Is S&B Brass. well what do you think of it?

[jeeptim]

Had some case seperation today on the first reload on a 303 brit S&B cases.
43gr of H-414 150gr spbt light crimp WLR primer same as all the other cases that did'ent seperate now I have reloaded and shot tons of other brass for this but only the S&B came apart, Have trouble with other calibers of S&B.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on S&B

 

[Steve Koski]

I've never reloaded S&B rifle brass. The pistol brass is fine EXCEPT their primer pockets are tight. They'll reload, but are a little cranky.

Koski

 

[R.W.Dale]

I cull all S&B cases due to nonstandard sized primer pockets. On handgun cartridges they're too tight and in rifle cartridges too shallow


Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[FROGO207]

For those rounds that are semi rare 303 BRIT, 7.62X54, etc I will use them and have had no such problems as you describe yet. I do find however that the necks tend to split sooner than with other brass in the same caliber. My guess is that the brass is either a slightly different alloy or they are processed differently and as such are more brittle. Also I have noticed when I size or prime the brass it seems stiffer to work with and primer pockets tighter. S&B makes some of the ammo for other brands and sure enough I find an odd casing in handgun ammo that shows the same properties and it has been reported that S&B make runs of their ammo (Olympic for one).

 

[jmorris]

The pistol brass has tight primer pockets and I have found their 9mm "brass" to simply be plated steel.

 

[EddieNFL]

I cull all S&B cases due to nonstandard sized primer pockets. On handgun cartridges they're too tight and in rifle cartridges too shallow.

Roger that.

 

[Walkalong]

I have not loaded S&B rifle brass either. While their pistol brass does have somewhat tight PP's, I like it. They do make some brass plated stell cases. I use a big magnet to check range brass. I have only found a few of those buggers though. The vast majority of the 9MM S&B I have found has been brass.

 

[capreppy]

9mm go straight to the recycle bin for me. I tried a couple of 9mm and no joy. I have some in 40 S&W but have not tried to load.

 

[armarsh]

I have never reloaded S&B rifle brass. Their 7.62x25 brass is superior to Starline, IMHO.

 

[plmitch]

I have loaded 40 pcs of 7.62x54r 2x with no problems.

 

[Steve C]

I've reloaded lots of S&B 9mm and .45 ACP brass along with a few .38 spl range pick ups. It all reloads well. As mentioned the primer pockets are a bit snug on once fired but only requires a bit more effort than typical US made brass. A quick turn with a Lee primer pocket cleaner seems to expand it very slightly and eases re priming. Subsequent priming of previously reloaded requires only normal effort.

 

[mallc]

SB

Cull it if I see it. Load it if I don't.

Scott

 

[Uniquedot]

I purchased two boxes of S&B 7.62x54 at a local gunshop and the brass was defective in both boxes. They split on the first factory firing. Some of the rounds clearly had visible defects and the remaining rounds were taken apart to salvage the bullets.

 

[cdet69]

I have had a lot of split necks with S&B brass using their 6.5x55 ammo. Sometimes jsut after the first firing. The 303 brass you are using would happen to be in a Enfield? If so the are notorious for eating up poor quality brass. Even good brass does not last in them very long.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have a bunch of S&B .38 Special brass that people gave to me, and a little bit of .357 Mag brass that I bought. I like the stuff but I had to swage all the primer pockets first, as if they were crimped or staked.

 

[animator]

I've loaded quite a bit of S&B .308 brass with no issues. I've been averaging 8-10 loads before I let it go. None have separated, but at around 8-10 firings, are beginning to show the signs of separation. All full-length resized and generally full-power charges.

 

[1SOW]

For 9mm pistol, S&B goes in the trash.
Only "SOME" are brass plated steel, but it's not worth my time and effort to check them.

 

[Waldog]

S&B and Amerc brass = trash can

 

[Walkalong]

Only "SOME" are brass plated steel, but it's not worth my time and effort to check them.

I use a large magnet. It only takes a minute. Try it if you are interested in using the S&B 9mm brass.

S&B and Amerc brass = trash can

Amerc? Yes, it's junk, but S&B is not, at least when it comes to pistol brass. I have no idea about their rifle brass. Please send all that junk S&B pistol brass my way.

 

[68wj]

I have loaded lots of S&B .223 with good results. However, this is 10yo stuff that came in the light blue boxes. Sounds like things have changed.

 

[rscalzo]

The pistol brass is fine EXCEPT their primer pockets are tight.

I don't chuck it. After one reloading, the pockets seem fine. I will use it at matches where I know the brass cannot be retrieved.

 

[Maj Dad]

Comparison Testing In SMLEs?

Comparison testing brass in SMLEs is probably not the ideal test bed. I get head separations in moderate to full-power loads in once fired Hornady 303 in both of mine. The 1915 No 1 Mk III has a like-new 1942 bbl and the No 4 Mk 1 is a Savage with a like-conditioned bbl. The brass I have found that does best, other things being equal, is Greek HXP. I finally decided that reloading for these 2 rifles just isn't the same as for strong front-lugged bolts, and I do it once in a blue moon. Lead loads are a different story: mild cast boolit loads minimally resized are very friendly to the cases and you can get several loadings even from softer cases (like Hornady). S&B brass may or may not be the equal of some of the mainstream US brass, but I think testing it in a front-lugged bolt action would be a better method. I have some new unfired S&B 8x57 that I have loaded with max loads that do as well as new Rem or Win, and once-fired 38 spl & 45 acp reload fine and I haven't noticed any splits or other failures.

 

[sirk798]

Anyone who trashes s&b brass, Please give me the chance to pay the shipping and send it to me. Oh and I am pleased to find the HR. Been lurking for a little while.

 

[1KPerDay]

I've loaded a bunch in .40, .45 ACP, and .38. The primer pockets are indeed tight but they've all gone in fine for me with few exceptions. Can't speak about their rifle brass yet.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I always thought the pistol brass was a little stiff when I loaded it. Worked much harder than anything else. I've never worked with S&B rifle brass.