Where have all the Swift A-Frames Gone?

[Mtn_Infantry]

I have no idea the size of Swift but Barnes is in a small town called Mona about 30 minutes south of me. I’ve always been suprised at how much product comes out of the small foot print they operate out of.

Difference is Mona is near Provo/SLC. 80% of Utah’s population is within 1 hour of SLC which includes Mona.

Quinter is almost the exact middle between Denver, CO and Kansas City, MO. There’s no commuting from a larger city.

 

[DLSJR]

I talked to swift a couple weeks ago , they said December you should start seeing the safari ammo on the shelf again

Just a thought but perhaps they ramp up then in anticipation of DSC and SCI shows. I’m pretty sure they sell a lot of large caliber bullets and ammo then. So, perhaps it’s simply seasonal for Swift to make bullets of 9.3 and up.

 

[Doug3006]

Just a thought….move! There are plenty of midsized town in the South and Midwest that welcome them.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

If you shoot the 9.3x62 you are in luck if you want to shoot the 286 grain they are in stock. they ran them awhile back, I just don't understand why they will not run the 250 grain. I guess I will have to keep buying Hammer bullets they are always in stock.

 

[Gemsbok45]

Loaded ammo is a much larger margin product.

 

[skydiver386]

Loaded ammo is a much larger margin product.

This is probably the closest to the truth. The overwhelming majority of Hunters and Shooters buy factory ammo and don't bother with reloading. If selling bullets to Federal and other companies to load in their ammo as well as Swift 's own branded ammo makes them a higher profit margin, it only makes economic sense to move the limited numbers in that direction.

I have numerous calibers that I handload for because factory ammo is almost non-existent. I've been looking for .458 500gr A-Frames for 2 years and haven't found any, even after talking to the owner at the SCI this year. Walked over to the Barnes booth and they had PILES of .458 500grain bullets. I asked how many boxes am I allowed to buy? I was told "As many as your wallet can stand!".

It's an easy decision to use another brand bullet if you load for a caliber that isn't available with A-Frames.

 

[Vintageguy]

Got a gift certificate from the last SCI convention and still no 458 A-Frames. The last I was able to get were two conventions ago. My safari plans got derailed this year but if not, I would’ve had to go with Barnes. Hopefully, they come before next year season.

 

[BryceM]

Last week on the phone they told me they would run 300 grain bullets in .375 before the end of the year. I imagine they run the big stuff once per year, or maybe even less, depending…..

 

[BJH65]

I absolutely love Swift A Frame and Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullets back when they were first factory loaded by Remington and Federal but since I don’t reload it’s currently very difficult to find factory loaded ammo in 458 Lott with these bullets. I’m just thankful I can get North Fork SP from the custom ammo makers and also Barnes TSX and even Hornady DGX bonded in readily available and decently priced factory ammo. So for the present and probably for the rest of the buffalo hunting I’ll ever do with my 458 Lott, it’s NF, TSX, or DGX bonded.

I do have 375 H&H, 375 RUM and 416 Rem Mag factory Swift A Frame so I guess there’s that.

 

[deewayne2003]

Just a thought….move! There are plenty of midsized town in the South and Midwest that welcome them.

Bill Hobart’s ranch is there in Kansas…. How is a man supposed to lord over his employees if manufacturing moves to a better location.

 

[BonUm16]

I’d be curious to know the level of skill needed to perform in the positions Swift needs to fill. Is it work that could be done by legal “seasonal” foreign labor if trained?

 

[375Fox]

Bill Hobart’s ranch is there in Kansas…. How is a man supposed to lord over his employees if manufacturing moves to a better location.

I really hate these type of comments. I don’t know anything about the man, but his product is one of the best. If he chooses to keep his business where’s he’s happy and can continue the quality control that’s up to him. I would not think the financial risk is worth the potential reward when you compete against big companies like Federal or Hornady (who also have every opportunity to make the same bullet). The same comments could be applied to many members here who choose to live in areas where they’ll never have opportunity to make serious money or advance further. There are a lot of factors that play into individual’s decision.

 

[deewayne2003]

I really hate these type of comments. I don’t know anything about the man, but his product is one of the best. If he chooses to keep his business where’s he’s happy and can continue the quality control that’s up to him. I would not think the financial risk is worth the potential reward when you compete against big companies like Federal or Hornady (who also have every opportunity to make the same bullet). The same comments could be applied to many members here who choose to live in areas where they’ll never have opportunity to make serious money or advance further. There are a lot of factors that play into individual’s decision.

