S&W branded ammo

[BUCKAWHO]

Hi....I'm sure it's been asked before, but I'm relatively new to this forum.....When did S&W stop selling their branded S&W ammunition?
BT

 

[Glock 'em down]

I'm guessing around the late 70's/early 80's. I've got a full box of 50 in .38 SPecial +P that my dad gave me. Ain't no tellin' how much of that stuff I shot up when I was a kid. I thought I had shot it all. But when dad gave me his Victory model this past Christmas, with it was a FULL box.

Thanks dad!

 

[BUFF]

It was still for sale at big retailers who carried the full line of S&W products (leather, shotguns and rifles as well as handguns) in 1981, at least.

I remember that because, when issued a department revolver upon beginning the police academy in October, 1981, the armorer also gave me 18 (yes, EIGHTEEN!!!) rounds of S&W 158 grain .38 Special ammo for it, and I ran out and bought a full box just like 'em that night. I guess six for the gun and twelve for the pair of speedloaders or cartridge belt loops. I am sure that had I shot anyone, they would have issued me replacement cartridges if I turned in the empties for the deposit.

I bought a near-case full cheap later when a local outdoors store quit carrying guns and ammo. I think .38 Special was the only chambering of S&W ammo I ever shot, but remember it was as good as anyone else's at the time.

 

[stiab]

The latest S&W ammo brochure I have can be dated to 1979. They probably used that same one for additional years after that, and may have produced later brochures, I can't be sure. It is interesting that the 1979 version appears to be the first one using real guns to test the velocity, after no longer using the unvented test barrels, resulting in the speeds in the 1979 brochure being much lower than those shown in the earlier ammo brochures.