Better defense ammo / HydraShock or NyClad?

B

BarrySDCA

New member
I have a 38 spcl 5 shot revolver. I don't use +P ammo, though I understand the gun can use it. I really don't want to wear the gun down practicing with it and I don't want to practice much with anything other than carry ammo (except for a hundred rounds at the range now and then :) )

Now I have a box of Federal NyClads and Federal HydraShocks. The Hydrashocks just look evil...but which will provide better performance if TSHTF?

Thank you!
 
You have a 5 shot so I assume you have a snubby. Nyclads were designed for the snubby and I doubt you will get enough velocity from a 2" to expand the HydraShocks.

Gary
 
Hello. The Nyclads (std velocity) will expand from your snub. Every informal test I've made with them has borne this out to my own satisfaction. I suspect there's probably some Federal .38 Spec HydraShoks in my ammo locker somewhere, but I'll continue to carry the Nyclad 125 gr HPs. Best.
 
Imagine my surprise when I shot 5 rounds of 125gr Nyclad (standard pressure) from my 2" S&W model 60 into a gelatin block covered with four layers of heavy denim cloth and discovered that all 5 rounds apparently failed to expand and penetrated 18+ inches (penetrating the entire length of my gelatin blocks, exiting and continuing downrange).

I don't know of any cartridge that reliably expands from a 2" .38 Special when heavy clothing is encountered (even Federal's 110gr Personal Defense HydraShok).

How your ammo performs in real life will depend on the circumstances involved. I prefer to eliminate the affects of uncontrollable circumstances as much as possible and load my 2" .38 with 148gr wadcutters (Speer TMJ Cleanfire is the load I prefer). The bullet will almost always penetrate to the same depth regardless of the kind of clothing a bad guy is wearing, and the wadcutter shape, with its sharp shoulder, is the most efficient bullet for crushing tissue.

------------------
/s/ Shawn Dodson
Firearms Tactical Institute
http://www.firearmstactical.com
 
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