Sellier and Bellot primers - "extra" sizes?

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Mauser69

Mauser69

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OK, someone with knowledge of these funny European things please clue me in.

I don't really need more primers on the shelf, but last time Cabellas had the great sale a few months ago, I went to check out details on the S&B primers after seeing so many good reports about them. What I found just irritated me and made me decide I didn't want to bother with them. But curiosity has gotten the better of me and I just gotta ask for an explanation. Like most handloaders, I am used to the "normal" primer options: SP, SPM, LP, LPM, etc. And I am aware that some manufacturers have occasionally done away with some of the options by simply making just one primer in a specific size, such as the current Winchester LP primers that are rated for both normal and magnum loads.

But S&B has ADDED one that I have not seen before, aimed specifically at the .40 S&W and .357 Sig.

Their 4,4 SP Boxer/0.40 seems to be the normal SP primer
and the 4,4 SPM Boxer/0.50 seems to be the normal SPM,

But why do they also have a 4,4 SPMP Boxer/0.45 for the two specific cartridges? Their web site does not explain it, and the only distinction seems to be the "0.45" following the Boxer type.

Anybody know what that number is? Is it a brisance indicator that says this primer is half way between the standard and magnum primers? Or is it an indication of the cup hardness?

Whatever it is, the more intriguing question to me is "Why would this specific company bother to make a special primer just for these two rounds when nobody else seems to?" It would seem to just drive up their costs to produce something special that is not really needed and will not sell in significant numbers.
 
The S&B rep at the SHOT Show told me they only import the "standard" type primers to the U.S., so there's no need to worry about it.

My experience with S&B primers has been nothing but positive, and I've gone through about 20,000 of them in Small Pistol.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
No, I do not "worry about it" in any way - I am quite happy with using my CCI 500 primers for my .40 loads.

But I do like to understand things; learning something new is always interesting and sometimes important. For example, while most load data for the .40 specifies standard SP primers, Remington specifically states to NOT use their standard primer in that caliber, and they have a reason for that, even though I am sure thousands of loaders have happily violated their warning.

So that is why I asked what their 0.45 designation meant and why they would even bother to make that different primer. I am sure they have a specific reason, and I wondered if anyone on here could enlighten me. Thanx
 
bds, thanks for posting your reply, just started stocking the SB's for my 9's but was unsure if I could use the sp's for the 40's due to their website saying it was the magnum's that needed to be using for the 40.
 
I provided incorrect information on my previous post. This is from S&B website (corrected previous post) - http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/en/product/components/primers/

So 4,4 SP Boxer/0.40 (V360152) should be used for 9mm but 4,4 SPMP Boxer/0.45 (V360292) should be used for 40S&W
PRODUCT -- TYPE OF PRIMER --- USED FOR

V360152 -- 4,4 SP Boxer/0.40 -- 9 mm Luger, .38 Special, 7,65 Browning

V360292 -- 4,4 SPMP Boxer/0.45 -- .40 S&W, .357 SIG

V360242 -- 4,4 SPM Boxer/0.50 -- 22 Hornet, 222 Rem., 5,6×50 R Mag., .357 Mag.
Click to expand...
 
They are the best deal for quality primers in the current market. I have gotten them for $17.99-$19.99 a box from Cabelas. Have used about 5,000 and have another 15,000+ on hand.
 
They're excellent for the price. Ran though about 6K recently. Not an issue with any. Stocked up on 12K more last week at Cabela's. I like them just as much as CCI for $10 less a box.
 
I've completely dumped the CCI primers for S&B. One of my guns that's normally only 100% reliable with federals is 100% reliable with those also. I use then in all my bullseye loads.
 
"I don't think you used them with 10MM"

Actually, he could have. Federal makes their Non-toxic loads in 10mm with small pistol primers. I've got several hundred of them.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
ReloaderFred said:
"I don't think you used them with 10MM"

Actually, he could have. Federal makes their Non-toxic loads in 10mm with small pistol primers. I've got several hundred of them.

Hope this helps.

Fred
Click to expand...
Oh great, another one to look for. I had 2 of those in .45 today. Straight to the garbage can. I apologize to JLR267.
 
Question, if I order the S&B SP primers from Cabela's, will they work okay in my 40 S&W? The website does not stipulate anything but small pistol when ordering.
 
Question, if I order the S&B SP primers from Cabela's, will they work okay in my 40 S&W? The website does not stipulate anything but small pistol when ordering.
Click to expand...
I sure hope so. I primed 1500 cases last night with them!
(yes, they'll work fine. SP is 'S'mall 'P'istol)
 
So I wonder why S&B recommended SPMP primers for 40S&W and .357 Sig - http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/en/product/components/primers/

I haven't used S&B primers yet and have considered just getting the SP primers for 9mm/40S&W.
PRODUCT -- TYPE OF PRIMER --- USED FOR

V360152 -- 4,4 SP Boxer/0.40 -- 9 mm Luger, .38 Special, 7,65 Browning

V360292 -- 4,4 SPMP Boxer/0.45 -- .40 S&W, .357 SIG

V360242 -- 4,4 SPM Boxer/0.50 -- 22 Hornet, 222 Rem., 5,6×50 R Mag., .357 Mag.
Click to expand...
 
"Why would this specific company bother to make a special primer just for these two rounds when nobody else seems to?" It would seem to just drive up their costs to produce something special that is not really needed and will not sell in significant numbers.
Click to expand...

They've been making primers for a long time before 40SW and 357 SIG came out. So maybe some new guns were having issues with certain loads, and maybe these two calibers had a large share of these new problems. Or maybe these calibers are just a convenient scape goat for justifying a new "patch."

If your gun has a big firing pin hole, maybe the standard cup can flow too much and crack.

And maybe the magnum primers are too hard and don't ignite reliably. Or maybe they don't seal completely with your load data.

And maybe this 0.45 primer is just somewhere in the middle, in case you have the right combination of problems to need it?

It can be annoying if you are the type to always read and follow direction. I use the regulars for 40SW without any problem, so far. And I would certainly try the 0.45 primer in 9mm, if I had some.

If that bugs you, how do you feel about Wolf/Tulammo 223 primers? :)
 
My experience with S&B primers has been nothing but positive, and I've gone through about 20,000 of them in Small Pistol.
Click to expand...
Mine are marked 4,4 SP Boxer. I don't seem to see any other marking on the ones I have.

I have shot probably 15,000 with no issues. (9mm, light-med .357 and SP .45) I used to use CCI but the S+B work great for me and are hard to beat price wise when Cabelas has them on sale and only $20 for hazmat.
(+$5 shipping sometime if you are a Cabelas club member)

LPs seemed fine in .45 as well.

Sorry they didn't work out for you.
 
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