Tell me about 158gr .38spl Nyclad + p SWC-HP

[ddj8052]

I went by my local gun shop and the owner said "I got something for you." He went to the back of the store and hand me a box of ammo. He said "Not bad for free?" I of course said thanks. Anyways, what he handed me is a box of Federal Hydra-Shok .158gr .38spl Nyclad +p SWC-HP. Is this stuff any good for home defense? I normally keep my .38spl loaded with Hydra-Shok .129gr +p's. How does this Nyclad stuff compare. It is kinda strange looking in that it seems to have a bluish coating to the bullet. The gun in question would be my Taurus 85 Total Titanium. Well any thoughts would be appreciated thanks. Juan

 

[Lone Star]

Federal has dropped the Nyclad line, which had a blue nylon jacket.
The example that you have is probably the best they made for defense in .38 Special. They also made a good Chief's Special one, with 125 grain HP intended to expand at snub .38 velocity.

Lone Star

 

[45crittergitter]

First, the Hydra-Shok and the Nyclad are two different bullets. There is no Hydra-Shok Nyclad, as far as I know.

The Nyclad is a soft unjacketed lead bullet with a nylon coating to reduce friction and leading. It was designed for, and works well in, short barreled or low velocity guns. Easy expansion without a jacket, ya know. I think they are very good loads.

 

[Jim March]

There was a special run of experimental hydrashock nyclads done up! They were never mass marketed (or cataloged) and the project was soon dropped. www.ammoman.com has had batches of these funky critters come through.

Federal has a poor rep for velocity in most of the 38+P line (and a few others). They might work OK out of a 4" to 6" barrel in terms of expansion, but I wouldn't trust 'em in a snubbie. I doubt they've ever been expansion-tested by anybody outside of Federal, and they DID drop them .

Me, I'd say just wrap 'em in a buncha cellophane and store in a cool dark place. 30 years from now some ammo collector will pay a MINT!

 

[ddj8052]

Thanks for the info guys. It is not a Box of Hydra-Shock Nyclad, it is simply a box of I guess regular Nyclad. I had assumed that they were Hydra-scoks because the box looks like the Hydra-shock boxes. The box is marked Federal Premium Pistol Catridges, So it looks like the Hydra-Shok Boxes, but no where does it say Hydra-Shock. Sorry for the mistake. Juan


Jim- Did you get my latest e-mail?

 

[Jim March]

Ummmm...actually, no, I didn't? Odd. Re-send? [email protected]