I just got a large quantity of S&B .30-06 brass for a price I couldn't pass up.

Anyone care to comment on the quality, personal experiences with reloading S&B, etc.?

I have only had experience with handgun brass. Mostly in the 45ACP. I think it was ArchAngel that had some real problems with it a long while back. Do a search.
The only problem I have had is that the primer pockets seemed to be a little tight. Made it hard to reload. Other than that it's ok stuff. I won't buy any but will pick it up if it is laying on the ground at the range.

I really , really , really like their .308 and 30-06 brass.

Shot a few cases of their 168gr match loads. As good as Federal Gold Medal Match. The brass is excellent!

BTW , it seems a bit heavier than American commercial cases , closer to USGI/NATO. Work yer way up to max loads.

I can recommend S&B cases. Good material, long lasting, and on the thicker side of the whole bunch.

Swissman

I use S&B 223 brass. I like it. John

I agree--good brass. The primer pockets are tight, I use Federal; their primers are softer than all other so I have to prime S&B very carefully, The brass is thicker so I can't get as much powder in the 30.06 as I can other brands of brass, longevity of S&B is superior---dose'nt stretch (stress) the brass as much. So all in all--great brass. I use Remington out of my rifles most of the time though, because those rifles shoot best with that brand. I use the S&B in the garand so the powder amount issue is a nonissue.

Their primers do have a slight crimp. Not as noticeble as most military ammo , but it's definately there. Use a good crimp remover , chamfering or swaging tool.

Thank you, gentlemen, for all the excellent responses.

I read some customer reviews on Cabella's web site, and several folks there mentioned that S&B is very close to USGI Milspec, including crimped primers, as mentioned above. So I will swage the primer pockets and use the appropriate load data for Milspec brass.

I did a search on this Forum, but turned up very little. Must be that the S&B threads mentioned were too old.

It wasn't me that had a problem with S&W brass and I don't remember who it was.

The only S&B brass I've had any experience reloading is their .38 Special and .357 Magnum brass. I've reloaded both and both worked fine.

I have not had any problems with S&B brass, primarily .223 and .45ACP. One great thing about the S&B ammo is the very low flash signature. It is good stuff.

S&B isn't crimped, it's just a very tight fit and zero primer pocket chamfering. Look at the primer of a loaded case: there's no rounding along the egdes like a commercial US case. The primers have to be aligned abso-flogging-lutley perfect or they fit hard.

I simply debur the pocket a tiny bit and they prime just fine.

Some of the newer .38 Special has very tight primer pockets and it was more trouble than it was worth so I got rid of it.

I have some older .45 ACP brass which is nice because the primers are easily seated below flush. I use it for loading important match ammo for my 625.

I also load steel cased S&B .223 for my DPMS. It works very well. The cases never need to be trimmed or the primer pockets reamed. As long as it isn't rusty, pick it up and load it with no special preparation. It saves a lot of time.

Dave Sinko

I had the same primer problem with .38 spec. I stopped using it.

Jeff