Sellier & Bellot .38Spl/.357Mag - Steel?

[Werewolf]

I bought me a .357Mag revolver today (S&W 686 5" Barrel) and while I was at the shop picked up 100 rounds of .38 special and 50 of .357Mag. Both were 158gr and the .357 Mag were soft point. All were made by Sellier & Bellot.

I figured to stop at an indoor range on the way home and shoot off all 150 rounds. NOT!

When I got there they broke out the magnet and much to my surprise there was ferrous metal in the bullets. The range guy said that S&B is well known for putting steel in the metal jackets of their bullets. The range doesn't allow steel in any bullets shot on their range (and I don't really blame 'em). It'll be next weekend before I get a chance to shoot my new acquisition [droool] at the outdoor range I normally go to.

Steel in S&B bullets is news to me. And it worries me a bit. The bullet jackets look like brass on the .38's and copper on the .357 but they sure did attract a magnet. The boxes mention a feature called armor-cage which sounds like it might have something to do with the ferrous metal. BUT I just don't know. If the jackets are just copper plated steel wouldn't this cause excessive barrel wear? Jeez I hope not - I shoot S&B in every handgun I own - a lot.

What gives with S&B ammo? Anyone got any ideas or facts on this situation?

 

[RWK]

This surprises me, and I've shot a lot of S&B. However, with an all-copper jacket, this should cause no harm to the firearm (bullet’s steel core – if true – will not contact barrel’s surfaces).

 

[Eric Bryant]

A lot of NATO 7.62 has used steel-jacketed bullets for decades, to the best of my knowledge. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[yoky]

There should be something unusual. SB produces for normal use and trade lead core plated with Cu. Sometime you can see bullet cover in white (silver) color however it has nothing with core and penetration. This should be used in any range. I have using SB more then 18 years and I don’t remember hard core bullet. Yes sometime you can find out ammo from the year 1950 or so but it was 7,62 fro old pistols CZ 52. The ammo you have presented here is normal FMJ with lead core. It is not harmful for your gun.
Best shooting
yoky

If you need more info PM me description of the box type of ammo numbers etc.. I will go in touch directly SB

 

[yoky]

Hi Werewolf

There is info on SB ammunition - factory site
http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/pistol.htm in the bottom of this site you can see

“Pistol and revolver cartridges • bulletsâ€

Click on “bullets†and you will see specification of all type of bullets. According your type of ammo it has metallic jacket but lead core.

Best regards
yoky

 

[WonderNine]

S&B .357 sparked when I shot it out of the Ruger SP-101 I used to have. The FMJ was the worst for sparking. Alot of people have reported similiar experiences.

 

[DMK]

Could it be copper washed steel jackets like Wolf uses?

 

[Werewolf]

Could it be copper washed steel jackets like Wolf uses?

Yoky contacted the S&B plant in the Czech Republic. What they said is that there is a thin ferrous metal jacket over the lead and copper over that. Why the bimetallic beats me. S&B claims it will not harm bores. As far as I know and according to the range that tossed me it only is on the .38 and .357 caliber S&B bullets.

S&B is very good ammunition and since I shoot 95% of the time outdoors the prohibition against magnetic bullets at indoor range's rarely bites me. I was just surprised when it did with S&B. Personally I think it's just an excuse to get you to buy the ranges ammo.

As to Wolf - I know they use steel cases - I was not aware that the bullet jackets were steel but copper washed. Unless that wash is at least .015 thick I'd think the underlying steel could wear bores excessively. What is your source for Wolf bullet jackets being steel jackets with copper wash?