TomcatPC
US Veteran
I found these two boxes (empty) at a gun show last week. They both are .38 Special 148 Grain Wadcutters.
Mark
Mark
Ammo Produced by S&W
- Thread starter chuckusaret
- Start date
IIRC, S&W moved into the ammo arena because Super Vel was selling all the light-bullet high-velocity JHPs they could, and there was still demand that Winchester and Remington were trying hard to ignore. Kind of left the door open for S&W to get into the ammo end of the business. Much of S&W ammo's early loads were very Super-Vel-like.
I'm sure the execs were also thinking of vertical integration of their field.
I'm sure the execs were also thinking of vertical integration of their field.
BluegrassBoy
Member
Anybody else have any of the S&W 22 shorts?
I bought two full bricks several years ago.
I paid a lot for it but I'm glad I did. I've never seen any anywhere since.
I bought two full bricks several years ago.
I paid a lot for it but I'm glad I did. I've never seen any anywhere since.
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S&W had been out of the ammo business for years when the .40 came on the scene. What else is on the headstamp of the case?
Ever heard of S&W 30-30 ammo?
A friend just moved and had some old ammo he gave me.
Included was a plastic 10 pack of S&W 150 grain soft point
30-30 rounds from Alton, Il. I opened the pack and sure
enough, the case head stamp has "S&W 30-30 Win"
stamped on it.
I can't find much of anything that S&W made 30-30 rifle
cartridges, any history buffs out there know anything about
this?
I can provide pictures if needed.
Thanks,
GaryLarry
A friend just moved and had some old ammo he gave me.
Included was a plastic 10 pack of S&W 150 grain soft point
30-30 rounds from Alton, Il. I opened the pack and sure
enough, the case head stamp has "S&W 30-30 Win"
stamped on it.
I can't find much of anything that S&W made 30-30 rifle
cartridges, any history buffs out there know anything about
this?
I can provide pictures if needed.
Thanks,
GaryLarry
CTG_COLLECTOR
Member
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The S&W branded ammo was made for about 10 years from around '70-'81. They made numerous handgun loads in calibers .25AUTO, 32AUTO, 32 S&W, .380AUTO, 9x19mm, 38Spl, 357Mag, 44Mag and 45ACP.
They also introduced the Nyclad nylon coated loads in 9x19mm, 38Spl and 357Mag.
Rifle calibers .243Win, 270Win, 30-30Win, 308Win, 30-06Sprg (2 loads ea.).
In the rimfire category they had .22LR Standard & Max-Vel, .22Short Standard & Max-Vel and .22Blank for Indoor & Outdoor use. All rimfire rounds were made by Aguila of Mexico.
Shotgun shells came in various load weights in .410, 20, 16 and 12 gauges along with empty primed hulls for reloaders.
The handgun brass in 9mm, 38 & 357 was made by numerous companies including Amron, Olin, Federal, IVI & CIL of Canada. Rifle cases all came from Canada, but I'm not sure which company.
S&W also supplied 12ga CN/CS riot loads along with 37mm gas guns and cartridges.
They also introduced the Nyclad nylon coated loads in 9x19mm, 38Spl and 357Mag.
Rifle calibers .243Win, 270Win, 30-30Win, 308Win, 30-06Sprg (2 loads ea.).
In the rimfire category they had .22LR Standard & Max-Vel, .22Short Standard & Max-Vel and .22Blank for Indoor & Outdoor use. All rimfire rounds were made by Aguila of Mexico.
Shotgun shells came in various load weights in .410, 20, 16 and 12 gauges along with empty primed hulls for reloaders.
The handgun brass in 9mm, 38 & 357 was made by numerous companies including Amron, Olin, Federal, IVI & CIL of Canada. Rifle cases all came from Canada, but I'm not sure which company.
S&W also supplied 12ga CN/CS riot loads along with 37mm gas guns and cartridges.
CTG_COLLECTOR
Member
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The 30-30 came in two bullet weights, 150SP and 170SP.
CTG_COLLECTOR
Member
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S&W was 9 years out of the ammo business before S&W and Winchester got together to design and market the 40S&W cartridge. If the ammo you had problems with was factory new, just look at the headstamp on the case and it'll tell you who made the ammo.
S&W 30-30
Thanks for the info CTG_COLLECTOR
I suppose I should hang on to it unless there's a collector out there really wanting 10 rounds of unfired S&W 30-30 ammo? It is kind of cool in its little 10 round plastic see through package.
Thanks for the info CTG_COLLECTOR
I suppose I should hang on to it unless there's a collector out there really wanting 10 rounds of unfired S&W 30-30 ammo? It is kind of cool in its little 10 round plastic see through package.
jw mathews
Member
I appreciate the posts above with info regarding the time frame when S&W had its own ammo on the market. My only purchase of their brand was the 125-gr .38 Special Nyclad load designed for the Chief Special (& other snubbies). I thought S&W came up with a great idea there--not just to reduce indoor range lead pollution, but to increase velocity from the short barrels.
