S&B Cases

[Dick Ozinga]

S&B in .45 is great stuff, especially by the 3rd loading.

S&B in .40 is mostly ok.

S&B in 9mm is a PITA. It's not that it won't work in the end and run reliably in the gun, but it's like having a press with intermittent malfunctions unless you spend more time than you want prepping cases.

Just reloaded 1000 45 ACP S&B cases on my 550B. If the primer seater assembly is not setup properly I get 4-5% crushed primers, the problem is fixed when you check the setup. From a quality standpoint I'm satisfied with the S&B cases.

In 9mm I've had 0 problems seating the primers without preparation.

Dick

[Wandering Man]

Just reloaded 1000 45 ACP S&B cases on my 550B. If the primer seater assembly is not setup properly I get 4-5% crushed primers, the problem is fixed when you check the setup. From a quality standpoint I'm satisfied with the S&B cases.

In 9mm I've had 0 problems seating the primers without preparation.

Dick

That's intersting. I have had no problems with .45 cal reloading with S&B brass.

I recently tried removing the primers from my 9 mm S&B brass, reaming out the pockets, then reloading them. I'm using Winchester SP and SP Magnum primers. This helped some, but I still get about three or four out of a hundred that don't seat right.

No other brand of brass has given me any problems.

FWI, I'm using brass that has previously been fired, mostly picked up off the range floor. It's only the stuff with the red painted across the primers that gives me trouble. If I've shot the shell previously, then it's no hassle. I'm using the Dillon XL 650.

I've started pitching anything with a red primer.

WM

Edited October 15, 2007 by Wandering Man

[pevadijk]

Here in Europe, S&B is about the cheapest factory ammo available and although the brass lasts long, I have problems with the primer pockets.

So when I shoot 9mm and brass picking is not allowed, I shoot S&B, otherwise I prefer Magtech.

[Dick Ozinga]

Here in Europe, S&B is about the cheapest factory ammo available and although the brass lasts long, I have problems with the primer pockets.

So when I shoot 9mm and brass picking is not allowed, I shoot S&B, otherwise I prefer Magtech.

9mm S&B brass is relatively thick walled brass, so it should be strong. Problem is that you need to check the settings when changing brass or allow for differences when using mixed lot brass. Accuracy wise I haven't noticed that there is a difference in accuracy when using mixed lot brass.

Dick

[spook]

I heard S&B changed the pimer pockets of their brass somewhere last month. They chamfered it slightly.

Great brass and with this change = perfect brass.

[johnhurd]

S&B sticks so bad in my major 9 I have to beat the cases out of the chamber

[Wandering Man]

Well, now I have loaded rounds using S&B brass for .45ACP, 9mm, and .380ACP. It is only the 9mm that gives me any problems.

I'm sure the brass is good, the 9mm just doesn't like me.

WM