S&B Ammo

[Nightcrawler]

Who here uses Sellier & Bellot ammunition? It's made in the Czech Republic. I've fired hundreds of rounds of the stuff through my CZ-97B without incident.

I was reading some of John Farnam's Quips and Quotes and he repeatedly refers to this brand of ammunition "trash", referencing squib loads and out of spec cartridges.

Now, like most Gun Gurus, Mr. Farnam seems to both know what he's talking about and be extremely opinionated. He favors Glocks every bit as much as Jeff Cooper favors the 1911.

In any case, it peaked my curiosity. Who here uses a lot of S&B ammunition? Any problems with it of note? Any problems with it that seem to occur more frequently than with American ammuntion?

 

[Ian Sean]

I use the hell out of it, mainly 9mm and have NEVER had a problem at all with it.

Maybe he is on the payroll of somebody ticked off about cheap import ammo? A little research is in order.

 

[general]

I've been using the .45 stuff - couple thousand rounds, no problems. I just received 500 rounds of .38 SPL and 1000 rounds of .45 from Cheaper Than Dirt (good price). Shot a box or two a few weekends ago - no problems. Will post if any.

 

[Matt1911]

Been using it for years in my sks.only one round out of thousands,that faIled to go bang,then again,that has been the only round,of any brand,that ever failed to go bang....
Matt

 

[mummac]

Fired 300 rds with my buddy in his CZ 75BD without a problem. I keep wanting to order some for mine, but the Winchester value box at Wal-Mart has been providing instant gradificaiton. Also, with my limited experience, the S&B seemed cleaner than the cheap Winchester.

 

[BallisticTip]

Have used lots of the 9mm, with no problems.

 

[Outlander]

I use S&B in .45, 9mm, .357, .38 and .380.
NEVER had a problem with this ammo.
Even a guru can talk out of his butt now and then.

 

[MonkeyMan]

My M-38 Swedish Mauser in 6.5 X 55 absolutely loves S&B as does my 8MM Turkish Mauser. I've also shot bunches of 9MM, .45ACP, and .357Magnum with nary a bobble. The only complaint I have is the .357 seems a tad warm.

 

[Nando Aqui]

My HK USP .45 Tactical likes the S&B best of four brands I tried. All four brands worked fine, but the S&B was more accurate.

Also use the S&B 9mm (for H&K, S&W & Browning) with absolutely no problems.

Alex

 

[seeker_two]

I use it in .25ACP, 9mm, .38SPL, .357Mag, .45ACP. & .303Brit. Never had any problem with it, and it tends to shoot straighter & cleaner than most American & foreign ammo in that price range. In fact, I use the .45ACP load a lot for IPSC Limited 10 shooting when I don't reload my own.

Another thing I like about it is that it's loaded a little warmer than American ammo. I did a little informal "test" w/ .25ACP ammo once (by accident) on a 1x4 oak board used as part of a target brace. All the American .25ACP ammo I shot into the board (at 10' distance) bounced off, but the S&B FMJ punched right through the board & buried itself in the berm behind. If I ever carry the .25, S&B will be the only load in it. I've also carried the .357 load in my Blackhawk in New Mexico bear country for the power & penetration it offers (& b/c it was the largest caliber I had at the time.) Never felt nervous about that choice. S&B ammo is also my "backup" load for my guns when I need a deeper penetrator than the usual JHP's. And I like the 150gr. .303 loading b/c it doesn't kick as much as the heavier-grain loads from other companies.

It's great ammo. Order a case of everything w/ confidence...

 

[foghornl]

I have shot S&B only in .45ACP. Over 2,000 rounds, no issues.

 

[rick newland]

Maybe he bought his ammo back in the 80's and hasent used it since. I was stationed in germany at that time and the Rod and Gun Clubs sold S&B dirt cheap. I had the same exp as Farnum, out of spec and the largest problem, no flash hole in the primer pocket. The ammo they make now is first rate. Couple of months ago shot the Alabama police pistol course, I was using a Colt Commander with S&B supplied by the range, what impressed me was had to fire five rounds in the dark and there was very little muzzle flash.

