Golddots or in the future you'll have to switch to something else.

[RWK]

Gold Dot!

[Gabby Hayes]

I agree -- go for the gold! Federal has already moved the Nyclad to their LEO catalog because of lagging sales. Unless you really want the standard pressure load, stick with the Gold Dot you already have. Better yet, the new 135gr +P GDHP that Speer is making for NYPD snubbies is slowly starting to show up in the supply channels. It's getting some promising early reviews.

[BluesBear]

There is no more Ny-Clad, Federal dropped it even from their LE catalogue. Now if some agenty wanted to order a sufficient amount I's sure Federal might run of a batch. As it is they sold off all of the remaining component bullets late last year.

Gold Dots will expand better anyway.

[Jim March]

The Gold Dot 125+P is a good round even out of snubbies...one of the top three before the latest batch came out.

The new 135 version appears to be something startlingly better. If Speer's lab testing is correct, it's brought the 38+P snubbie well into the 9mm's performance envelope.

It's not the only post-modern 38+P "snubbie special" though. Cor-Bon's Pow'R'Ball 100 is intriguing, although we need more test data. Bufallo Bore went and supercharged the old classic 158grain lead hollowpoint to 1,000fps from a 2" barrel(!) - it hasn't shipped yet but when it does, assuming it really goes that fast, we're talkin' 350ft/lbs energy, bordering on low-end 357 territory and way, WAY into 9mm performance.

My take? The Gold Dot 135 looks like THE answer for super-light guns, and I'm looking for some now for my classic old Charter Undercover.

In a good all-steel gun, Bufallo Bore's answer looks REAL nice!

[45crittergitter]

Unless you really want the standard pressure load, stick with the Gold Dot you already have.

Uhm, the Nyclad load specified is/was a +P also:

I've got the opportunity to pick up a few 50 round boxes of .38 Spl Nyclad 125 gr. +P HP at a fairly good price ($12 a box).

[Sarge55]

Looks like the thumbs-up goes to the Gold Dots! I'm gonna stick with the GD 125 +P until I can find some of the 135 grainers. Anyone know of an online source for the 135 gr GDHP's? Can't find any locally. Actually, I can't even find the 125 grainers.

Many thanks for all your opinions!

Sarge55

[Hal]

So.... whadda you think?
I think if I had a spare $50,{12 bucks a box for Nyclads is a very good price.}

I'd be all over them at that price in a heartbeat.

[nero45acp]

My grandfather gave me 18 rounds of Nyclad .38 specials (they're not +P and I don't know their weight) and I load my 1934 Colt Det. Special with them. I was led to believe that the Nyclads were specifically designed to expand well, even out of a snubby. Is this not correct? Is there another .38 special (non +P) load that would give better performance and still be safe to shoot out of my 70 year old snubby? The Det. Special is in excellent condition.




nero

[shep854]

According to Massad Ayoob, the Nyclads were designed specifically for snubbies. The bullet is of very soft lead to expand at low snub velocities, and the nylon coating (NyClad) was to protect the barrel from leading off of the same soft bullets.

Nyclads are what I carry in my Bodyguard, and still have half a box left, after shooting off ready rounds.

[Hal]

Re. Nyclad -

If I recall right, they were originally made with the nylon covered bullet to reduce airborn lead; help hold the soft lead in shape.
They reduced leading of the barrel, and the increased performance in snubbbies was, again IIRC, a side benefit.

The +P and the standard pressure loadings were (are probably still) so close to the same velocity it's not worth the extra stress to use the +P. I want to say there was somewhere around only 25 fps difference between the 125 gr +P and 125 gr standard. Unfortunalty, the charts aren't on the net anymore to doublecheck the figures.

Either way, and regardless of the actual numbers, Nyclad was (is) a very decent performer. I'm sure there's better, but not for $12.00 box of 50.

[Mannlicher]

Buy the NyClads. Then send them to me. :D
When I first heard that Federal was going to discontinue them, I bought 500 rounds from Ammoman. These will always be my favorite snubbie load, but I do admit to using 129 grain HydroShocks now, to save the NyClads.

[magsnubby]

For 12 bucks a box? Buy 'em all. A man can never have to much ammo.

