Where have all the Swift A-Frames Gone?

[Doug3006]

Whenever we discuss proper bullets for Dangerous Game, the Swift A-Frame is always at or near the top of the list. I’m planning my next Buffalo hunt and will use my 416 Rigby. I have a mostly full box of 400 grain A-Frames on hand, but I’m afraid to use them for load development since I can’t find more ANYWHERE! Not even on Swift’s website. What’s the deal with Swift? Are they experiencing supply chain issues? Barnes seems to be cranking out TSXs in every caliber and weight imaginable.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Whenever we discuss proper bullets for Dangerous Game, the Swift A-Frame is always at or near the top of the list. I’m planning my next Buffalo hunt and will use my 416 Rigby. I have a mostly full box of 400 grain A-Frames on hand, but I’m afraid to use them for load development since I can’t find more ANYWHERE! Not even on Swift’s website. What’s the deal with Swift? Are they experiencing supply chain issues? Barnes seems to be cranking out TSXs in every caliber and weight imaginable.

Federal Premium has them in stock in factory loads for the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, .416 Remington Magnum and .416 Rigby.

Shop products in Rifle today | Federal Premium

Federal Ammunition

www.federalpremium.com

 

[Doug3006]

Thanks, @Hunter-Habib! I’ve seen the Federal loaded A-Frame ammunition selling for as much as $350 for a box of 20. I understand that ammunition is the least costly item of a safari. But golly, that’s a lot of money for ammo! Anyway, I like to load my own because I generally get better accuracy when I do so.

 

[Dirtdart]

Whenever we discuss proper bullets for Dangerous Game, the Swift A-Frame is always at or near the top of the list. I’m planning my next Buffalo hunt and will use my 416 Rigby. I have a mostly full box of 400 grain A-Frames on hand, but I’m afraid to use them for load development since I can’t find more ANYWHERE! Not even on Swift’s website. What’s the deal with Swift? Are they experiencing supply chain issues? Barnes seems to be cranking out TSXs in every caliber and weight imaginable.

There are two boxes listed by different sellers on gun broker. I have no affiliation with either seller but may be worth checking out.

 

[Hatchetjack]

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

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Whenever we discuss proper bullets for Dangerous Game, the Swift A-Frame is always at or near the top of the list. I’m planning my next Buffalo hunt and will use my 416 Rigby. I have a mostly full box of 400 grain A-Frames on hand, but I’m afraid to use them for load development since I can’t find more ANYWHERE! Not even on Swift’s website. What’s the deal with Swift? Are they experiencing supply chain issues? Barnes seems to be cranking out TSXs in every caliber and weight imaginable.

Several things
1) Barnes is a significantly larger company than Swift and is jointly owned with Sierra.
2) Swift bullets are made in Quinter, KS. It’s a much smaller town, with a smaller demographic to draw labor from and Bill has come out and said they’ve been challenged with labor/employees.
3) Reloadable projectiles are typically an afterthought/surplus. Swift is going to load their own loaded ammo first due to higher margins, then satisfy their OEM business requirements (sometimes even before loading ammo themselves), before boxing and packaging just projectiles for the consumer.
4) Medium and Large bore projectiles, especially for African hunting is an insanely small niche market.

Buy everything you think you’ll need for a lifetime and some extras when you find it available.

 

[Phil Giordano]

Here in Italy they are totally unavailable since the covid. Nor the Woodleigh anymore.
We can find Hornady, Nosler and some Barnes.
And, of course, Norma and RWS bullets.
But, regarding Usa made bullets and components, gone are the days...and since a long time.

 

[MacJenkins]

Several things
1) Barnes is a significantly larger company than Swift and is jointly owned with Sierra.
2) Swift bullets are made in Quinter, KS. It’s a much smaller town, with a smaller demographic to draw labor from and Bill has come out and said they’ve been challenged with labor/employees.
3) Reloadable projectiles are typically an afterthought/surplus. Swift is going to load their own loaded ammo first due to higher margins, then satisfy their OEM business requirements (sometimes even before loading ammo themselves), before boxing and packaging just projectiles for the consumer.
4) Medium and Large bore projectiles, especially for African hunting is an insanely small niche market.

Buy everything you think you’ll need for a lifetime and some extras when you find it available.

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.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

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

He been saying that for the last 3 years…the truth is he is very comfortable selling the 30 cal and smaller scirocco line products. More sales and less risk.

HH

 

[Hooked Now]

Last I saw was at SCI last year and I bought 2 boxes of 300gr .375. First foray into load development didn't have great results. Switched to Barnes and got what I needed. Im keeping the remaining Swifts in case I need to trade for a kidney or barter my way onto the last spaceship leaving the planet.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I told my wife about them being in small town Kansas and that most people do not like living there (nothing to do). she said well if we were 30 years younger I would not mind living there and go to work for Swift. if only time could be reversed I would also

 

[Paul K]

Doug:
I will check my stash, I generally have 5 or 6 boxes of them. If I do I will send you a box on me.

Paul

 

[Russ16]

I was lucky and bought a couple hundred when they made a run of 375 300 grain last December. Near as I can tell they don’t have any A-frames available in any caliber over 7mm.

I know they are in a small town and have a labor shortage but given what seems to be the demand I would think they could raise the price and use it to pay higher wages and smooth out production.

In the meantime I’m in the market to buy any 300 gr 375 bullets anyone has. But it seems that so is everyone else.

 

[Paul K]

Doug:
To my amazement I don't have jack squat, I am sorry to disappoint you. Big Bummer!

Paul

 

[UpNorthMI]

Doug:

I agree with everything you are saying, I just got my hands on some Swift bullets after 4 years. I've shot a lot of Barnes TSX and Hornady DGX Bonded as they were largely available. I also just purchased dome Federal ammunition with Swift bullets.

I stop in at the Swift stand at any expos and tell them how frustrating their supply issues are, hope they will improve things.

 

[deewayne2003]

Whenever we discuss proper bullets for Dangerous Game, the Swift A-Frame is always at or near the top of the list. I’m planning my next Buffalo hunt and will use my 416 Rigby. I have a mostly full box of 400 grain A-Frames on hand, but I’m afraid to use them for load development since I can’t find more ANYWHERE! Not even on Swift’s website. What’s the deal with Swift? Are they experiencing supply chain issues? Barnes seems to be cranking out TSXs in every caliber and weight imaginable.

I share your frustration, I've never been able to find Swift AF in decent quantities; on the rare occasion I can find them in stock it's always for one or two available boxes and the last thing I want to do is work up a good load and then have have 20 or less projectiles remaining, then left to wonder when I can get my hands on them again.

I find it very odd that even with the Woodleigh fire on the opposite side of the earth I've still be able to find them more readily than the Swift bullets that are manufactured a couple hundred miles from where I live.

I don't use Swift A Frames for hunting because I don't like them, I don't use them because in years of looking I have NEVER been able to find them in a quantity worth buying..... But I would love to!

 

[AckleyHunter]

Federal has 400 gr TBBC projectiles available from their website.

Buy Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Component Bullet, .416, 400 Grain | Federal

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[Quest#1]

Swift is definitely a small company compared…. I also think that the loyal shooters buy everything available when they do have a production run. I know i did last run. Sorry to be that guy lol. Good thing is i will never need to buy more in my lifetime.

 

[Doug3006]

I can understand prioritizing loaded ammo given the limited supply. But it doesn’t do us hand loaders any good to catalog the finest bullets in the world if you don’t make any!

 

[Olivier]

Federal TBBC are available and could be the alternative