Magtech or S&B for best budget ammo?

[Shrinkmd]

I am curious what people's experiences are with the Magtech and Sellier & Bellot ammo for general practice, plinking purposes. I would like to reload the brass someday (or send it out), and I've heard mixed reviews on the primer pockets of the S&B.

Assuming it functions well in your gun, which do people recomend?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I can't speak to the reloadability issue, but my gun range/store/club uses MagTech by the bushel as its range ammo. Years ago I had some failure to fire problems with S&B in a normally reliable gun (hard primers), but more recent 9mm and .45 I've shot worked just fine. S&B (at the Cabela's where I usually buy it) is priced a little lower than MagTech. Currently 9mm is $7.99/50 and .45 is $12.99/50.

I think I would call this one a tie.

 

[john1911]

S&B is a little cheaper locally (.45acp) than Magtech. I usually shoot Blazer Brass in my .45 (I bought a couple cases worth when Wally World was selling it relatively cheap). I don't reload .45, but I do sell my fired brass.

I shoot Magtech in my .44mag. I've got several Magtech (CBC) cases that have been reloaded 3 times and are still going strong.

 

[Chupacabra]

Magtech is pretty good. I've never had any problems with it.

S&B is okay. I've seen hard primers in both 9mm and 40S&W, and their 45ACP doesn't function well in my 1911. YMMV.

I don't have any experience with reloading, but the brass for both brands should work just fine.

 

[MechAg94]

I have used S&B 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, .223, and 7.62X39 and never had any issues. S&B is bargain ammo I look for. I've also used a little magtech pistol ammo and haven't had problems.

 

[P. Plainsman]

For revolver ammo Magtech is noticeably better quality than S&B -- more accurate and consistent. (Shouldn't really be a surprise, since Magtech is Brazilian. South Americans build and like DA revolvers, while Europeans stick to semi-autos. The sixgun is a New World, wide open country kinda thing; the Euros think guns are just for cops and other state employees; they wouldn't understand. )

But S&B pistol ammo is good in my experience -- mostly 9mm ball. Accurate and fairly priced. As long as your semi-auto's firing pin is stout enough to trip the hard S&B primers, you're good to go. My pistols are CZs, so they have no problem with it.

 

[LeonCarr]

IMO Magtech is better ammo than S&B, and the brass is better for reloading. I have had tight primer pocket issues reloading S&B brass.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Shrinkmd]

Also, has anyone ever used their premium self defense ammo? The all copper JHP looks interesting, but they appear much lighter than usual. I will see if anyone else has posted about this...

 

[DogBonz]

In 45...

Magtech. I have not tried their 9mm. Although I have not had any problems with S&B, I perfer the Magtech. I think that it is cleaner and a bit more accurate.

 

[raginrednek]

magtech/sb

i have shot both in 357, in a levergun, as well as handguns. both shoot well.
i carried sb softpoints last year in the model 92 repo. i have confidence in either.

 

[obxned]

I haven't found anything that is much cheaper (including shipping charges) than WWB at Wally World. WWB has worked well for me in .380, 9mm, and .45.

 

[Anna's Dad]

I use Blazer Brass or WWB.

 

[goon]

I've shot a lot of both without any problems from either. One thing I like about the S&B is that it has sealed primers and bullets so it would presumably keep a lot longer. But for blasting, either is great.

 

[Black Adder LXX]

I've recently purchased 1000 rounds of S&B 9x18 and have found it to be pretty crapy. I much prefer Magtech. I also bought it (the S&B) for the brass, so I'll let you know how it does...