• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Guns Holsters And Gear

honest reviews and news on firearms

  • Home
  • 2020 SHOT Show
  • Reviews
    • Ammo
    • Books
    • Flashlights
    • Guns
    • Hearing Protection
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Survival Gear
  • Resources
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Review Policy
    • Site Index
  • NRA Lifetime Membership
You are here: Home / Ammunition / Federal Nyclad Ammunition in .38 Special to be Reintroduced at 2009 SHOT Show

Federal Nyclad Ammunition in .38 Special to be Reintroduced at 2009 SHOT Show

by: Richard Johnson 1 Comment

Federal Premium Ammunition will be re-introducing the Nyclad in .38 Special at the 2009 SHOT Show according to the folks at the Pro Arms Podcast.  During a show on “snub nosed” revolvers, one of the participants made the announcement.

federal_nyclad_38The Nyclad line of ammunition was developed several decades ago and became popular as one of Federal’s self-defense lines of cartridges.  The .38 Special self-defense load was a 125 grain, standard pressure round that featured a soft-lead bullet with a very deep hollow point.  The bullet was coated in a jacket of polymer, similar to nylon, that allowed the bullet to reliably expand all even low velocities.

Many experts feel the 125 grain Nyclad hollow point was the best standard pressure cartridge loaded for the .38 Special.  It offered excellent expansion with a relatively light recoil in even the lightest of revolver frames.  My own informal testing seemed good out of a model 642 Smith and Wesson (1 7/8″ barrel), and Evan Marshall’s research tended to show good results in the street.

Until Federal confirms or denies this information, it is merely a juicy rumor at this point.  I have seen a lot of people snap up the remaining old-stock of Nyclad whenever it has shown up at AmmoMan and other places.  I suspect it will sell very well if re-introduced.

Update

Update: Federal did re-introduce the Nyclad.  Scroll down for additional information from the SHOT Show.

The re-introduced Nyclad is a .38 Special load that uses a 125 grain hollow point bullet.  The load is rated at 830 fps, which is in line with the original Nyclad load.  Federal designed this load for reliable expansion at low velocity.  While it would not be my first choice for personal protection, it is a great choice for anyone who carries a .38 and needs a low recoil load due to injury or infirmity.

Check out this video showing how well this load performs in gel through the denim test.

Report from the SHOT Show

Federal Premium Ammunition  re-introduced the Nyclad in .38 Special at the 2009 SHOT Show.  Available only in .38 Special, the Nyclad round is a standard-pressure, self-defense load with a nylon clad 125 grain soft lead hollow point.  The nylon coating allows the bullet to reliably expand at low velocities, unlike traditional copper jacketed hollow points which normally require faster velocities in the .355-.357 bullet size range.

The .38 Special loading pushes the 125 grain hollow point at 830 fps for a muzzle energy of 191 ft-lbs.  While this may not seem like a real “manstopper,” keep in mind that the Nyclad proved to be excellent in its class.  For a firearm not designed to handle +P pressures, or for someone that is especially recoil sensitive (such as someone who is arthritic), this is a mild recoiling cartridge that will reliably expand.

The Nyclad line of ammunition was developed several decades ago and made its way into one of Federal’s self defense lines of cartridges.  The original .38 Special self defense load was a 125 grain, standard pressure round that featured a soft-lead bullet with a very deep hollow point.  It appears that the new Nyclad ammunition will be a close copy of the original.

Many experts feel the 125 grain Nyclad hollow point was the best standard pressure cartridge loaded for the .38 Special.  It offered excellent expansion with a relatively light recoil in even the lightest of revolver frames.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mark says

    December 13, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    WOO HOO! It’s about d@mn time Federal came to their senses, dismissed the “LEO Only” ammo silliness, and brought this excellent round back to the general market. If this is indeed true, Thank You Federal Premium!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join or Die Flag NRA

NRA Life Membership – Best Deal [Limited Time]

Gun owners need to sign up immediately for a lifetime membership to the NRA. Why? Let me tell you. As of January 7, the anti-gun team of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have officially won the White House. The US Congress is also in anti-gun hands. The bottom line: more gun control legislation is coming […]

Most Read Articles

  • What is the best optic for my Glock 43x MOS
    What is the best optic for my Glock 43x MOS
  • Springfield Hellcat Apex Trigger Review: An Upgrade Worth Considering
    Springfield Hellcat Apex Trigger Review: An Upgrade Worth Considering
  • What Optics Will Fit the Springfield Armory Hellcat?
    What Optics Will Fit the Springfield Armory Hellcat?
  • Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry Review
    Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry Review
  • Girsan MC1911 CT Review
    Girsan MC1911 CT Review
  • Springfield Armory XD 9mm Subcompact Pistol Review
    Springfield Armory XD 9mm Subcompact Pistol Review
  • Cheap Riot Guns
    Cheap Riot Guns
  • Wowtac A1S Flashlight Review - The Budget Torch that Couldn't
    Wowtac A1S Flashlight Review - The Budget Torch that Couldn't
  • Fenix LD15R Review - Handy Flashlight for Utility Use
    Fenix LD15R Review - Handy Flashlight for Utility Use
  • Wowtac A4 V2 Review - Bright Light at a Price
    Wowtac A4 V2 Review - Bright Light at a Price
Installation of Apex Trigger

Springfield Hellcat Apex Trigger Review: An Upgrade Worth Considering

Got a Springfield Hellcat you want to squeeze every bit of performance possible out of? I recommend taking a look at the Action Enhancement Trigger from Apex Tactical Specialties. This user-installable kit promises to retain all of the safety of the stock trigger while improving the break, pull and reset. In this Apex trigger review, […]

Springfield Armory Red Dot Optics

What Optics Will Fit the Springfield Armory Hellcat?

So, you recently purchased a Springfield Armory Hellcat and now you want to add a red dot sight (RDS). The question is “what optics are compatible for a Springfield Hellcat OSP?” Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered.

Best Price on the Wilson Combat WCP320

Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry Review

The Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry is one of the best 9mm pistols I’ve reviewed. From its announcement as the new standard sidearm for the United States military, the popularity of the SIG SAUER P320 pistol seemingly exploded. Original SIG pistols are in high demand and aftermarket accessories are plentiful. You can even build your own […]

profile shot of the Girsan 1911 pistol

Girsan MC1911 CT Review

In today’s review of the Girsan MC1911 CT, I take a look at a classically designed .45 ACP pistol with modern updates including a red dot sight. What might draw a lot of people in is the low price tag: only $661 at full retail. With the standard features, the gun seems like a great […]

Testing the SA XD SC

Springfield Armory XD 9mm Subcompact Pistol Review

While single-stack 9mm pistols seem to be all the rage in modern concealed carry, subcompact pistols that hold a bit more ammunition shouldn’t be dismissed by anyone interested in personal protection. In this Springfield Armory XD Subcompact pistol review, I take a look at the smallest gun in the company’s Defend Your Legacy Series of […]

Atlanta Police Red Dog Deployed to Protest

Cheap Riot Guns

Riots are raging across the United States – and have been for days. Consequently, I’ve had a number of emails come in from readers who are looking for the best self-defense pistol on a budget. Let’s not forget that the government lockdowns from the health crisis have left many people in a tough financial situation. […]

Copyright © 2021 GunsHolstersAndGear.com
GunsHolstersAndGear.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com