6906 in .356 TSW, Marlin Camp-9/.356 TSW, New Project - Ruger PC4/.357 SIG

Not 356TSW... I have a 9X21 Barstow barrel for my M39-2... I see that they are no longer making barrels other than 1911. I bought 500 pieces of Starline brass but have only made up a few test rounds... before I got sick. There was a magazine article about this by... Pistolsmith John Lawson... American Hangunner May/June 1993.

I foolishly lost the factory 9mm barrel, so was in a bind as far as store bought ammo until a forum member gifted me a spare.

I'd love to learn more about how others make out with this. Maybe I'll revive this project.
Russ

.356TSW project brewing ?

Grinder said:

I also have another 356 project brewing, News at 11

Click to expand...

Grinder,
What happened to the "356 project brewing" ?

Does anybody have a spare Marlin Camp-9 barrel or
one with a cracked stock that they would like to part with?

Regards,
BM1

356 projects

bad_man_ one said:

Grinder,
What happened to the "356 project brewing" ?

Does anybody have a spare Marlin Camp-9 barrel or
one with a cracked stock that they would like to part with?

Regards,
BM1

Click to expand...

Here they are:
A Kimber 1911 in .356 tsw and an M&P Pro with .356tsw StormLake barrel and recoil assembly

BTW: both shoot great

Hi Grinder,
I am impressed, as you know, it's my favorite caliber.
Were they bored out 9's from StormLake?
Or,
did they make them .356 TSW's to order and supply the recoil springs?
And/Or,
was Wolff Gunsprings involved?
Regards,
BM1

Ahhhhhhhhhh.Here we go. Thanks for this link BM1

bad_man_ one said:

Hi Grinder,
I an impressed, as you know, it's my favorite caliber.
Were they bored out 9's from StormLake?
Or,
did they make them .356 TSW's to order and supply the recoil springs?
And/Or,
was Wolff Gunsprings involved?
Regards,
BM1

Click to expand...

The Kimber is a reamed factory 9mm barrel with a 18.5 Wolff spring
The Pro is a Storm Lake 9 that was reamed along with the Wolff spring steel guide and 22 lb spring
Wanted to keep the factory 9 barrel in the Pro

I did find the Pro needs pistol primers to fire reliably
Locals into the 356TSW used to reload with small rifle primers years ago
They work in hammer fired pistols, but not striker
I've shot up most of that ammo anyway

Recently picked up a pile of Montana gold bullets, so the Dillon will be churning out some 356s soon

Thanks

.356 TSW - New Project

bad_man_ one said:

Grinder,
Does anybody have a spare Marlin Camp-9 barrel or
one with a cracked stock that they would like to part with?
Regards,
BM1

Click to expand...

Well,
I'll add to my own post here..............
I got a line on a Marlin Camp-9 barrel and will ream it to a .356 TSW.
My Camp-9 has the 16.5# Wolff spring in it and feels much better than the stock 11# Marlin.
I'll put the 21# spring in it that Wolff offers (same one that's in my Camp-45) and a new buffer from Black Jack Buffers.
I think it will be safe, it handles my hot .45 ACP loads beautifully.
I believed I've addressed all the safety issues of recoil to any possible dangers of this combination since this is a "blowback recoil operation system" and not a " locked-breech design system".
I know the barrel/chamber is thick/strong enough due to the fact that there is much more metal surrounding the case than the .45 ACP and a stock S&W pistol barrel of this caliber.
I'll keep you all posted.
Regards,
BM1

.356 TSW - New Project - Update

Good news all around:
Let me start off with an additional note with my .356 TSW projects:
I came across another Marlin Camp-9 to experiment with, at a great price.

I finally got the time to put my extra Marlin Camp-9 barrel into a CNC Turning Center at the shop.
Re-bored the 9 m.m. chamber 2.5 m.m.'s deeper following the same taper of the 9 Lugar (Parabellum) blending into the existing taper.
The 9 round is actually 9mm x 19.15 mm (0.754 in) and the .356 TSW is x 21.5 mm (.8465 in).
But when I bored it to to the extra depth it was crushing the round in the chambering stage.
I would have never noticed it but I shot only one round to check the spent case and
if the primer was flattened due to the increased pressure of a 18" barrel.
I safed the firearm in the process to check the brass and that's when I noticed it.
I fired that same accordioned (crushed) round next and oddly enough the spent brass then looked fine.
Who would have thought to ever check?
It appears that the stock Marlin 9 m.m. chamber was not head spaced deep enough from the factory,
but it didn't matter with the factory 11 lb. recoil spring seating it, I guess.

But now it had a heavy duty .45 ACP Wolff spring rated at 21 lbs., it crushed the .356 TSW round.
I will be checking my other Camp 9 and 45, who would ever think to eject a live round and check for that.

