SOFMatchstaff
US Veteran
It seems that with the limited number of pistols that S&W produced, that the ammo would not be all that sought after. what would be the availability and the going rate. Also, would the 9x21 case be viable in a 3566??
-
Forum Update: We've upgraded the software to improve security, performance, and the overall experience.
👉 Read why we made the change | Support the Forum
356 TSW ammo availability
- Thread starter SOFMatchstaff
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Great Pistols
Underwood and Cor-Bon have been shipping 356TSW ammunition on an ongoing basis.
The China Virus Crisis has slowed a third ammunition manufacturer on their releases.
I think the fourth company has shelved it's plans for ammunition at the moment
The two firearms that were supposed to be released a couple years ago have lost their momentum
The 356TSW Cartridge is not limited to the older 3566 pistols and PC 940 Special revolvers that Smith & Wesson manufactured back in the 1990s.
While it has not been listed on their websites, a few barrel manufacturers had produced replacement 356TSW barrels for various auto loaders. Most notable the Smith & Wesson M&P 9
I have a 356TSW chambered M&P Spec-Ops as well as a 6904 Super 9
I have been thinking about converting a Marlin Camp Carbine over to 356TSW, I just have not gotten around to it yet
Shooting 9x21 in a pistol chambered for 356TSW forces the cartridge to head space on the extractor instead of the chamber mouth. This is probably not too big a deal since the length of the cartridge case is only .5MM shorter. It is just not a practice that I like as it puts extra stress on the extractor hook.
Since the 9x21 cartridge was created for use in the Countries that forbid it's Citizens from owning firearms chambered in Military cartridges, it has zero ballistic advantage over regular 9MM ammunition.
Now I know that hand loaders have hot rodded the 9x21 brass to pressures well beyond it's design limits. 9x21 brass is just longer 9MM brass, it is not stronger. If you want to hand load 356TSW performance get some 356TSW brass.
Remember 9MM operates at 35,000 PSI, 9x21 operates at 34,100 PSI, 356TSW operates at 50,000 PSI
DWalt
Member
Not that I have the slightest interest in doing it, I suppose one of the 9x23 (or even .38 Super) cases could be trimmed to the proper TSW case length.
9X23 maybe, but if my failing memory serves, .38 Super is semi-rimmed...
...Ben
38 Super is not designed to operate at 50,000 PSI, even if you use one of the rimless variants of the 38 Super
9x23 Winchester is a suitable donor case as it operates at 55,000 PSI, however 9x23 Winchester is a fairly rare cartridge case in it's own right
Brass is out there. 300,000 pieces of 356TSW brass was run just prior to the China Virus Crisis
It shows up on Gunbroker and eBay every now and then.
DWalt
Member
I’d figure that if the barrel had a supported chamber, any 9x23 or .38 Super case could be safely converted to the TSW form. The main purpose of the 9x23 Win case is that has a somewhat thicker base for use in a pistol having an unsupported chamber. The slight semi-rim of the .38 Super case will normally work just fine with a 9mm slide.
Last edited:
