Ammo Alert

[Erich]

I really like S&B brass for reloading (nice deep primer pockets), but I've definitely found the brass to be more brittle on average than most other makes. I have had case splits just like those illustrated above on cases I've reloaded several times.

I think the OP's student just got a lot of particularly brittle S&B brass. What a shame if he was planning to reload it, but not an especially big deal.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

Could be an annealing problem, especially if they anneal their brass in big bins. In the bins the centers have problems getting to the annealing temps and could be the reason for the brittleness.

 

[retarmyaviator]

Read on a different forum that some older S&B .38 ammo used brass washed steel cases.

You will find that in their 9mm as well. I use a magnet to pick it out from the brass. Save it for my lost brass matches.

 

[M19-5]

Yep, S&B 158gr. LRN .38 special

Have seen this numerous times with that particular round.

It has happened to me and also a shooter earlier this year firing the distinguished revolver match here.

Out of 30 rounds, more than half were split.
It is a case problem, not a chamber problem.

It does not harm the cylinder, just a touch more time to clean out the carbon fouling from the splits.

I use S&B once in a while, but never reload their brass.
But I must digress, I did reload a whole bunch of .45 brass when I first got into bullseye shooting with no problems.

So, I guess I have only seen this happen with their .38 and .357 brass.

Clarence Perkins

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would imagine the phone call will be a touch expensive!

Sellier Bellot J.S.C

Address: Lidická 667, 258 13 Vlašim, Czech Republic
Phone: +420 317 892 492

Most foreign manufacturers have an in-country contact. You can always use their contact page on the same site you were on: Sellier & Bellot - Contact us

Or you can go to their foreign partner page and use the USA number posted there which happens to be MagTech. Sellier & Bellot - Foreign partners

 

[A10]

It always amazes me how many seem to think that a case split will result in chamber damage!

I was thinkin' more along the lines of out of spec chambers allowing the brass to expand and crack, but it sounds like other folks have had similar issues so that probably rules out the gun defect track....