SEEKING AMMO FOR S&W SP101 .356 CAL

[erick00]

Hello,

I recently acquired a S&W model SP101 .356 caliber revolver. I took it to my local gun range; they did not carry .356 nor could I find any on the internet. They tried loading with 9mm but they said it would not work without a moon clip; I also could not find a moon clip for this model revolver. Anyone have any suggestions so I can actually shoot this revolver? Thanks!

 

[shawn mccarver]

An S&W SP101? Never heard of it.

 

[Breechloader]

Never heard of a s&w sp101. Sure its not a Ruger?
Ruger made a 9mm sp101 so maybe that is what you have.
Google for moon clips for that.

 

[Waywatcher]

Hmm...

Pictures would help, but I am pretty sure you own a Ruger SP101 in .357 caliber. Smith & Wesson does not make the SP101, and I don't think Ruger ever made any in a .356 caliber. I have been wrong before, though, so post a few pictures and we would know for sure.

If I am correct, any .38 special ammo would work, as would .357 ammo.

 

[Fishinfool]

Sounds like a RUGER SP101. There was a 356 round made, called the 356TSW (Team Smith and Wesson). It was basically a hot rodded 9mm, though I don't think it was ever offered in the Ruger SP101. S&W did offer it in several auto's and revolvers at one time. I don't think ammo is loaded any longer, but if you are correct about the caliber, 9mm ammo might work in it with moon clips - you will have to investigate exactly what you have....

Larry

 

[nawilson]

VM, how does that stuff compare dimensionally to standard 9mm NATO?

 

[handgunner356]

The 356tsw is a 9x21.5 as opposed to the 9x19 standard 9mm. Either one would work in your revolver but both need moon clips to do so.

 

[Dave T]

Since that was the OP's first post...any chance he was trolling?? That "S&W SP101" business is just too weird. Who confuses a Ruger with a S&W, particularly with the billboard Ruger plasters on their barrels these days.

Dave

 

[shouldazagged]

Since that was the OP's first post...any chance he was trolling?? That "S&W SP101" business is just too weird. Who confuses a Ruger with a S&W, particularly with the billboard Ruger plasters on their barrels these days.

Dave

Very reasonable question. But who knows?

 

[major bumm]

Sounds like a RUGER SP101. There was a 356 round made, called the 356TSW (Team Smith and Wesson). It was basically a hot rodded 9mm, though I don't think it was ever offered in the Ruger SP101. S&W did offer it in several auto's and revolvers at one time. I don't think ammo is loaded any longer, but if you are correct about the caliber, 9mm ammo might work in it with moon clips - you will have to investigate exactly what you have....

Larry

Wow. I just learned something new. Thanks Larry!

The Ruger 9mm was a speed/security six. It looks almost identical to the SP101. Moon clips are available, but very expensive, ~ $60.00 per 5 or 10.

 

[echo1xg36c]

Wow, never knew the 356 round existed. Very interesting.

And as far as an sp101 smith, I'm not sure that exists lol..

 

[varmint243]

I think some good ol' boy engineering could come up with something that worked and was safe.
Is the cylinder cut to headspace on the case mouth like my 625 ?
I have run the 625 without moon clips once or twice, just have to pluck the empties out one at a time.

If you were anywhere near me I would help you work this out.
maybe cut down some 357 cases and run them thru 9mm dies.
or cut down 38 super brass or some such.
I see this as an interesting and solvable challenge.
I would keep starting loads on the rather low side.

I think the OP just mixed up the caliber and the firearm manufacturer. An easily forgivable mistake IMO.

 

[vipermd]

Varmint243: They did make a J frame in 356 TSW but it required the moon clips. The idea of using 357 mag brass was thought of: ( to not need moon clip and "stronger brass" { hot,hot loads } ), but they ran into some problems with due to case web ( too thick I believe?? ). I believe I read it in American Handgunner/Guns long ago. The cartridge was created to make major but still be a 9mm, instead of loading 9mm's to the edge of KABOOM. I should do a "search" through "my" archives of guns/AH , would be fun to look at the early mags again. Be Safe,

 

[JAREDSHS]

a picture of the gun would be nice.

 

[WC145]

Wow. I just learned something new. Thanks Larry!

The Ruger 9mm was a speed/security six. It looks almost identical to the SP101. Moon clips are available, but very expensive, ~ $60.00 per 5 or 10.

Ruger made both SP101s and Speed Sixes in 9mm, they could be shot without moonclips just like the 940. To the best of my knowledge only S&W ever made any guns chambered for the 356TSW, the only revolver being the 940PC (200 made), and it also headspaced on the case mouth so it could be fired without moonclips unless you were using a cartridge shorter than 21.5mm.

 

[Naples22]

Sounds a lot like a troll. One would think by now he would have returned.

 

[hotrod150]

Since that was the OP's first post...any chance he was trolling?? That "S&W SP101" business is just too weird. Who confuses a Ruger with a S&W, particularly with the billboard Ruger plasters on their barrels these days. Dave

Aw, he was spoofing you guys. His gun is one of them 38 SPL CTG's......

 

[CoMF]

Aw, he was spoofing you guys. His gun is one of them 38 SPL CTG's......

Pfft. That's nothing. It just so happens that I own the very rare and much coveted Glock 7. I also have it on good authority that it's worth more than the monthly salary of the Chief of the Dulles International Airport police.

Edited to Add: All jokes aside, S&W did make a very limited run of 940s chambered in .356 TSW, so there exists a slight possibility that it is, in fact, the OP's mystery revolver.

 

[erick00]

S&W .356 CALIBER REVOLVER






Hello Everyone,

I apologize for confusing everyone with labeling the revolver as an SP101. I am a newbie gun owner and was confused because the actual revolver came with a manual for the Ruger SP101 (which it looks like) but it is NOT a Ruger SP101. It is a Smith & Wesson and it has "356 TSW" inscribed on the barrel.

I am seeking the .356 caliber ammo for this revolver and also "moon clips" to allow it to shoot 9mm (although what exact size of 9mm I don't know). The revolver is supposed to shoot 9mm but when I tried it at the gun range, the 9mm did not seat correctly inside the cylinder.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Eric

p.s. sorry for the small pictures, don't know how to make them larger, but the "356 TSW" is on right side of barrel

 

[CoMF]

Erick,

Looks like you're the proud owner of a very rare revolver, which is a Model 940 chambered in .356 TSW. I don't think S&W made more than about 300 of them.

Sadly, I don't believe commercially made ammunition in that caliber even exists anymore. Most of what you'll find, if anything, are older boxes of it.

Perhaps someone with more knowledge than me will chime in about reliable sources of ammo and/or the feasibility of reloading it, but it seems to me that you have a revolver that's little more than a collectible, albeit a fine example of such.

That is, of course, unless you can safely fire 9mm Parabellum ammo in barrels and chambers designed for the .356 TSW, but that again is a question best answered by someone more knowledgable about the latter than myself.