Sellier & Bellot question

[TexasRifleman]

I have had a lot of trouble with .38 S&B. I have failures to fire about half the time.

The batch I have has EXTREMELY hard primers. Some of them I have to try to fire 2 or 3 times before they will work.

It's not the revolvers, they shoot everything else just fine.

But, it's decent practice ammo and accurate enough but reliability is nonexistent for me.

 

[lionking]

wow I can't believe the complaints I'm reading.I have used s&b alot over the years and rate it top notch.I have used handgun ammo with no problems but the majority of use has been rifle calibers which I have had zero problems and very good accuracy.

I love S&B 7mm & 8mm Mauser along with .303Brit ammo.Their .223 ammo is excellent also.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have used handgun ammo with no problems but the majority of use has been rifle calibers which I have had zero problems and very good accuracy.

I have had great luck with their rifle ammo, only the .38 has ever caused me any trouble.

Their .30-06 shoots fantastic in my hunting rifle.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

S&B is like a Czech Winchester really. It's good ammo, though from what I hear, a little dificult to reload.

 

[chris in va]

Don't know about the 38 special, but the 9mm I bought feels considerably hotter than WWB, or just about any other range ammo I've tried. I like it a lot.

 

[donato]

Just wish I could get everybody to stop using that S&B junk (then there would be more available for me to buy).

S&B 9mm (SBA00902) is hotter ammo (1280 fps, muzzle).

I consider S&B better than WWB; it is cleaner. If you think accuracy is a problem with S&B (and I'm talking about the 9mm), then it isn't the ammo that's the problem - it's an operator or gun problem.

 

[DuncanSA]

Never had a problem with S&B ammo - used it for about 5 yrs., mainly in .308.
Its quality stuff.

 

[mec]

Ive used it in a couple of rifle chamberings, the 12 pellet 12 guage double ought buck load and several handguns. The 12 pellet buck load produces notably lower velocities 8-900 fps than WW 9 pellet at 1300 to 1400.
Rifle rounds including .223, 8mm mauser and 7mm mauser have been accurate and consistent. Handgun velocitiers are usually at the top of normal velocity expectations or higher. The 158 fmj rnfp that you mention does 795 from my ruger GPR while most standard velocity loadings of that weight are in the 720 fps range. I've watche closely for bullet pull and have not had a problem.
45 ACP ball worked fine but the primer pockets were so small that reloading them with commercial primers was not really practical. I don't know if that has changed or not.

The only sb load that caused problems was a batch of 158 lead round nose. The recoil pulled the bullets and caused revolvers to tie up. Revolvers included an airweight chief and a Uberti single action of full weight. I tried applying a heavy crimp but even this did not prevent bullet jump. The distributor I got them from, reported the problem to S&B and was told that it didn't seem to be a general problem.

I use a moderate amount of it in .223 with fine results. I do find that the .223 brass is variable in weight and sort the ones i reload.

 

[TehK1w1]

Their 9mm MAK is excellent stuff, not too dirty either.

 

[flyingdeserteagle]

S&B 9mm seems hotter than std to me. I've heard this is just the way 9mm is loaded in Europe.
My Uzi loves their 124grn load.

You should have no issues with your purchase. It'll go bang every time.