You can hate it all you want to but it doesn’t make it any less true and I’m simply stating the fact that he won’t move to a better location and why.

If he’s happy where he is than more power to him, however I have personally heard him say at DSC “Nobody wants to work anymore” when asked about his product availability.

Obviously nobody wants to put all their eggs in one basket by moving to the middle of nowhere for a manufacturing job.

If it falls through, you get fired or discover that there is no room for advancement then your only option is to pack up and move a long distance to seek another opportunity.

After starting my own company I realized I didn’t have to live in Austin, so I moved to a small town and all the local business owners have the same “nobody wants to work anymore” pity party attitude…. They just don’t want to face the fact that the local born labor force is moving to DFW and making 50-100% more money for the exact same jobs with much better opportunity for advancement.

 

[JimP]

Perhaps members here could invest in his business and set things up with robotics and AI in the manufacture of his bullets.

This is by the way just a suggestion.

But he is right, finding people that actually want to put in a 40 hour work week is next to impossible even in the larger areas, and I don't think that the millions that he would have to invest in moving his operation would be worth the move.

 

[Mully]

Nobody wants to work for the wage they are paying is a better statement. I asked when they will be running 35 caliber A-Frames at SCI this year and was told there were no immediate plans to run them. Luckily Northfork makes a good bonded bullet that is available. Too bad about Swift's troubles, I prefer to support American companies.

 

[Russ16]

You can hate it all you want to but it doesn’t make it any less true and I’m simply stating the fact that he won’t move to a better location and why.

If he’s happy where he is than more power to him, however I have personally heard him say at DSC “Nobody wants to work anymore” when asked about his product availability.

Obviously nobody wants to put all their eggs in one basket by moving to the middle of nowhere for a manufacturing job.

If it falls through, you get fired or discover that there is no room for advancement then your only option is to pack up and move a long distance to seek another opportunity.

After starting my own company I realized I didn’t have to live in Austin, so I moved to a small town and all the local business owners have the same “nobody wants to work anymore” pity party attitude…. They just don’t want to face the fact that the local born labor force is moving to DFW and making 50-100% more money for the exact same jobs with much better opportunity for advancement.

I think the fact is no one wants to work for the wage offered. Many companies can’t afford to offer a higher wage. Given the seeming demand for the Swift product I think he could up his price to cover a higher wage and potentially solve some labors problems.

The bullets are currently priced at $98 for 50. I for one would probably not book at paying $150 for that quantity. Maybe other have a lower tolerance. But to me it is still the cheapest part of the hunt and one that could save your life.

 

[pilar]

Personally hate swifts Lack of supply's and everyone constantly complaining about them , and apathetic owners point of view about it!
I know it’s just retirement job for him ! Maybe one day a larger conglomerate will just buy them out and consolidate it to a factory that can produce both quality and quantity to match this nitch market.
I wish bonded bullets of every caliber where more available , granslames have disappeared, Hornady bonded too , hell make some chemically bonded Remington or Winchester, sierra, monos are great but having bonded disappear just seems annoying and seeing all this R&D going into match/ explosive hunting rounds made for ultra long range hunting and shooting

 

[fourfive8]

I have no idea the size of Swift but Barnes is in a small town called Mona about 30 minutes south of me. I’ve always been suprised at how much product comes out of the small foot print they operate out of

Agreed, Barnes does not have a particularly large facility. But I think they probably have a stable work force and an efficient and aggressive production model. The facility is visible and sits by itself just east of the highway. Mona is very small and spread out I drive by there once in a while, usually dark thirty early morning. Always activity there and the lights seem to always be on.

 

[pilar]

Agreed, Barnes does not have a particularly large facility. But I think they probably have a stable work force and an efficient and aggressive production model. The facility is visible and sits by itself just east of the highway. Mona is very small and spread out I drive by there once in a while, usually dark thirty early morning. Always activity there and the lights seem to always be on.

I believe most for their production is is CAD milling , and humans do quality control inspections, same for hammer bullets,
My uncle worked with barns way way back in the 1990’s and I was always interested in the development and improvements from the original barns X

 

[375Fox]

I believe most for their production is is CAD milling , and humans do quality control inspections, same for hammer bullets,
My uncle worked with barns way way back in the 1990’s and I was always interested in the development and improvements from the original barns X

I listened to a podcast on Hammer bullets. I found that very interesting. The materials might be more expensive but much less labor needed. Easy to see why companies would go for monolithic bullets over premium bonded bullets. Especially when lead has an uncertain future.