I received on a trade two boxes of S&W .357 Mag ammo in the Blue and White box with the S&W logo.
On side flap it says 357 Magnum 158gr Jacketed Soft Point
S357-158JSP

Can any of you guys tell me about this ammo? It does seem from 10 years back manufacture or so.

Thanks

Z

At one time ammo with the S&W brand was offered not only in pistol calibers but also shotgun sizes. I do not know who manufactured the ammo for them. The venture was apparently not successful as the ammo has not been available for many years.

Thanks for the info.

I just wondering if it is collectible or I should just go out to the range and light them off.

Your S&W ammo can be as old as 35 years.

I have a photocopy of a S&W dealer price sheet dated 1974 third edition. Cases for their handgun ammo has been made by numerous companies, including Amron, IVI of Canada, Starline, Federal and Olin. Some ammo was loaded by Fiocchi of Italy.

S&W's line of handgun ammo included .25 Auto, .32 Short, .380, 9mm, 38Spl, .357Mag, .45ACP, .44Mag.

Nyclad loads in 9mm, 38/357.

Rimfire in 22 Blank, .22 Short & .22 LR.

Rifle loads in .243Win, 30-30Win, .270Win, .308Win &
.30-06 Sprg.

Shotgun loads including 16GA., .20GA, 12GA. (including Tear Gas rounds).

They even marketed primed shotgun shells.

Lucked into a deal on S&W ammo back in 1977. Bought a cargo van full for pennies on the dollar. All I have left is several boxes of 38 Nyclad.
Shot on this ammo for years, shot a lot of ammo every week for a long long time. Those were the days. The rifle ammo was put up in 10 round see thru plastic clam shell packs.

I tried a box at the range yesterday. The ammo was HOT and it did shoot very accurately!

Gonna hold onto it.

Thanks again, all

Z

Here's some info that might help. I have two S&W ammo brochures, one that was used up until 1978, when the industry standard was using long unvented test barrels. I have another brochure that was used beginning in 1979 when testing was done in real guns.

In the earlier brochure the S&W 158 grain JSP .357 Magnum is advertised at 1500 fps at the muzzle. In the next brochure it shows the same load clocked at 1068 fps from a 4" Model 13, at 1146 from a 6" Model 66, and 1152 fps from a 8 3/8" Model 27.

I shot a fair amount of the S&W ammo, esecially the 110 gr 357 Mag, it was hot, as well as a bunch of S&W 240gr Jacketed HP 44 Mag.

I have a partial box of the 44 Mag in front of me now. It is a 20 round box, long and skinny like the first 44 Mag boxes made for Carbine ammo.

It says Made in the USA on the box...???

NE450No2:

Yes it does say Made in USA on the boxes of my ammo.

Z

I had some in 44 Mag. Shot it all up but kept the boxes becouse they look cool to tote around reloads.

__________________
Shoot fast & live long
Warren