.356 TSW

by
posted on April 29, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wiley-clapp.jpg (1)

At the peak of the Action Shooting furor in the 80s and 90s, Smith & Wesson introduced a new automatic pistol cartridge. It was a competition-based cartridge called the .356 TSW (for Team Smith & Wesson).

After a fairly promising introduction, the round lasted a year or two and quietly faded into obscurity. Intended for a series of Performance Center raceguns, the TSW was essentially an extra-hot 9 mm that was going fast enough to make major.

Configured with a case slightly longer than the 9 mm Parabellum, but the same overall length, the TSW worked very well in the high-capacity competitive pistols for which it was designed. When they begin to tinker with the rules that established major and minor cartridge, there was no need for a special cartridge and it died.

Latest

Guns of the American Revolution Illustration
Guns of the American Revolution Illustration

The Guns of the American Revolution

Contrary to popular perception, the American Revolution wasn’t all muskets, bayonets and Mel Gibson running around with a tomahawk.

The Pedersoli Kodiak Survivalist: A Gentleman's Survival Rifle

Pedersoli brings the double rifle into both affordable and practical territory with their Kodiak Survivalist Compact Express Rifle chambered in .44 Mag.

The Armed Citizen® June 29, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

4 Helpful Online Tools to Track Ammunition Prices

For those seeking the best possible prices on ammunition, a number of new tools have emerged to give firearm enthusiasts an edge up when it comes to feeding their guns on a budget.

Book Review: 2026 Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States

Newly updated for 2026, the 30th edition of the “Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States” is a must-have resource for those who travel often and therefore must navigate the patchwork maze of laws imposed in various localities.

5 Must-Have Ruger Mini-14 Accessories

In production since 1973, the Ruger Mini-14 has spawned a rather healthy aftermarket of parts and accessories. Here are five that you really can't live without if you're a true Mini-14 fan.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.