So I re-indicated the chamber in the CNC Lathe again and re-bored it again,
but not before doing a headspace check with the bolt, a round and the barrel assembled all at the same time using inspection gage pins.
All the testing was done in a friends homemade magnum (1/2" thick) bullet trap.

Everything is perfect now with the cycling.

I think I'm going to put a red dot on this one.
Range report to follow, hopefully later this week.
Regards,
BM1

Great update BM1

Range Report and a little EXTRA INFO

Went to the range with the new Marlin Camp-.356 TSW
Every thing went flawless.
I decided to go with a 3x9-32 scope on it instead of a red-dot.
Shot some reloads, Federal Match, Hydra-Shok's and CorBon 124 gr BHP's.

I emailed CorBon to see if I could get some information on their load.
I was pleasantly surprised when the responded immediately.


Hello Mr. Peter Pi,
I am an avid fan of the defunct Smith and Wesson .356 TSW Ammo.
I have six hand guns and a Marlin Camp-9 carbine chambered in this caliber.
I use your 124 gr. BHP's at 1450 fps and love them.
I also shoot the Federal Match 147 gr. and the Hydra-Shoks.

I was hoping to get some load data on your round.
I see it was the Speer 124 gr. Gold Dot Bonded Hollow Points.
And the rounds had 11.2 grains of powder in them.
But I don't know who the manufacturer of the powder is.
I have compared it to 15 different powders that I have, to no avail.
I would prefer to use the same power (or one similar) that you loaded these rounds with, they work GREAT.
Rather than going through the chronograph process with different powders.

I also contacted Starline Brass to see if they had any left but they do not have any anymore.

I've been reloading for awhile and also reload 10 other calibers;
9 m.m., 357 SIG, .40 S&W, 10 m.m., .38 Wad Cutters, .38 Special/Magnum, .44 Special/Magnum, .45 ACP

I'm in a little bit of a bind here with this.

Thank you for your help,
BM1


The reply;
Sir,
While I'm a big fan of the 356 TSW ammo S&W did not produce enough guns to warrant keeping it in production. The guns were only available through the Performance Center. S&W was going to produce a factory production gun at one time, but that never materialized. We no longer have any ammunition or brass having sold out years ago.

I looked up the data on our old 124gr load and it was an OEM powder that was not commercially available to reloaders and has been long discontinued. The closest thing to it would be Accurate No 7. I would start with a charge weight of about 10.5 grains and work up to a max Charge weight of 11.3 grains watching for excess pressure signs. Hope this information helps you out.

Peter R Pi Sr
President & CEO
CorBon/Glaser Products
1311 Industry Rd
Sturgis, SD 57785
Ph 605.347.4544
Fax 605.347.5055
Dakota Ammo

Walter P99 - 9 m.m. now my newest .356 TSW

After finishing the Marlin Camp-9/.356 TSW,
I remembered that I had a spare Walther P99 9 m.m. barrel and an extra recoil spring for a SW99-45.
Do you see where I'm going with this?

Bored out the Walther P99 - 9 m.m. barrel to .356 TSW today.
Made a new steel recoil spring guide rod to capture the SW99-45 spring.
Test fired Hydra-Shok, Federal Match and then the CorBon's, all I can say is Yoweeee................Kool/PERFECT.

Made up some test "CorBon" rounds last night, will chrnograph next week if it's not to hot out.

Looking for my next project.
BM1

Making .356 TSW from other cartridges? - PROBLEM SOLVED

I figured this is also a good place to link the infromation.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reload...-cartridges-problem-solved.html#post135573923
Regards,
BM1

New Project - .357 SIG in a Ruger PC4

Hello all,
The title says it all..............
I found a .357 Magnum Chambered Barrel Blank from Numrich that was for a IMI Timberwolf pump action riffle ($27.00).
Barrel Blank, .357 Mag., 18-1/2", Chambered
Gauged the bore and it's within the specs of my other .357 SIG bores, same as all my 9 m.m.'s also.
The recoil spring assembly for the .40 S&W should also be compatible.
If not I think I can find a stiffer spring to fit and function well.
All I need to do is get it into a CNC lathe, might take a little while.
I'll keep you all posted.

My PC9 might end up as a .356 TSW if I get another 9 m.m./.357 Magnum barrel from Numrich.
But my Marlin Camp 9/.356 TSW Carbine is filling that role.

All my .356 TSW conversions that I have done could go back to the original 9 m.m. because I never sacrificed the 9 m.m. barrel.

