Ammo Alert

[RSWMTB]

One of our students yesterday was using some S & B (158gr LRN) .38 specials, and was having a difficult time ejecting spent cases, even using a 'stressfire slap'...cases were swelling. Well, closer exam revealed...


Notice the splits are all in the SAME AREA on cartridge cases...they all came from the same box.


Thoughts?

 

[SMSgt]

Bad brass.

 

[s&wchad]

I'd stop shooting that ammo in my gun. I've seen shotgun hulls that were reloaded too many time burn through, but I can't say Ive ever seen new brass do that.

Any visible damage to the chambers?

 

[ma deuce]

Wow. I've shot most of a half-case of that same ammo I got at a show a few months ago, and no problems whatsoever. S&B is one of my favorite low-cost brands.

 

[dirty gary]

S & B brass has always been a little suspect for me, I usually pitch it if found in range brass. Friend of mine says the name should be Soundslikea Blowout.

 

[blujax01]

Cheap Eastern European ammo acting out?

Who'da thunk it??!!

 

[Dragon88]

S&B is usually good ammo. This is possibly a problem with the lot. Did the person contact S&B?

 

[A10]

I haven't had any problem with S&B either, but it seems they are loaded a little hotter than some of the other brands. No problems with other ammo in the gun? Anyone mike the chambers yet?

 

[ErnieDeBord]

I never would use it or wolf except in rimfire

 

[Alk8944]

It always amazes me how many seem to think that a case split will result in chamber damage! The chamber isn't damaged at the mouth of the case when a cartridge is fired is it? Then why does anyone think the same gas, at the same pressure, will instantly damage the chamber when it comes through a crack 1/4" farther back? It doesn't happen and isn't an issue.

Now, those cases look pretty shiny for new S&B. Your friend didn't by chance think he would pretty them up by polishing them with Brasso or another metal polish containing ammonia did he? Those splits look exactly like what happens as a result of nitrogen imbrittlement when cases are polished with Brasso! Can't do a thing about it, shoot them up and throw them away. S&B is excellent ammunition and certainly not to be avoided.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This is what happens when you shoot that kind of ammo. you may shoot it dozens of times without incident and then you get a box that does that...

Like said above, I would stop shooting that ammo in your revolver and it would probably be a good idea to contact S&B.

 

[blujax01]

This is what happens when you shoot that kind of ammo. you may shoot it dozens of times without incident and then you get a box that does that...

Like said above, I would stop shooting that ammo in your revolver and it would probably be a good idea to contact S&B.

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

 

[jimmy.jet]

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

 

[JJEH]

Yeah, write them a letter. They can speak english, it just might take a long time for them to answer...

S&B is supposed to be a "good" brand. I mean as good as eastern europe brands can be... their QC standarts are different from others... in a bad way... I'm just sayin'...

Perhaps they have an US Rep. somewhere... I don't know...

 

[jimmyj]

Defect in weapon itself?

 

[moxie]

S&B has an e-mail address shown on their homepage. Write them along with your pics.

 

[Dragon88]

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

They list an email address on their website, along with contact info for their foreign partner here in the US.

Magtech Ammunition Company, Inc., 248 Apollo Drive, Suite 180, Lino Lakes, MN 55014, USA
Tel: 001 763 235 4000, Fax: 001 763 235 4004, E-mail: [email protected]

 

[revolvergeek]

I have shot a lot of S&B ammo in .32/.380/9mmP without any issue, but never any of their .38 spl. Were they shooting a new gun? Has it been fired successfully with different ammo?

A friend of mine had a very similar problem with a Charter Arms Southpaw that had three terribly miss-machined chambers. It had obviously never had a cylinder full test fired through it at the factory because the fired cases (Rem UMC ball) had to be pounded out of the chambers with a brass punch and hammer. Some of the cases split, others had a belt about half way up their length.

I would email S&B with pictures of the cases and see what they say.

 

[*chris*]

Strange, I had the same failure in a S&B brass case that I only reloaded once. My recipe was 115 grain round nose, 4 grains 231. Shot out of a 4" S&W 681.

Chris

 

[TSQUARED]

I have never experienced any problems with S&B ammo.