Sellier & Bellot primers question

[Jamie Jackson]

I have never used S&B primers before and wanted to see if anyone here at TGO had first hand experience with them.

 

We've gone through quite a few thousand Tula primers (small pistol) over the past year. And I've used thousands of Wolf, Winchester, Federal and CCI in the past.

While I would prefer to stick with a known (Tula...which have worked very well for us), most vendors either list "Out of Stock" or "Discontinued".

 

I'm not yelling Doom & Gloom, but with election year coming up, and it not taking much of anything to cause a mad run on ammo or components these days, I don't want to be behind the curve if things get stupid yet again.

 

The S&B are running about $20.00 less per 5K than Wolf or Winchester currently...but I don't want to waste my time nor money.

 

From what I read the S&B are relatively hard primers and sensitive to "improper seating" or "not being seated well enough"...issues in the countless thousands of rounds I've handloaded that I've never experienced.

 

Any experiences? Thoughts?

 

 

[CommsNBombs]

I used some that got given to me for 45ACP...a little under 100 of them, did not have any trouble with them. Ive only used Winchester so far.

Brass is more of an issue than anything, actual SB brass is pretty tight, I loaded it in Winchester, PPU, SB and RP brass with no issues.

Sorry for the small sample group

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[peejman]

I don't reload, but have used S&B ammo and had maybe 5 out of 100 not go off.  The primers clearly were struck and still didn't go off the 2nd time around.  This was 9mm and across at least 3 different pistols. 

[TNMTBik3r]

I've used a few hundred of their small pistol primers so far and no problems. I know a guy who claims to have quit using CCI/Federal primers and using only S&B now for all his pistol and small rifle loads because they are considerably cheaper. Edited November 12, 2015 by jonathon1289

[Jamie Jackson]

Thanks for the input folks.

 

Comms; S&B brass is a PIA,,,especially in 9mm. I sort it into a separate box and if I really need some brass, then open up the primer pocket a bit...otherwise it's a no-go on my Dillon. :squint:

 

peejman; I have a bud that picked up a K of 9mm a few years back and your experience seems to mimic his. Not very positive.

 

jonathon; There's the rub. The cost is attractive, especially when you consider a 20K purchase or so. I'm just hesitant to jump in that deep at this point.

 

I need to find some locally and pick up a thousand to try...just not that easy to do these days. :pleased:

[Raoul]

I did a test run with S&B SPP recently. Price was so cheap I had to try them. Everything went bang.

[musicman]

I've been through about 3k of 10k I bought about a year ago. Not a single problem. Small pistol loaded in 9, 40, 38, and 357

[chances R]

Some have trouble in progressive presses with feeding issues.  Try a few hundred before jumping in.

[TNMTBik3r]

If you go past a Cabelas stop in and pick up 1k to try, only $20-25 depending on their sale. Edited November 12, 2015 by jonathon1289

[Raoul]

Advertised @ 21.99

[Jamie Jackson]

Some have trouble in progressive presses with feeding issues.  Try a few hundred before jumping in.

 

I've read this and it,of course, is a concern. Good advice. Thank you.

 

If you go past a Cabelas stop in and pick up 1k to try, only $20-25 depending on their sale.

 

I wish the was a Cabela's around these parts. I checked Cabela's for stores in East TN...but found them wanting. :pleased:

[DWARREN123]

Use a few thousand, no problems.