[Ric]

You can order the 135 grain GD at natchezss.com

[ranger7]

Hal wrote:
"The +P and the standard pressure loadings were (are probably still) so close to the same velocity it's not worth the extra stress to use the +P. I want to say there was somewhere around only 25 fps difference between the 125 gr +P and 125 gr standard. Unfortunalty, the charts aren't on the net anymore to doublecheck the figures."

I read so much good about the Nyclads, I bought the standard pressure ones from ammoman.com for about $25 a box. I wanted the best standard pressure self-defense round for my non +P snubby. I figure the 5 boxes I bought will last me a long time.

I just compared the +P and standard pressure Nyclad 125 gr rounds with my chrono today. Out of my 6" barrel S&W 686, the +P Nyclads averaged 1048.8 fps. The standard pressure Nyclads averaged 1018.9 fps. That's less than 3% diffference. (Out of a snubby the difference would probably be 25 fps or less.)

I also chrono'd the standard pressure Nyclads from my S&W Model 12 Airweight snubby (2" barrel). The average was 842.7 fps.

I did a little testing in phonebook wetpack and found the standard pressure Nyclads expanded very well and consistently from my snubby.

Alan

[DonGlock26]

I am very happy Speer came out with the 135gr+P Golddots. It is the load for my 649. I'm upgrading to a 642 soon.



http://le.atk.com/pdf/38-GOLDDOT_LE_AD_2004.pdf



http://le.atk.com/pdf/SpeerTech38_135HP.pdf

[Jim March]

The reason Federal's 38+P isn't much faster than their standard pressure version is that, well, they're IDIOTS. Federal has been "wimping out" on some loads for years, most notoriously those meant for revolvers.

Anyways. Yes, this Speer 135 looks great. So does the BuffBore 158+P lead at 1,000fps from a 2" :D. It's rude, crude, primitive and has WAY serious power on tap. That versus the Speer is gonna be like comparing an old Dodge Charger with a blown 393 with a Porche :D.

God knows where the Cor-Bon Pow'R'Ball 100 is gonna fit :).

[JERRY]

The reason Federal's 38+P isn't much faster than their standard pressure version is that, well, they're IDIOTS. Federal has been "wimping out" on some loads for years, most notoriously those meant for revolvers.
(Jim March)


its funny that on the other hand, federal has had issues with over charged semi auto rounds causing the infamous "kabooms".
some will say its the partially unsupported chamber of glock barrels....but that would mean all ammo should do that on every shot, that is unless there is an overcharge of powder or weak brass that has issues in itself.....



i dont use federal.

[Jim March]

I can't explain it, except that maybe the Federal ammo intended for law enforcement is WAY hotter than "civilian issue" (and yes, I know that's an improper term, it expresses how some think).

Example: Federal used to make a lead hollowpoint 158 38+P load, as Winnie and Remmie do now. Federal's version can't break 800fps from a 2" barrel, some reports have clocked it down around 750. The Winnies usually pull 825 - 850ish depending on the gun, Remmies another 25fps or so.

This makes a difference, folks. A big difference.

Another example: Federal made up a 110 Hydrashock in 38spl standard pressure with a big JHP cavity, advertized as "tuned for max performance in snubbies". Yea, RIGHT. The crap needed a tailwind to see 775fps. That is just GODAWFUL performance, folks. It LOOKED great, and probably spawned the Winnie 130 Supreme +P and Gold Dot 135 as "visual copycats" - but Winchester and Speer offer honest performance, I'd trust my life to either load with the 135 looking better mebbe.

I could go on for days. Federal *stinks*. They're rolling along on the Hydrashock's reputation, back when it was the first really state-of-the-art JHP. The Gold Dot and MANY others have since kicked it's butt, esp. when combined with honest powder charges instead of whateverthehell they're sticking in there instead of bangstuff.

Sorry if I sound "heated" but there's NO excuse for what they're doing and they're gonna get people killed with failures to stop. They're profiting from the sales of shoddily designed garbage.

[Gunsnrovers]

I also bought 500 rounds off Ammoman for when I heard they were going away. These are the two beauties I bought them for:
http://www.suckasstheatre.com/newgunpics/snubbies.jpg
I also like the 124gr Nyclads out of my Hi-Power.