Sellier & Bellot Cases

[ancient-one]

At a gun show today I purchased several hundred used 38 Special Cases.
Included were quite a number of Sellier & Bellot cases. They look very
good.
Have any of you reloaded them and if so, did you experience any unusual problems? Would appreciate your comments.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I've reloaded them, because I picked up several hundred at the range two years ago.

They seem a bit thin, and on the second reloading, I got about 10% case splits, which I thought was unusual...but have only loaded about 200 or 300 of them at least four times.

Also, at first I think the primers were a bit hard to seat as it seems that the pockets were a bit tight.

Just watch for split cases after the first reload.

I believe my load is 4.6grns. Unique under a 158gr. LRN...(without looking)- so nothing terribly hot.

 

[NKJ nut]

I have loaded some S&B brass in 38 Spl, 45 ACP and 8mm. The 45 and 38's loaded fine except for having tight primer pockets. None of the cases have split after several firings. The 8mm I tossed in the recycle bucket after reloading it once. The stuff was splitting at the mouth and had splits in the body of the case.

 

[primersp]

i reload in 9m/m for many years no problems

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've also loaded S&B cases in .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm and .45 Auto without issues. None have split to date and they seem just as good as any others I've used.

 

[Tell Sackett]

Ditto to the tight primer pockets. Mostly 45ACP though.

 

[skeezix]

Tight Primer Pockets

My experience is tight primer pockets with 9MM. I don't reload the S&B 9MM brass anymore - just toss it.

 

[acl864]

I got some .357 Mag S&B brass in a bulk lot of once fired brass I purchased. I ended up taking a case deburr tool and slightly chamfering the primer pocket to make them easier to load. Sort of a pain to do but the brass is working fine.

 

[Smithhound]

I noticed that S&B 9mm cases were considerably shorter than minimum.

 

[chriske]

The only drawback I ever experienced with S&B brass ( in .38 Spl & .45 ACP) are their very tight primer pockets : this demands either primer selection or very careful primer seating.

True, case wall thickness varies a bit, but not more so than in any other make, including Remington or Winchester brass.

 

[Treeman]

No problems with S&B .38 special cases for me. Part of the "tight primer pockets" issue is that S&B puts less bevel on the pocket entrances than most of us are used to. You can chamfer the pockets or just pay close attention to alignment and primers will seat without problems.

 

[Arub]

I have reloaded several calibers of the S&B. Will concur with the "tight primer pockets". They get better with subsequent loadings.

With the .357 magnums, I have found at least two suppliers to S&B (slightly different head stamps). One of the head stamps seem thinner than the other and have had several split casings after a number of cycles. The other head stamp seems on a par with other manufacturer's brass.

 

[Jellybean]

I use an RCBS APS primer tool and have never noticed any problems with tight primer pockets.

I have had problems with split cases on the first reload with some .357brass.

I've also had some .38s that are still going strong. I don't have a lot of experience with it so Arub may be correct about the differing suppliers.

 

[Bugs100]

I had a lot of problems try to reload their 45's with Wolf Primers..

 

[ancient-one]

Thanks for the replies. I will watch for splits and be prepared for tight primers.

 

[OU812]

I have reloaded Sellier & Bellot cases in 9mm and 223. The 9mm has worked just fine even after five reloadings but the 223 has up to a 5% split necks on each reloading. I will not be loading it any more it will all to to the dump.

 

[VonFatman]

Like many others...I found the primer pockets to be my only issue.

Because I use a progressive and try to take advantage of the production potential...I have done my best to cull out S&B (.45 ACP, .38 Special & .357 Magnum).

I've not dumped the stuff...I had enough accumulated of each caliber that I was able to offer it to others here who do not find the tight pockets an issue at their bench. Several reloaders got a Care-Package from me when I spun the stuff out.

Bob

 

[Spotteddog]

I haven't run any once fired S&B yet (I've got about 1 1/2K of it in .38 Special). But I sure do thank all that chimed in on it! Now I know to just go ahead and treat them like any military brass and automatically chamfer the pockets.
Thanks again folks!

 

[VonFatman]

Hey Spottedog,
I do not know that I'd automatically do that. Try some first. There is enough difference in the replies to suggest that some are getting along fine. They just go easy and do not "jam" that primer, they put steady/easy pressure on the primer and it goes in fine...

Try working with the brass before you go to the trouble of re-working the pockets. If you are on a single-stage or turret press...you may be fine with the results....and...the pockets will loosen a bit with re-loading....you may get more uses of the brass if you can use the brass the way it is...just a thought.

Remember, a single-stage press is not a volume unit so you may find the S&B brass will work. I do not have near the problems (quantity wise) with the .38/.357 brass as I do with the .45s...

Bob

 

[ancient-one]

I'll be using a RCBS Single Stage so I won't be loading in a hurry. Maybe I won't have too much problem. I will try some after Thanksgiving.