Regards,
BMI

Bad Man One

I happened onto this thread and just thought since You are into the TSW356 cartridge that I'll be listing for sale next week sometime a Like New S&W Model TSW 3566 along with any ammo that I have, both Federal and Corbon. I bought gun new about 12 years ago and fired less then 100 rds. I will really hate selling it but need the funds. If you'll interested, it will be listed in the "For Sale Forum"
baldeagle8888

Sent an email to Wolff Gunsprings today

I sent this to Wolff Gunsprings today, let's see what will come of this?

Hello,
I have purchased many different springs from you guys in the past, great work.
Now I have an odd request.

I have your springs in many, many firearms.
Including one mongrel in a EAA Wittnes-P 10 m.m. full size and it handles my NUCLEAR Reloads PERFECTLY.

I have three Marlin Camp carbines, two 9's and a .45 ACP with your 16.5# and 21# springs in them.
Great stuff......
I converted one of the 9's into a .356 TSW and used your 21# - .45 ACP spring, works perfectly.
(Paul Liebenberg of the old S&W Performance Center now Pistol Dynamics in Florida, said he couldn't make his work.)

I have also converted (with your springs) a S&W 6906 to .356 TSW with a barrel that originally came out of the S&W Performance Center as a test barrel.
A S&W 5906-.356 TSW, again your springs and I have also converted a Walther P99-9 m.m. using a S&W P99-45 recoil spring, just had to make the encapsulated recoil rod.

Now,
I also have three Ruger PC carbines, two 9's and a .40 S&W with some extra 9 m.m. barrels.
I'm working on converting one PC-4 into a .357 SIG, the stock .40 spring should work in that one.

But here's the one that I'm looking for some help with,
I'm working on converting the other 9 into a .356 TSW and need a stronger recoil spring.
Ruger uses the same spring in both the 9 and 40 carbine, they rely on the extra bolt mass to dampen the recoil of the .40 S&W.
As I suspected I do not see anything listed because of the nature of their carbine is pretty fool proof by design.
I was wondering if you could recommend any spring stronger than the stock PC-9/40 spring that would fit this application?
Or, could you give me the specs on the SKU 16800 for the Ruger .44 Magnum Carbine, XP Recoil Spring.
Or, I could get a new spring from Ruger and pass along all the dimensions for you to compare to your springs by dimensions?

I am a retired Aerospace CAD/CAM/CNC Manufacturing Engineer/Plant Manager.
I am doing all the chamber boring, turning and threading and milling in CNC equipment,
adhering to ANSI chamber specifications and standard SAE and JIS thread specifications.

Please advise, (HELP)
Thank You,
BM1

I load some hot power pistol powder loads under 147gr Rem GS's for my Camp 9. installed a 16lb spring and blackjack buffer. it's in a Choate folder.
definetly whacks steel disks at 100 yds.

Dave in Tech @ Wolff Gunsprings got back to me

bad_man_ one said:

I sent this to Wolff Gunsprings today, let's see what will come of this?

Here's the one that I'm looking for some help with,
I'm working on converting the other 9 into a .356 TSW and need a stronger recoil spring.
Ruger uses the same spring in both the 9 and 40 carbine, they rely on the extra bolt mass to dampen the recoil of the .40 S&W.
As I suspected I do not see anything listed because of the nature of their carbine is pretty fool proof by design.
I was wondering if you could recommend any spring stronger than the stock PC-9/40 spring that would fit this application?
Or, could you give me the specs on the SKU 16800 for the Ruger .44 Magnum Carbine, XP Recoil Spring.
Or, I could get a new spring from Ruger and pass along all the dimensions for you to compare to your springs by dimensions?

Click to expand...

Received an email from Dave today with the information on the SKU 16800 spring.

Ref SKU 16800:
.056 wire
.728 OD.
.616 ID.
35 coils
10.75 free length

Now it's time to get going on this new project.
Regards,
BM1

All I can say is awesome. Nice seeing this cartridge continue on.

bad_man_ one said:

Here are some pictures from Paul Liebenberg of Pistol Dynamics in Palm Bay Florida.
He showed me the originals of the .356TSW Limited with a 6" barrel with the real high capacity mags also with the "Std." 5" upper.
Also the original S&W FBI 1076 Test and Evaluation gun that was always referred to when a 1076 was in question for any reason.
It was the one that all the other 1076's were compared to, with the "PROTOTYPE" - 9, 11 and 15 round magazines
that are truly one of a kind.
I was asked to not post any S/N's.
Regards,
Bad_Man_One

Click to expand...

Forgotten weapons just released a video on a 6 inch 3566 with that same extended baseplate and additional 5inch slide assembly. It looks to be the same gun you have pictured.

Here's the webpage & video for S&W Performance Center Model 3566

.

Ultra-Premium S&W Performance Center Model 3566

.