Any value as collectible,or should I just use it up @ the Range?

?????????? What do you have. How old. They made ammo in the 1860's and the 1970's. 1970's they made .22 to .44 Magnum along with rifle ammo.

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Don Mundell

.38 & .357, late '70's early '80's manufacture .

Not worth alot. I have several boxes. You can still find them at shows for no more than current prices.

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Don Mundell

OK, thanks much for the info.!

Sort of depends on what type it is. I believe S&W sold Nyclad ammo, at least the 125 gr "Chiefs Special load" variety of it, which IMHO is probably as good as any of the whizbang self-defense ammo being sold now. I wouldn't use any of that as range ammo, I'd reserve it for carry duty.

I always enjoy finding it mixed in with misc. ammo at gun shows It's an affordable type of S&W collecting. I think your .38s and .357s are the most common. I've also found .44 mag, .380, 9mm, 12 gauge birdshot, and a few rifle calibers. I'm still looking for .45ACP and .22LR, among others.

At the last local show I picked up 2 5-rd boxes of 12 gauge slugs and 25 unboxed birdshot rounds, half of which were S&W brand. Price was reasonable so why not? It looks good stacked up on top of the safe.

Salvaged many thousand S&W primers in the '80's from a burned out shop - it was the first i'd heard of them making reloading components. Still have the empty boxes.

I might be wrong, but I think I remember most of the S&W ammo was actually produced by Fiocchi?

Larry

still have about 100 boxes of 22lr std. velocity. was excellent shooting ammo and still is. they also had high velocity 22lr. it came along when the model 29 was the gun to have. most of the distributors made you buy s&w non gun items to get the guns. along with ammo they had leather, primers, made by alcan. the dealers called it blackmail. if you didn't play along, you didn't get much for guns.

Larry
Smith & Wesson bought Fiocchi. The brand was marketed as Smith & Wesson-Fiocchi for a number of years. Some of the early boxes stiill said Fiocchi, but the hardstamps read S&W-F.These were manufactured in Alton Il. Later the operation was moved to Rock Creel Ohio.

Attached Images

Nyclad 1970's.jpg (193.5 KB, 15 views)

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Don Mundell

I would not shoot any of the older S&W ammo. From a collector standpoint, they aren't making any more of it. If you are not into collecting, pass it along to someone that would enjoy adding it to their display.

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James Redfield
LM #497

James
I disagree. The more people shoot S&W ammo, the more my collection gains in value. I have over 200 full boxes of pistol, rifle and shotgun ammunition along with reloading components.

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Don Mundell

I'm a big Chief Special fan I own several almost all from the Bangor Punta era. I'd love to have a box of "Chiefs Special load" marked S&W brand ammo.

I've shot some of the nyclad ammo back years ago, and it was very accurate. I wonder why nyclad was discontinued? I currently have only a box of 22RF, and it is sealed up in clear cellophane wrap.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Hi Wreckville, I remember that blue-boxed ammo. Both .38 and .357 seemed to have a heavy charge of slow burning powder. Tons of unburnt powder granules in cases after firing in 4" bbls. Also, the bullets had a very small pointed HP that seemed it would not expand much, if at all. Perhaps another member has experience in this. The .38 ammo feels much heavier than current "+P" loads.

Be interesting to try some of this in long bbld revolvers or a .357 lever carbine, see if the powder burns better. Shoot or save? Depends on the ammo situation where you live. Extra box or two of ammo might come in handy sometime, since you already have it. Your choice.

Stay safe, partner

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103