 

[Hawk]

Ordinarily, no problems. However, I've gotten 10 boxes out of an apparent bad lot of 7.62X25. Roughly 10% of the rounds have primers that appear to only be held in by the lacquer.

There are two additional reports of this turning up on two separate C&R boards in the czech pistol forums. Not many people hollering - it's likely a small lot out of a bajillion cases.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

First, who is John Farnam? and more importantly, who appointed him gun guru?

Secondly, whoever he is, he is wrong about S&B. It is great ammo. I have shot many thousand rounds of 45 and 9 mm, and never had a problem at all. It is as accurate and reliable as Winchester and Remington. Some say its dirtier, and that might be true, but it is really hard for me to tell.

Finally, I believe S&B 230g FMJ's were on Bill Wilson's list of preferred ammo for his 1911s, which is a pretty good recommendation in and of itself.

 

[Captain Bligh]

I shoot S&B along with Fiocchi, Speer, & Winchester White Box. I've never had a problem with S&B and believe that it shoots as well as the others. I've shot ammo I like less.

RJ

 

[Dorrin79]

The only S&B I've shot was some 8x57JS FMJ in my Yugo M48.

It was accurate.

Most reports here have been positive.

 

[Monte Harrison]

A couple thousand rounds 9mm and .45, with ONE 9mm round that the bullet was set too far into the case. For the price, I have no complaints.

 

[Calvin]

I have shot several thousand rounds of .45, .357, and .223 without a single problem. In fact it is just as,if not more accurate and cleaner shooting than most ammo in it's price range. It does seem to be a little hotter though.

 

[Justin]

I've a lot of S&B pistol ammo- 9mm, .40S&W, and 7.62Tok. No problems. I've test fired S&B .223 and had no problems with it either.
As far as I'm concerned, S&B ammo is a good deal.

 

[Sean Smith]

I've shot great big piles of it in .45 and 9mm. It always works fine. Wilson, in fact, recommends S&B ammo for their guns last I checked.

 

[biere]

I am currently dealing with a case of 357 magnum S&B ammo I bought a year or two ago.

It works just fine in two ruger sp101s I have.

It has a lot of out of spec rims when used in a ruger gp100 that is on the tight end of normal specs. When using the ammo in this gun I have to take each round and make sure the cylinder will turn with the round in it. It is not a dirty gun, it is not something under the star making it stick up. All other ammo works fine in this revolver.

I have simply been using the S&B ammo in the 101s, but I find it annoying that about 40 rounds in a 50 round box will work in the gp100, but those 10 that don't can really stick the cylinder.

Overall, I won't be buying it again.

 

[Dot_mdb]

I have had no problems with S&B 9mm. I have had out of spec cases in .38 special. Case heads have been too thick.

Bill

 

[Prodigalshooter]

I also have used several thousand rounds each of .45ACP and 9mm S&B without any problems. I also used some .357 of theirs
But it was a bit too hot for the short barrel I was shooting from, otherwise fine. It's the only brand I shoot in 9x18.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I had some trouble with S&B 9mm in my Keltec with hard primers, but to be fair, I had lightened up all the springs to improve the trigger pull. Still no other ammo had a problem with it.

I've noticed that the .38 and .357 brass seems to hold up alittle better than most for reloading, and all of my .303 brass is S&B. Kind of tough to resize, but sure beats paying for Norma brass.

 

[RON in PA]

I've shot many thousands of rounds of 9x19mm out of my pistols and have had three minor problems. One, a cartridge that when fired didn't sound right, a possible squib, but the barrel on inspection was clear. Last weekend, shooting my Sig 228, two rounds needed a second trigger pull to go bang. I did check the first round and it did have a deep firing pin impression from the first strike.