When Did S&W Stop Making Ammunition?

[SWFan27]

Hi Everyone,

I am brand new to the forum and bought my first S&W (Model 66-8/357 Mag) last year. I have been purchasing ammo online because 357 Mag and 38 Spl are never in stock at local stores these days. One of my recent purchases was a box of 50 S&W brand 110 grain JHP's. I shot a few at the range today and they did fine. I am guessing the ammo may be from the 1980's. Anyone know more about the ammo such as FSP and when it was manufactured?

 

[dmy]

I bought S&W .45 acp FMJ by the cases between 1985 and 1988 because it was inexpensive. I still reload the brass occasionally, although they are pretty beat up after 30+ times reloading them. My recollection is that a box of 50 cost $10 - $11.

 

[schutz5]

S&W Nyclad stopped around 1984 and Federal took over.
No idea about other S&W ammo

 

[robertrwalsh]

I am not completely sure they ever actually MADE the ammo with their name on it, though I don't know that for a fact. I guess it was just a marketing decision.

 

[rwsmith]

It seems I remember....

S&W Nyclad stopped around 1984 and Federal took over.
No idea about other S&W ammo

....that after Nyclads disappeared other S&W was around for a short while but in a few years it was all gone. I bought their wadcutters regularly.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

According to Gun Magazines at the time, S&W Ammo was done by Fiocci. I bought some 9mm wadcutters. An Army Marksmanship Unit pistol shooter used my Browning HP with target sights and shot an incredible group. I also used Nyclad .38 Special. Then S&W dropped out of that market suddenly.
Geoff
Who notes Fiocci never imported the 9mm Wadcutters.

 

[OLDSTER]

S&W never manufactured ammunition. Simply marketed ammo under the S&W marque.

 

[ken158]

S&W never made their ammo but did put a strong hand on distributors and dealers to carry their labeled ammo. As a small dealer back in the day, a distributor salesman would offer hard to get gun models but only if I would take cases of ammo. I recall that I had so much $ invested in ammo that I would take it to a local flea market and was selling .357 for $10 a box!

 

[rkittine]

They sure did put the strong arm on dealers and distributors. I remember in the late 70s and into the 80s, if I wanted any of the hard to get Smiths for my store, I was forced to buy some model 10s and S&W Ammo. They did sell it to me at their distributor cost and with the excise tax removed, I would see it all at cost to the local police departments just to get rid of it. Lots of small town police were still issuing model 10s in those days.

Bob

 

[stansdds]

S&W never manufactured ammunition. Simply marketed ammo under the S&W marque.

Bingo. There are a lot of law enforcement items from handcuffs to vehicle emergency beacons and light bars that have the S&W logo, but they are actually re-branded items from other manufacturers.

 

[JohnHL]

S&W never made their ammo but did put a strong hand on distributors and dealers to carry their labeled ammo. As a small dealer back in the day, a distributor salesman would offer hard to get gun models but only if I would take cases of ammo. I recall that I had so much $ invested in ammo that I would take it to a local flea market and was selling .357 for $10 a box!

They sure did put the strong arm on dealers and distributors. I remember in the late 70s and into the 80s, if I wanted any of the hard to get Smiths for my store, I was forced to buy some model 10s and S&W Ammo. They did sell it to me at their distributor cost and with the excise tax removed, I would see it all at cost to the local police departments just to get rid of it. Lots of small town police were still issuing model 10s in those days.

Bob

S&W was not the only company to put the "strong arm" on dealers.

I was in the motorcycle business for 40 years.

When Harley-Davidsons were hot, their sales reps would put the strong arm on dealers to buy tons of their overpriced clothing and geegaws if they wanted to get shipments of popular models.

The "rackets" are everywhere.

John

 

[shovelhead]

GM did the same thing to dealers through it's parts distribution division.

When I was in parts department management the factory reps would come and push us to buy parts like oil filters and spark plugs from the factory at prices well over what regional and national auto parts chain stores would sell the same part in the same box to customers on a daily basis.

The implied threat was that if you needed some special assistance with a problem you might not get that help unless you played ball with them.

I didn't submit to extortion either, told one that if he did not do his job I would go high enough up the chain until I found someone that would do their job. Unfortunately for him he found out that I did know "the right people" to get things done.

 

[SWFan27]

Thanks for all the information!