The original S&W bullet for this load was a truncated cone (SWC) shape, flat across the tip with a narrow hole. When Federal took over making Nyclads, the bullet was changed to a rounder shape, still flat at the tip but with a wider hole. My guess is that it would have better expansion.
What is the going rate for a box of those early S&W Chief Special loads? I know I have a partial box, & maybe a full onr or two around someplace. (The partial box is marked "Smith & Wesson Ammunition Company" and "A Bangor Punta Company" with the Rock Creek OH address.) I think a full box or other container of S&W ammo might be of interest to ammo/S&W collectors, if their brand hasn't been made since 1981.
The original S&W bullet for this load was a truncated cone (SWC) shape, flat across the tip with a narrow hole. When Federal took over making Nyclads, the bullet was changed to a rounder shape, still flat at the tip but with a wider hole. My guess is that it would have better expansion.
What is the going rate for a box of those early S&W Chief Special loads? I know I have a partial box, & maybe a full onr or two around someplace. (The partial box is marked "Smith & Wesson Ammunition Company" and "A Bangor Punta Company" with the Rock Creek OH address.) I think a full box or other container of S&W ammo might be of interest to ammo/S&W collectors, if their brand hasn't been made since 1981.
The 40 S&W headstamp is a caliber designation not a manufacturing one.
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The day my department gave my group of new deputies our issue handguns (well-worn Combat Masterpieces), the firearms guy then handed each of us 18 (yes, EIGHTEEN!!!) rounds of S&W brand 158 grain JHP .38 Special ammunition. He shot me dirty look when I said, "Okay, guys, just don't shoot it all in one place."
I half expected them to demand those back when we turned in our revolvers later.
A local sporting goods chain often had S&W ammunition on sale. I bought and shot a good bit of it and found it to be as good as W-W or Federal. It was good brass to reload.
I half expected them to demand those back when we turned in our revolvers later.
A local sporting goods chain often had S&W ammunition on sale. I bought and shot a good bit of it and found it to be as good as W-W or Federal. It was good brass to reload.
Pointblank2U
US Veteran
As I recall, back in the day S&W forced this ammo on gun dealers as a prerequisite to ordering guns from them.
DWalt
Member
It's still seen occasionally at gun shows, and I have several boxes of 125 grain .38 Special loads. I knew there was rifle caliber S&W ammunition, but I don't remember ever seeing any of it, nor have I seen .22 RF. They made a lot of law enforcement anti-riot stuff like tear gas guns and shells. There was a good market for it back in the Vietnam days with all the anti-war riot activity.
Attn Buff
Hi Buff! I have a similar story: A nationally-known security firm (nameless, please) would issue armed personnel an old .38 Colt PPS revolver and 5 (FIVE!) rounds of ammunition. Company regs stipulated an empty chamber under the hammer. At qualification, most of these oldies would freeze up after 10-15 rounds of wadcutters. If you were savvy and knew the Gun Custodian, you could trade the PPS in for an old S&W which would not freeze up. Can't make this stuff up.
Stay safe partner.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Hi Buff! I have a similar story: A nationally-known security firm (nameless, please) would issue armed personnel an old .38 Colt PPS revolver and 5 (FIVE!) rounds of ammunition. Company regs stipulated an empty chamber under the hammer. At qualification, most of these oldies would freeze up after 10-15 rounds of wadcutters. If you were savvy and knew the Gun Custodian, you could trade the PPS in for an old S&W which would not freeze up. Can't make this stuff up.
Stay safe partner.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Sailormilan2
Member
have some 88 gr soft point 357 Magnum ammo made by S&W back in the 70s. Supposed to be rated at about 2000 fps out of a 8 3/8" barrel. I think it is just a 380 bullet stuck in a 357 Mag case.
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Maddmax
US Veteran
Back in the 70's & early 80's their 230 gr 45 ACP rounds shot great and the brass was some of the best for reloading and held up fantastic. Wish they still made it.
I bought the "factory" rounds for target practice and reload brass. Prices were great back then.
I bought the "factory" rounds for target practice and reload brass. Prices were great back then.
smith was also in the leather business, shotguns, sold primers under the smith name and many other things. during that time, dealers were forced to buy these other products to get the good handguns. some wholesalers didn't buy into this, consequently, they had their orders curtailed. some wholesalers would let you buy just the handguns but at higher than wholesale prices. for those who were around during the dirty harry craze, this is the reason a lot of dealers had high prices on the guns. the usual ratio for guns to other products was 1 to 1. so that you effectively paid double the wholesale for the gun and had a bunch of stuff you maybe or maybe not could sell.
Walter Rego
Member
I just recently shot about a half a box of the S&W marked 148 gr. .38 Special wadcutters in my Model 52-2. Accuracy was very good, but I was surprised to find some pretty stubborn lead just forward of the chamber. I'll burn up the rest of it in another gun and see if I have the same problem. I shot lots of their .45, .357 and .30-06 ammo back in the 80's with no problems. The 125 gr. Nyclads still show up at gun shows and priced along with the modern high performance loads.
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